The risk of hospitalisation from RSV is not increased by co-infection in children under 24-months-of-age.

Abstract

The recent pandemic prompted renewed interest in paediatric respiratory infections, including whether co-infections - particularlywith RSV - have an adverse prognostic impact. We evaluated the charts of all children presenting with respiratory symptoms to our unit between October 2022 and April 2023, each of whom was subjected to a multiplex PCR assay to detect eight viral targets and one bacterial target and examine the relationships between mono- and co-infections and hospitalization outcomes. We observed that younger age and RSV infection were both associated with the need for hospitalisation and the duration of hospitalisation after adjusting for confounders. Co-infection was, however, not associated with these outcomes. Conclusion: This real-world data add to a growing consensus that RSV increases the risk of hospitalisation, while other co-infections, except for co-infection with SARS-CoV-2, do not. Given the timeframe over which our study was conducted, only a few children had SARS-CoV-2 co-infection, so we could not confirm any significant effect from this interaction. What is Known: • RSV increases the risk of hospitalisation and the need tor ventilatory support, especially in very young children. What is New: • Younger age and RSV infection were both associated with the need for hospitalisation and the duration of hospitalisation after adjusting for confounders. • Co-infection was, however, not associated with these outcomes.