Nasosorption as a minimally invasive sampling procedure: Mucosal viral load and inflammation in primary RSV bronchiolitis

Abstract

Background. Existing respiratory mucosal sampling methods are flawed, particularly in a pediatric bronchiolitis setting. Methods. Twenty-four infants with bronchiolitis were recruited: 12 were respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)–positive, 12 were RSV-negative. Infants were sampled by nasosorption and nasopharyngeal aspiration (NPA). Results. Nasosorption was well tolerated and identified all RSV+ samples. RSV load measured by nasosorption (but not NPA) correlated with length of hospital stay (P = .04) and requirement for mechanical ventilation (P = .03). Nasosorption (but not NPA) levels of interferon γ, interleukin 1β, CCL5/ RANTES, and interleukin 10 (IL-10) were elevated in RSV+ bronchiolitis (all P < .05), furthermore CCL5 and IL-10 correlated with RSV load (P < .05). Conclusions. Nasosorption allowed measurement of RSV load and the mucosal inflammatory response in infants.