Variation in the seasonality of the respiratory syncytial virus during the COVID-19 pandemic

doi:10.1007/s15010-022-01794-y

Observational Study

. 2022 Aug;50(4):1001-1005.

doi: 10.1007/s15010-022-01794-y. Epub 2022 Mar 22.

Variation in the seasonality of the respiratory syncytial virus during the COVID-19 pandemic

Lorena Bermúdez Barrezueta^{1

2}, Vanesa Matías Del Pozo^{3

4}, Pablo López-Casillas⁵, Marta Brezmes Raposo^{5

4}, María Gutiérrez Zamorano⁵, María de la Asunción Pino Vázquez^{5

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ División of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Clínico Universitario of Valladolid, Av. Ramón Y Cajal, 3, 47003, Valladolid, Spain. bermudezlorena@hotmail.com.
² Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain. bermudezlorena@hotmail.com.
³ Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Clínico Universitario of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.
⁴ Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.
⁵ División of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Clínico Universitario of Valladolid, Av. Ramón Y Cajal, 3, 47003, Valladolid, Spain.

PMID: 35316529
PMCID: PMC8938970
DOI: 10.1007/s15010-022-01794-y

Observational Study

Variation in the seasonality of the respiratory syncytial virus during the COVID-19 pandemic

Lorena Bermúdez Barrezueta et al. Infection. 2022 Aug.

. 2022 Aug;50(4):1001-1005.

doi: 10.1007/s15010-022-01794-y. Epub 2022 Mar 22.

Authors

Lorena Bermúdez Barrezueta^{1

2}, Vanesa Matías Del Pozo^{3

4}, Pablo López-Casillas⁵, Marta Brezmes Raposo^{5

4}, María Gutiérrez Zamorano⁵, María de la Asunción Pino Vázquez^{5

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ División of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Clínico Universitario of Valladolid, Av. Ramón Y Cajal, 3, 47003, Valladolid, Spain. bermudezlorena@hotmail.com.
² Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain. bermudezlorena@hotmail.com.
³ Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Clínico Universitario of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.
⁴ Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.
⁵ División of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Clínico Universitario of Valladolid, Av. Ramón Y Cajal, 3, 47003, Valladolid, Spain.

PMID: 35316529
PMCID: PMC8938970
DOI: 10.1007/s15010-022-01794-y

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a variation in the circulation of common respiratory viruses. Our objective was to analyse the epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison with previous epidemic seasons.

Methods: We conducted an observational study involving infants with RSV bronchiolitis admitted to a tertiary hospital during two periods: pandemic COVID-19 (15 March 2020-30 September 2021) and pre-pandemic (1 October 2014-14 March 2020). Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected.

Results: A total of 270 patients were admitted for RSV bronchiolitis: 253 in the pre-pandemic period with an average of 42 admissions per season vs 17 in the pandemic. During the pandemic, the RSV outbreak started late in June 2021 with a higher percentage of prematurity and PICU admissions.

Conclusion: A change in RSV seasonality was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an unusual outbreak in summer 2021 of lower magnitude than previous seasons.

Keywords: Bronchiolitis; COVID-19; Epidemiology; Pandemic; Respiratory syncytial virus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
Number of monthly RSV bronchiolitis admissions during each epidemic season and its correspondence with the weeks of epidemiological surveillance. In dashed line, the delayed outbreak of RSV bronchiolitis during the summer 2021 is shown

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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1. McConnochie KM. Bronchiolitis. What’s in the name? Am J Dis Child. 1983;137:11–13. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1983.02140270007003. - DOI - PubMed
1. Yeoh DK, Yeoh DK, Foley DA, Minney-Smith CA, Martin AC, Mace AO, et al. Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Public Health Measures on Detections of Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children During the 2020 Australian Winter. Clin Infect Dis 2021;72:2199–202. https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/72/12/2199/5912591 - PMC - PubMed
1. Sánchez Luna M, Pérez Muñuzuri A, Leante Castellanos JL, Ruiz Campillo CW, Sanz López E, Benavente Fernández I, et al. An update of the recommendations of the Spanish Neonatology Society for the use of palivizumab as prophylaxis for severe infections due to syncytial respiratory virus in high risk infants. An. Pediatr. 91:348–350. 10.1016/j.anpedi.2019.08.003 - PubMed
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[1] Shi T, McAllister DA, O’Brien KL, Simoes EAF, Madhi SA, Gessner BD, et al. Global, regional, and national disease burden estimates of acute lower respiratory infections due to respiratory syncytial virus in young children in 2015: a systematic review and modelling study. Lancet (London, England) 2017;390:946–958. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30938-8. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[2] Shi T, McAllister DA, O’Brien KL, Simoes EAF, Madhi SA, Gessner BD, et al. Global, regional, and national disease burden estimates of acute lower respiratory infections due to respiratory syncytial virus in young children in 2015: a systematic review and modelling study. Lancet (London, England) 2017;390:946–958. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30938-8. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[3] McConnochie KM. Bronchiolitis. What’s in the name? Am J Dis Child. 1983;137:11–13. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1983.02140270007003. - DOI - PubMed

[4] McConnochie KM. Bronchiolitis. What’s in the name? Am J Dis Child. 1983;137:11–13. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1983.02140270007003. - DOI - PubMed

[5] Yeoh DK, Yeoh DK, Foley DA, Minney-Smith CA, Martin AC, Mace AO, et al. Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Public Health Measures on Detections of Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children During the 2020 Australian Winter. Clin Infect Dis 2021;72:2199–202. https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/72/12/2199/5912591 - PMC - PubMed

[6] Yeoh DK, Yeoh DK, Foley DA, Minney-Smith CA, Martin AC, Mace AO, et al. Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Public Health Measures on Detections of Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children During the 2020 Australian Winter. Clin Infect Dis 2021;72:2199–202. https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/72/12/2199/5912591 - PMC - PubMed

[7] Sánchez Luna M, Pérez Muñuzuri A, Leante Castellanos JL, Ruiz Campillo CW, Sanz López E, Benavente Fernández I, et al. An update of the recommendations of the Spanish Neonatology Society for the use of palivizumab as prophylaxis for severe infections due to syncytial respiratory virus in high risk infants. An. Pediatr. 91:348–350. 10.1016/j.anpedi.2019.08.003 - PubMed

[8] Sánchez Luna M, Pérez Muñuzuri A, Leante Castellanos JL, Ruiz Campillo CW, Sanz López E, Benavente Fernández I, et al. An update of the recommendations of the Spanish Neonatology Society for the use of palivizumab as prophylaxis for severe infections due to syncytial respiratory virus in high risk infants. An. Pediatr. 91:348–350. 10.1016/j.anpedi.2019.08.003 - PubMed

[9] Santé Publique France. Bronchiolite : bilan de la surveillance hivernale 2020–2021. https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/les-actualites/2021/bronchiolite-bila.... Accessed 30 Sept 2021

[10] Santé Publique France. Bronchiolite : bilan de la surveillance hivernale 2020–2021. https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/les-actualites/2021/bronchiolite-bila.... Accessed 30 Sept 2021

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Variation in the seasonality of the respiratory syncytial virus during the COVID-19 pandemic

Affiliations

Variation in the seasonality of the respiratory syncytial virus during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Conflict of interest statement

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