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Researchers examining electronic health record data found nirsevimab administration was associated with reduced antibiotic prescribing among infants during their first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season, as published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Among 15,341 eligible infants from 32 pediatric practices in the study, 7,413 (48.3%) received nirsevimab. At 6 months, nirsevimab was associated with a 14.4% reduction in antibiotic prescribing for outpatient acute respiratory tract infections and a 40.3% reduction for outpatient bronchiolitis. Antibiotic prescribing associated with RSV-related hospitalization was reduced by 69.4%. In secondary analyses, researchers found nirsevimab was associated with 26.8% lower antibiotic prescribing for acute otitis media and 22.5% lower prescribing for viral respiratory infections. The authors conclude that nirsevimab may provide an additional antibiotic-stewardship benefit beyond preventing RSV-associated illness and hospitalization. The reduction in antibiotic use appeared to be driven largely by fewer prescriptions associated with viral respiratory infections and acute otitis media.
For clinicians: Administered as a single intramuscular injection, nirsevimab provides passive immunity for newborns and infants born during or entering their first RSV season with protection lasting about 5 months. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers an FAQ page on the academy website for clinicians outlining best practices for RSV immunization administration.
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