The Prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Children: Focus on Palivizumab

Recurrent upper respiratory infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory viruses occur throughout life. During the first 2 years of life, RSV infected children have up to a 40% risk of a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). In turn LRTI, including bronchiolitis, due to RSV is the most common cause of hospitalization among infants less than one year of age. While mortality from RSV infection has fallen over the last 2 decades, approximately 400-500 deaths occur annually in the United States again primarily in infants less than 1 year of age. Palivizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, has been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization in high risk infants if given monthly during RSV season. Post marketing safety surveillance originating from a variety of sources, mostly active surveillance, has confirmed the prelicensure safety profile of palivizumab. Other than very rare anaphylactic reactions (<1/1), no significant adverse reactions have been noted.