TY - JOUR
T1 - The Importance of RSV Epidemiological Surveillance
T2 - A Multicenter Observational Study of RSV Infection during the COVID-19 Pandemic
AU - Pruccoli, Giulia
AU - Castagno, Emanuele
AU - Raffaldi, Irene
AU - Denina, Marco
AU - Barisone, Elisa
AU - Baroero, Luca
AU - Timeus, Fabio
AU - Rabbone, Ivana
AU - Monzani, Alice
AU - Terragni, Gian Maria
AU - Lovera, Cristina
AU - Brach del Prever, Adalberto
AU - Manzoni, Paolo
AU - Barbaglia, Michelangelo
AU - Roasio, Luca
AU - De Franco, Simona
AU - Calitri, Carmelina
AU - Lupica, Maddalena
AU - Felici, Enrico
AU - Marciano, Cinzia
AU - Santovito, Savino
AU - Militerno, Gaia
AU - Abrigo, Enrica
AU - Curtoni, Antonio
AU - Quarello, Paola
AU - Bondone, Claudia
AU - Garazzino, Silvia
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/2
Y1 - 2023/2
N2 - The restrictive measures adopted worldwide against SARS-CoV-2 produced a drastic reduction in respiratory pathogens, including RSV, but a dramatic rebound was thereafter reported. In this multicenter retrospective observational study in 15 Pediatric Emergency Departments, all children <3 years old with RSV infection admitted between 1 September and 31 December 2021 were included and compared to those admitted in the same period of 2020 and 2019. The primary aim was to evaluate RSV epidemiology during and after the COVID-19 pandemic peak. The secondary aims were to evaluate the clinical features of children with RSV infection. Overall, 1015 children were enrolled: 100 in 2019, 3 in 2020 and 912 in 2021. In 2019, the peak was recorded in December, and in 2021, it was recorded in November. Comparing 2019 to 2021, in 2021 the median age was significantly higher and the age group 2–3 years was more affected. Admissions were significantly higher in 2021 than in 2020 and 2019, and the per-year hospitalization rate was lower in 2021 (84% vs. 93% in 2019), while the duration of admissions was similar. No difference was found in severity between 2019–2020–2021. In conclusion, after the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in RSV cases in 2021 exceeding the median seasonal peak was detected, with the involvement of older children, while no difference was found in severity.
AB - The restrictive measures adopted worldwide against SARS-CoV-2 produced a drastic reduction in respiratory pathogens, including RSV, but a dramatic rebound was thereafter reported. In this multicenter retrospective observational study in 15 Pediatric Emergency Departments, all children <3 years old with RSV infection admitted between 1 September and 31 December 2021 were included and compared to those admitted in the same period of 2020 and 2019. The primary aim was to evaluate RSV epidemiology during and after the COVID-19 pandemic peak. The secondary aims were to evaluate the clinical features of children with RSV infection. Overall, 1015 children were enrolled: 100 in 2019, 3 in 2020 and 912 in 2021. In 2019, the peak was recorded in December, and in 2021, it was recorded in November. Comparing 2019 to 2021, in 2021 the median age was significantly higher and the age group 2–3 years was more affected. Admissions were significantly higher in 2021 than in 2020 and 2019, and the per-year hospitalization rate was lower in 2021 (84% vs. 93% in 2019), while the duration of admissions was similar. No difference was found in severity between 2019–2020–2021. In conclusion, after the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in RSV cases in 2021 exceeding the median seasonal peak was detected, with the involvement of older children, while no difference was found in severity.
KW - COVID-19 pandemic
KW - coinfections
KW - epidemiological surveillance
KW - epidemiology
KW - respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
KW - seasonal peak
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85148973150&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/v15020280
DO - 10.3390/v15020280
M3 - Article
SN - 1999-4915
VL - 15
JO - Viruses
JF - Viruses
IS - 2
M1 - 280
ER -
