Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the changes in the epidemiological characteristics of respiratory pathogens among hospitalized children in Ningbo between the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–2022) and the post-pandemic period (2023–2024), to provide scientific data for formulating effective prevention and control strategies for respiratory infections. Methods A total of 59,526 pediatric patients hospitalized for acute respiratory infections at the Ningbo University Affiliated Women and Children’s Hospital from January 2020 to December 2024 were enrolled. Throat swab samples were collected, and 11 respiratory pathogens were detected using multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) combined with capillary electrophoresis. The distribution of respiratory pathogens was analyzed across different genders, age groups, and seasons. Results Among the enrolled children, human rhinovirus (HRV) was the most frequently detected pathogen (17.69%), followed by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp, 17.45%) and human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV, 8.46%). Joinpoint analysis revealed four significant turning points in monthly pathogen positivity rates in April 2020, September 2020, January 2023, and October 2023. The average pathogen positivity rate increased from 49.06% during the pandemic to 69.13% in the post-pandemic period. Specifically, the positivity rates of influenza A (FluA), influenza B (FluB), human adenovirus (HAdV), and Mp increased, while those of human bocavirus (HBoV), HRV, and HRSV decreased. No significant changes were observed for human parainfluenza virus (HPIV), Chlamydia (Ch), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), and human coronavirus (HCoV). The positivity rate was consistently higher in males than in females throughout the study period ( P < 0.05). The Mp positivity rate increased with age (χ²=6291.100, P < 0.001), whereas the HRSV positivity rate decreased with age (χ²=2377.650, P < 0.001). Seasonal increases in detection were observed: Mp positivity rates increased markedly from April 2023, peaking at 50%; FluA detection increased from March to May 2023 and October 2023 to May 2024; FluB circulated from November 2023 to April 2024; and a HAdV surge began in May 2024. The rate of mixed infections increased from 5.76% to 13.69%. Conclusion Significant shifts in the detection patterns of respiratory pathogens occurred in the post-pandemic period compared to the pandemic period, marked by increased overall pathogen positivity rates among hospitalized children and mixed infection rates. Successive increases in the positivity rates of FluA, FluB, Mp, and HAdV were identified after the pandemic. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
Mao et al. (Sat,) studied this question.