Detection of respiratory viral infection using direct immunofluorescence in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and febrile neutropenia

Abstract

Introduction. Respiratory viruses are one of the most important cause of febrile infection in healthy children; however their role as an aetiological agent in febrile neutropenia in cancer patients has not been stablished in Chile.

Objective. To determine the importance of viral respiratory infections in febrile neutropenic children with ALL. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study using a viral direct immunofluorescent test in febrile neutropenic patients between May 2000 and October 2002 attending the Regional Hospital Clinic in Valdivia.

Results: 23 samples from 17 patients were analysed, 30.4% were positive for respiratory viruses, being 13.1% influenza A, 8.7% RSV, 4.3% parainfluenza type 3 and 4.3% adenovirus. 57.1% were nosocomial and 85.7% of the episodes were symptomatic.

Conclusions: Respiratory viral infections are frequent in neutropenic patients, causing fever in most of the cases, with or without respiratory symptoms. Virology tests should be included in the febrile screen, especially during periods of epidemia.