title: Respiratory syncytial virus-related bronchiolitis in Puerto Rico.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology Section, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, the San Jorge Childrens Hospital, San Juan, PR.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molinari Such
authors.forename: Inés
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Puig
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pedraza
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valcárcel
mesh_terms: 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