Evaluation of Babies With Viral Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Introduction: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are one of the leading cause of hospitalization and mortality in childhood worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of the patients hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with the diagnosis of viral LRTI, to reveal the viral agents and to investigate the risk factors. Materials and Methods: In this study; the characteristics and the respiratory tract viral panel results of the patients who were hospitalized in the NICU of a university hospital between January 2018 and March 2020 with the diagnosis of viral LRTI were examined retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups as RSV (+) and non-RSV viral agents, and the groups were compared. Results: 24 patients were included in the study. RSV-A was detected in 6 (25%), RSV-B in 8 (33.3%), and non-RSV viral agents in 10 (41.6%) patients. There were no significant difference between the sociodemographic features of RSV (+) group and non-RSV group. However presence of infiltration on chest radiography (pneumonia) was more common, the rate of receiving respiratory or oxygen support was higher and hospitalization duration was longer in RSV (+) group compared to non-RSV group (p values 0.001, 0.001 and 0.017, respectively). There was a positively, moderate level correlation between hospitalization duration and C-reactive protein (r = 0.558, p=0.005). Conclusions: RSV was the most common agent in viral LRTI in NICU, it should be emphasized that the staff in the NICU should pay close attention to the hygiene rules and that the visitors should be taken into the NICU after they are educated on this issue. It is important to increase the access to viral tests and provide wider use in order to make early diagnosis and treatment in viral LRTI and to take the necessary measures for preventing spread of the disease.