Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in infants with bronchiolitis: a multicentre international study. Issue 9 (15th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cozzi, Giorgio; Cortellazzo Wiel, Luisa; Amaddeo, Alessandro; Gatto, Antonio; Giangreco, Manuela; Klein-Kremer, Adi; Bosis, Samantha; Silvagni, Davide; Debbia, Carla; Nanni, Laura; Chiappa, Sara; Minute, Marta; Corsini, Ilaria; Morabito, Giuliana; Gortan, Anna Jolanda; Colombo, Marco; Marchetti, Federico; Garelli, Davide; Piffer, Arianna; Cardinale, Fabio; Levy, Nitai; Curatola, Antonietta; Gojsina, Bojana; Basu, Suvradeep; Barbi, Egidio; Sovtic, Aleksandar
• Other Names: author non-byline.; Shavit Itai author non-byline.; Vanoni Federica author non-byline.; Iacono Alessandra author non-byline.; Masi Stefano author non-byline.; Piccotti Emanuela author non-byline.; Plebani Anna Maria author non-byline.; Tranchino Valentina author non-byline.; Milani Gregorio Paolo author non-byline.; Pedicini Sara author non-byline.; Nir Vered author non-byline.; Visekruna Jelena author non-byline.
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 107:Issue 9(2022)
• Page Start: 840
• Page End: 844
• Publication Date: 2022-06-15
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- epidemiology -- intensive care units -- paediatric emergency medicine -- virology; Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2021-323559
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Bronchiolitis is the leading acute respiratory tract infection in infants during the winter season. Since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a reduction in the number of bronchiolitis diagnoses has been registered. Objective: The present study aimed to describe the incidence and clinical features of bronchiolitis during the 2020–2021 winter season in a large cohort of children in Europe and Israel, and to clarify the role of SARS-CoV-2. Setting, patients, interventions: We conducted a multicentre observational cross-sectional study in 23 paediatric emergency departments in Europe and Israel. Clinical and demographic data about all the cases of infants diagnosed with bronchiolitis from 1 October 2020 to 30 April 2021 were collected. For each enrolled patient, diagnostic tests, treatments and outcomes were reported. Main outcome measures: The main outcome was the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2-positive bronchiolitis. Results: Three hundred and fourteen infants received a diagnosis of bronchiolitis during the study period. Among 535 infants who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, 16 (3%) had bronchiolitis. Median age, male sex predominance, weight, history of prematurity and presence of comorbidities did not differ between the SARS-CoV-2-positive and SARS-CoV-2-negative groups. Rhinovirus was the most common involved pathogen, while respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was detected in one case. SARS-CoV-2 bronchiolitis had a mild clinical course, with one patient receiving oxygen supplementation and none requiring paediatric or neonatal intensive care unit admission. Conclusions: During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a marked decrease in the number of bronchiolitis diagnoses and the disappearance of the RSV winter epidemic were observed. SARS-CoV-2-related bronchiolitis was rare and mostly displayed a mild clinical course. Abstract : During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, very few infants with SARS-CoV-2 had bronchiolitis and mostly displayed a mild clinical course. Overall there was a marked decrease in bronchiolitis cases, indeed the RSV winter epidemic did not occur.