A Controlled Trial of Aerosolized Ribavirin in Infants Receiving Mechanical Ventilation for Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

RESPIRATORY syncytial virus is the most important respiratory pathogen causing lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children. Ribavirin (1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide) is a synthetic nucleoside with inhibitory activity against a variety of viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus. 1 2 3 The Food and Drug Administration approved the licensure of aerosolized ribavirin for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus infection in December 1986. Approval was limited to use in infants who were breathing spontaneously and was based on the beneficial effect demonstrated in three controlled clinical trials. 4 5 6 Two of these trials involved previously normal infants, and one involved infants with underlying diseases known to . . .