RSV infection in the adult population.

Abstract RSV is a significant and unrecognized cause of seasonal RTIs in adults, accounting for as much as 25 percent of excess wintertime mortality usually attributed to influenza. Nearly 80 percent of RSV-associated underlying respiratory and circulatory deaths occur among the elderly, and RSV is estimated to account for about 180,000 hospital admissions each year at a cost exceeding $1 billion. RSV also is recognized as an important cause of viral pneumonia in adults. Preventive measures, such as hand washing, are paramount, especially in hospitals and nursing homes where many immunocompromised patients reside. When RSV is circulating, it is advisable to minimize contact between high-risk patients and children.