scholarly journals Examining the interseasonal resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus in Western Australia

2021 ◽  
pp. archdischild-2021-322507
Author(s):  
David Anthony Foley ◽  
Linny Kimly Phuong ◽  
Joseph Peplinski ◽  
Selina Mei Lim ◽  
Wei Hao Lee ◽  
...  

BackgroundFollowing a relative absence in winter 2020, a large resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) detections occurred during the 2020/2021 summer in Western Australia. This seasonal shift was linked to SARS-CoV-2 public health measures. We examine the epidemiology and RSV testing of respiratory-coded admissions, and compare clinical phenotype of RSV-positive admissions between 2019 and 2020.MethodAt a single tertiary paediatric centre, International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition Australian Modification-coded respiratory admissions longer than 12 hours were combined with laboratory data from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020. Data were grouped into bronchiolitis, other acute lower respiratory infection (OALRI) and wheeze, to assess RSV testing practices. For RSV-positive admissions, demographics and clinical features were compared between 2019 and 2020.ResultsRSV-positive admissions peaked in early summer 2020, following an absent winter season. Testing was higher in 2020: bronchiolitis, 94.8% vs 89.2% (p=0.01); OALRI, 88.6% vs 82.6% (p=0.02); and wheeze, 62.8% vs 25.5% (p<0.001). The 2020 peak month, December, contributed almost 75% of RSV-positive admissions, 2.5 times the 2019 peak. The median age in 2020 was twice that observed in 2019 (16.4 vs 8.1 months, p<0.001). The proportion of RSV-positive OALRI admissions was greater in 2020 (32.6% vs 24.9%, p=0.01). There were no clinically meaningful differences in length of stay or disease severity.InterpretationThe 2020 RSV season was in summer, with a larger than expected peak. There was an increase in RSV-positive non-bronchiolitis admissions, consistent with infection in older RSV-naïve children. This resurgence raises concern for regions experiencing longer and more stringent SARS-CoV-2 public health measures.

Author(s):  
Jacques Fourgeaud ◽  
Julie Toubiana ◽  
Hélène Chappuy ◽  
Christophe Delacourt ◽  
Florence Moulin ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
pp. e42-e43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip N Britton ◽  
Nan Hu ◽  
Gemma Saravanos ◽  
Jane Shrapnel ◽  
Jake Davis ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Daniel K Yeoh ◽  
David A Foley ◽  
Cara A Minney-Smith ◽  
Andrew C Martin ◽  
Ariel O Mace ◽  
...  

Abstract Public health measures targeting coronavirus disease 2019 have potential to impact transmission of other respiratory viruses. We found 98.0% and 99.4% reductions in respiratory syncytial virus and influenza detections, respectively, in Western Australian children through winter 2020 despite schools reopening. Border closures have likely been important in limiting external introductions.


Author(s):  
Alicia Galar ◽  
Pilar Catalán ◽  
Lara Vesperinas ◽  
Iria Miguens ◽  
Ioana Muñoz ◽  
...  

Early detection of influenza virus is important for guiding antiviral and antibacterial treatment for infection control and public health measures. We have observed that saliva swab specimens have high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of influenza by the Xpert Xpress flu/respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) test and high overall agreement and C T correlation with nasopharyngeal specimens.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S843-S843
Author(s):  
John M McLaughlin ◽  
Farid L Khan ◽  
Heinz-Josef Schmitt ◽  
Yasmeen Agosti ◽  
Luis Jodar ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Understanding the true magnitude of infant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) burden is critical for determining the potential public-health benefit of RSV prevention strategies. Although global reviews of infant RSV burden exist, none have summarized data from the United States or evaluated how RSV burden estimates are influenced by variations in study design. Methods We performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of studies describing RSV-associated hospitalization rates among US infants. We also examined the impact of key study characteristics on these estimates. Results After review of 3058 articles through January 2020, we identified 25 studies with 31 unique estimates of RSV-associated hospitalization rates. Among US infants &lt; 1 year of age, annual rates ranged from 8.4 to 40.8 per 1000 with a pooled rate= 19.4 (95%CI= 17.9–20.9). Study type was associated with RSV hospitalization rates (P =.003), with active surveillance studies having pooled rates per 1000 (11.1; 95%CI: 9.8–12.3) that were half that of studies based on administrative claims (21.4; 95%CI: 19.5–23.3) or modeling approaches (23.2; 95%CI: 20.2–26.2). Conclusion Applying the pooled rates identified in our review to the 2020 US birth cohort suggests that 73,680 to 86,020 RSV-associated infant hospitalizations occur each year. To date, public-health officials have used conservative estimates from active surveillance as the basis for defining US infant RSV burden. The full range of RSV-associated hospitalization rates identified in our review better characterizes the true RSV burden in infants and can better inform future evaluations of RSV prevention strategies. Disclosures John M. McLaughlin, PhD, Pfizer (Employee, Shareholder) Farid L. Khan, MPH, Pfizer (Employee, Shareholder) Heinz-Josef Schmitt, MD, Pfizer (Employee, Shareholder) Yasmeen Agosti, MD, Pfizer (Employee, Shareholder) Luis Jodar, PhD, Pfizer (Employee, Shareholder) Eric Simões, MD, Pfizer (Consultant, Research Grant or Support) David L. Swerdlow, MD, Pfizer (Employee, Shareholder)


2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (04) ◽  
pp. 202-208
Author(s):  
Kevin Zhang ◽  
Avika Misra ◽  
Patrick J Kim ◽  
Seyed M Moghadas ◽  
Joanne M Langley ◽  
...  

Background: Public health measures, such as physical distancing and closure of schools and non-essential services, were rapidly implemented in Canada to interrupt the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We sought to investigate the impact of mitigation measures during the spring wave of COVID-19 on the incidence of other laboratory-confirmed respiratory viruses in Hamilton, Ontario. Methods: All nasopharyngeal swab specimens (n=57,503) submitted for routine respiratory virus testing at a regional laboratory serving all acute-care hospitals in Hamilton between January 2010 and June 2020 were reviewed. Testing for influenza A and B, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza I–III, adenovirus, and rhinovirus/enterovirus was done routinely using a laboratory-developed polymerase chain reaction multiplex respiratory viral panel. A Bayesian linear regression model was used to determine the trend of positivity rates of all influenza samples for the first 26 weeks of each year from 2010 to 2019. The mean positivity rate of Bayesian inference was compared with the weekly reported positivity rate of influenza samples in 2020. Results: The positivity rate of influenza in 2020 diminished sharply following the population-wide implementation of COVID-19 interventions. Weeks 12–26 reported 0% positivity for influenza, with the exception of 0.1% reported in week 13. Conclusion: Public health measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with a reduced incidence of other respiratory viruses and should be considered to mitigate severe seasonal influenza and other respiratory virus pandemics.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura M Vos ◽  
Anne C Teirlinck ◽  
José E Lozano ◽  
Tomás Vega ◽  
Gé A Donker ◽  
...  

Background To control respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes acute respiratory infections, data and methods to assess its epidemiology are important. Aim We sought to describe RSV seasonality, affected age groups and RSV-type distribution over 12 consecutive seasons in the Netherlands, as well as to validate the moving epidemic method (MEM) for monitoring RSV epidemics. Methods We used 2005−17 laboratory surveillance data and sentinel data. For RSV seasonality evaluation, epidemic thresholds (i) at 1.2% of the cumulative number of RSV-positive patients per season and (ii) at 20 detections per week (for laboratory data) were employed. We also assessed MEM thresholds. Results In laboratory data RSV was reported 25,491 times (no denominator). In sentinel data 5.6% (767/13,577) of specimens tested RSV positive. Over 12 seasons, sentinel data showed percentage increases of RSV positive samples. The average epidemic length was 18.0 weeks (95% confidence intervals (CI):  16.3–19.7) and 16.5 weeks (95% CI: 14.0–18.0) for laboratory and sentinel data, respectively. Epidemics started on average in week 46 (95% CI: 45–48) and 47 (95% CI:  46–49), respectively. The peak was on average in the first week of January in both datasets. MEM showed similar results to the other methods. RSV incidence was highest in youngest (0–1 and >1–2 years) and oldest (>65–75 and > 75 years) age groups, with age distribution remaining stable over time. RSV-type dominance alternated every one or two seasons. Conclusions Our findings provide baseline information for immunisation advisory groups. The possibility of employing MEM to monitor RSV epidemics allows prospective, nearly real-time use of surveillance data.


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