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The increase of bronchiolitis severity in the 2022-2023 season in an Italian tertiary children’s hospital: an isolated phenomenon or a warning sign?
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  • Giacomo Brisca,
  • Strati Marina Francesca,
  • Silvia Buratti,
  • Marcello Mariani,
  • Marta Ferretti,
  • Daniela Pirlo,
  • Vincenzo Meleca,
  • Emanuela Piccotti,
  • Elio Castagnola,
  • Andrea Moscatelli
Giacomo Brisca
Istituto Giannina Gaslini

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Strati Marina Francesca
Universita degli Studi di Genova Dipartimento di Neuroscienze Riabilitazione Oftalmologia Genetica e Scienze Materno-Infantili
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Silvia Buratti
Istituto Giannina Gaslini
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Marcello Mariani
Istituto Giannina Gaslini
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Marta Ferretti
Istituto Giannina Gaslini
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Daniela Pirlo
Istituto Giannina Gaslini
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Vincenzo Meleca
Universita degli Studi di Genova Dipartimento di Neuroscienze Riabilitazione Oftalmologia Genetica e Scienze Materno-Infantili
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Emanuela Piccotti
Istituto Giannina Gaslini
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Elio Castagnola
Istituto Giannina Gaslini
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Andrea Moscatelli
Istituto Giannina Gaslini
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Abstract

Abstract: Aim: Recent literature has shown epidemiological changes in bronchiolitis with an increased incidence in the post-SARS-CoV-2 pandemic period but reports regarding disease severity are conflicting. We aimed to describe the epidemiology, disease severity, and microbiology of bronchiolitis during the 2022-2023 cold season compared to the previous five years. Methods: This single-center retrospective observational study at IRCCS Gaslini, Italy, included all children aged 0-2 years hospitalized for bronchiolitis from September 1st, 2017, to August 31, 2023. Findings from the 2022-2023 season were compared to the previous five years. Results: We observed a statistically significant increase in the 2022-2023 season in the absolute number of bronchiolitis admissions. Children who required mechanical ventilation dramatically increased from a total of 7 patients in the previous five seasons to 17 in the 2022-2023 season alone ( p=0.001). All other severity parameters significantly increased: the need for respiratory support ( p=0.002) , the median length of stay (5 vs. 4, p=0.001), and the median duration of respiratory support (4 vs. 3, p=0.016). Conclusions: We report a substantial increase in the severity of bronchiolitis in the season 2022-2023 with a remarkable number of previously healthy infants requiring mechanical ventilation. Our data represents a call in our setting for urgent measures to plan prophylactic and therapeutic strategies and prepare healthcare systems. Further studies are needed to confirm whether our findings are an isolated phenomenon or part of a true global trend. Health systems need to be prepared and protective preventive measures should be implemented for all newborns.
05 Nov 2023Submitted to Pediatric Pulmonology
06 Nov 2023Submission Checks Completed
06 Nov 2023Assigned to Editor
06 Nov 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
19 Nov 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned