gms | German Medical Science

The Respiratory Network was founded in 2009 on the initiative of the section “Clinical Virology” of the “Gesellschaft für Virologie” (GfV) and is meanwhile supported by the “Deutsche Vereinigung zur Bekämpfung von Viruserkrankungen” (DVV) and the “Paul Ehrlich Gesellschaft” PEG. Meanwhile more than 30 laboratories from Germany, Austria and Switzerland and Netherlands are members of the network. Using an online platform, the following data are collected: positive and negative results of respiratory virus tests, detection method, and – optionally – basic patient characteristics. Molecular techniques, e.g. multiplex PCRs such as realtime or Luminex-approaches are meanwhile state of the art. Most of the samples are nasal swabs taken with commercially available flocked swabs in transport medium (e.g. eNAT from COPAN, Brescia, Italy). Subtyping of viruses is performed in specialized centers. Most of the samples tested derived from hospitalized patients. The members have direct and real-time access to the cumulated data. The network has an internal site for the members and a freely accessible one which can be reached via http://rvdev.medical-dpc.com/ without registration.

So far, data from more than 35,000 patients are in in the database. Seasonal variations of the beginning, intensity and end of virus activities could be found not only for influenza viruses but also for viruses which are not routinely documented in other surveillance programs, like RSV, HMPV, Rhino-, Entero-, Adeno-, Parainfluenza- and Human Coronaviruses. Data from the RSV-epidemiology are of special interest for the RSV-prophylaxis with Palivizumab in preterm infants.

The Respiratory Network has proven to be a powerful tool in synergy to previously established surveillance systems of public health authorities in Germany. While the latter are focused on Germany and mainly collecting data on Influenza viruses from outpatients in Germany, the spectrum of the patients and the spectrum of viruses is broader in the Respiratory Network, most samples derive from inpatients and the data are collected also from Austria, Switzerland and The Netherlands. Electronic export functions of the database are established for the exchange with other databases. The current activity is to extend the data collection under coordination of bacterial specialists to the collection of respiratory bacteria, beginning with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumonia, Bordetella pertussis and expanding to others. A similar tool for the surveillance of gastroenteritic pathogens is also in preparation.