Primary prevention
Primary prevention consists of meticulous infection control. Hand washing and washing of shared toys will reduce the spread of viral infection.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that clinicians counsel caregivers about infant tobacco smoke exposure when assessing a child for bronchiolitis.[43]
Vaccination
Vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is recommended for pregnant people (at 32 to 36 weeks’ gestation) to provide passive immunity in infants. It is also recommended for certain people ≥60 years. CDC: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunizations Opens in new window See Respiratory Syncytial Virus.
Immunoprophylaxis
Palivizumab and nirsevimab are monoclonal antibodies that are directed at targets on the RSV F protein and are recommended for RSV immunoprophylaxis in infants and children. Nirsevimab is a monoclonal antibody engineered to bind to the prefusion RSV F protein and with an Fc region engineered to prolong its half-life. The changes improve the drug’s efficacy (with early studies showing that the risk of hospitalization for RSV is decreased by up to 80% as compared to about a 50% decrease in risk of hospitalization with palivizumab use) and give it the advantage of only requiring a single intramuscular dose (compared to 5 doses with palivizumab).[44][45] For more information on immunoprophylaxis of RSV see Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection.
Secondary prevention
Family members should practice good hand-washing techniques to avoid passing viral infection on to other family members.
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