Journal Club

Recent Therapeutic Developments in RSV

brought to you by

Instructions

Take Another Course

Post-Test

Resources

Objectives:

Upon completion of this course the participant will be able to:

Define respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and it’s causes

List four types of pharmacological treatment for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) induced bronchiolitis and pneumonia

Understand the costs and benefits associated with the use of palivizumab (Synagis) as prophylactic therapy against RSV

Name three risk factors associated with increased severity of RSV infection

List the factors related to the clinical effectiveness of palivizumab (Synagis)

Introduction:

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of acute respiratory infections in infants and young children, including bronchiolitis in infants, which accounts for more than 125,000 hospitalizations each year.^1,2

One third of the 12.2 million deaths each year among children younger than 5 years are caused by acute respiratory infections. The primary pathogens are RSV, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenza. In the United States, RSV is a major cause of childhood hospitalizations, with more than 91,000 infants hospitalized each year because of RSV at a cost exceeding $300 million.^6,7

Infants and young children present at emergency departments with RSV-induced respiratory infections, and their providers must manage care to reduce the risk of hospitalization and the development of sequelae including persistent wheezing and asthma. The most appropriate treatment strategy depends on the epidemiology, immune response, and pathophysiology of RSV infections as well as patient-specific factors.

Respiratory syncytial virus is present in all geographic areas and climates, causing predictable outbreaks each year. This virus has similar symptomatology in all geographic areas, but causes the most severe disease in young children.^8,9 Outbreaks of RSV are gradual in onset and decline.¹⁰ In the United States, annual outbreaks occur between November and April, but may last until May.