RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS-INFECTION IN INFANTS HOSPITALIZED WITH RESPIRATORY ILLNESS IN NORTHERN JORDAN

During the winter seasons of 1993 and 1994, a total of 256 nasopharyng eal aspirates (NPA) from infants aged less than 1 year old admitted to the pediatric ward of Princess Rahma Hospital, northern Jordan, with bronchiolitis and/or pneumonia, were tested for the presence of respir atory syncytial virus (RSV) using direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA ) and cell culture (CC), Of the 256 specimens, 129 (50 per cent) were found positive by both DFA and CC, whereas 24 specimens (9 per cent) a nd 16 specimens (6 per cent) were found positive by DFA and CC, respec tively. In an evaluation of the collected NPA specimens detected by DF A, a sensitivity of 89 per cent and a specificity of 78 per cent were demonstrated, These data suggest that virus isolation in CC is still i mportant for the diagnosis of RSV, although DFA is a valuable, rapid d iagnostic assay.