Respiratory syncytial virus-related bronchiolitis in Puerto Rico.
BACKGROUND
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important cause of respiratory tract disease in infants and young children. Immunoprophylaxis is available for high-risk infants. This study reviews infants with bronchiolitis at three primary care hospitals to describe the epidemiology of RSV infection in Puerto Rico.


METHODS
We analyzed data from 2 hospitals by obtaining the number of infants diagnosed with bronchiolitis and estimating the percentage of cases due to RSV. A third hospital included patients with confirmed RSV infection.


RESULTS
There were 4,557 patients in the study. RSV infection occurred throughout the year. Data shows a progressive decrease in RSV-positive infections.


CONCLUSIONS
Data confirms year-round incidence of RSV in Puerto Rico. A standardized surveillance system in Puerto Rico is imperative to determine RSV epidemiology. The decrease in positive RSV infections may be due to the introduction of immunoprophylaxis to high-risk patients.
Molinari Such
María
M
Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology Section, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, the San Jorge Childrens Hospital, San Juan, PR.
García
Inés
I
García
Lourdes
L
Puig
Gilberto
G
Pedraza
Lourdes
L
Marín
Jesús
J
Valcárcel
Marta
M
D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012189:Retrospective Studies