<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The aim of this research is to determine the specific characteristics of the immunized children during a 15-year period and the readmissions to hospital due to potential infections of the respiratory tract.</p>
<sec id="j_jmotherandchild.20222601.d-22-00049_s_006"><h3>Material and methods</h3>
<p>This retrospective cohort study was conducted in the period from October 2008 to March 2022. The test group consists of 222 infants who met the strict criteria for immunization.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jmotherandchild.20222601.d-22-00049_s_007"><h3>Results</h3>
<p>The study observed 222 infants who were immunized with palivizumab during the 14-year period. 124 (55.9%) infants were preterm (&lt; 32 weeks) and 69 (31.1%) were infants with congenital heart defects, whereas 29 (13.1%) exhibited other individual risk factors. 38 (17.1%) were re-admitted to the pulmonary ward. Upon re-admission, a quick test to diagnose for RSV infections was conducted and only one infant tested positive.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jmotherandchild.20222601.d-22-00049_s_008"><h3>Results</h3>
<p>The conclusion of our 14-year study is that palivizumab prophylaxis has truly proven itself effective for infants at risk in our region during the research time period. Over the years, the immunization season has not changed and the number of doses hasremained the same, as have the indications for immunization. What has changed, however, is an increase in the number of immunized infants without a significant increase in the number of re-admissions to hospital on account of respiratory disorders.</p></sec>
</abstract>

The aim of this research is to determine the specific characteristics of the immunized children during a 15-year period and the readmissions to hospital due to potential infections of the respiratory tract.
Material and methods
This retrospective cohort study was conducted in the period from October 2008 to March 2022. The test group consists of 222 infants who met the strict criteria for immunization.
Results
The study observed 222 infants who were immunized with palivizumab during the 14-year period. 124 (55.9%) infants were preterm (< 32 weeks) and 69 (31.1%) were infants with congenital heart defects, whereas 29 (13.1%) exhibited other individual risk factors. 38 (17.1%) were re-admitted to the pulmonary ward. Upon re-admission, a quick test to diagnose for RSV infections was conducted and only one infant tested positive.
Results
The conclusion of our 14-year study is that palivizumab prophylaxis has truly proven itself effective for infants at risk in our region during the research time period. Over the years, the immunization season has not changed and the number of doses hasremained the same, as have the indications for immunization. What has changed, however, is an increase in the number of immunized infants without a significant increase in the number of re-admissions to hospital on account of respiratory disorders.

Is immunization with palivizumab really effective in high-risk children?

Journal of Mother and Child

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Is immunization with palivizumab really effective in high-risk children?"}

The aim of this research is to determine the specific characteristics of the immunized children during a 15-year period and the readmissions to hospital due to...

Is immunization with palivizumab really effective in high-risk children?

Article Category: Original articles

Published Online: Feb 22, 2023

Page range: 87 - 92

Received: Oct 09, 2022

Accepted: Jan 12, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34763/jmotherandchild.20222601.d-22-00049

Keywords
infant, immunization, respiratory infection

© 2022 Raguž et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Is immunization with palivizumab really effective in high-risk children?

Article Category: Original articles

Published Online: Feb 22, 2023

Page range: 87 - 92

Received: Oct 09, 2022

Accepted: Jan 12, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34763/jmotherandchild.20222601.d-22-00049

Keywordsinfant, immunization, respiratory infection

© 2022 Raguž et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
infant, immunization, respiratory infection