Nirsevimab Cuts RSV Hospitalizations in Spanish Study
METHODOLOGY:
Researchers carried out a prospective observational study at a tertiary hospital in Spain to examine if universally administering nirsevimab could reduce hospitalizations and paediatric intensive care admissions due to RSV-LRTIs in children younger than 5 years.
They analysed 311 patients (median age, 4.9 months; 57.5% boys), comparing hospitalization rates during the October 2023-March 2024 RSV season — when nirsevimab was administered — with those during two pre-pandemic seasons (2018-2019 and 2019-2020) and one post-pandemic season (2022-2023).
Nirsevimab immunoprophylaxis was given to all newborns with a gestational age of at least 35 weeks, to infants younger than 6 months, and to high-risk children younger than 2 years.
TAKEAWAY:
RSV-LRTI hospitalizations in infants younger than 6 months declined by 83.3% (95% CI, 70.9-95.8) during the period when nirsevimab was administered compared with those in the pre-pandemic periods and declined by 90.8% (95% CI, 83.6-98.0) compared with those in the post-pandemic period.
Additionally, paediatric intensive care admissions declined by 73.3% during the period when nirsevimab was administered compared with those in the pre-pandemic periods and by 87.9% compared with those in the post-pandemic period.
The median age of hospitalized patients significantly increased during the nirsevimab period, rising to 15.6 months, whereas it was 4 months and 3.4 months in the pre- and post-pandemic periods, respectively ( P < .001).
< .001). Additionally, hospital stays were shorter during the nirsevimab period, with a median of 4 days, whereas they lasted a median of 6 days and 5 days in the pre- and post-pandemic periods, respectively ( P = .003).
IN PRACTICE:
"These findings are encouraging, and it is anticipated that in the coming years, nirsevimab prophylaxis will mitigate the significant burden on healthcare services during the winter season," the authors wrote.
SOURCE:
The study was led by Lorena Bermúdez-Barrezueta, Faculty of Medicine, Valladolid University, Valladolid, Spain. It was published online on May 16, 2025, in the European Journal of Pediatrics .
LIMITATIONS:
This was a single-centre study with a limited sample size.
DISCLOSURES:
The study was supported by FEDER European Funds and the Junta de Castilla y León under the Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization and partially funded by the Ernesto Sanchez Villares Foundation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
43 minutes ago
- Fox News
CDC declares bird flu emergency over as experts warn of possible fall resurgence
The bird flu emergency is officially over, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency's emergency response to H5N1 bird flu, which was activated on April 4, 2024 —as "deactivated" on July 2, the agency told Reuters, due to declining animal infections and an absence of human cases since February. As of July 7, the CDC will combine its bird flu updates with its routine influenza updates, according to a news release on its website. Data on the number of people who are monitored and tested for bird flu will now be reported on a monthly basis. The CDC will also stop reporting on highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in animals, such as cows. That information will now be posted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) website. "There is no known person-to-person spread at this time," the CDC website states. "The current public health risk is low." There have been a total of 70 human cases of bird flu and one death nationally. "I am still concerned about H5N1 spread within poultry and on into other species," Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital. For more Health articles, visit "The dip this time of year has to do with the patten of migratory birds, where they aren't traveling, but I expect the numbers to surge back up in the fall."
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Doctors fear ICE agents in health facilities are deterring people from seeking care
As the Trump administration continues its push to undocumented immigrants, doctors are hearing that some patients are avoiding getting the health care they need over fears that Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids could take place in medical settings. Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, told "CBS Mornings Plus" on Tuesday that she has not seen any official ICE raids in hospitals, but that ICE agents have been seen in hospitals as well as other health care facilities. That's because detention standards require that ICE detainees be provided medical services, including initial medical and dental screenings, as well as emergency care. "They are often bringing in people that they've detained for medical clearance," said Gounder, who is also a practicing internist and infectious disease expert in New York City. "We see this often with law enforcement. But it is creating an atmosphere of fear. And my colleagues and I have had numerous patients tell us that they hesitated or waited too long to come in for health care." And delays in care matter, Gounder added. Delayed care for a heart attack or stroke, for example, can lead to more loss of heart or brain tissue. Gounder also heard from an emergency medicine physician in Los Angeles who has seen the impact of ICE agents appearing in hospital settings. The agents are arriving with ski masks and looking intimidating to the general patient, affecting the overall health of the community because it's creating an atmosphere of fear instead of of wellness, according to the doctor. The doctor also alleged agents have committed ethics violations, including not showing their identification, not allowing patient privacy during interviews and examinations, preventing doctors from contacting family for necessary medical information and preventing family from visiting. "These are really standard things," Gounder said. "Every patient should have the right to these kinds of provisions for good health care." "If you're a law enforcement official coming into a hospital or health care facility, you need to be identifying yourself as such, you need to be showing your badge or your ID," Gounder said, adding that those who want to enter private patient areas "also need to be showing a judicial warrant." Federal legal standards and privacy protections, including HIPAA and the 4th Amendment to the Constitution, bar unreasonable searches and seizures, including in non-public hospital areas. CBS News has reached out to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security for comment. A lot of health care providers don't know what their rights are, Gounder said, prompting at least some hospitals to offer employees guidance on potential ICE encounters. At Bellevue Hospital, for example, where Gounder works, staff were recently given sample prompts for interacting with non-local law enforcement, including ICE agents. The hospital told staff, in part: "We do not require a patient's immigration status to provide care, and we do not share medical or personal information about our patients unless required by law." The presence of ICE agents is not just a concern for physical health, but also mental health. "Think about who has come here as an immigrant, many of them have faced real trauma in their home countries," Gounder said. "So this, what feels like militarization of an emergency room, can be very re-traumatizing and cause some very relevant health impacts."
Health Line
2 hours ago
- Health Line
Surgery for Chronic Dry Eye: What to Know
Key takeaways If artificial tears and prescription eye drops don't relieve chronic dry eye symptoms, there are several surgical options to consider. Punctal plugs, thermal cautery, and intense pulsed light therapy are minimally invasive surgical options that can help retain moisture in the eyes or improve gland function. While LASIK surgery can initially cause dry eye, it may improve pre-existing conditions, and temporary measures like punctal plugs can help manage dryness after surgery. A thorough evaluation by an eye specialist is necessary to determine the most appropriate surgical option based on the underlying cause and severity of dry eye. Before deciding on surgery, discuss expectations and potential risks with your doctor. Post-surgical care and follow-up are essential to monitor the effectiveness of the procedure and manage any complications. If you've tried several nonsurgical dry eye treatments and still have chronic dry eye symptoms, surgery may be an option. However, surgery isn't the first treatment recommended for dry eyes. A doctor will likely want to exhaust all other treatment methods before recommending surgical procedures. Common nonsurgical dry eye disease treatments include: artificial tears prescription eye drops that help your eyes produce more tears warm compresses or other ointments or drops to help treat underlying conditions that may cause dry eyes Sometimes these treatments aren't enough. If your eyes still feel dry and uncomfortable, a doctor may recommend one of the following dry eye surgeries. Types of surgery for dry eye A doctor may recommend one of several dry eye surgical procedures if other treatment options don't work for you. While these procedures are minimally invasive, they may cause side effects. Punctal plugs A punctal plug is a barrier in the tear duct that partially or fully blocks your natural tears from draining away from your eyes. This helps keep your eyes moisturized. There are two types of punctal plugs: Temporary punctal plugs. These are made from collagen or another material that the body dissolves and absorbs within a few days to months. A doctor may recommend this option so you can test it out or following a surgical procedure like LASIK. Semi-permanent plugs. These are often made from silicone or acrylic. They can last for years. A doctor can remove them later on if needed. Both types of plugs are inserted into the puncta, which are small openings where tears naturally drain from your eyes. Semi-permanent plugs are sometimes inserted farther down, in a part of the tear duct known as the canaliculus. Inserting punctal plugs is a noninvasive procedure. A doctor may or may not provide local anesthesia to numb the area. You might feel pressure as the devices are inserted. Most people can resume their regular activities immediately. You may notice an irritated or scratchy feeling near where your doctor inserted the plugs. Most people get used to this feeling. Other rarer issues can include: the plug coming out or moving around an improper fit, which may cause the plug to rub against your eye increased risk of infection watery eyes tear duct irritation Thermal cautery Thermal cautery is a minimally invasive surgery where a doctor uses heat to close the tear ducts and prevent moisture loss. It's usually recommended if punctal plugs don't work. Your doctor may cauterize the opening to your tear ducts permanently. Or the puncta may be cauterized superficially, so they're easy to reopen in the future. The area will be numbed during the procedure, which typically takes a few minutes. It's important to avoid touching or rubbing your eyes after the procedure. You will likely be prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection. Intense pulsed light therapy Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common cause of dry eye disease. People with this condition produce abnormal meibum, an oily substance that prevents tears from evaporating from the eyes. A 2023 review concluded that intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy may effectively treat dry eyes in people with MGD. IPL therapy is a noninvasive procedure that's often used to treat skin conditions such as rosacea. Pulses of light are used to selectively destroy vascular structures in the eyelid. This can help reduce inflammation and improve how the meibomian glands function. Before you undergo this procedure, a protective gel will be spread around your eyes and you'll be given goggles to wear. A doctor will then use a device to send flashes of light into the skin surrounding your eye. You'll need to apply a special sunblock to treated areas for 48 hours after IPL therapy. You may need four separate follow-up sessions for the most effective treatment. Laser surgery Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery to correct your vision often causes temporary dry eye. It may also improve preexisting dry eye. According to the American Refractive Surgery Council, about 60 percent of people in an FDA study who reported dry eye prior to LASIK said they noticed improvements following the procedure. Because LASIK surgery commonly makes eyes dry while they heal, a doctor may recommend inserting temporary punctal plugs or using other dry eye treatments. Minor gland salivary autotransplant Severe dry eye syndrome is sometimes linked to rare disorders, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome or ocular cicatricial mucous membrane pemphigoid. Medications and most surgical procedures don't correct dry eye in people with these conditions. This can eventually cause blindness. If you have severe and otherwise untreatable dry eye, a doctor may recommend minor gland salivary autotransplant. This relatively new procedure involves implanting a salivary gland in place of your tear duct to keep your eyes moisturized. Consider speaking with a doctor if you'd like to learn more. Cost The cost for dry eye surgery varies based on: where you live the procedure you undergo your insurance coverage A doctor can help you understand more about the cost of the surgery you're considering. If you have health insurance, you can call your provider to discuss whether a procedure is covered and how much you'll have to pay out of pocket. Dry eyes after surgery LASIK surgery can often cause ocular side effects, such as dry eye, blurry vision, and light sensitivity. However, these symptoms are usually mild and temporary. Dry eye almost always improves within a few months, once the eye fully heals. Cataract surgery may also cause dry eye, but this will usually get better with time. In the meantime, doctors can recommend other dry eye treatments. These may include punctal plugs or artificial tears. When to consider surgery You may want to consider surgery for dry eye if other treatments don't effectively prevent or treat your symptoms. Talk with a doctor if: Your symptoms don't improve. Your symptoms get worse. Your treatment stops working.
