Multicenter Cross-sectional Study on the Epidemiology of Human Metapneumovirus in Italy, 2022–2024, With a Focus on Adults Over 50 Years of Age - Scorecard - MDSpire

Multicenter Cross-sectional Study on the Epidemiology of Human Metapneumovirus in Italy, 2022–2024, With a Focus on Adults Over 50 Years of Age

  • By

  • Alessandro Mancon

  • Laura Pellegrinelli

  • Greta Romano

  • Elisa Vian

  • Valeria Biscaro

  • Giulia Piccirilli

  • Tiziana Lazzarotto

  • Sara Uceda Renteria

  • Annapaola Callegaro

  • Elisabetta Pagani

  • Elisa Masi

  • Guglielmo Ferrari

  • Cristina Galli

  • Francesca Centrone

  • Maria Chironna

  • Claudia Tiberio

  • Erasmo Falco

  • Valeria Micheli

  • Federica Novazzi

  • Nicasio Mancini

  • Tiziano Giacomo Allice

  • Francesco Cerutti

  • Elena Pomari

  • Concetta Castilletti

  • Eleonora Lalle

  • Fabrizio Maggi

  • Matteo Fracella

  • Paolo Ravanini

  • Giulia Faolotto

  • Roberta Schiavo

  • Giuliana Lo Cascio

  • Carla Acciarri

  • Stefano Menzo

  • Fausto Baldanti

  • Guido Antonelli

  • Alessandra Pierangeli

  • Elena Pariani

  • Antonio Piralla

  • on behalf

  • AMCLI-GLIViRe Working Group

  • Laura Sandri

  • Sandro Binda

  • Federica Giardina

  • Antonino M G Pitrolo

  • Patrizia Bono

  • Gabriele Arcari

  • Alessandra Lombardi

  • Antonia Palumbo

  • Salvatore Curiale

  • Eva Caterina Borgatti

  • Federica Tontarelli

  • Fabrizio Carletti

  • Ombretta Turriziani

  • Annamaria Colacicco

  • July 16, 2025

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Clinical Scorecard: Epidemiological Insights into Human Metapneumovirus Among Adults Aged 50 and Older in Italy: A Multicenter Cross-sectional Analysis from 2022 to 2024

At a Glance

CategoryDetail
ConditionHuman metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection causing acute respiratory illness
Key MechanismsEnveloped, negative-stranded RNA virus with two antigenically distinct types (A and B) and multiple genetic lineages affecting respiratory tract
Target PopulationAdults aged 50 years and older, especially those >80 years and with comorbidities
Care SettingOutpatient and tertiary hospital settings across Italy

Key Highlights

  • Overall hMPV positivity rate was 3.4% among tested respiratory samples; 2.6% in adults aged ≥50 years.
  • Seasonal peaks observed in February 2023 and April 2024 with geographic variation but overlapping in elderly and general population.
  • Phylogenetic analysis showed predominance of clades A2c with 111-nucleotide duplication and B2b; possible extinction of some previously circulating clades.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

  • Use molecular respiratory viral diagnostic tests on respiratory specimens (nasopharyngeal swabs, aspirates, bronchoalveolar lavages) from patients with influenza-like illness or acute respiratory infection symptoms.
  • Exclude duplicate samples collected less than 14 days apart to avoid redundant testing.

Management

  • Recognize older adults and those with comorbidities as priority populations for potential hMPV vaccination once available.
  • Consider hMPV as a relevant respiratory pathogen in differential diagnosis of respiratory illness in older adults.

Monitoring & Follow-up

  • Conduct ongoing epidemiologic surveillance of hMPV using molecular diagnostics in both outpatient and inpatient settings.
  • Monitor seasonal and geographic variations in hMPV circulation to inform public health interventions.

Risks

  • Older adults, particularly those over 80 years and with comorbidities, are at higher risk for severe outcomes from hMPV infection.
  • Immune debt from COVID-19 pandemic restrictions may increase susceptibility to hMPV infection.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Adults aged 50 years and older tested for respiratory viral infections in Italy from 2022 to 2024.

No specific antiviral treatment data provided; emphasis on surveillance and potential vaccination strategies for high-risk older adults.

Clinical Best Practices

  • Incorporate molecular testing for hMPV in respiratory viral panels for patients presenting with influenza-like illness or acute respiratory infection symptoms.
  • Prioritize surveillance data integration from multiple centers to track hMPV epidemiology and genetic evolution.
  • Focus prevention strategies, including vaccination development, on older adults and those with comorbidities due to higher risk of severe disease.

References

Original Source(s)

Multicenter Cross-sectional Study on the Epidemiology of Human Metapneumovirus in Italy, 2022–2024, With a Focus on Adults Over 50 Years of Age

  • by Alessandro Mancon, Laura Pellegrinelli, Greta Romano, Elisa Vian, Valeria Biscaro, Giulia Piccirilli, Tiziana Lazzarotto, Sara Uceda Renteria, Annapaola Callegaro, Elisabetta Pagani, Elisa Masi, Guglielmo Ferrari, Cristina Galli, Francesca Centrone, Maria Chironna, Claudia Tiberio, Erasmo Falco, Valeria Micheli, Federica Novazzi, Nicasio Mancini, Tiziano Giacomo Allice, Francesco Cerutti, Elena Pomari, Concetta Castilletti, Eleonora Lalle, Fabrizio Maggi, Matteo Fracella, Paolo Ravanini, Giulia Faolotto, Roberta Schiavo, Giuliana Lo Cascio, Carla Acciarri, Stefano Menzo, Fausto Baldanti, Guido Antonelli, Alessandra Pierangeli, Elena Pariani, Antonio Piralla, on behalf, AMCLI-GLIViRe Working Group, Laura Sandri, Sandro Binda, Federica Giardina, Antonino M G Pitrolo, Patrizia Bono, Gabriele Arcari, Alessandra Lombardi, Antonia Palumbo, Salvatore Curiale, Eva Caterina Borgatti, Federica Tontarelli, Fabrizio Carletti, Ombretta Turriziani, Annamaria Colacicco

  • July 16, 2025

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