A study on the molecular profiling of viral pathogens among patients with acute respiratory tract infections at a tertiary care hospital in West Bengal, India

Abstract

Background: Acute respiratory tract infection is a frequently acquired infection characterized by overlapping symptoms. It is a major cause of childhood mortality and morbidity. Molecular diagnostics such as real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) remain the practical gold standard to distinguish between such infections. However, there is a dearth of studies across India on molecular profiling of viral pathogens among respiratory tract infection patients. Therefore, this study was conducted for molecular surveillance of respiratory pathogens. Aims and Objectives: The current study aimed to (i) describe the demographic and clinical profile of patients with acute respiratory tract infections, (ii) determine the distribution of respiratory viral pathogens detected by RT-PCR. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, hospital-based, and observational study conducted from July 2025 to July 2026. A total of 127 patients were enrolled in the study; all samples enrolled were subjected to multiplex real-time RT-PCR. Results: Thirty-nine (30.7%) patients were found to be positive for at least one type of virus. Influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 had the highest proportion in the study population, accounting for 11 (28.2%) of the cases, followed by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in 9 (23.1%) and Influenza B virus in 7 (17.9%) of the patients. Conclusion: Molecular profiling of respiratory viruses is especially important in the diagnosis of viral infections with non-distinct, overlapping symptoms and for proper antimicrobial stewardship, infection control practices and public health preparedness.