Unusual local epidemic of paediatric respiratory syncytial virus during a time of global pandemic

Abstract

BackgroundWestern Australia (WA) public health measures to eradicate SARS‐CoV‐2 resulted in a secondary reduction in paediatric respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) admissions. Following an absent expected 2020 winter peak, RSV‐positive admissions surged during the summer of 2020.AimThis report examines the number of RSV‐positive admissions and severities across 36 months to better understand this out‐of‐season epidemic.MethodsA retrospective observational study was performed assessing the number and severity of RSV‐related respiratory hospitalisations at a peripheral paediatric centre from March 2018 to February 2021. Data were extracted from the hospital clinical database.ResultsThe total number of included participants was n = 294. The total number of RSV hospitalisations in SY (study year) 2018 (March 2018 to February 2019), SY 2019 (March 2019 to February 2020) and SY 2020 (March 2020 to February 2021) was 67, 98 and 129, respectively. Prior to SARS‐CoV‐2, RSV hospitalisations were highest during the winter months. In SY 2020, there were 0 RSV hospitalisations during winter, while 101 admissions in the following summer season. The proportion of admissions requiring respiratory support was significantly reduced in SY 2020 (34.1%) compared to SY 2018 (46.9%, P = 0.050) and SY 2019 (55.2%, P = 0.004). The median length of stay (LOS) in 2020 was 2.0 which was significantly reduced from 2018 and 2019 which was 3.0, P = 0.001; and 3.0, P < 0.001, respectively.ConclusionFollowing a period of RSV absence, there was an unprecedented surge in admission, however, with lower severity and shorter LOS.