The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on surveillance of influenza and influenza-like viruses: a single center experience

Aims: Influenza and the agents responsible for influenza-like illness (ILI) are a significant cause of upper lower respiratory tract infections, with notable pattern seasonal incidence. The surveillance influenza causing ILI is important developmentof prophylaxis approach infection control. In present study, we utilize Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method to identify presence virus other associated in nasopharyngeal smears obtained from patients exhibiting symptoms ILI. study sample included who were admitted multiple clinics intensive care units (ICU) Health Sciences University Ankara Training Research Hospital period preceding, initial months first year following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Throughthe comparisons made intention gain better understanding influence COVID-19 pandemic on viral infectious transmitted via tract.
 Methods: Included 257 different wards ICUs our hospital due or between 2015 2021 (excluding data 2017–2018). was conducted prospectively within scope Global Surveillance Network project. Using sterile swabs, swab samples collected inpatients provided informed consent their participation placed transport medium. viruses (Influenza A, subtypes A B) (i.e. syncytial virus, coronavirus) investigated an RT-PCR approach.
 Results: most common among pre-diagnoses cough (82.2%), fever (67.7%), shortness breath (66.1%) myalgia (40%). detected agent 60 (23.3%) patients, whereas no could be 197 (76.6%) patients. Furthermore, 51 (18.5%) tested positive five (1.9%) (RSV), four (1.5%) SARS-CoV-2. An analysis results two distinct time frames, namely prior (2016–2017, 2019–prior December 10, 2020) during (between 11, 2020 2021), (influenza H1N1 H3N2), RSV type B identified as dominant before pandemic, while predominant single strain SARS-CoV-2 variants pandemic.A difference noted distribution frames – pandemic. Of 199 (77.4%) discharged full recovery 58 died (22.6%). that died, 25 female (25/131 females) 33 male (33/126 males), 11 had andone RSV, 46 
 Conclusion: implementation molecular testing methods identification outbreaks, administering antiviral prophylactic treatments targeting influenza, adopting control measures, significantly decrease mortality morbidity rates mitigating complications these agents.