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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Infection

Point prevalence assessments of five respiratory viruses in adults ≥ 50 years of age in Germany by multi-pathogen rapid antigen testing on June 1, 2024, and December 15, 2024

  • Miranda Anggitakirana1,2,3
  • Julia A. Nacov1,2,3
  • Jon Salmanton-García1,2,3
  • Julia Jakobs1,2,3
  • Sarah Grimm1,2,3
  • Janina Leckler1,2,3
  • Katharina Köbe1,2,3
  • Louise M. Cremer1,2,3
  • Pauline Wipfler1,2,3
  • Jannik Stemler1,2,3
  • Heinz-Josef Schmitt1,2,3
  • Ullrich Bethe1,2,3
1 more authors
  • Oliver A. Cornely1,2,3,4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Translational Research, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Herderstr. 52, 50931 Cologne, Germany
  2. 2Faculty of Medicine, Department I of Internal Medicine, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University of Cologne, and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
  3. 3German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
  4. 4Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, University Hospital Cologne, Clinical Trials Centre Cologne (ZKS Köln), Cologne, Germany
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Abstract

Purpose: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) impose a significant burden on healthcare systems and society. This study aimed to investigate the circulation of respiratory viruses in community-dwelling older adults in Germany.

Methods: Participants aged ≥ 50 years in Germany performed multi-pathogen rapid antigen self-tests (MAK5) detecting adenovirus (AdV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2), influenza A and B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) on June 1 and December 15, 2024. Participants reported test results, ARI symptoms and duration, medical consultations, work absenteeism, comorbidities, vaccination history, and prior infections.

Results: 2,654 participants enrolled in the point prevalence assessment on June 1, 2024 and 2,385 on December 15, 2024. Most tests were negative (n = 4,807; 93.9%), with an overall detection rate of 5.7%. In June, 153 pathogens were detected, compared to 138 in December. AdV was the most frequently detected pathogen in both June (59/153; 38.6%) and December (44/138; 31.9%), followed by SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A. Among participants with a positive test, at least one ARI symptom was reported by 47.7% in June and 58.7% in December. SARS-CoV-2 was associated with the highest clinical burden, resulting in healthcare utilization in 10.0% and 19.4% of cases and work absenteeism in 10.0% and 13.9% of cases in June and December, respectively.

Conclusion: Point prevalence testing revealed substantial AdV circulation, underrepresented in routine surveillance. Its frequent co-detection with other viruses suggests a role as a co-infecting agent. Community-based screening can help identify asymptomatic reservoirs and underreported viral circulation, linking viral detection to clinical and economic impact.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-026-02917-5.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{anggitakirana2026point,
  title = {{Point prevalence assessments of five respiratory viruses in adults ≥ 50 years of age in Germany by multi-pathogen rapid antigen testing on June 1, 2024, and December 15, 2024}},
  author = {Miranda Anggitakirana and Julia A. Nacov and Jon Salmanton-García and Julia Jakobs and Sarah Grimm and Janina Leckler and Katharina Köbe and Louise M. Cremer and Pauline Wipfler and Jannik Stemler and Heinz-Josef Schmitt and Ullrich Bethe and Oliver A. Cornely},
  journal = {Infection},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1007/s15010-026-02917-5},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-026-02917-5},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Point prevalence assessments of five respiratory viruses in adults ≥ 50 years of age in Germany by multi-pathogen rapid antigen testing on June 1, 2024, and December 15, 2024
AU  - Miranda Anggitakirana
AU  - Julia A. Nacov
AU  - Jon Salmanton-García
AU  - Julia Jakobs
AU  - Sarah Grimm
AU  - Janina Leckler
AU  - Katharina Köbe
AU  - Louise M. Cremer
AU  - Pauline Wipfler
AU  - Jannik Stemler
AU  - Heinz-Josef Schmitt
AU  - Ullrich Bethe
AU  - Oliver A. Cornely
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/25
JO  - Infection
DO  - 10.1007/s15010-026-02917-5
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-026-02917-5
AB  - Purpose: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) impose a significant burden on healthcare systems and society. This study aimed to investigate the circulation of respiratory viruses in community-dwelling older adults in Germany.  Methods: Participants aged ≥ 50 years in Germany performed multi-pathogen rapid antigen self-tests (MAK5) detecting adenovirus (AdV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2), influenza A and B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) on June 1 and December 15, 2024. Participants reported test results, ARI symptoms and duration, medical consultations, work absenteeism, comorbidities, vaccination history, and prior infections.  Results: 2,654 participants enrolled in the point prevalence assessment on June 1, 2024 and 2,385 on December 15, 2024. Most tests were negative (n = 4,807; 93.9%), with an overall detection rate of 5.7%. In June, 153 pathogens were detected, compared to 138 in December. AdV was the most frequently detected pathogen in both June (59/153; 38.6%) and December (44/138; 31.9%), followed by SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A. Among participants with a positive test, at least one ARI symptom was reported by 47.7% in June and 58.7% in December. SARS-CoV-2 was associated with the highest clinical burden, resulting in healthcare utilization in 10.0% and 19.4% of cases and work absenteeism in 10.0% and 13.9% of cases in June and December, respectively.  Conclusion: Point prevalence testing revealed substantial AdV circulation, underrepresented in routine surveillance. Its frequent co-detection with other viruses suggests a role as a co-infecting agent. Community-based screening can help identify asymptomatic reservoirs and underreported viral circulation, linking viral detection to clinical and economic impact.  Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-026-02917-5.
SN  - 0300-8126
SN  - 1439-0973
ER  -