Epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus in a German hospital before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic – a real world monocentric analysis over ten years - Summary - MDSpire
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Epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus in a German hospital before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic – a real world monocentric analysis over ten years
To analyze the epidemiology of RSV infection in pediatric patients over a decade (2015-2025), focusing on changes before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Findings:
1,220 children were analyzed, with a significant increase in RSV cases and severity in the 2022/23 season compared to 2021/22.
Pre-COVID RSV seasons peaked in January/February, while the pandemic season saw no cases in 2020/21.
Post-pandemic seasons showed earlier onset and higher severity of RSV infections, including increased need for intensive care and antibiotic treatment.
Interpretation:
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered the epidemiology of RSV, resulting in a catch-up effect with increased hospitalizations and severity in subsequent seasons, highlighting the need for resource planning.
Limitations:
Retrospective design may limit the comprehensiveness of data.
Only one hospital's data was analyzed, which may not represent broader trends and could introduce bias.
Conclusion:
Ongoing monitoring of RSV is essential for resource planning and to inform vaccination strategies, particularly with new vaccines like nirsevimab being introduced in Germany, emphasizing the importance of understanding RSV seasonality.
