Enhancing Acute Respiratory Infection Surveillance with Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing: Findings from a 3-year (Post-COVID-19) Retrospective Observational Study from an Indian Hospital

Abstract Background: This study aimed to explore whether multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing data could offer insights into trends in respiratory pathogens at a tertiary care centre in Mumbai, India. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study at a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai, India was conducted using data from BioFire ® FilmArray Respiratory Panel tests performed between 2022 and 2024. The test detects 15 viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens. Data of patient demographics, clinical setting and detected pathogens were extracted. Results: A total of 3013 tests were conducted over 3 years, of which 50.4% detected at least one pathogen. The highest volume of testing occurred during the monsoon season (July–September), with Rhinovirus/Enterovirus being the most frequently detected organism overall. Influenza A (H1N1) was the predominant pathogen in intensive care unit patients, while respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus (HMPV) showed distinct seasonal peaks. A significant surge in HMPV cases was observed in 2024. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate the potential for routine diagnostic data to function as a valuable surveillance tool. Integrating multiplex PCR results into real-time dashboards could enhance early outbreak detection, facilitate data-driven communication strategies and improve public health response to emerging epidemics.