DOI: 10.11648/j.ajp.20261202.14 ISSN: 2472-0909

The Role of Respiratory Multiplex PCR in Acute Respiratory Infections in Children Under 5 Years of Age: Experience of the Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital in Rabat

Issam Ouhrich, Rachid Abi, Anouar Akhssas, Imane Laasikri, Fatima Bennamara, Abir Belahrach, Manal Najib, Hind Azzouzi, Nada Mchichou, Zahira Bouassaba, Elarbi Bouaiti, Mohamed-Rida Tagajdid, Hicham Elannaz, Salma Hassine, Soukaina Ouannass, Ahmad Reggad, Mohamed Elqatni, Abdelilah Laraqui, Abdelilah Radi, Hakim Ourrai, Rachid Abilkassem, Mostafa Elouennass, Khalid Ennibi, Idriss Amine
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Acute respiratory infections are a major cause of morbidity and hospitalisation in children. In this context, respiratory multiplex Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a rapid molecular tool enabling the simultaneous identification of several pathogens. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic contribution of multiplex PCR in paediatric respiratory infections, to describe the epidemiological profile of the patients managed, and to analyse the concordance between PCR results and certain commonly used biological markers, notably C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count. This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted at the Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital in Rabat. It included 125 children under the age of 5, hospitalised between September 2021 and September 2025. Respiratory samples were analysed using the FilmArray Respiratory Panel, enabling the simultaneous detection of 16 viruses and 4 bacteria. Clinical and laboratory data were extracted from the DX Lab software. Of the 125 samples analysed, 90 were positive, representing a positivity rate of 72%. In total, 122 pathogens were identified. Viral infections were overwhelmingly predominant, dominated by Rhinovirus/Enterovirus, followed by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Bacterial detections were rare. Co-infections were present in more than a third of the positive samples, primarily in the form of viral combinations. Biologically, nearly half of patients with a positive PCR result had normal CRP levels, while the majority had a white blood cell count appropriate for their age, with no systematic correlation with PCR positivity. Respiratory multiplex PCR thus appears to be a highly effective diagnostic tool in the management of paediatric respiratory infections. It enables rapid and reliable identification of infectious agents, improves therapeutic management and may help to limit the inappropriate use of antibiotics. These results support its value in the hospital management of respiratory infections in children in Morocco.

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