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Biomedical subjects

A Bedford-Russell

Publications and source records attributed to A Bedford-Russell.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Hospitalisation for RSV infection in ex-preterm infants-implications for use of RSV immune globulin.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) specific immune globulin is now being marketed for prevention of RSV infection in ex-preterm infants. However, there are no published UK data on the morbidity or mortality from RSV in these infants. AIMS: To determine the morbidity and mortality from RSV infection in a cohort of infants previously treated at a regional neonatal unit, and compare the cost of hospitalisation for RSV with the potential cost of administering RSV immune globulin (RSV-IG) prophylaxis. METHODS: Infants born at a gestation of less than 32 weeks were studied. Details of admissions for respiratory illness in the first two years of life were collected from hospital records, referring hospitals, and general practitioners. RESULTS: Data on 82 infants were collected. Up to three RSV seasons were encountered. The hospitalisation rate for confirmed RSV infection for the first season encountered was 4%. Rates of ward and paediatric intensive care unit admission were higher for infants with chronic lung disease. There were no deaths from RSV. RSV-IG would not have been cost effective for most infants. CONCLUSION: The morbidity and mortality rates from RSV observed in this group do not support the widespread introduction of RSV-IG prophylaxis for ex-preterm infants.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed2000

Prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection with palivizumab.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects virtually all children by the age of 2 yrs. Premature infants with chronic lung disease (CLD) are at risk of greater morbidity due to RSV infection. However, these infants represent a small proportion of all infants admitted to hospital with RSV infection, and hospitalization rates for this group appear to have decreased over the past decade. Prophylaxis against RSV infection has recently become available in the form of palivizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody preparation. The IMpact trial demonstrated a 39% relative risk reduction in hospital admissions for RSV in cases in which palivizumab was administered to premature infants with CLD. However, palivizumab is a very expensive drug and cost-effectiveness analyses do not support its use in the majority of premature infants with or without CLD. The only group in which palivizumab should even be considered for use is premature infants with chronic lung disease at home on oxygen during their first respiratory syncytial virus season. In this group of infants, a detailed postlicensing audit needs to be performed to determine efficacy.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗