Respiratory syncytial virus: challenges in diagnosis and impact on the elderly: Recommendations from a multidisciplinary panel.
Lessandra Michelin, Nancy Bellei, Marcelo Ferreira da Costa Gomes, Sonia M Raboni, Maisa Kairalla, Ricardo Amorim Correa, Monica Levi, Alberto Chebabo, Isabela Ballalai, Sergio Cimerman, Cecilia M Roteli-Martins, Susana Aidé, Margareth P Dalcolmo, Bruna M G de Veras, Renato De Ávila Kfouri, Otavio Cintra
Author Information
Lessandra Michelin: GSK, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ORCID
Nancy Bellei: Laboratório de Virologia Clínica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Disciplina de Infectologia, São Paulo, Brazil. ORCID
Marcelo Ferreira da Costa Gomes: Programa de Computação Científica (PROCC), Fiocruz, Presidência, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ORCID
Sonia M Raboni: Molecular Virology Research Laboratory, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil. ORCID
Maisa Kairalla: Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. ORCID
Ricardo Amorim Correa: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Serviço de Pneumologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. ORCID
Monica Levi: Sociedade Brasileira de Imunizações (SBim), São Paulo, Brazil. ORCID
Alberto Chebabo: Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ORCID
Isabela Ballalai: Sociedade Brasileira de Imunizações (SBim), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ORCID
Sergio Cimerman: Sociedade Brasileira de Imunizações (SBim), São Paulo, Brazil. ORCID
Cecilia M Roteli-Martins: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, Brazil. ORCID
Susana Aidé: Maternal and Child Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ORCID
Margareth P Dalcolmo: Centro de Referência Helio Fraga, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ORCID
Bruna M G de Veras: GSK, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ORCID
Renato De Ávila Kfouri: Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. ORCID
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important cause of respiratory illness. While most attention is paid to childhood infection, the RSV burden in adults ≥60 y should also be considered. In Brazil, this is generally underrecognized, where greater focus is toward other respiratory pathogens. This article presents insights from a multidisciplinary panel gathered to review epidemiologic data and current diagnostic approaches to RSV in Brazil (and their limitations) and develop communication strategies to improve knowledge and awareness. National surveillance data indicate a steady increase in cases of RSV-related severe acute respiratory illness (RSV-SARI) in those aged ≥60 y in recent years, with high fatality rates (>30%). Routine RSV testing in older individuals with respiratory symptoms is relatively low. Educational activities targeted toward health-care professionals and the general public are critical to raising awareness of the importance of RSV in older individuals, particularly as protective vaccines are now available.
