Evaluation of viral respiratory pathogens detected in a tertiary university hospital between 2021 and 2025

Aim: Infections caused by respiratory tract pathogens cause high morbidity and mortality and pose a significant threat to public health. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence and seasonal distribution of common respiratory viruses in patients admitted to our university hospital between 2021 and 2025.Material and Methods: Between January 1, 2021 and January 1, 2025, 3131 nasal swab samples from patients with a preliminary diagnosis of acute respiratory tract infection were sent to the Molecular Laboratory of Ondokuz Mayıs University Faculty of Medicine Hospital. 24 different pathogens were detected by multiplex real time polymerase chain reaction method (Qiagen, Germany).Results: Among the 3,131 samples analyzed, one or more viral agents were detected in 1,792 cases (57.23%). The most commonly identified viral pathogens were rhinovirus/enterovirus, respiratory syncytial virus A/B, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza A. The most frequently observed dual infection was influenza A combined with influenza A (subtype H1N1/2009), found in 22% of the co-infected cases. Seasonal distribution analysis showed that rhinovirus/enterovirus infections were more common in autumn, influenza A in winter, and respiratory syncytial virus A/B and SARS-CoV-2 in both autumn and winter months.Conclusion: Determination of the viral pathogen by molecular methods in respiratory tract infections will be useful in preventing unnecessary use of antibiotics with correct treatment. It will also contribute to rapid and accurate management decisions with infection control measures and shorten hospitalization periods.