Palivizumab Prophylaxis among Infants at Increased Risk of Hospitalization due to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in UAE: A Hospital-Based Study

Abstract

Background. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) represents a significant public health burden and the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections globally, and it is the major cause of hospitalization during the winter. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of palivizumab prophylaxis to reduce the hospitalization in children at high risk of RSV infection. Methods. We performed a retrospective observational single-arm hospital-based study including five RSV seasons (September to March) from 2012 to 2017. We retrospectively included premature infants born at less than 35 weeks of gestation with chronic lungs disease or hemodynamic significant congenital heart disease for palivizumab prophylaxis against RSV infection according to the criteria presented. Results. A total of 925 children were enrolled in the study over the five RSV seasons. Of them, 410 (44.3%) infants born at <32 weeks of gestation and 515 (55.6%) infants born at 32–35 weeks of gestation with mean (±SD) birth weight of 1104.8 ± 402.85 and 1842.5 ± 377.5, respectively. The compliance with the course of palivizumab was reported in 841 (90.9%) children. Of them, about 75 (8.9%) hospitalized children were reported, and 17 (2.02%) RSV positive children were detected. Hospitalization due to RSV infection was decreased from 9.23% in the 2012-2013 season to 0.67% in the 2016-2017 season. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that palivizumab prophylaxis in children at high risk of developing RSV infection was effective in reducing the risk of hospitalization with a high compliance rate over the five RSV seasons.

Impact of immunoprophylaxis with palivizumab on respiratory syncytial virus infection in preterm infants less than 35 weeks in Colombian hospitals

“…For the 21 hospitalized patients, the average stay was 7.42 ± 3.05 days, but the risk was higher in those with RSV infection; additionally, those born at a gestational age of less than 32 weeks had a significantly longer stay. These findings are very similar to those reported in the literature 19,20 …”

“…These findings are very similar to those reported in the literature. 19,20 When evaluating the risk factors that could be associated with patients admitted due to ALRI, BPD (OR: 1. were associated with an increased risk of visiting the ER for respiratory symptoms. Furthermore, it was found that the presence of positive RSV in the nasopharyngeal aspirate, supplemental oxygen therapy at home, and the presence of smokers at home were significantly associated with hospitalization for ALRI.…”

Real-World Studies of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Hospitalizations among Moderate/Late Preterm Infants Exposed to Passive Immunoprophylaxis with Palivizumab

“…Compliance with the prophylaxis regimen is essential for effectiveness, 49,50 including appropriate timing of administration with respect to the RSV season, 51 and the need to consider extended coverage in some very high-risk individuals. 52 In a descriptive single-centered study over five RSV seasons from 2012 to 2017, Elhalik et al 53 enrolled 925 infants eligible for palivizumab immunoprophylaxis under AAP 2009 criteria. 54 Of these, 515 infants were born at 32 to 35 wGA.…”

Análise da segurança e da eficácia do uso do palivizumabe como prevenção de agravos nas infecções por vírus sincicial respiratório em grupos pediátricos de risco: uma revisão sistemática

“…O vírus sincicial respiratório (VSR) é um vírus de RNA de fita simples, envelopado, negativo e não-segmentado, pertencente à família Pneumoviridae (ELHALIK et al, 2019), que acomete o trato respiratório em crianças, principalmente entre a faixa etária de 0 a 5 anos (FEROLLA et al, 2019). A infecção pelo vírus sincicial respiratório pode acometer o trato respiratório superior (GAREGNANI et al, 2021) e o inferior, sendo este a principal causa de hospitalização entre as crianças menores de um ano de idade (VIGÚRIA et al, 2021).…”