Skip to main content

Respiratory Spread in Schools

Approximately 10% of the global human population is infected with influenza viruses annually.1 But school children are particularly susceptible to a high rate of respiratory illness.2 With a high number of students and staff confined in close quarters, they are extremely susceptible to not only getting a respiratory infection, but to passing it on to others.

Prior to the COVID-19 epidemic, influenza was responsible for more hospitalizations among young children than any other vaccine-preventable disease.3 In addition to COVID-19 and influenza, many other respiratory viruses can have a big impact on children. For instance, RSV is responsible for 2.1 million outpatient visits and 58,000 hospitalizations annually for children under 5 years old.4

The start of the school year coincides with the beginning of respiratory season. Early fall marks the beginning of a season of elevated spread for many respiratory viruses, including influenza and RSV.5 But there are steps that school staff and parents can take to help keep kids safe.

How to minimize the spread of respiratory viruses at school

  • Get kids vaccinated. Staying up to date on the seasonal flu vaccine, as well as becoming fully vaccinated against COVID-19, is the best way to protect against severe complications and hospitalizations.
  • Keep sick kids at home. Protect others by keeping your sick child at home.
  • Encourage frequent handwashing. Teach kids the proper way to wash their hands. At school, build in time during the day for handwashing.
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces. Frequently clean and disinfect surfaces at home or school, especially when someone is ill.

The Value of the Syndromic Approach During Respiratory Season

Many respiratory pathogens circulate during respiratory season—not just the flu.6 Now, with COVID-19 added to the mix, it’s more important than ever to know what’s causing respiratory infections for schoolkids.

Rapid antigen tests for COVID-19—such as the commonly available at-home tests—lack the sensitivity of molecular PCR testing. That’s why the FDA recommends that if someone tests negative for COVID-19 with an antigen test, but they’ve been exposed to or have symptoms of COVID-19, they should have follow-up molecular testing7

The molecular BIOFIRE® Respiratory 2.1 (RP2.1) Panel detects 22 targets, including viruses and bacteria, and provides results in about 45 minutes. When a child is sick with an acute respiratory infection, negative COVID-19 or influenza results just leave parents with more questions than answers. Instead, the syndromic approach can provide fast, comprehensive answers and take the guesswork out of choosing which pathogens to test for.

Designed for outpatient settings, the BIOFIRE® Respiratory 2.1-EZ (RP2.1-EZ) Panel (EUA)* detects 19 targets in about 45 minutes and is intended to be used for patients suspected of COVID-19.

Fast, comprehensive answers help give anxious parents peace of mind. They can also give clinicians the information they need to make timely, targeted treatment and patient-management decisions. The original BIOFIRE® FILMARRAY® Respiratory Panel has been shown to:

  • Reduce hospital length of stay8-10
  • Reduce antibiotic duration and decrease unnecessary antibiotic use9
  • Support informed infection control decisions such as shortened isolation times and optimal patient cohorting10

References:

  1. Centers for Disease Control, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season.htm, website accessed 11/1/2022.
  2. Ghebrehewet S, et al. Influenza. BMJ. 2016;355:i6258.
  3. The Pink Book: Influenza. Accessed 12 Oct 2022. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/flu.html
  4. Hall CB, Weinberg GA, Iwane MK, et al. The burden of respiratory syncytial virus infection in young children. New Engl J Med. 2009;360(6):588–98.
  5. Centers for Disease Control, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season.htm, website accessed 11/1/2022.
  6. BIOFIRE® Syndromic Trends: https://syndromictrends.com
  7. Omicron Variant: Impact on Antigen Diagnostic Tests. Accessed on 28 Feb 2022. Retrieved from: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/sars-cov-2-viral-mutations-impact-covid-19-tests?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#omicronvariantimpact
  8. Rappo U, et al. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2016 Aug;54(8):2096-103.
  9. Kitano T, et al. (2019) J Infect Chem. 26(1):82-85.
  10. Shengchen D, et al. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. 2019 Nov;25(11):1415-1421.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE:

  • Diagnostic Digest