title: Review of the home care programmes for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prophylaxis in Ireland and The Netherlands.
abstract: Severe infection of infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of morbidity in the developed world and mortality in the developing world. Prophylaxis using palivizumab in infants at risk for severe RSV disease reduces the rate of hospitalisation in this population of children. To ensure complete prophylaxis, infants must receive monthly doses over the winter season. To improve parental convenience, the Synacare®programme was implemented in Ireland and the Netherlands. Synacare®is now a longstanding programme in which palivizumab is administered in the home setting by skilled nurses. Protocols and procedures described here illustrate the efficiency and acceptability of the home delivery service of RSV disease prophylaxis. Post-administration surveys have indicated a high level of parental satisfaction with the programme. At-home paediatric programmes like Synacare®may serve as an alternative to burdensome monthly hospital visits and may lead to enhanced clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Neonatal Centre, Cork St., Dublin 8, Ireland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Whelan
authors.affiliation: Eurocept Homecare, Ankeveen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elles
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Musters
authors.affiliation: TCP Homecare Limited, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Eilish
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Eurocept Homecare, Ankeveen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lenie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lievaart
authors.affiliation: AbbVie B.V., Hoofddorp, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sjoerd
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.affiliation: Sint Antonius Ziekenhuis, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toxopeus
authors.affiliation: Sint Antonius Ziekenhuis, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Veen
authors.affiliation: AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL USA.
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Notario
authors.affiliation: AbbVie Ltd, Quarryvale, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Fiona J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Campbell