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. 2003 Dec;8(10):609-12.
doi: 10.1093/pch/8.10.609.

Prophylaxis of respiratory syncytial virus in Canada in 2003

Joan L Robinson  1 , Bonita E Lee
Affiliations

Prophylaxis of respiratory syncytial virus in Canada in 2003

Joan L Robinson et al. Paediatr Child Health. 2003 Dec.

Abstract
in English, French

Passive immunization of high-risk children with the humanized monoclonal antibody palivizumab is the mainstay of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prophylaxis in Canada in 2003. This product appears to be safe, and it prevents the majority of RSV hospitalizations in infants born before 36 weeks gestational age, and about half in children under 24 months of age with hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease. However, the high cost of palivizumab and the fact that at least 12 infants need to be treated throughout RSV season to prevent one hospitalization make it difficult to determine the ideal indications for the product. Because these high-risk infants account for a minority of RSV hospitalizations, it is desirable to search for a prophylactic strategy that is practical to apply in all infants.

L’immunisation passive des enfants très vulnérables au moyen du palivizumab, un anticorps monoclonal humanisé, représente le pilier de la prophylaxie contre le virus respiratoire syncytial (VRS) au Canada en 2003. Ce produit semble sûr et prévient la majorité des hospitalisations secondaires au VRS chez les nourrissons nés avant 36 semaines d’âge gestationnel et chez les enfants de moins de 24 mois atteints d’une cardiopathie congénitale importante sur le plan hémodynamique. Cependant, en raison du coût élevé du palivizumab et du fait qu’au moins 12 nourrissons doivent être traités pendant toute la saison du VRS afin de prévenir une hospitalisation, il est difficile de déterminer les indications idéales relativement au produit. Puisque ces nourrissons très vulnérables représentent la minorité des hospitalisations secondaires au VRS, il est souhaitable de chercher une stratégie prophylactique applicable à tous les nourrissons.

Keywords: Palivizumab; Preterm; Prophylaxis; Respiratory syncytial virus.

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Figures

Figure 1)
Figure 1)
Number of respiratory syncytial virus isolates detected by culture or by direct fluorescent antibody tests at the Provincial Laboratory for Public Health (Microbiology) for northern Alberta. Specimens are received from northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Clear bars represent months when use of palivizumab would be considered in most RSV prophylaxis programs (November to April). Solid bars represent months when palivizumab might not be used as prophylaxis unless it was recognized that RSV disease was occurring earlier or later than usual (May to October)
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