Dr Gemma Saravanos1, Ms Claire Nayda3, Ms Trish Malidigri3, Professor Marilyn Cruickshank2, Associate Professor Philip Britton3
1Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia, 2Nursing Research Unit, Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Randwick, Australia, 3Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, Australia
Biography:
Gemma is an epidemiologist and Registered Nurse passionate about mentoring the next generation of health professionals while driving the development of evidence-based, people-centred, culturally safe, and sustainable health systems. She partners with multidisciplinary teams to better understand and address the impact of preventable infections, with a focus on respiratory infections.
Abstract:
Introduction
Respiratory syncytial virus healthcare associated infection (RSV-HAI) surveillance can support prevention, however, surveillance can be resource intensive, presenting challenges for routine IPC practice. This study aimed to assess feasibility of a surveillance protocol and describe epidemiology and impact of RSV-HAI in patients at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
Methods
We present data from four RSV seasons including years prior to (2018 to 2020) and post (2024) COVID-19. A surveillance nurse reviewed RSV laboratory records by week and screened detections in children occurring >72 hours post presentation. Children with symptom onset >72 hours following presentation were recruited as RSV-HAI cases. Workload estimates are presented as surveillance nurse time and case yield. Case data are presented as counts, rate per occupied bed days, demographic and clinical features.
Results
4,869 RSV detections were reviewed and 184 (3.8%) screened for eligibility. Of these, 80 were recruited as RSV-HAI resulting in an overall yield of 43.5% (80/184).
Weekly rate ranged from 0.0 to 2.7 per 1000 occupied bed days. Weekly screening time ranged from <15 to 60 minutes; most weeks (87.9%) required <15 minutes. Time for weekly case data collection was more variable.
Median age of children with RSV-HAI was 2.2 years (IQR 0.4, 6.6), 45 (56.3%) were male, and 56 (71.8%) had medical comorbidity. Twenty-seven (33.8%) received antibiotics for acute lower respiratory tract infection, and three died.
Conclusions
RSV-HAI is associated with substantial disease burden. Our surveillance protocol represents a feasible approach to RSV-HAI surveillance which can support the evaluation of prevention efforts.