Among U.S. pediatric intensive care unit admissions, 11.4% involved respiratory syncytial virus infections, with new vaccines projected to reduce ICU stays by up to 5.9% during peak season, according to a recent study.

The cross-sectional study examined the association between respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections and pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) utilization in the U.S., as well as the potential impacts of nirsevimab and the maternal RSVpreF vaccine on ICU resource demand. Among 119,782 pediatric ICU encounters from January 2017 to June 2023 across 53 hospitals, 11.4% (13,702 encounters) involved RSV infection, accounting for 21.1% of total ICU days. Of these, 38.6% (5,217 encounters) were eligible for RSV prevention, representing 4.4% of total ICU encounters.

The analysis estimated that with a 65%-85% uptake and a 75% assumed efficacy of nirsevimab and RSVpreF, pediatric ICU encounters could decrease by approximately 2.1%-2.8%, and ICU days could see a reduction of 4.5%-5.9%, with potentially higher reductions during RSV peak season. During this period, reductions in ICU encounters may reach 3.6%-4.7%, with ICU days potentially decreasing by 6.7%-8.8%.

RSV-associated ICU encounters were characterized by increased severity indicators, with 29.7% of RSV cases requiring positive pressure ventilation compared to 17.7% of non-RSV cases (P < .001), and vasoactive medications used in 22.3% of RSV cases versus 17.5% in non-RSV cases (P < .001). Mortality associated with RSV infection was 5.3%, compared to 4.8% for non-RSV cases (P = .006).

These findings, published in JAMA Network Open, indicate that RSV preventive measures, such as nirsevimab and RSVpreF, may be associated with reduced ICU admissions and better health metrics during peak RSV season.

Full disclosures can be found in the published study.