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An Improved and High Throughput Respiratory Syncytial Virus RSV Micro-neutralization Assay
Published on: January 26, 2019
Laboratory-confirmed respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalizations: a national all ages cross-section
Aharona Glatman-Freedman1,2, Lea Gur-Arie3, Rita Dichtiar3
1The Israel Center for Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Ramat Gan, Israel. aharona.freedman@moh.gov.il.
Insights
Accurate respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease burden assessment is crucial for global vaccine and monoclonal antibody (mAb) adoption. Laboratory confirmation of RSV hospitalizations provides a more accurate picture across all age groups, especially in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Virology and Epidemiology
- Public Health Surveillance
- Vaccinology
Background:
- New vaccines and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are approved for adults and infants.
- Slow integration of these new RSV interventions into national vaccination programs necessitates better disease burden data.
- Accurate assessment of RSV disease burden across all age demographics is essential for informed public health policy and intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the all-ages burden of RSV hospitalizations using a novel national laboratory-based surveillance system.
- To determine RSV hospitalization and 30-day mortality (30-DM) rates across different age groups.
- To compare laboratory-confirmed RSV hospitalization rates with previously estimated rates derived from ICD-9 codes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a new national laboratory-based hospital surveillance system to collect RSV-positive respiratory samples from hospitalized patients nationwide (2020-2024).
- Analyzed hospitalization and 30-day mortality (30-DM) rates stratified by RSV circulation periods and patient age groups.
- Compared hospitalization rates obtained through laboratory confirmation with historical data based on ICD-9 codes.
Main Results:
- RSV-confirmed hospitalizations were documented across all age groups, with the highest rates observed in infants (<1 year old).
- Adults aged 60 years and older exhibited the highest RSV hospitalization rates among individuals aged 5 years and older, with a 30-DM rate of 14.7%, surpassing influenza.
- Laboratory-confirmed hospitalization rates for RSV were higher across all age groups (≥1 year old) compared to previous estimates based on ICD-9 codes, highlighting underestimation in prior studies.
Conclusions:
- Laboratory confirmation of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is critical for accurately assessing hospitalization burden across all age demographics, particularly beyond infancy.
- The findings underscore the significant burden of RSV disease in older adults, supporting the need for their inclusion in vaccination strategies.
- Accurate, laboratory-confirmed data are paramount for the successful global adoption and implementation of newly developed RSV vaccines and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).
Background:
New vaccines and monoclonal antibody (mAb) against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were recently approved for adults and infants, respectively. However, their inclusion in national vaccination programs has been slow. Accurate assessment of RSV disease burden among all ages is essential for the global introduction of these agents.
Methods:
We evaluated all-ages burden of RSV hospitalizations, from 2020 to 2024, based on data collected by a new national laboratory-based hospital surveillance system. RSV-positive respiratory samples from patients hospitalized in general hospitals nationwide were reported. Data were analyzed by RSV circulation periods and age-group to determine hospitalization rates and 30-day mortality (30-DM) rates. We compared the laboratory-confirmed hospitalization rates with rates previously calculated based on ICD-9 codes.
Results:
RSV-confirmed hospitalizations were reported for all age-groups. The highest RSV hospitalization rates were found among patients < 1 year old. Patients ≥ 60 years old had the highest RSV hospitalization rates among ≥ 5 years old patients, and their 30-DM rates reached 14.7%, exceeding those of influenza. During the COVID-19 pandemic, lower rates of RSV-confirmed hospitalizations were reported among ≥ 60 years old patients, probably due to higher adherence to social distancing measures. We found higher numbers and rates of laboratory-confirmed hospitalizations among all age-groups ≥ 1 year old, than those previously reported by our group, based on ICD-9 codes.
Conclusions:
Laboratory-confirmation of RSV is paramount for optimal assessment of RSV hospitalization burden, particularly beyond infancy, and for the global adoption of newly developed vaccines and mAb.
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