The goal of this observational study is to is to examine the impact of new RSV prevention medicines on the burden of RSV disease among young children. The main question it aims to answer is: What was the impact of the 2025 RSV prevention program on RSV-related hospitalisation in children under 2 years of age? Participants won't need to do anything additional for the study as only routinely collected health information will be used to answer the research question.
Nirsevimab, a novel long-acting monoclonal antibody targeted at RSV became available for vulnerable babies in the Australian Capital Territory (a small jurisdiction in Australia) in April 2024. Maternal RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, became available for all women of 28-36 weeks gestation in February 2025. Through either nirsevimab or Abrysvo, all infants born from 1 January 2025 in the jurisdiction have universal eligibility for RSV immunoprophylaxis. This study will use interrupted time series methodology to evaluate the impact of the 2025 RSV prevention program on RSV-related hospitalisation in children under 2 years of age. Historical data from 2022-2023 will form the pre-nirsevimab period, and 2022-2024 the pre-Abrysvo period. 2025 will form the post-intervention period. Secondary objectives are to: 1. Evaluate the impact of the 2025 RSV prevention program on RSV-related Emergency Department (ED) presentations 2. Evaluate the impact on the reported incidence of RSV
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
2,100
The Canberra Hospital
Garran, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
RSV Hospitalisation
RSV-related hospital admissions will be determined by reviewing hospital admissions occurring within one month of a positive RSV test. The discharge summary will be reviewed for a diagnosis or other clinical information consistent with RSV-related illness (bronchiolitis, respiratory tract infection, viral illness), and cross-checked with the ICD-10-AM coding for the episode.
Time frame: At monthly time intervals over 3 years and 8 months
Emergency Department presentations
RSV-related ED presentations will be determined by reviewing ED presentations occurring within one month of a positive RSV test. Documentation from the presentation will be reviewed for a discharge diagnosis or impression consistent with RSV-related illness (bronchiolitis, respiratory tract infection, viral illness). If no discharge letter or doctors' documentation is available, the triage note will be reviewed for a presenting complaint consistent with RSV-related illness (rhinorrhoea, nasal congestion, cough, respiratory distress, diffuse crackles and/or wheeze, fever, hypoxaemia, and associated feeding difficulties, vomiting, dehydration, or lethargy).
Time frame: Monthly time intervals over a period of 3 years and 8 months
RSV cases
RSV cases will be determined by laboratory notifications of positive RSV infection on PCR test to ACT Health, the body responsible for receiving notifiable disease notifications.
Time frame: At monthly intervals over 3 years and 8 months
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