Did Nirsevimab Shift Pediatric Hospitalizations Due to Lower Respiratory Tract Infections? A Nationwide Italian Study (2024-2025).
Nirsevimab is a long-acting monoclonal antibody designed to prevent infections due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Here we report on a retrospective, multicenter study encompassing a total of 19 Italian neonatal and pediatric centers evaluating the epidemiology of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI)-related hospitalizations in infants younger than 2 years during the first RSV season following the introduction of nirsevimab prophylaxis. A total of 401 hospitalizations were reported, with 40.4% being in children with previous prophylaxis with nirsevimab. Respiratory syncytial virus was the most frequently identified pathogen (47.5%), followed by rhinovirus/enterovirus (20.2%) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV; 6.9%). In multivariable analyses adjusted for age, sex, and month of diagnosis, prior nirsevimab immunization was associated with a significantly reduced likelihood of RSV-related hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.259; 95% CI, 0.157-0.427), corresponding to an estimated effectiveness of 74.1% (95% CI, 57.3-84.3). Conversely, nirsevimab-immunized infants showed increased odds of hospitalization due to hMPV (aOR, 2.490; 95% CI, 1.019-6.085) and rhinovirus/enterovirus (aOR, 2.573; 95% CI, 1.424-4.650). Lower respiratory tract infections associated with hMPV predominantly occurred outside the typical RSV season, being associated with moderate-to-severe clinical presentations. These findings confirm the real-world effectiveness of nirsevimab against RSV hospitalizations, also highlighting the need for the continued surveillance of non-RSV respiratory pathogens in the context of universal RSV immunoprophylaxis.
Authors
Manzoni Manzoni, Riccò Riccò, Tzialla Tzialla, Barera Barera, Barba Barba, De Franco De Franco, Pellegrini Pellegrini, Crapanzano Crapanzano, Nicolini Nicolini, Alba Alba, Fiocchi Fiocchi, Vivalda Vivalda, Natta Natta, Casati Casati, Manzionna Manzionna, Rugolotto Rugolotto, Saggioro Saggioro, Pesce Pesce, Scavone Scavone, Distilo Distilo, Roseto Roseto, Di Toro Di Toro, Pierri Pierri, Scarpelli Scarpelli, Bonanno Bonanno, Decembrino Decembrino, Felici Felici, Selvatico Selvatico, Saracco Saracco, Morrone Morrone, Costantino Costantino, Nobili Nobili, Giuffrè Giuffrè
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