Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes respiratory tract infection and can progress toward acute bronchitis and pneumonia. Already recognized as a leading cause of respiratory mortality among young children globally, its significance is well-studied in pediatric settings.
In the healthy elderly population, an estimated 3-7 % develop RSV infection annually. RSV-associated acute respiratory infection (ARI) in older adults causes 336,000 hospitalizations yearly, leading to about 14,000 in-hospital deaths.
Transmission in hospitals and long-term care settings is of particular concern, underscoring the need to implement precautions and effective preventive strategies.
Differentiation between RSV and other respiratory tract infections is vital to optimal management. The importance of continuing education on clinical management, evolving diagnostic algorithms, prevention, and treatment options cannot be overstated.
Last month, the first-ever vaccine for RSV was authorized in the United States and recommended for market authorization in the European Union. It is indicated for use in individuals 60 years of age and older.
There is a crucial unmet need for knowledge exchange and discussion on the burden of RSV-associated ARI morbidity and mortality in older adults.
The 1-hour symposium on RSV infection in the older adult population took place at the European Society for Clinical Virology Conference (ESCV 2023), in Milan, Italy, on 31 August 2023.
This symposium aims to increase knowledge, improve patient care, and ultimately increase the capacity of the healthcare systems to prevent and manage RSV infections in the elderly population.
