Vaccines (Sep 2023)

Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Epidemiological Burden in Pediatric Outpatients in Italy: A Systematic Review

  • Sara Boccalini,
  • Benedetta Bonito,
  • Cristina Salvati,
  • Marco Del Riccio,
  • Enrica Stancanelli,
  • Mario Bruschi,
  • Giulia Ionita,
  • Johanna Iamarino,
  • Davide Bentivegna,
  • Primo Buscemi,
  • Giulia Ciardi,
  • Claudia Cosma,
  • Lorenzo Stacchini,
  • Cristiana Conticello,
  • Manjola Bega,
  • Annamaria Schirripa,
  • Sonia Paoli,
  • Lorenzo Bertizzolo,
  • Salvatore Parisi,
  • Francesca Trippi,
  • Paolo Bonanni,
  • Angela Bechini

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11091484
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 9
p. 1484

Abstract

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Background: Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is a key contributor to lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), affecting children aged 0–5 years and often leading to outpatient visits, emergency department utilization, and hospitalization. With the development of hRSV vaccines for mitigation, understanding the epidemiological impact of hRSV infections among 0–5-year-old pediatric outpatients in Italy is crucial. Methods: This systematic review conducted searches on PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the International HTA Database, yielding 20,845 English and Italian records from January 2000 to July 2022. Results: Six eligible articles were identified following inclusion and exclusion criteria. These studies demonstrated hRSV-positivity proportions ranging from 18% to 41% in pediatric outpatients with respiratory infections. However, data comparability was hindered by diverse diagnostic approaches, data sources, sample populations, and study designs. Notably, hRSV-positivity showed temporal variability, rising from 23.8% (2001–2002) to 40.6% (2019–2020). This trend could stem from evolving epidemiological factors, heightened clinician awareness in hRSV diagnosis, or more sensitive molecular techniques. Conclusion: As the first review of its kind, this study underscores the need for more comprehensive data to inform effective preventive strategies against hRSV-related burdens in pediatric outpatients.

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