Palivizumab: The Effects of Prophylactic Immunization on the Occurrence of Infections Caused by the Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Abstract

Aim The aim of this research is to analyze the characteristics of children immunized during immunization season, and their readmission to hospital due to infections of the respiratory tract in the period from 2008 to 2016.

Method The retrospective cohort study included 101 children. The test group consists of infants who met the strict criteria for immunization. The national guidance was determined on the basis of earlier research and recommendations by the AAP. All the children who had been readmitted for hospitalization were quickly tested for RSV.

Results Of this total, 47 children were preterm children (46.5%), 43 (42.5%) were children with CHD, and 11 (11%) exhibited other individual risk factors (gestational age 33–34 weeks, neurological disorders, respiratory anomalies, multi-organ anomalies). 25 (24%) patients of the immunized study population readmitted the ward due to respiratory infections. Of these, 50% were under the age of 6 months and were treated for less than a week on average. Upon readmission, a quick test to diagnose for RSV infections was conducted, which was negative for all of the previously immunized children.

Conclusion Palivizumab represents an effective prevention to avoid RSV infections, that significantly contributes to mortality for children at risk, especially in developing countries.

Zusammenfassung

Ziele In dieser Forschungsarbeit werden die einzelnen Charakteristika von immunisierten Kindern während der RSV-Saison sowie deren erneuten Hospitalisierung infolge von Infektionen des respiratorischen Systems von 2008 bis 2016 analysiert.

Methoden Diese retrospektive Studie umfasst 101 Kinder. Die Testgruppe besteht aus Kindern, die nach strengen Auswahlkriterien rekrutiert wurden. Die nationalen Richtlinien wurden aufgrund von früheren Forschungsergebnissen und Empfehlungen der AAP festgelegt. Alle immunisierten Kinder, die im Krankenhaus erneut behandelt wurden, hatten einen negativen RSV-Schnelltest.

Ergebnisse 47 der rekrutierten Kinder waren Frühgeborene (46,5%), 43 (42,5%) waren Kinder mit angeborenen Herzfehlern, während 11 (11%) sonstige individuelle Risikofaktoren aufzeigten (Schwangerschaftsalter 33–34 Wochen, neurologische Störungen, Anomalien von Atemwegen, Multiorgananomalien). Von der Gesamtzahl der immunisierten Kinder wurden 25 (24%) aufgrund einer Infektion des respiratorischen Systems erneut hospitalisiert. 50% der erneut hospitalisierten Kinder waren jünger als 6 Monate und wurden weniger als eine Woche behandelt. Während der erneuten Hospitalisierung wurde ein Schnelltest zur Diagnose der RSV-Infektion gemacht, der bei allen Patienten negativ war.

Schlussfolgerung Palivizumab ist eine effektive Präventionsmaßnahmezur Vermeidung von RSV-Infektionen, die das Mortalitäts- und Morbiditätsrisiko bei risikogefährdeten Kindern erhöhen. Dies trifft insbesondere für Entwicklungsländer zu.

Key words

immunization - preterm infants - respiratory Syncytial virus - respiratory tract infections

Schlüsselwörter

Immunisierung - Frühgeborene - Das Humane Respiratorische Synzytial-Virus - Infektionen der Atemwege

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