Respiratory syncytial virus infection in elderly adults

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children. Reinfections are common throughout adult life with more severe presentations occurring in immunocompromised individuals, subjects with underlying high-risk cardiopulmonary diseases, and in the elderly. There is now a significant body of literature indicating that the impact of RSV in elderly adults is similar to that of non-pandemic influenza, both in the community and in nursing homes. Clinical manifestations of RSV infections are similar to those caused by other viral respiratory pathogens, including influenza viruses. Molecular tests (reverse transcription-PCR) now provide a rapid diagnosis. The sputum sample combined with nasopharyngeal swab increases the diagnostic yield. At the present time, treatment is mainly symptomatic. The prevention of RSV consists in various infection control strategies, such as standard precautions, especially hand washing and droplet precautions to limit the nosocomial spread. Vaccines and antiviral agents for the prevention and treatment of RSV infections in elderly adults are currently not available, but they are being developed.