Hospitalization rates for human metapneumovirus infection among 0- to 3-year-olds in Gipuzkoa (Basque Country), Spain

Numerous studies have been published on human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection, but few have been population based. The main aim of this study was to estimate the incidence rate of hospitalization for community-acquired HMPV infection in infants and children aged <3 years. Between July 2004 and June 2007, 796 episodes (742 patients) of community-acquired acute respiratory infection were hospitalized. HMPV was detected in 90 episodes (11.3%). Fifty-nine episodes occurred in infants aged <1 year. The mean length of hospital stay was 6.2 days (range 2-31 days). Thirteen children required admission to the intensive care unit. Viral co-infections were detected in 46 episodes (51.1%). The incidence rate of hospitalization per 1000 inhabitants was 2.6 (95% CI 2.1-3.2), lower than that for respiratory syncytial virus, but higher than that observed for the influenza and parainfluenza viruses. HMPV is a major respiratory pathogen that leads to a high hospitalization rate.     

Risk factors for hospitalization due to respiratory syncytial virus infection among infants in the Basque Country, Spain

This study analysed the role of several risk factors for hospitalization due to community-acquired, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. The risk factors detected in infants hospitalized for RSV infection in the first 24 months of life were compared with those in the general infant population in our region. There were 361 episodes of hospitalization in 357 infants. Eighty per cent of the infants did not present underlying conditions for severe RSV infection and only 10 (3%) were candidates for palivizumab prophylaxis. In multivariate analysis, birthweight of <2500 g was independently associated with hospitalization for RSV infection and was the most commonly detected medical risk factor. Other risk factors were maternal age at delivery <25 years, birth in the second half of the year, prematurity, suburban residence and congenital heart disease. In conclusion, together with well-known risk factors, we found that low birthweight was an independent factor for severe RSV infection.     

Low incidence of nosocomial respiratory syncytial virus infections among children younger than 12 months in the Department of Pediatrics, Sophia Children's Hospital at Rotterdam

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurrence of nosocomial respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections and to compare their clinical features with those of community-acquired RSV infections. DESIGN: Retrospective. METHOD: Data were collected from the medical records of children younger than 12 months with RSV infection in the Department of Pediatrics of Sophia's Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in October-March 1992/'95. The diagnosis of 'RSV infection' was confirmed by a direct immunofluorescent assay and/or a viral culture on materials obtained from nasopharyngeal washes. A nosocomial RSV infection was defined as an infection which occurred more than 5 days after hospital admission for any underlying disease. RESULTS: During the 3 RSV seasons 1260 children were admitted. Of these 34 (2.7%) developed a nosocomial RSV infection. The number of nosocomial RSV infections decreased over the study period. At the department including the outpatient clinic 232 children were seen with a community-acquired RSV infection. Children with a nosocomial infection differed from children with a community-acquired infection only with regard to birth weight (2.5 kg versus 3.0 kg), cough (65% versus 92%) and feeding problems (100% versus 69%). Four children had bronchopulmonary dysplasia and nosocomial RSV infection; these required mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSION: The number of nosocomial RSV infections decreased over 3 years. The severity of nosocomial RSV infections was comparable with that of community-acquired RSV infections.     

An epidemiological study of RSV infection in the Gambia

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in a developing country. METHODS: The work was carried out in three hospitals for primary cases and in the community for secondary cases in the western region of the Gambia, West Africa. RSV infection was diagnosed by immunofluorescence of nasopharyngeal aspirate samples in children younger than two years admitted to hospital with acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI). Routine records of all children with ALRI were analysed, and the incidence rates of ALRI, severe RSV-associated respiratory illness and hypoxaemic RSV infections were compared. A community-based study was undertaken to identify secondary cases and to obtain information about spread of the virus. FINDINGS: 4799 children with ALRI who were younger than two years and lived in the study area were admitted to the study hospitals: 421 had severe RSV-associated respiratory illness; 55 of these were hypoxaemic. Between 1994 and 1996, the observed incidence rate for ALRI in 100 children younger than one year living close to hospital was 9.6 cases per year; for severe RSV-associated respiratory illness 0.83; and for hypoxaemic RSV-associated respiratory illness 0.089. The proportion of all ALRI admissions due to RSV was 19%. Overall, 41% of children younger than five years in compounds in which cases lived and 42% in control compounds had evidence of RSV infection during the surveillance period. CONCLUSION: RSV is an important cause of ALRI leading to hospital admission in the Gambia. Morbidity is considerable and efforts at prevention are worthwhile.     

Severe Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Early Infancy and Pneumonia Hospitalizations among Children,Kenya

Severe lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in infants caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been associated with later pneumonia hospitalization among children. To determine risk for pneumonia after RSV hospitalization in infancy, we conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 2,813 infants admitted to a hospital in Kenya and identified readmissions for pneumonia among this group during early childhood (<60 months of age). Incidence of readmission for pneumonia was higher for children whose first admission as infants was for LRTI and who were <3 months of age than for children who were first admitted as infants for non-LRTI, irrespective of RSV status. Incidence of readmission for pneumonia with wheeze was higher for children whose first admission involved RSV compared with those who had non-RSV LRTI. Excess pneumonia risk persisted for 2 years after the initial hospitalization. Close postdischarge follow-up of infants with LRTI, with or without RSV, could help prevent severe pneumonia later in childhood.     

Respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis in ex-preterm infants in the Scottish highlands: review of hospital admissions and an analysis of hospital cost

Ex-preterm infants are vulnerable to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis and their hospital admission is associated with increased morbidity. Palivizumab is currently available as prophylaxis against RSV infection but its use in ex-preterm infants is controversial. A retrospective case review study was, therefore, carried out to determine the rate of readmission with RSV bronchiolitis among ex-preterm infants in the Highland Region of Scotland and to estimate the hospital cost per admission. Between 1995 and 1999, a total of 3,046 children under 2 years of age were admitted to Raigmore Hospital, 1,691 of whom (60.4%) lived outwith Inverness. 507 children had acute bronchiolitis and ex preterm infants with RSV positive bronchiolitis accounted for 3.6% of total admissions with acute bronchiolitis. 72% of these children lived outwith Inverness. The median length of hospital stay for children born at less than 30 weeks and for children who had had bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) was 6 and 10.5 days respectively. The average hospital costs per admission for children of less than 30 weeks and children of more than 30 weeks were 3,376 Pounds and 2,074 Pounds respectively. It was more expensive for children with BPD (4,431 Pounds per admission) when compared with those without BPD (1,959 Pounds per admission). This study has shown that most of the children admitted to hospital lived outwith Inverness, many at some considerable distance, and this, as much as severity of illness, may have contributed to hospital admission. Further studies are required to determine productivity losses associated with RSV infection and justification of use of Palivizumab in ex preterm infants of less than 30 weeks gestation and of BPD living in remote areas of Scottish Highlands.     

Epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus infection among paediatric patients in Hong Kong: seasonality and disease impact

In a 5-year retrospective survey of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections among hospitalized children, 1340 cases were identified of which, 98.4% were children < 5 years old with a male:female ratio of 1.5: 1. Most cases occurred from April to September showing a significant positive correlation with temperature and relative humidity. Community-acquired infections accounted for 92.5% of the cases with a mean hospital stay of 5 days. The estimated annual incidence of RSV infection requiring hospitalization was 2.5/1000 children < 5 years old with a mortality of 0.15% among hospitalized cases. On average, 248 children were admitted each year to the 1400-bed acute regional hospital accounting for an expenditure of HK S1.94 ((approximately US +/-0.25) million for hospitalization costs which equates to an annual cost in excess of HK $6.67 (approximately US $0.86) million for the whole of Hong Kong. An RSV vaccine should be a priority.     

不同年龄社区获得性肺炎住院儿童的病原学及临床特征研究

目的 了解盐城地区住院儿童社区获得性肺炎(CAP)感染的病原学及临床特征,为盐城地区儿童CAP的防治提供参考依据。方法 回顾性分析2014年10月-2015年9月在盐城市妇幼保健院住院的CAP患儿541例的临床资料。住院期间多病原检测包括:痰常见7种呼吸道病毒抗原、血肺炎支原体(MP)- IgM抗体、血EB四项抗体、痰培养或血培养。结果 病原体阳性检出率为62.8%。MP28.7%,病毒21.8%,细菌16.8%。从单一病原来看,以MP感染率最高(28.7%),其次为呼吸道合胞病毒、肺炎链球菌。>1~5岁龄组及>5~14岁龄组CAP患儿,MP检出阳性率均较高。病毒感染主要发生于1岁以内婴儿。年龄与发热的发生比及高低程度呈正相关,1岁以内年龄组发热比例低(41.6%)且以低热及中等度发热为主,1岁以上年龄组发热比例高(55.6%)以高热为主。CAP患儿5岁以下年龄组咳嗽、喘息气促的发生率明显高于5岁以上儿童;年龄越小肺部体征越明显。1月~1岁龄组CAP胸部影像学主要表现为小斑片影,多为单侧肺受累;>5~14岁龄组患儿则多为大叶受累阴影,多为单侧肺受累。结论 盐城地区住院儿童CAP病原依次为支原体、病毒、细菌。不同年龄段CAP患儿病原体检出率不同。不同年龄和不同病原学感染的儿童CAP的影像学表现各有特点。     

A comparison of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus infections among infants admitted to hospital with acute respiratory infections.

Among 741 children under 5 years admitted to hospital with respiratory infections during two winters, infection with influenza A virus was diagnosed in 70 (9%), with influenza B virus in 8 (1%), and with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in 259 (35%). Both influenza virus and RSV infections were diagnosed most frequently in children under the age of one year, and diagnosed more frequently in males than females. Influenza illnesses were more severe in boys than girls. Both infections occurred more often, but were not more severe, in children from a conurbation than in those from 'rural' areas. Convulsions were the cause of 36% of admissions with influenza A infections, but were rare in RSV infections. Bronchiolitis was the reason for 39% of admissions with RSV infections, but was rare in influenza infections. It is suggested that infants admitted to hospital are a good source of influenza virus strains for monitoring antigenic variation.     

儿童急性下呼吸道感染常见病毒的流行状态分析

目的分析长沙地区儿童急性下呼吸道感染（ALRTI）常见病毒的流行状态。方法对2007年9月至2008年8月本院儿科医学中心住院临床诊断为ALRTI的患儿1165例,采集患儿鼻咽部分泌物,应用RT—PCR进行常见呼吸道病毒核酸检测,包括RSV、HRV、PIV1～3、和IFA、IFB,PCR方法检测ADV,分析急性下呼吸道感染患儿病毒检出率及病毒感染与年龄、季节的关系。结果1165例患儿中,783例检出至少1种病毒,检出率为67．2％。其中RSV检出率27％,其次是HRV（17．4％）和PIV3（13．9％）。病毒感染的高峰在秋冬季节。不同年龄组病毒的总检出率比较差异有统计学意义,≤12个月组病毒检出率较高为67．5％,〉60个月组病毒检出率最低为42．9％。783例中2种或2种以上病毒混合感染检出率为36．3％,≤12个月组混合感染检出率最高为63．7％,〉36个月组混合感染检出率仅为8．5％。结论ALRTI患儿中常见病毒感染的高峰在秋冬季节;检出的呼吸道病毒中RSV感染检出率最高,其次为HRV和PIV3;≤12个月患儿病毒感染检出率及混合感染率最高;最常见的混合感染类型是RSV和HRV两种病毒混合感染。     

长沙地区急性下呼吸道感染儿童呼吸道合胞病毒、偏肺病毒临床特征及流行状况分析

目的了解长沙地区急性下呼吸道感染（ALRTI）儿童呼吸道合胞病毒（RSV）及人偏肺病毒（hMPV）的流行病学特点和临床特征。方法收集2007年9月-2008年8月湖南省人民医院儿科医学中心1 165例ALRTI住院儿童鼻咽抽吸物样本,进行RSV及hMPV基因检测。对RSV和hMPV感染患儿流行病学特点、临床表现及实验室检查结果等进行比较。结果 1 165例样本检出RSV阳性标本315例,检出率为27.04%,1岁以下患儿占64.1%;hMPV阳性76例,检出率为6.52%,1岁以下患儿占63.15%;RSV感染全年均有发生,第一年11月到次年2月份为检出高峰,hMPV的检出高峰在3-4月;RSV感染病例气促的发生率高于hMPV感染病例（P〈0.05）,发热、喘息、呕吐、腹泻的发生率两种病毒间差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;RSV、hMPV感染病例白细胞、C-反应蛋白、转氨酶及心肌酶等实验室指标变化比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;影像学检查同以散在肺部实变或间质病变为主,鲜有累及大片肺叶及胸膜。14例患儿同时存在RSV及hMPV感染,混合感染率1.20%（14/1 165）。RSV及hMPV协同感染患儿发绀几率较单一RSV感染患儿高（P〈0.05）,白细胞升高几率大于单一感染者（P〈0.05）,而喘息、气促、呕吐、腹泻发生率及C-反应蛋白、转氨酶、心肌酶等实验室检测指标变化与单一RSV或hMPV感染比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;单一hMPV感染患儿的发热率高于单一RSV感染或两者协同感染患儿（P〈0.05）。单一感染和协同感染病例间病程、住院天数及预后比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论 RSV及hMPV均是引起长沙地区婴幼儿下呼吸道感染的重要病原,流行季节相近,具有相似的临床特征及影像改变,临床上难以鉴别。RSV感染较hMPV感染患儿更易发生气促,而hMPV感染则相对更易出现发热症状。混合hMPV感染可能有加重RSV感染患儿呼吸道症状的趋势。     

Modelling the impact of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine and immunoprophylaxis strategies in New Zealand

BackgroundMathematical models of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) transmission can help describe seasonal epidemics and assess the impact of potential vaccines and immunoprophylaxis with monoclonal antibodies (mAb).MethodsWe developed a deterministic, compartmental model for RSV transmission, which was fitted to population-based RSV hospital surveillance data from Auckland, New Zealand. The model simulated the introduction of either a maternal vaccine or a seasonal mAb among infants aged less than 6 months and estimated the reduction in RSV hospitalizations for a range of effectiveness and coverage values.ResultsThe model accurately reproduced the annual seasonality of RSV epidemics in Auckland. We found that a maternal vaccine with effectiveness of 30–40% in the first 90 days and 15–20% for the next 90 days could reduce RSV hospitalizations by 18–24% in children younger than 3 months, by 11–14% in children aged 3–5 months, and by 2–3% in children aged 6–23 months. A seasonal infant mAb with 40–60% effectiveness for 150 days could reduce RSV hospitalizations by 30–43%, 34–48% and by 14–21% in children aged 0–2 months, 3–5 months and 6–23 months, respectively.ConclusionsOur results suggest that either a maternal RSV vaccine or mAb would effectively reduce RSV hospitalization disease burden in New Zealand. Overall, a seasonal mAb resulted in a larger disease prevention impact than a maternal vaccine.     

Mortality in children from influenza and respiratory syncytial virus

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To quantify mortality attributable to influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in children. DESIGN AND METHODS: Comparison of death rates (all cause and certified respiratory) in England over winters 1989/90 to 1999/00 during and outside influenza and RSV circulation periods. Virus active weeks were defined from clinical and virological surveillance data. Excess deaths associated with weeks of either influenza or RSV activity over virus non-active weeks were estimated in each winter for age groups 1-12 months, 1-4, 5-9, and 10-14 years. The estimate obtained was allotted to influenza and RSV in the proportion derived from independent separate calculations for each virus. MAIN RESULTS: Average winter respiratory deaths attributed to influenza in children 1 month-14 years were 22 and to RSV 28; and all cause deaths to influenza 78 and to RSV 79. All cause RSV attributed deaths in infants 1-12 months exceeded those for influenza every year except 1989/90; the average RSV and influenza attributed death rates were 8.4 and 6.7 per 100 000 population respectively. Corresponding rates for children 1-4 years were 0.9 and 0.8 and for older children all rates were 0.2 or less, except for an influenza rate of 0.4 in children 10-14 years. CONCLUSIONS: Influenza and RSV account for similar numbers of deaths in children. The impact varies by winter and between age groups and is considerably underestimated if analysis is restricted to respiratory certified deaths. Summing the impact over the 11 winters studied, compared with influenza RSV is associated with more deaths in infants less than 12 months, almost equal numbers in children 1-4 years, and fewer in older children. Improved information systems are needed to investigate paediatric deaths.     

Contribution of RSV to bronchiolitis and pneumonia-associated hospitalizations in English children,April 1995-March 1998

Estimates of the number of hospitalizations attributable to specific pathogens are required to predict the potential impact of vaccination. All hospital admissions for lower respiratory tract infection (LRI) in children < 5 years in England in 1995-8 were reviewed. Most admissions (76.8%) were not associated with specific organisms. Seasonality in pathogens that cause bronchiolitis and pneumonia was used to predict the proportion of cases with unspecified aetiology attributable to different organisms using multiple linear regression. Of 12,298 admissions for LRI, 17.5% were due to RSV infection. An estimated 74.8% (95% CI, 72.0-77.7%) of 'unspecified bronchiolitis' admissions and 16.3% (95% CI, 13.7-18.8%) of unspecified pneumonia' admissions were RSV related. The total mean annual incidence of hospital admissions attributable to RSV is 28.3/1000 children < 1 year of age, and 1.3/1000 children 1-4 years old. The greater burden of RSV infection than indicated through discharge data is revealed through applying simple statistical methods.     

Role of respiratory syncytial virus in acute otitis media: implications for vaccine development

We summarize herein the results of various virologic studies of acute otitis media (AOM) conducted at our site over a 10-year period. Among 566 children with AOM, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the most common virus identified in either middle ear fluid or nasal wash; it was found in 16% of all children and 38% of virus-positive children. Seventy-one percent of the children with RSV were 1 year of age or older, which was significantly older than all other viruses combined (P=0.045). RSV infection was associated with the common bacterial pathogens causing AOM. Past efforts to develop vaccines for RSV have emphasized prevention of lower respiratory tract infection in infants, which is a more serious problem but less common than AOM. Our results suggest that RSV vaccines that work only against infection in older children may have value in preventing AOM, the most common pediatric disease.     

Respiratory syncytial virus infection: denominator-based studies in Indonesia, Mozambique, Nigeria and South Africa

OBJECTIVE: To assess the burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated lower respiratory infections (LRI) in children in four developing countries. METHODS: A WHO protocol for prospective population-based surveillance of acute respiratory infections in children aged less than 5 years was used at sites in Indonesia, Mozambique, Nigeria and South Africa. RSV antigen was identified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay performed on nasopharyngeal specimens from children meeting clinical case definitions. FINDINGS: Among children aged < 5 years, the incidence of RSV-associated LRI per 1000 child-years was 34 in Indonesia and 94 in Nigeria. The incidence of RSV-associated severe LRI per 1000 child-years was 5 in Mozambique, 10 in Indonesia, and 9 in South Africa. At all study sites, the majority of RSV cases occurred in infants. CONCLUSION: These studies demonstrate that RSV contributes to a substantial but quite variable burden of LRI in children aged < 5 years in four developing countries. The possible explanations for this variation include social factors, such as family size and patterns of seeking health care; the proportion of children infected by human immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV); and differences in clinical definitions used for obtaining samples. The age distribution of cases indicates the need for an RSV vaccine that can protect children early in life.     

2017—2019年孝感市儿童呼吸道病毒感染流行病学特征

目的 对湖北省孝感市0~13岁呼吸道感染患儿进行病毒病原学检测,分析呼吸道病毒感染病原学特点,为0~13岁儿童呼吸道感染的预防、诊断和治疗提供科学依据。 方法 通过采集2017年1月1日—2019年12月31日,在湖北省孝感市中心医院就诊的呼吸道感染患儿的咽拭子标本,采用实时荧光定量 PCR,进行七项呼吸道病毒检测。 结果 共采集12 486例标本,其中3 309例标本为阳性,总阳性率为26.5%。其中呼吸道合胞病毒 (respiratory syncytial virus, RSV) 阳性率最高,为1 574 例 (12.6%)。阳性率随着年龄的增加而下降,各年龄组间病毒阳性率差异有统计学意义(χ²=318.972,P<0.001)。0~1岁组病毒阳性率最高(32.1%)。0~1岁组和~3岁组,RSV检出率最高分别为18.7%和9.4%。~6岁组和~13岁组,腺病毒(adenovirus, ADV)检出率最高分别为8.1%和4.6%。各季节间,病毒阳性率差异有统计学意义(χ²=822.421,P<0.001)。春季,副流感病毒Ⅲ (parainfluenza virus Ⅲ, PIV Ⅲ)检出率最高;夏季,ADV检出率最高;秋、冬季,RSV检出率最高。 结论 对于0~1岁的婴幼儿,冬、春季,应重点预防RSV感染,而夏季应重点预防PIVⅢ感染。而对于>1岁的儿童,在春、夏两季应注意ADV的感染,冬季应注意预防FluA、FluB的感染。     

广州地区2017—2022年儿童呼吸道感染疾病负担及常见病原体流行特征

目的 分析与探讨广州地区儿童急性呼吸道感染的疾病负担与常见病原体流行特征。方法 以2017—2022上半年广州市某院收治的18 542例因急性呼吸道感染住院儿童为研究对象,采用间接免疫荧光法检测患儿血清中抗呼吸道合胞病毒(RSV)、腺病毒(ADV)、甲型流感病毒(IFV-A)、乙型流感病毒(IFV-B)、副流感病毒(PIV)、嗜肺军团菌(LP)、肺炎支原体(MP)及肺炎衣原体(CP)8项常见病原体IgM抗体。应用SPSS 22.0软件对数据进行统计分析。结果 18 542例急性呼吸道感染住院患儿平均住院7 d,平均住院总费用(中位数)为5 870.93元,～1岁患儿的住院总费用较高。18 542例患儿中,10 214例至少感染一种病原体,检出率为55.09%。男童检出率(52.31%)低于女童(59.77%),2017—2019年总检出率及混合感染率高于2020—2021年,高年龄组患儿总检出率及混合感染率高于低年龄组。4 973例为混合感染,以IFV-A+IFV-B+MP(1 033例)及IFV-A+IFV-B(1 022例)合并感染为主。病原体检出率前三分别为IFV-B(27.27...     

Incidence and risk factors for community-acquired hepatitis C infection from birth to 5 years of age in rural Egyptian children

A prospective study in three Egyptian villages (A, B and C) having a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection examined incidence of community-acquired HCV infection in children; 2852 uninfected infants were prospectively followed from birth for up to 5.5 years. Fifteen seroconverted for either HCV antibodies and/or HCV-RNA (incidence of 0.53%). Ten had both anti-HCV and HCV-RNA; four had only anti-HCV; and one had HCV-RNA in the absence of antibody. The incidence rate at all ages was 2.7/1000 person-years (PY). It was 3.8/1000 PY during infancy and 2.0/1000 PY for the 1-5-years age group. Hospitalization and low birth weight increased the risk of infection; while living in village B, the family having a higher socioeconomic status, and advanced maternal education were protective. Six of eight HCV-infected infants reported iatrogenic exposures (e.g. hospitalization, therapeutic injections, ear piercing) prior to infection whereas only 2/7 children older than 1 year reported these exposures. Having an HCV-positive mother was the only other reported risk in two of these older children. The virus cleared in six (40%) children by the end of follow-up. Health education targeting iatrogenic exposures and focusing on risk factors could reduce HCV infection in children in high-risk populations.     

Respiratory syncytial virus infection and immunoprophylaxis for selected high-risk children in Central Australia

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the epidemiology and viral aetiology of bronchiolitis in Central Australia and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunoprophylaxis in an Australian population. OBJECTIVE: To (i) determine the incidence and the viral aetiology of bronchiolitis hospitalisations and (ii) report on the usage of RSV immunoprophylaxis in selected high-risk infants and children in Central Australia. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective review was performed of all hospital separations for bronchiolitis for a three-year period, 1998-2000. Respiratory viruses in the nasopharyngeal aspirates were identified from the cases in the year 2000. A combined retrospective chart review and prospective follow up study was undertaken of all the infants and children who received RSV immunoprophylaxis at the Alice Springs Hospital, Central Australia. RESULTS: Incidence of bronchiolitis hospitalisation in infants for 1998, 1999 and 2000 were 176, 200 and 180 per 1000, respectively. Nine high-risk children had RSV immunoprophylaxis on a total of 46 occasions and there were two mild RSV-related illnesses in them. None had severe lower respiratory tract illness. CONCLUSION: The incidence of bronchiolitis in Central Australia is extremely high. The usage of RSV immunoprophylaxis may be justified in selected high-risk children living in high endemic areas.