CIRCULATING VIRAL RESPIRATORY PATHOGENS AS CAUSATIVE AGENT FOR SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IN MOROCCO: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.

Abstract

Background: Numerous microorganisms are linked to acute respiratory infections, with increasing focus on viruses as significant pathogens, particularly following the emergence of severe acute respiratory infections. we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of respiratory viruses in patients with acute respiratory infections in different regions of Morocco. Materials and Methods: Our study was conducted in accordance with the methodological criteria of the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). We systematically reviewed studies having using databases of PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science between 2000 and 2023. The protocol of the review was registered in the PROSPERO register (CRD42023372751). Twenty-three studies were included in the review. Results: The prevalence of pandemic influenza A(H1N1)2009 varied widely, ranging from 8% to 96%, with almost all studies reporting proportions exceeding 30%. Seasonal influenza had a prevalence ranging from 0.88% to 17%. Among children, four studies examined Respiratory Syncytial Virus prevalence, estimating rates between 18% and 36.47%. Additionally, four studies assessed Respiratory Syncytial Virus prevalence across all age groups, reporting rates from 12% to 53.8%. Three studies found Rhinovirus prevalence in children exceeding 50%, while six studies investigating populations of all ages reported rates from 5.8% to 38%. Conclusions: This review suggests that Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Rhinovirus have a considerable prevalence in the samples studied in the different cities of the Kingdom of Morocco.