Respiratory syncytial virus: enhanced understanding of the burden of disease and developments in active and passive immunisation

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of respiratory tract infection in infants and young children worldwide. Improvements in diagnostic testing have led to increased recognition of RSV infection in children in various settings as well as recognition of RSV as a significant cause of serious respiratory infections in older adults with underlying conditions. The burden of disease is significant with 33.0 million RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection episodes globally in children younger than 5 years. Infants in the first 3 months of life bear the brunt of severe RSV disease. Recently a more effective and longer lasting monoclonal antibody targeting RSV F protein has been approved for use in infants, while maternal immunisation with a prefusion F protein–based (RSVpreF) vaccine provides effective protection against medically attended RSV-associated lower respiratory tract illness for infants during their first 3- 6 months of life. A number of other vaccines are in development that may offer protection for various age groups in the future.