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JAMA Network Open Jun 2024Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) transmission was disrupted worldwide following the COVID-19 pandemic, and further study is required to better understand these changes.
IMPORTANCE
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) transmission was disrupted worldwide following the COVID-19 pandemic, and further study is required to better understand these changes.
OBJECTIVE
To compare observed and expected RSV hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates and characteristics of admitted children during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
A population-based cohort study of all children aged younger than 5 years in Ontario, Canada, July 1, 2017, through March 31, 2023, was conducted.
EXPOSURES
Individual and neighborhood-level sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were identified from administrative data, including age, palivizumab eligibility, complex medical conditions, rurality, and living in a marginalized neighborhood.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The main outcome was RSV-associated hospitalization. Secondary outcomes included ICU admissions, mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and in-hospital death. Poisson generalized estimating equations were used to model weekly age- and sex-specific hospitalization rates and estimate expected rates in the postpandemic era; adjusted rate ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs are reported.
RESULTS
This cohort study included approximately 700 000 children per study year. Compared with prepandemic years (2017-2018, 2018-2019, and 2019-2020), the 2021-2022 RSV season peaked slightly earlier, but overall admission rates were comparable (289.1 vs 281.4-334.6 per 100 000, or approximately 2000 admissions). The 2022-2023 season peaked a month earlier and resulted in more than twice as many hospitalizations (770.0 per 100 000; n = 4977 admissions). The proportion of children admitted to an ICU in 2022-2023 (13.9%) was slightly higher than prepandemic (9.6%-11.4%); however, the population-based rate was triple the prepandemic levels (106.9 vs 27.6-36.6 per 100 000 children in Ontario). With the exception of palivizumab-eligible children, all sociodemographic and health status characteristics were associated with lower-than-expected RSV hospitalization rates in 2021-2022. In contrast, older age of patients was associated with higher-than-expected rates in 2022-2023 (ie, 24-59 months: RR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.35-2.66).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
There were notable differences in RSV epidemiologic characteristics in Ontario following the COVID-19 pandemic. It is not yet clear whether and how long atypical RSV epidemics may persist. Clinicians and program planners should consider the potential for ongoing impacts to health care capacity and RSV immunization programs.
Topics: Humans; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections; Hospitalization; Infant; Male; Female; Child, Preschool; Ontario; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Intensive Care Units; Cohort Studies; Infant, Newborn; Respiration, Artificial; Pandemics; Palivizumab
PubMed: 38861259
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.16077 -
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy Jun 2024Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in young children and the elderly. There are currently no approved RSV-specific...
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in young children and the elderly. There are currently no approved RSV-specific therapeutic small molecules available. Using high-throughput antiviral screening, we identified an oral drug, the prenylation inhibitor lonafarnib, which showed potent inhibition of the RSV fusion process. Lonafarnib exhibited antiviral activity against both the RSV A and B genotypes and showed low cytotoxicity in HEp-2 and human primary bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC). Time-of-addition and pseudovirus assays demonstrated that lonafarnib inhibits RSV entry, but has farnesyltransferase-independent antiviral efficacy. Cryo-electron microscopy revealed that lonafarnib binds to a triple-symmetric pocket within the central cavity of the RSV F metastable pre-fusion conformation. Mutants at the RSV F sites interacting with lonafarnib showed resistance to lonafarnib but remained fully sensitive to the neutralizing monoclonal antibody palivizumab. Furthermore, lonafarnib dose-dependently reduced the replication of RSV in BALB/c mice. Collectively, lonafarnib could be a potential fusion inhibitor for RSV infection.
Topics: Humans; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections; Pyridines; Mice; Animals; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human; Viral Fusion Proteins; Farnesyltranstransferase; Antiviral Agents; Piperidines; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Protein Conformation; Dibenzocycloheptenes
PubMed: 38853183
DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01858-5 -
The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics May 2024Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common pathogens causing severe lower respiratory tract disease in infancy and childhood. In newborns, young...
BACKGROUND
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common pathogens causing severe lower respiratory tract disease in infancy and childhood. In newborns, young infants, and in infants with co-morbidities, the risk of severe infection is increased. Current protection against severe RSV infection is immunoprophylaxis with the monoclonal antibody palivizumab. The study aimed to assess the effects of palivizumab prophylaxis in the Republic of Montenegro in comparison to the pre-prophylaxis period.
METHODS
The study was conducted in prospective/retrospective single center format in Montenegro in the Clinical Center of Podgorica, for the period 2009-2019.
RESULTS
A total of 104 high-risk infants in the palivizumab prophylaxis program (2014-2019 RSV seasons) and 168 high-risk children without palivizumab prophylaxis (2009-2013 RSV seasons) were enrolled. A total of 51 children (49.0%) received prophylaxis for prematurity, 33 (31.7%) for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), 13 (12.5%) for hemodynamically significant heart disease/defect (HSCHD), and 7 (6.8%) for "miscellaneous" indications. In the control group most children had prematurity (101, 60.1%), followed by BPD (59, 35.1%), HSCHD (3, 1.8%), and "miscellaneous" (5, 3.4%) conditions. Readmission to the pediatric intensive care units (PICU) due to RSV infection was significantly lower in prophylaxis group (0.0 vs 16.1%, p<0.001). No lethal outcomes were observed in high-risk children with palivizumab prophylaxis compared to 2.4% in the control group.
CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of RSV immunoprophylaxis as well as other new protective treatment strategies for high-risk newborns led to significant improvements in infant and childcare in Montenegro. This is the first report on palivizumab prophylaxis in Montenegro, demonstrating the effectiveness and safety of palivizumab use in clinical settings.
Topics: Palivizumab; Humans; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections; Antiviral Agents; Male; Infant; Female; Infant, Newborn; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Montenegro; Infant, Premature
PubMed: 38814297
DOI: 10.24953/turkjpediatr.2024.4592 -
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics Dec 2024Nirsevimab has been recently licensed for universal RSV prophylaxis in infants. NIRSE-GAL is a three-year population-based study initiated in Galicia in September 2023....
Assessment of effectiveness and impact of universal prophylaxis with nirsevimab for prevention of hospitalizations due to respiratory syncytial virus in infants. The NIRSE-GAL study protocol.
Nirsevimab has been recently licensed for universal RSV prophylaxis in infants. NIRSE-GAL is a three-year population-based study initiated in Galicia in September 2023. It aims to evaluate nirsevimab effectiveness against RSV-related hospitalizations lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), severe RSV, all-cause LRTI, and all-cause hospitalization. NIRSE-GAL also aims to estimate nirsevimab impact on primary healthcare use in the short and mid-term, children's wheezing and asthma, and medical prescriptions for RSV. The immunization campaigns will be scheduled based on the expected start week for the RSV season and will last the whole season. Immunization will be offered to: i) infants born during the campaign (seasonal), ii) infants < 6 months at the start of the campaign (catch-up), and iii) infants with high-risk factors, aged 6-24 months at the start of the campaign (high-risk). The follow-up period will start: i) the immunization date for all immunized infants, ii) the start of the campaign, for the non-immunized catch-up or high-risk groups, or iii) the birthdate for the non-immunized seasonal group. Infants will be followed up until outcome occurrence, death, or end of study. Nirsevimab effectiveness will be estimated using Poisson and Cox regression models. Sensitivity and stratified analyses will be undertaken. The number of averted cases and the number needed to immunize will be estimated. Immunization failure and nirsevimab safety will be monitored. NIRSE-GAL was approved by the ethics committee of Galicia (CEIC 2023-377) and registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT06180993). Findings will be mainly shared via peer-reviewed publications and scientific conferences.
Topics: Humans; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections; Infant; Hospitalization; Antiviral Agents; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human; Female; Male; Respiratory Tract Infections; Immunization Programs; Infant, Newborn; Child, Preschool; Palivizumab; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
PubMed: 38738683
DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2348135 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Apr 2024Palivizumab has proven effective in reducing hospitalizations, preventing severe illness, improving health outcomes, and reducing healthcare costs for infants at risk of...
AIM
Palivizumab has proven effective in reducing hospitalizations, preventing severe illness, improving health outcomes, and reducing healthcare costs for infants at risk of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. We aim to assess the value of palivizumab in preventing RSV infection in high-risk infants in Colombia, where RSV poses a significant threat, causing severe respiratory illness and hospitalizations.
METHODS
We conducted a decision tree analysis to compare five doses of palivizumab with no palivizumab. The study considered three population groups: preterm neonates (≤ 35 weeks gestational age), infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and infants with hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease (CHD). We obtained clinical efficacy data from IMpact-RSV and Cardiac Synagis trials, while we derived neonatal hospitalization risks from the SENTINEL-1 study. We based hospitalization and recurrent wheezing management costs on Colombian analyses and validated them by experts. We estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and performed 1,000 Monte Carlo simulations for probabilistic sensitivity analyses.
RESULTS
Palivizumab is a dominant strategy for preventing RSV infection in preterm neonates and infants with BPD and CHD. Its high efficacy (78% in preventing RSV in preterm infants), the substantial risk of illness and hospitalization, and the high costs associated with hospitalization, particularly in neonatal intensive care settings, support this finding. The scatter plots and willingness-to-pay curves align with these results.
CONCLUSION
Palivizumab is a cost-saving strategy in Colombia, effectively preventing RSV infection in preterm neonates and infants with BPD and CHD by reducing hospitalizations and lowering healthcare costs.
Topics: Infant; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Palivizumab; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Colombia; Antiviral Agents; Infant, Premature; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human; Heart Defects, Congenital; Hospitalization
PubMed: 38641577
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09300-5 -
The Journal of Infection May 2024This study investigated the prevalence, genetic diversity, and evolution of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) in Barcelona from 2013 to 2023.
OBJECTIVES
This study investigated the prevalence, genetic diversity, and evolution of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) in Barcelona from 2013 to 2023.
METHODS
Respiratory specimens from patients with RTI suspicion at Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron were collected from October 2013 to May 2023 for laboratory-confirmation of respiratory viruses. Next-generation sequencing was performed in randomly-selected samples with Illumina technology. Phylogenetic analyses of whole genome sequences were performed with BEAST v1.10.4. Signals of selection and evolutionary pressures were inferred by population dynamics and evolutionary analyses. Mutations in major surface proteins were genetic and structurally characterised, emphasizing those within antigenic epitopes.
RESULTS
Analyzing 139,625 samples, 5.3% were HRSV-positive (3008 HRSV-A, 3882 HRSV-B, 56 HRSV-A and -B, and 495 unsubtyped HRSV), with a higher prevalence observed in the paediatric population. Pandemic-related shifts in seasonal patterns returned to normal in 2022-2023. A total of 198 whole-genome sequences were obtained for HRSV-A (6.6% of the HRSV-A positive samples) belonging to GA2.3.5 lineage. For HRSV-B, 167 samples were sequenced (4.3% of the HRSV-B positive samples), belonging to GB5.0.2, GB5.0.4a and GB5.0.5a. HRSV-B exhibited a higher evolution rate. Post-SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, both subtypes showed increased evolutionary rates and decreased effective population size initially, followed by a sharp increase. Analyses indicated negative selective pressure on HRSV. Mutations in antigenic epitopes, including S276N and M274I in palivizumab-targeted site II, and I206M, Q209R, and S211N in nirsevimab-targeted site Ø, were identified.
DISCUSSION
Particularly in the context of the large-scale use in 2023-2024 season of nirsevimab, continuous epidemiological and genomic surveillance is crucial.
Topics: Humans; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections; Phylogeny; Child, Preschool; Child; Male; Infant; Evolution, Molecular; Female; Genome, Viral; Middle Aged; Spain; Adolescent; Adult; Genetic Variation; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Aged; Young Adult; Mutation; Whole Genome Sequencing; Antibodies, Viral; Prevalence; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Infant, Newborn
PubMed: 38588960
DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106153 -
Nature Communications Apr 2024Currently, only Palivizumab and Nirsevimab that target the respiratory syncytical virus (RSV) fusion protein are licensed for pre-treatment of infants....
Currently, only Palivizumab and Nirsevimab that target the respiratory syncytical virus (RSV) fusion protein are licensed for pre-treatment of infants. Glycoprotein-targeting antibodies may also provide protection against RSV. In this study, we generate monoclonal antibodies from mice immunized with G proteins from RSV-A2 and RSV-B1 strains. These monoclonal antibodies recognize six unique antigenic classes (G0-G5). None of the anti-G monoclonal antibodies neutralize RSV-A2 or RSV-B1 in vitro. In mice challenged with either RSV-A2 line 19 F or RSV-B1, one day after treatment with anti-G monoclonal antibodies, all monoclonal antibodies reduce lung pathology and significantly reduce lung infectious viral titers by more than 2 logs on day 5 post-RSV challenge. RSV dissemination in the lungs was variable and correlated with lung pathology. We demonstrate new cross-protective anti-G monoclonal antibodies targeting multiple sites including conformation-dependent class G0 MAb 77D2, CCD-specific class G1 MAb 40D8, and carboxy terminus of CCD class G5 MAb 7H11, to support development of G-targeting monoclonal antibodies against RSV.
Topics: Humans; Mice; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections; Antibodies, Viral; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human; Viral Fusion Proteins; GTP-Binding Proteins; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines; Antibodies, Neutralizing
PubMed: 38575575
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47146-2 -
European Journal of Pediatrics Jun 2024We aimed to describe differences in the epidemiology, management, and outcomes existing between centers located in countries which differ by geographical location and... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
UNLABELLED
We aimed to describe differences in the epidemiology, management, and outcomes existing between centers located in countries which differ by geographical location and economic status during to post-pandemic bronchiolitis seasons. This was a prospective observational cohort study performed in two academic centers in Latin America (LA) and three in Italy. All consecutive children with a clinical diagnosis of bronchiolitis were included, following the same data collection form. Nine hundred forty-three patients have been enrolled: 275 from the two Latin American Centers (San Jose, 215; Buenos Aires, 60), and 668 from Italy (Rome, 178; Milano, 163; Bologna, 251; Catania, 76). Children in LA had more frequently comorbidities, and only rarely received palivizumab. A higher number of patients in LA had been hospitalized in a ward (64% versus 23.9%, p < 0.001) or in a PICU (16% versus 6.2%, p < 0.001), and children in LA required overall more often respiratory support, from low flow oxygen to invasive mechanical ventilation, except for CPAP which was more used in Italy. There was no significant difference in prescription rates for antibiotics, but a significantly higher number of patients treated with systemic steroids in Italy.
CONCLUSIONS
We found significant differences in the care for children with bronchiolitis in Italy and LA. Reasons behind such differences are unclear and would require further investigations to optimize and homogenize practice all over the world.
WHAT IS KNOWN
• Bronchiolitis is among the commest cause of morbidity and mortality in infants all over the world.
WHAT IS NEW
• There are significant differences on how clinicians care for bronchiolitis in different centers and continents. Differences in care can be principally due to different local practices than differences in patients severity/presentations. • Understanding these differences should be a priority to optime and standardize bronchiolitis care globally.
Topics: Humans; Italy; Prospective Studies; Infant; Male; Female; Bronchiolitis; Latin America; Infant, Newborn; Treatment Outcome; Hospitalization; Child, Preschool; Palivizumab
PubMed: 38554172
DOI: 10.1007/s00431-024-05530-6 -
Italian Journal of Pediatrics Mar 2024Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infections may lead to severe consequences in infants born preterm with breathing problems (such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)...
BACKGROUND
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infections may lead to severe consequences in infants born preterm with breathing problems (such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)) or congenital heart diseases (CHD). Since studies investigating the influence of different gestational age (WGA) and concomitant specific comorbidities on the burden of RSV infections are scarce, the present study aimed to better characterize these high-risk populations in the Italian context.
METHODS
This retrospective, longitudinal and record-linkage cohort study involved infants born between 2017 and 2019 in Lazio Region (Italy) and is based on data extracted from administrative databases. Each infant was exclusively included in one of the following cohorts: (1) BPD-RDS (WGA ≤35 with or without CHD) or (2) CHD (without BPD and/or RDS) or (3) Preterm (WGA ≤35 without BPD (and/or RDS) or CHD). Each cohort was followed for 12 months from birth. Information related to sociodemographic at birth, and RSV and Undetermined Respiratory Agents (URA) hospitalizations and drug consumption at follow-up were retrieved and described.
RESULTS
A total of 8,196 infants were selected and classified as 1,084 BPD-RDS, 3,286 CHD and 3,826 Preterm. More than 30% of the BPD-RDS cohort was composed by early preterm infants (WGA ≤ 29) in contrast to the Preterm cohort predominantly constitute by moderate preterm infants (98.2%), while CHD infants were primarily born at term (83.9%). At follow-up, despite the cohorts showed similar proportions of RSV hospitalizations, in BPD-RDS cohort hospitalizations were more frequently severe compared to those occurred in the Preterm cohort (p<0.01), in the BPD-RDS cohort was also found the highest proportion of URA hospitalizations (p<0.0001). In addition, BPD-RDS infants, compared to those of the remaining cohorts, received more frequently prophylaxis with palivizumab (p<0.0001) and were more frequently treated with adrenergics inhalants, and glucocorticoids for systemic use.
CONCLUSIONS
The assessment of the study clinical outcomes highlighted that, the demographic and clinical characteristics at birth of the study cohorts influence their level of vulnerability to RSV and URA infections. As such, continuous monitoring of these populations is necessary in order to ensure a timely organization of health care system able to respond to their needs in the future.
Topics: Infant; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections; Infant, Premature; Retrospective Studies; Cohort Studies; Palivizumab; Hospitalization; Heart Defects, Congenital; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia; Antiviral Agents
PubMed: 38528568
DOI: 10.1186/s13052-024-01627-8 -
Infection & Chemotherapy Mar 2024We aimed to evaluate the clinical features of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and risk factors for severe RSV disease among Korean children in 2022/2023. A...
We aimed to evaluate the clinical features of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and risk factors for severe RSV disease among Korean children in 2022/2023. A total of 235 children were identified, and 84.3% were hospitalized. Patients under 3 months and 2 years of age accounted for 20.9% and 54.5%, respectively. Pneumonia was diagnosed in 40.9% of children and bronchiolitis in 23.8%. Respiratory support and intensive care were required in 43.4% and 7.7% of patients, respectively. nasopharyngeal colonization and the presence of underlying disease showed a significant correlation with severity indicators. The clinical impact of RSV infection was high on infants and toddlers, even those having no underlying disease or not being indicated for palivizumab.
PubMed: 38527782
DOI: 10.3947/ic.2023.0076