Krilov LR, Anderson EJ. Respiratory syncytial virus hospitalizations in US preterm infants after the 2014 change in immunoprophylaxis guidance by the American Academy of Pediatrics. J Perinatol. 2020 Jun 4. pii: 10.1038/s41372-020-0689.

Palivizumab is the only licensed and effective immunoprophylaxis (IP) available to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in high-risk infants including infants born at ≤35 weeks’ gestational age (wGA). In 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics stopped recommending IP for otherwise healthy 29-34 wGA infants, stating that their risk of RSV hospitalization (RSVH) was similar to term infants. Recent studies have demonstrated a significant decline in IP use after 2014 that was accompanied by an increased risk of RSVH in 29-34 wGA infants vs term infants. Severity and healthcare utilization of RSVH were high among 29-34 wGA infants. In 2018, the National Perinatal Association developed guidelines advocating IP use in all ≤32 wGA infants and 32-35 wGA infants with additional risk factors. Risk factor predictive models can identify infants who are at risk for RSVH and promote cost-effective use of palivizumab until new methods of RSV prevention become available.