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Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography
Published on: January 27, 2023
Impact of respiratory viruses in the neonatal intensive care unit
Jessica E Shui1, Maria Messina2,3, Alexandra C Hill-Ricciuti2
1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Objective:
To describe the epidemiology and clinical impact of respiratory viruses in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Study Design:
We conducted a retrospective observational study of infants with respiratory viruses detected by multiplex reverse-transcriptase PCR from May 2012 to May 2017. The proportion of symptomatic vs. asymptomatic infants and associated morbidity were assessed. The association of infection prevention and control (IP&C) strategies and transmission was ascertained.
Results:
Respiratory viruses were detected in 83 infants representing 86 unique episodes during which infants remained asymptomatic in 15 (17%). Of the 71 symptomatic episodes, only 45% were associated with increased respiratory and/or nutritional support. Rhinovirus/enteroviruses were most common (69%) and involved nine of 12 transmission events. IP&C strategies including restricting visitors <12 years of age and screening exposed infants were associated with decreased transmission rates.
Conclusions:
NICU patients can be asymptomatic carriers of respiratory viruses. Identification of such infants is important to prevent transmission in the NICU.
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