Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Generation, Amplification, and Titration of Recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Viruses
11:48

Generation, Amplification, and Titration of Recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Viruses

Published on: April 4, 2019

Bacteraemia and antibiotic use in respiratory syncytial virus infections

P Bloomfield1, D Dalton, A Karleka

  • 1Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|March 23, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Bacteraemia is rare in children hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. However, risk factors like nosocomial infection, congenital heart disease, or intensive care admission increase bacteraemia likelihood.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Respiratory Viral Infections
  • Bacteremia Research

Background:

  • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of hospitalization in children.
  • Bacteremia is a serious concern in hospitalized pediatric patients.
  • Understanding risk factors for bacteremia in RSV infections is crucial for appropriate management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence of bacteremia in children hospitalized with RSV.
  • To identify risk factors associated with bacteremia in this population.
  • To assess current antibiotic usage patterns in hospitalized children with RSV.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of children aged 0-14 years admitted with proven RSV infection.
  • Analysis of blood cultures to identify concurrent bacteremia.
  • Examination of medical records for risk factors and antibiotic use.

Main Results:

  • Bacteremia occurred in 0.6% of 1795 children with RSV infection.
  • Higher bacteremia rates were observed in cases of nosocomial RSV (6.5%), cyanotic congenital heart disease (6.6%), and pediatric intensive care unit admission (2.9%).
  • Antibiotics were administered to 45% of a randomly selected sample of RSV-infected children.

Conclusions:

  • Bacteremia is infrequent in pediatric RSV infections.
  • Nosocomial RSV, cyanotic congenital heart disease, and intensive care unit admission are significant risk factors for bacteremia.
  • Current antibiotic prescribing practices warrant further investigation in this cohort.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria11:32

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:29

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:30

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that targets the lungs, specifically the alveoli. These tiny air sacs, essential for oxygen exchange, become engorged with pus and fluid, severely hindering breathing, decreasing oxygen absorption, and causing significant pain and discomfort during respiration.
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...