Palivizumab: The Effects of Prophylactic Immunization on the Occurrence of Infections Caused by the Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Abstract

The aim of this research is to analyze the characteristics of children immunized during immunization season, and their readmission to hospital due to infections of the respiratory tract in the period from 2008 to 2016. The retrospective cohort study included 101 children. The test group consists of infants who met the strict criteria for immunization. The national guidance was determined on the basis of earlier research and recommendations by the AAP. All the children who had been readmitted for hospitalization were quickly tested for RSV. Of this total, 47 children were preterm children (46.5%), 43 (42.5%) were children with CHD, and 11 (11%) exhibited other individual risk factors (gestational age 33-34 weeks, neurological disorders, respiratory anomalies, multi-organ anomalies). 25 (24%) patients of the immunized study population readmitted the ward due to respiratory infections. Of these, 50% were under the age of 6 months and were treated for less than a week on average. Upon readmission, a quick test to diagnose for RSV infections was conducted, which was negative for all of the previously immunized children. Palivizumab represents an effective prevention to avoid RSV infections, that significantly contributes to mortality for children at risk, especially in developing countries.

Consenso formal basado en la evidencia y opinión de expertos en inmunoprofilaxis con palivizumab en pacientes con cardiopatía congénita

“…Raguz et al 74 , en el estudio de cohorte retrospectivo que incluyó 101 niños, realizado en la Clínica de Enfermedades Infantiles de la UCH Mostar, Bosnia y Herzegovina en el período comprendido entre octubre de 2008 y marzo de 2016, sugieren que palivizumab es efectivo y eficiente ya que el 25% de los niños que fueron readmitidos en el hospital no tenían VSR. Concluyen que palivizumab fue efectivo y eficiente en niños en riesgo, durante el período de ocho años de inmunización con las cinco dosis recomendadas.…”

“…Concluyen que palivizumab fue efectivo y eficiente en niños en riesgo, durante el período de ocho años de inmunización con las cinco dosis recomendadas. Además, debido a la falta de tratamiento etiológico dirigido a las infecciones causadas por VSR, palivizumab es una de las posibles medidas preventivas, y representa una forma eficaz para combatir el virus, que es una causa de mortalidad en niños en situación de riesgo, particularmente en países en vías de desarrollo 74 .…”

Palivizumab for prophylaxis of respiratory syncytial virus infections in preterm neonates

“…In the current issue of the Klinische Pädiatrie, a group from Bosnia-Herzegovina published data on the effects of prophylactic immunization with Palivizumab on the occurrence of RSV infection in preterm neonates and other high-risk children [6].…”