Wood CW, Walter E, Espinosa C, Enriquez-Bruce ME, Budhecha S, Elliott A, Domachowske J, Daniels D, Wolf Z, Waddell EB, Suh M, Fryzek J, Nelson CB. Results from four US health systems: (1) Seasonality of infant lower respiratory tract infections, including those caused by RSV, was altered during the COVID-19 pandemic; and (2) Infant hospitalizations and ICU admissions for bronchiolitis and RSV-bronchiolitis are at historic highs during 2022 early seasonal disease. Companion posters presented at the 7th ReSViNET Conference, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal, February 2023.
Abstract
(1) CONCLUSIONS
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, the historical seasonality of bronchiolitis and RSV-Br incidence has been disrupted.
- 2022 trends indicate a return to typical seasonality, albeit early in the season.
- Continued monitoring is needed to determine the impact of the pandemic on bronchiolitis and RSV-Br seasonality to aid future efforts at prevention and assess their impact
(2) CONCLUSIONS
- The recent 2022 early bronchiolitis and RSV-Br season has resulted in historically high levels of severe disease among infants.
- Continued monitoring of RSV-Br trends is needed to assess the impact of future preventative measures on severe infant disease.