Hospital admission of high risk infants for respiratory syncytial virus infection: implications for palivizumab prophylaxis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the rates of hospital admission for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection among children born at different gestational ages. To assess the theoretical impact of palivizumab prophylaxis on admissions for RSV infection.

DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of children born in 1991-2000.

SETTING: Tertiary care university hospital.

METHODS: Data on all children born during the 10 year period were combined with information on laboratory confirmed RSV infections in these children until the end of 2002. The theoretical impact of palivizumab on RSV associated admissions was estimated by applying the current recommendations for prophylaxis to the study population and using the observed rates of admission in the calculations.

INTERVENTIONS: None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of RSV infection and hospital admission in different subgroups of children.

RESULTS: Children with chronic lung disease (CLD) were admitted for RSV infection at a rate of 12.0%. The corresponding rates in children born at
CONCLUSIONS: The rates of hospital admission for RSV infection in premature infants were substantially lower than those in most previous reports from other countries. Determination of the local rates of RSV admissions in different groups of children would be useful in making decisions about the use of palivizumab.