Ten years of severe respiratory syncytial virus infections in a tertiary paediatric intensive care unit

Aim To describe the epidemiology and treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in a tertiary paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), including the clinical presentations, comorbidities, respiratory support required, costs and outcomes. Methods This study was an analysis of a database for all children with RSV infections admitted to the PICU in Melbourne between 2005 and 2015. Results A total of 604 episodes of community‐acquired RSV infections were analysed, and the median age of children was 4 months (interquartile range 2–14 months); 94% of cases had lower respiratory tract infection, principally bronchiolitis, and 8.9% presented with extrapulmonary features. Respiratory support included humidified high‐flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (76% of patients since its introduction in 2011), non‐invasive ventilation (41%) and intubation and mechanical ventilation (32%). Almost half (n = 270; 45%) had one or more pre‐existing comorbid condition. Risk factors for intubation and mechanical ventilation were presence of comorbidities (odds ratio 1.97; confidence interval 1.39–2.79, P < 0.001) and transfer from an external hospital (odds ratio 1.82; confidence interval 1.58–2.57, P < 0.001). Of the children without pre‐existing comorbidities, 25% required intubation and mechanical ventilation. Following the introduction of humidified high‐flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy, the number of annual PICU admissions for RSV infection doubled; however, the number of children requiring intubation remained unchanged. The median length of intensive care unit stay was 3.7 days and further hospital stay was 3.6 days, and the average cost per case was approximately AU$20000. Conclusions RSV infection carries a high burden in PICU, in bed‐days and cost. Chronic comorbidities and transfer from a peripheral hospital were associated with a higher rate of need for mechanical ventilation.