Purpose: Expanded availability of multi-pathogen PCR assays has allowed the detection of common respiratory viruses in clinical specimens. Few studies have investigated the epidemiology and clinical impact of non-influenza respiratory viruses on solid organ transplant patients.

Methods: This is a multi-center retrospective cohort study of all adult solid organ transplant recipients diagnosed with a non-influenza respiratory virus infection (RVI) by molecular diagnostic method (xTAG RVP) at 2 centers from 10/1/09 – 9/30/12. Epidemiologic and clinical data were collected from chart review of identified patients.

Results: Seventy-seven of 442 solid organ transplant recipients who had RVP performed during the study period had a RVI identified in 88 assays (see Table 1 for Demographics). Forty-seven patients had rhinovirus, 10 had RSV, 7 had metapneumovirus, 5 had parainfluenza virus, 1 had adenovirus, 1 patient had 3 episodes of RVI (rhinovirus, RSV and parainfluenza) and 2 patients had 2 separate episodes of rhinovirus infection. Thirty-five (45%) patients with RVI were hospitalized after or at the time of the RVP. Twenty-six (34%) episodes of RVI were associated with bacterial infections, 11 with other viral infections and 2 with fungal infections. Eight (10%) patients required ICU care during hospitalization. No patient died as a result of the RVI and only 1 patient received directed anti-viral therapy.

Conclusions: Non-influenza RVIs can result in significant morbidity and are frequently associated with secondary infections.

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