Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Observational Study Protocol for Repeated Clinical Examination and Critical Care Ultrasonography Within the Simple Intensive Care Studies
Published on: January 16, 2019
Prospective population-based study of RSV-related intermediate care and intensive care unit admissions in Switzerland
T M Berger1, C Aebi, A Duppenthaler
1Children's Hospital of Lucerne, Spitalstrasse, Switzerland. thomas.berger@ksl.ch
Insights
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) hospitalizations in young children are common. While prematurity and certain conditions increase risk, most infants admitted to intensive care for RSV are otherwise healthy, necessitating broad prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a primary cause of pediatric hospitalizations.
- A significant number of these children require intermediate care (IMC) or intensive care unit (ICU) admission.
- Understanding the characteristics of children admitted to IMC/ICU for RSV is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze all children under 3 years old admitted to IMC/ICU for RSV in Switzerland between 2001 and 2005.
- To identify risk factors and outcomes associated with severe RSV infections requiring intensive care.
Main Methods:
- Prospective data collection on children under 3 years admitted to IMC/ICU for RSV.
- Utilized detailed questionnaires to gather information on risk factors, treatments, and length of stay.
- Analyzed data from 462 verified cases.
Main Results:
- The majority of admitted infants (77%) were near-term or full-term without additional risk factors.
- Prematurity (gestational age < 32 weeks), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and congenital heart disease (CHD) significantly increased the risk of IMC/ICU admission.
- High-risk infants required longer and more invasive respiratory support.
Conclusions:
- RSV infections necessitate IMC/ICU admission for 1-2% of Swiss infants annually.
- While prematurity, BPD, and CHD are key risk factors, preventive strategies should also target otherwise healthy near-term/full-term infants.
- Broad non-pharmacological prevention is recommended due to the high proportion of non-high-risk infants admitted.
Objectives:
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections are a leading cause of hospital admissions in small children. A substantial proportion of these patients require medical and nursing care, which can only be provided in intermediate (IMC) or intensive care units (ICU). This article reports on all children aged < 3 years who required admission to IMC and/or ICU between October 1, 2001 and September 30, 2005 in Switzerland.
Patients And Methods:
We prospectively collected data on all children aged < 3 years who were admitted to an IMC or ICU for an RSV-related illness. Using a detailed questionnaire, we collected information on risk factors, therapy requirements, length of stay in the IMC/ICU and hospital, and outcome.
Results:
Of the 577 cases reported during the study period, 90 were excluded because the patients did not fulfill the inclusion criteria; data were incomplete in another 25 cases (5%). Therefore, a total of 462 verified cases were eligible for analysis. At the time of hospital admission, only 31 patients (11%) were older than 12 months. Since RSV infection was not the main reason for IMC/ICU admission in 52% of these patients, we chose to exclude this subgroup from further analyses. Among the 431 infants aged < 12 months, the majority (77%) were former near term or full term (NT/FT) infants with a gestational age > or = 35 weeks without additional risk factors who were hospitalized at a median age of 1.5 months. Gestational age (GA) < 32 weeks, moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and congenital heart disease (CHD) were all associated with a significant risk increase for IMC/ICU admission (relative risk 14, 56, and 10, for GA < or = 32 weeks, BPD, and CHD, respectively). Compared with NT/FT infants, high-risk infants were hospitalized at an older age (except for infants with CHD), required more invasive and longer respiratory support, and had longer stays in the IMC/ICU and hospital.
Conclusions:
In Switzerland, RSV infections lead to the IMC/ICU admission of approximately 1%-2% of each annual birth cohort. Although prematurity, BPD, and CHD are significant risk factors, non-pharmacological preventive strategies should not be restricted to these high-risk patients but also target young NT/FT infants since they constitute 77% of infants requiring IMC/ICU admission.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease
01:20Rheumatic Heart Disease IV: Nursing Management
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:30Radiological Investigation II: MRI and Ventilation Perfusion Scan
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ventilation Perfusion Scans are two radiological investigations that offer detailed diagnostic images of the body, particularly lung structures.
MRI
MRI uses magnetic fields and radiofrequency signals to distinguish between normal and abnormal tissues. This technology provides a more detailed diagnostic image than CT scans, enabling it to characterize pulmonary nodules, stage bronchogenic carcinoma, and evaluate inflammatory activity in...
01:21Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include: