Respiratory pathogens detected by multiplex PCR in Malaysian public hospitals: prevalence and epidemiologic patterns from January 2023 until July 2024.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63719/imrj.2026.12.02.010Keywords:
respiratory tract infections, multiplex PCR, rhinovirus/enterovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, epidemiologyAbstract
Respiratory tract infections remain an important cause of hospitalisation and diagnostic uncertainty, and multiplex polymerase chain reaction testing offers rapid detection of multiple pathogens in routine clinical practice. We aimed to describe the prevalence, demographic associations, and temporal trends of respiratory pathogens detected by the QIAstat-Dx Respiratory SARS-CoV-2 Panel in Malaysian public hospitals. This multicentre retrospective cross-sectional study included nasopharyngeal swab samples from cases with suspected acute respiratory infections tested between 1 January 2023 and 31 July 2024. Data were collected from participating sites using standardised record forms and analysed. We assessed overall positivity, pathogen frequencies, age-group and regional distributions, and monthly and quarterly trends. A total of 8,361 samples were included, of which 5,252 (62.8%) had at least one pathogen detected. Single detections were identified in 4,279 samples (51.2%), while co-detections were observed in 973 samples (11.6%). Viral pathogens predominated. Rhinovirus/enterovirus was the most frequently detected pathogen (23.8%), followed by respiratory syncytial virus A/B (13.7%) and influenza A H1N1/2009 (4.8%). Positivity was highest among children aged 1 to 4 years and infants aged 1 to 11 months, and age-related variation was more pronounced than regional variation. The leading pathogens also demonstrated distinct temporal profiles, with different peak months across the study period. In conclusion, respiratory pathogen detection in this hospital-based population was characterised by a high positivity rate, predominance of viral pathogens, marked age-related differences, and distinct temporal patterns. These findings support the value of multiplex PCR for respiratory pathogen surveillance in Malaysian public hospitals.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Mahirah Kamil Mahirah Kamil Puat, Valerie Ting Siau Mei, Hafzan Baharim, Amizah Othman, Dayangku Seritul Akmar Abd Razak, Aliah Abdul Rahman, Fatimah Haslina Abdullah, Siti Hawa Hamzah, Aniz Suriani Mohd Ali, Yuhin Karina Yusoff, Zahrul Laili Abd Hadi, Hazilawati Hussin, Noor Hasliza Zainol, Nurul Azira Sidek, Edahayati Ahmad Tajudin, Norafandi Mohd Noor, Mohammad Faisol Hamdi Omar, Muhammad Faiz Mohd Ali, Anis Roziana Mohmad, Jayamalar Pitchaimuthu, Norhafez Senon, Nurhafiza Ishak, Chu Lee Hwa, Syaziah Ibrahim, Mohd Khairul Izzati Omar, Sairina Mosiun, Hanis Syazwani Mohd Hassan, Nadiyah Abdullah @ Azahari, Amira Amir, Sharifah Saidah Syed Omar, Anusia Muthusamy, Nor Zanariah Zainol Abidin, Padmaloseni Thangarajah, Rayuwani Mohamad Kamal, Sahlawati Mustakim (Author)
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