South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, and South African Medical Research Council Unit on Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
S Afr Med J. 2024 Oct 8;114(10):e2582.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the commonest cause of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in children, particularly those aged <1 year. In South Africa (SA), increased hospitalisation rates during the RSV season, including access to intensive care facilities, place a huge burden on the healthcare system. Furthermore, RSV-LRTI during early childhood may lead to long-term respiratory sequelae, including recurrent wheezing, asthma, and impairment of lung function. Recently, two new RSV prevention strategies have emerged: nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, and a maternal RSV vaccine. Both strategies have shown high efficacy in reducing RSV-LRTI hospitalisation in infants and are being considered for licensure in SA. Implementation of these prevention strategies, combined with public engagement and collaboration between stakeholders, could significantly reduce RSV-related morbidity and mortality in SA.
呼吸道合胞病毒（RSV）是儿童下呼吸道感染（LRTI）最常见的原因，尤其是年龄<1 岁的儿童。在南非（SA），RSV 季节期间住院率增加，包括获得重症监护设施，这给医疗保健系统带来了巨大的负担。此外，儿童早期的 RSV-LRTI 可能导致长期的呼吸道后遗症，包括反复喘息、哮喘和肺功能受损。最近，出现了两种新的 RSV 预防策略：nirsevimab，一种长效单克隆抗体，和一种 RSV 母亲疫苗。这两种策略都显示出了在降低婴儿 RSV-LRTI 住院率方面的高疗效，并且正在考虑在南非获得许可。这些预防策略的实施，结合公众参与和利益相关者之间的合作，可以显著降低南非 RSV 相关的发病率和死亡率。
