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Review
. 2022 Apr 18:9:20499361221091413.
doi: 10.1177/20499361221091413. eCollection 2022 Jan-Dec.

Review of respiratory syncytial virus infection among older adults and transplant recipients

Daphne-Dominique H Villanueva  1 , Victor Arcega  1 , Mana Rao  2
Affiliations
Review

Review of respiratory syncytial virus infection among older adults and transplant recipients

Daphne-Dominique H Villanueva et al. Ther Adv Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of pulmonary infection among children and has been increasingly recognized as an important respiratory pathogen in older adults and immunocompromised hosts. Among older adults, RSV can lead to exacerbations of underlying lung and cardiac disease. It is also associated with significant morbidity and mortality in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients and may be associated with acute rejection and chronic lung allograft dysfunction among lung transplant recipients (LTRs). Current treatment options for severe RSV disease are limited, and there is a paucity of guidance on RSV treatment among older adults. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of RSV disease in older adults, HSCT recipients, and SOT recipients. Nosocomial spread has been reported, thus highlighting the importance of infection prevention and control measures to prevent outbreaks. Antivirals, monoclonal antibodies for immunoprophylaxis, and vaccine development are underway; however, future research is still needed in these critical areas.

Keywords: hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT); older adults; respiratory syncytial virus (RSV); solid organ transplant (SOT).

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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