Journal Article

Epidemiology of Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infection Hospitalizations Among HIV-Infected and HIV-Uninfected South African Children, 2010-2011

Wolter, Nicole, Walaza, Sibongile, Cohen, Adam L., Tempia, Stefano, Naby, Fathima, Groome, Michelle, Dawood, Halima, Cohen, Cheryl, von Gottberg, Anne, Pretorius, Marthi, Kahn, Kathleen, Haffejee, Sumayya, Moyes, Jocelyn, Venter, Marietjie, Chhagan, Meera, Madhi, Shabir A.

2013

Overview

Background. There are limited data on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection among children in settings with a high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We studied the epidemiology of RSV-associated acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) hospitalizations among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected children in South Africa. Methods. Children aged <5 years admitted to sentinel surveillance hospitals with physician-diagnosed neonatal sepsis or ALRTI were enrolled. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were tested by multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assays for RSV and other viruses. Associations between possible risk factors and severe outcomes for RSV infection among HIV-infected and uninfected children were examined. The relative risk of hospitalization in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected children was calculated in 1 site with population denominators. Results. Of 4489 participants, 4293 (96%) were tested for RSV, of whom 1157 (27%) tested positive. With adjustment for age, HIV-infected children had a 3-5-fold increased risk of hospitalization with RSV-associated ALRTI (2010 relative risk, 5.6; [95% confidence interval (CI), 4.5-6.4]; 2011 relative risk, 3.1 [95% CI, 2.6-3.6]). On multivariable analysis, HIV-infected children with RSV-associated ALRTI had higher odds of death (adjusted odds ratio. 31.1; 95% CI, 5.4-179.8) and hospitalization for >5 days (adjusted odds ratio, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.5-10.6) than HIV-uninfected children. Conclusion. HIV-infected children have a higher risk of hospitalization with RSV-associated ALRTI and a poorer outcome than HIV-uninfected children. These children should be targeted for interventions aimed at preventing severe RSV disease.

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Subject: Acute Disease / Child, Preschool / COUNTRY-SPECIFIC RSV SURVEILLANCE / Female / HIV Infections - complications / HIV Infections - epidemiology / Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data / Humans / Infant / Male / Population Surveillance - methods / Prevalence / Respiratory syncytial virus / Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - complications / Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - epidemiology / Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - physiopathology / Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - virology / Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human - genetics / Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human - isolation & purification / Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology / Respiratory Tract Infections - physiopathology / Respiratory Tract Infections - virology / South Africa - epidemiology