The Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children With Acute Otitis Media: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Resumo original em inglês

O que aconteceu

Acute otitis media (AOM) affects over 709 million individuals globally each year, more than half of whom are children < 5 years. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading viral cause of pediatric respiratory illness. We aimed to estimate the burden of RSV in children < 5 years with AOM METHODS: We performed a systematic review of studies reporting RSV identified through laboratory testing in children < 5 years with AOM. We searched eight databases from January 1, 1996, to May 9, 2025. We extracted data on RSV proportion in AOM and on co-detection of bacterial pathogens. We reported pooled proportions using random-effects meta-analysis.

O que encontraram

We included 27 studies encompassing 8342 children with AOM. The pooled proportion of RSV in children with AOM was 16.9% (95% CI 11.0-23.8, I2 = 94.9%). RSV proportion was higher in inpatient-based studies, in studies conducted during peak RSV seasons, and in children aged < 12 months. Among RSV-positive AOM cases, an estimated 67.4% (95% CI 15.4-100) had at least one bacterial co-detection. The most frequent bacteria co-detected were Streptococcus pneumoniae, followed by Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis.

Por que isso importa

RSV is a common contributor to AOM in children < 5 years. Our findings indicate that RSV-associated AOM often involves concurrent bacterial detection. These results highlight the potential impact of recently introduced passive RSV immunization, such as maternal immunization and long-acting monoclonal antibody, in reducing AOM incidence and its complications. Preventing RSV in early childhood could lower the overall burden of AOM and decrease the need for antibiotics.

Resumo publicado sob licença CC BY. A tradução para o português ainda não chegou a este estudo.