RSV Antibiotic Drivers And Resource-use

This study retrospectively evaluated the clinical, laboratory, and radiologic factors that influence the decision to prescribe antibiotics in children under 2 years of age hospitalized with RSV-positive acute lower respiratory tract infections. The study also examined the economic impact of antibiotic use in these patients. The goal is to improve clinical decision-making and reduce unnecessary antibiotic exposure in children with viral infections.

This retrospective, single-center study aimed to assess the clinical decision-making process regarding antibiotic prescription in children aged 1 to 24 months hospitalized with RSV-positive acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTI). The study was conducted at Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Hospital and covered four consecutive RSV seasons (April 2017 - April 2021). RSV infection was confirmed via multiplex PCR. Clinical and laboratory variables potentially influencing antibiotic use included fever, respiratory distress, CRP levels, leukocyte count, and radiologic findings such as infiltrates on chest X-ray. The study also examined whether antibiotic selection (agent, timing, and duration) was associated with specific clinical profiles or severity indicators. Hospitalization cost data were analyzed to estimate the economic burden of antibiotic use in RSV-positive patients. The study contributes to improved antimicrobial stewardship by identifying patterns of potentially unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions in viral respiratory infections. Ethical approval was obtained from the local ethics committee (Approval No: 2021-634), and the study adhered to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.