Immunoprophylaxis of severe RSV infections does not influence vaccination of children - new indication criteria
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most frequent pathogen of serious respiratory infections in children under 3 years of age. The prevalence of the disease reaches 68.8% in the first year of life and 82.6% in the children under 2.
For prevention of the RSV infections in high-risk infants (prematurity, chronic lung diseases, congenital heart diseases) administration of palivizumab is recommended. Palivizumab is a monoclonal antibody against specific RSV epitope, neutralizing the virus and inhibiting penetration of the viral envelope into the plasmatic membrane of the host cell.
The administration of palivizumab does not interfere with the vaccination of the infant. The metaanalyses have consistently shown the efficacy of palivizumab in decrease of severe RSV infections incidence, and the administration of palivizumab is a part of the Evidence Based Medicine at present.
Currently, in the Czech Republic the indication criteria for the RSV infection immunoprophylaxis of preterm infants have been extended and the lyophilized palivizumab formulation has been replaced by a liquid one, which eliminates potential problems relating to the administration.