The Importance of RSV Epidemiological Surveillance: A Multicenter Observational Study of RSV Infection during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Giulia Pruccoli,
Emanuele Castagno,
Irene Raffaldi,
Marco Denina,
Elisa Barisone,
Luca Baroero,
Fabio Timeus,
Ivana Rabbone,
Alice Monzani,
Gian Maria Terragni,
Cristina Lovera,
Adalberto Brach del Prever,
Paolo Manzoni,
Michelangelo Barbaglia,
Luca Roasio,
Simona De Franco,
Carmelina Calitri,
Maddalena Lupica,
Enrico Felici,
Cinzia Marciano,
Savino Santovito,
Gaia Militerno,
Enrica Abrigo,
Antonio Curtoni,
Paola Quarello,
Claudia Bondone,
Silvia Garazzino
Affiliations
Giulia Pruccoli
Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Turin, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, A.O.U. Città Della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Emanuele Castagno
Department of Pediatric Emergency, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, A.O.U. Città Della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Irene Raffaldi
Department of Pediatric Emergency, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, A.O.U. Città Della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Marco Denina
Department of Pediatric Emergency, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, A.O.U. Città Della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Elisa Barisone
Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
Luca Baroero
Department of Pediatrics, Martini Hospital, 10141 Turin, Italy
Division of Pediatrics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
Alice Monzani
Division of Pediatrics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
Gian Maria Terragni
Department of Pediatrics, Chieri Hospital, 10023 Chieri (TO), Italy
Cristina Lovera
Department of Pediatrics, A.O. S.Croce e Carle, 12100 Cuneo, Italy
Adalberto Brach del Prever
Department of Pediatrics, Presidio Ospedaliero di Ciriè, ASL TO4, 10073 Ciriè (TO), Italy
Paolo Manzoni
Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale Degli Infermi di Ponderano, University of Turin, 13900 Biella, Italy
Michelangelo Barbaglia
Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale Castelli, 28923 Verbania, Italy
Luca Roasio
Department of Pediatrics, Edoardo Agnelli Hospital, 10064 Pinerolo (TO), Italy
Simona De Franco
Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale di Borgomanero, 28021 Borgomanero (NO), Italy
Carmelina Calitri
Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale di Rivoli, 10098 Rivoli (TO), Italy
Maddalena Lupica
Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale di Rivoli, 10098 Rivoli (TO), Italy
Enrico Felici
Pediatric and Pediatric Emergency Unit, Children’s Hospital, AO SS Antonio e Biagio e C. Arrigo, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
Cinzia Marciano
Pediatric and Pediatric Emergency Unit, Children’s Hospital, AO SS Antonio e Biagio e C. Arrigo, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
Savino Santovito
Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale Maria Vittoria, ASL Città di Torino, 10143 Turin, Italy
Gaia Militerno
Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale Cardinal Massaia, 14100 Asti, Italy
Enrica Abrigo
Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale Cardinal Massaia, 14100 Asti, Italy
Antonio Curtoni
Microbiology and Virology Unit, Molinette Hospital, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Paola Quarello
Department of Pediatric Onco-Hematology, University of Turin, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, A.O.U. Città Della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Claudia Bondone
Department of Pediatric Emergency, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, A.O.U. Città Della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Silvia Garazzino
Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Turin, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, A.O.U. Città Della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
The restrictive measures adopted worldwide against SARS-CoV-2 produced a drastic reduction in respiratory pathogens, including RSV, but a dramatic rebound was thereafter reported. In this multicenter retrospective observational study in 15 Pediatric Emergency Departments, all children <3 years old with RSV infection admitted between 1 September and 31 December 2021 were included and compared to those admitted in the same period of 2020 and 2019. The primary aim was to evaluate RSV epidemiology during and after the COVID-19 pandemic peak. The secondary aims were to evaluate the clinical features of children with RSV infection. Overall, 1015 children were enrolled: 100 in 2019, 3 in 2020 and 912 in 2021. In 2019, the peak was recorded in December, and in 2021, it was recorded in November. Comparing 2019 to 2021, in 2021 the median age was significantly higher and the age group 2–3 years was more affected. Admissions were significantly higher in 2021 than in 2020 and 2019, and the per-year hospitalization rate was lower in 2021 (84% vs. 93% in 2019), while the duration of admissions was similar. No difference was found in severity between 2019–2020–2021. In conclusion, after the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in RSV cases in 2021 exceeding the median seasonal peak was detected, with the involvement of older children, while no difference was found in severity.
