TY - JOUR T1 - Identification of nasal virus infection in patients with COPD exacerbations JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 44 IS - Suppl 58 SP - P3636 AU - Irina Strambu AU - Ileana Stoicescu AU - Madalina Burecu AU - Daniela Dospinoiu AU - Camelia Nita AU - Felicia Cojocaru AU - Alina Croitoru AU - Diana Ionita Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P3636.abstract N2 - COPD exacerbations are serious events in the evolution of COPD and their trigger is not known in many cases. The study aimed to identify viral infections in patients admitted for a COPD exacerbation.20 successive patients with COPD exacerbation admitted in February-March 2013 were included: mean age 65±10 years, 16 males, GOLD stages III/IV; all had hypoxemia, 12 had hypercapnia. Eight patients were frequent exacerbators, 6 received influenza vaccination. Patients requiring ICU admittance or having chest X-ray consolidations were not included. Immediately after admittance patients were sampled for viral infection using a sterile nasal swab, analyzed by PCR to identify respiratory syncitial virus, rhinovirus and influenza viruses; serologic viral testing (ELISA) was performed; sputum samples for microbiological exam were analysed in 13 patients.Results Four patients (20%) were positive for viral infection in nasal samples: 1 respiratory syncitial virus infection – also positive for Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in sputum, 2 rhinovirus and 2 influenza A-H1N1 infections; in one patient two viruses were identified. None of these patients was vaccinated against influenza, or had frequent exacerbations. Serology was negative for all patients for the tested antibodies. In one other patient Haemophillus Parainfluenzae was identified in sputum.Conclusions Viral infection was identified as a possible cause of COPD exacerbation in 4 patients (20%); serology testing was less informative than nasal viral identification. Only 2 patients had a positive sputum culture for bacteria. The cause of the exacerbation remained undetermined in 75% of patients. Antiviral treatment might not be cost-effective in preventing exacerbations. ER -