Multiplex real-time PCR for prompt diagnosis of an outbreak of human parainfluenza 3 virus in children with acute leukemia

Berrueco, R.; Antón, A.; Rives, S.; Català , A.; Toll, T.; Ruiz, A.; Camós, M.; Torrebadell, M.; Estella, J.; Muñoz-Almagro, C.

INTRODUCTION: Human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV-3) causes significant morbimortality in immunocompromised patients. Outbreaks of severe pneumonitis have been previously described in this setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study in children diagnosed with acute leukemia and a documented HPIV-3 infection in the context of a nosocomial outbreak occurred in a single center. RESULT: During summer 2012, an HPIV-3 infection was detected in six hospitalized children with acute leukemia. All the patients had respiratory symptoms and one of them suffered from parotitis. CONCLUSION: Early diagnoses using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) let us control this outbreak. A phylogenetic analysis confirmed person-to-person transmission of a single HPIV-3 variant.