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Respiratory syncytial virus outbreak defined by rapid screening in a neonatal intensive care unit

E A Dizdar1, C Aydemir, O Erdeve

  • 1Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health and Education Hospital, Hamamonu, Ankara, Turkey. drevrim@yahoo.com

The Journal of Hospital Infection
|March 20, 2010
PubMed

Insights

This study details a large respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Early detection via rapid testing and palivizumab prophylaxis helped control the RSV spread in high-risk infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology
  • Pediatric Pulmonology

Background:

  • Palivizumab is approved for preventing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in high-risk infants but not routinely recommended for NICU outbreaks.
  • Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are vulnerable to RSV outbreaks, posing significant risks to premature infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report on the early detection and management of an RSV outbreak in a NICU setting.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of rapid antigen testing and palivizumab prophylaxis in controlling RSV spread within a NICU.

Main Methods:

  • An RSV outbreak in a NICU was detected using a rapid antigen test (Respi-Strip((R))) during a screening trial.
  • Palivizumab prophylaxis was administered to 37 premature infants following initial RSV detections.
  • Infection control measures were implemented alongside palivizumab treatment.

Main Results:

  • Eleven preterm infants initially tested positive for RSV.
  • Two additional asymptomatic cases were identified through further screening.
  • Two symptomatic cases were detected post-palivizumab administration, indicating limited treatment efficacy in already infected infants.

Conclusions:

  • This represents a large RSV outbreak in a NICU identified early through rapid testing.
  • Infection control measures combined with palivizumab prophylaxis were effective in controlling the outbreak.
  • Early detection and intervention are crucial for managing RSV outbreaks in vulnerable neonatal populations.

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