Nirsevimab Effective for RSV-Related Bronchiolitis Hospitalization

A recent study published in the July 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine has highlighted the effectiveness of nirsevimab therapy in reducing the risk of hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated bronchiolitis in infants. The research, led by Dr. Zein Assad from the Robert Debré University Hospital in Paris, provides compelling evidence supporting the use of this therapy among young children.

The study was designed as a prospective, multicenter, matched case-control investigation. It aimed to evaluate how well nirsevimab therapy works in preventing hospital admissions due to RSV-associated bronchiolitis in infants under 12 months old. To achieve this, the researchers included a total of 1,035 infants in the study: 690 case patients who were hospitalized due to RSV-associated bronchiolitis, and 345 control patients who visited clinics for reasons unrelated to RSV infections. These control patients were carefully matched with the case patients based on age, the date of their hospital visits, and the study centers.

According to the study's findings, nirsevimab therapy demonstrated a significant level of effectiveness. Among the 690 case patients, 60 had previously received nirsevimab, while 97 of the 345 control patients had also received the therapy. The researchers calculated that the adjusted effectiveness of nirsevimab in preventing hospitalization for RSV-associated bronchiolitis was 83.0 percent. This substantial reduction in risk was consistent even in the sensitivity analysis, which mirrored the primary analysis results.

Moreover, nirsevimab showed robust effectiveness in severe cases. The therapy was found to reduce the risk of RSV-associated bronchiolitis leading to critical care by 69.6 percent. Similarly, it reduced the need for ventilatory support in such cases by 67.2 percent. These results underscore the potential of nirsevimab prophylaxis to not only reduce hospital admissions but also to mitigate more severe complications associated with RSV infections in infants.

The authors of the study conclude that nirsevimab prophylaxis is effective in preventing RSV-associated bronchiolitis that necessitates hospitalization among infants younger than 12 months. This includes cases severe enough to require admission to pediatric intensive care units or necessitate ventilatory support.

This research offers a promising outlook on the use of nirsevimab therapy in clinical practice, potentially paving the way for its broader adoption to protect infants from the severe consequences of RSV infections.