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Updated: Jun 1, 2025
An Improved and High Throughput Respiratory Syncytial Virus RSV Micro-neutralization Assay
Published on: January 26, 2019
Study of Children Aged Under 2 Years Admitted With RSV at Four Australian Hospitals [2021-2022]
Nigel W Crawford1,2,3, Annette Alafaci2, Julia E Clark4,5
1The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Insights
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) significantly impacts hospitalizations in young children in Australia. Ongoing surveillance is crucial to track the disease burden and the effect of new preventative therapies.
Area of Science:
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases
- Virology
- Public Health Surveillance
Background:
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) in infants and young children.
- Understanding RSV epidemiology in Australian paediatric hospitals is vital for public health planning and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review SARI hospitalizations due to RSV in children under two years old in Australian paediatric hospitals.
- To conduct RSV subtyping, analyze seasonality, and contribute to global RSV surveillance efforts.
Main Methods:
- Prospective review of medical records for children under two years old admitted with confirmed SARI.
- Analysis of respiratory samples using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for RSV detection.
- Detailed data collection for all RSV-positive cases.
Main Results:
- 2290 RSV admissions identified between 2021-2022, representing 53.4% of all SARI admissions.
- RSV-A predominated in 2021 (summer peak), while RSV-B predominated in 2022 (winter peak).
- 9% of RSV admissions required ICU care, with a median LOS of 68 hours; 1.8% needed mechanical ventilation.
Conclusions:
- RSV continues to impose a substantial disease burden on Australian tertiary paediatric centers.
- Continued hospital surveillance is necessary to evaluate the impact of newly available RSV preventative therapies.
Aims:
Primary aim was to review severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) hospitalisations caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in children aged < 2 years in paediatric hospitals in Australia. Secondary aims included RSV subtyping, assessing RSV seasonality and contributing to the World Health Organisation's RSV surveillance programme.
Methods:
We prospectively reviewed the medical records of children (< 2 years of age) with a confirmed SARI who were admitted to one of four major Australian paediatric hospitals and had a respiratory sample analysed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). A detailed dataset was completed for RSV positive cases.
Results:
Between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2022, 2290 RSV (laboratory-confirmed) admissions were identified (53.4% of all SARI admissions). Approximately 50% of all RSV cases were aged 0-6 months. RSV-A predominated in 2021 with peak infections observed in summer while in 2022 RSV-B predominated with peak infections in the more traditional winter months. The median total length of stay (LOS) for RSV positive admissions was 46 h (IQR: 22-82 h). 9% of these children required an ICU admission with a prolonged median LOS 68 h (IQR: 40-112 h). Respiratory support utilisation was consistent over the 2 years. 1.8% required mechanical ventilation; 4.6% continuous positive airway pressure; 23.3% high flow oxygen; and 50.8% low flow oxygen.
Conclusions:
RSV in children continues to cause a significant disease burden at Australian tertiary paediatric centres. Ongoing hospital surveillance is required to document the impact of RSV preventative therapies that have become available in 2024.
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