Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the infection status of viral pathogens in patients with acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) in Guangdong Province, so as to provide evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment.MethodsDuring 2009 to 2011, one hospital was selected separately from cities of Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Zhanjiang, Shaoguan, and Shantou. Nasal swabs were collected from patients with ARTI for 1-3 days in the selected hospitals. Influenza and other respiratory viruses were tested by molecular assays simultaneously. Descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of various viral infections. ResultsA total of 1 234 samples were collected, of which 555 (45.0%) were positive for viral nucleic acid. The most virus detected was HRV (30.3%, 168/555), followed by FluA (26.1%，145/555). The detection rates were statistically significant between different age groups (P<0.01), and the highest detection rate was found in group aged at 0 to 4 years (62.1%, 185/298). The positive detections rates were 45.5% (326/716) for males and 44.2% (229/518) for females (P>0.05). Except HRV, other viral infections had obvious seasonal characteristics. The mixed infection was found in 27samples, with a mixed infection rate of 2.2%.ConclusionHRV and FluA were predominant viral pathogens in patients with ARTI in Guangdong Province, viral infections had obvious age and seasonal characteristics, and co-infections were detected in parts of ARTI patients.