Predictive value of the respiratory syncytial virus risk-scoring tool in the term infant in Canada

ABSTRACTBackground: Palivizumab prophylaxis against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection has been widely adopted for high-risk infants during the RSV season, based on country-specific guidelines.Objective: To determine if a validated, risk-scoring tool (RST), can be applied to term, RSV-positive infants seen in the emergency room (ER) to predict need for hospitalization, in order to target prophylaxis cost effectively at a selected group of children.Design: Retrospective, descriptive study.Setting: McMaster Children's Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.Participants: A total of 72, consecutive, term, RSV-positive cases were identified retrospectively, from November through April during the 2006–2007 RSV season.Methods: A questionnaire/chart review was conducted on 68 of 72 cases, to determine risk categories based on the RST. Four, trained abstractors, extracted pertinent data from the medical records of RSV-positive patients. Means, standard deviations (SD), and percents were used to describe th...