Age and exposure to other children were important factors in preterm infants’ risk of hospitalization for RSV, reports a study in Infectious Diseases in Children.
Outpatient RSV LRI incidences were highest in older infants exposed to young children (22.7 per 100 infant-seasons; 95% CI, 18.6-27.7) or those born in May (20.4 per 100 infant-seasons; 95% CI, 1.8-2.9). However, RSV hospitalization occurred most often among younger infants aged less than 1 month (8.2 per 100 infant-seasons; 95% CI, 6.9-9.7) vs. older infants aged 10 months (2.3 per 100 infant-seasons; 95% CI, 1.8-2.9). Moreover, the risk for RSV ICU admission rates were highest among infants aged younger than 1 month (6.5 per 100 infant-seasons; 95% CI, 5.6-7.6) and infants born in February with exposure to young children (7.9 per 100 infant-seasons; 95% CI, 5.7-11).
These data demonstrate that higher risk for 32 to 35 wGA infants can be easily identified by age or birth month and significant exposure to other young children, and it is important these infants receive targeted efforts to prevent RSV, the researchers said in an interview.
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