National Reference Center (NRC) for Respiratory pathogens

Adenovirus, coronavirus including SARS, human parainfluenza virus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), Influenza virus

General information

Please contact the following website if you would like more information about the near real-time weekly detection of respiratory pathogens at UZ Leuven: https://www.uzleuven.be/nl/laboratoriumgeneeskunde/wekelijkse-detectieresultaten-respiratoire-pathogenen 

Important communication

Call for participation in epidemiological surveillance RSV (05.11.2024)

Now that the RSV season has started, we would like to invite every laboratory again to participate in the epidemiological surveillance of this virus. In the context of current and new prevention strategies such as monoclonal antibody administration in the very young and vaccination of the elderly and pregnant women, it is crucial to monitor the genetic diversity of the virus. We, therefore, ask that each laboratory send a selection of 10 positive RSV samples per season (October — March) to our reference centre for further typing (only a proportion will be examined with full genome analysis). Preferably, this selection considers age: 5 samples from patients <6 years, 3 samples from patients >65 years, and 2 samples from patients aged 6-65 years. Only samples with a Ct value <20 and with a minimum volume of 700 µl may be sent. These respiratory samples may be sent together with a fully completed request form which can be found on this page

Increase in cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (2023)

The bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae is on the rise in Belgium as well as in Europe and Asia [1]. Mainly, infections are reported in the five- to 20-year-old age group. More invasive infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae are also reported. 
Given the rising number of infections with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, the National Reference Centre (NRC) for respiratory pathogens wants to monitor this closely. The NRC also conducts detection of macrolide resistance in Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Hereby, we would like to urge you to send positive samples to us so that we can carry out further typing of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in epidemiological interest and conduct the detection of macrolide resistance if clinically necessary.

[1] P. M. Meyer Sauteur en M. L. Beeton of European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Mycoplasma and Chlamydia Infections (ESGMAC), and the ESGMAC Mycoplasma pneumoniae Surveillance (MAPS) study group „Mycoplasma pneumoniae: delayed re-emergence after COVID-19 pandemic restrictions,” The Lancet Microbe, 23 11 2023.

Useful links

The slides of the information session (26/10/2023) regarding the activities of the NRC Respiratory Pathogens can be consulted via: Information Session October 2023