[Spanish multidisciplinary consensus on the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection in children].
BACKGROUND
A certain degree of feasibility exists in Spanish clinical practice with respect to interventions performed to prevent paediatric respiratory infection by RSV, including hygienic measures and intramuscular immunoprophylaxis with palivizumab. This task involves different paediatric specialties that may have a different perception of the magnitude of the problem and different professional criteria regarding the most appropriate actions.


OBJECTIVE
To develop Spanish multidisciplinary consensus on preventing infection by RSV with the participation of the paediatric scientific societies involved (SNS, SSPC, SSPP and SSHPO).


METHODS
Delphi Consensus modified in two rounds was used. The study was conducted in four phases: 1) constitution of a multidisciplinary Scientific Committee at the recommendation of the scientific entities participating in the study, for bibliographic review and submission of the recommendations to discussion; 2) constitution of an Expert Panel with 77 speciality representatives; 3) postal survey organised in two rounds and intermediate processing of opinions and issuing of a report for the panellists, and 4) discussion of the results in a meeting of the Scientific Committee.


RESULTS
Consensus was reached on 48 of the 57 preventive recommendations analysed. With respect to the 9 remaining issues, no consensus was reached, due to differences in professional opinion and the absence of established criteria among the majority of the experts. Only in 3 recommendations was the opinion of the experts associated with the speciality of origin.


CONCLUSIONS
A list of anti-RSV prophylactic recommendations was submitted, rated in accordance with the degree of professional consensus on which they were based. These can be considered valid until such time as new scientific information emerges that warrants a review thereof.
Figueras Aloy
J
J
Sociedad Española de Neonatología (SEN), Spain. JFIGUER@clinic.ub.es
López Sastre
J
J
Medrano López
C
C
Bermúdez-Cañete Fernández
R
R
Fernández Pineda
L
L
Bonillo Perales
A
A
Pérez-Yarza
E G
EG
Díaz de Heredia
C
C
Sánchez de Toledo
J
J
D002648:Child; D032921:Consensus; D003697:Delphi Technique; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires