PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Harbi, Adel S. Al TI - War against respiratory syncytial virus AID - 10.15537/smj.2018.12.23355 DP - 2018 Dec 01 TA - Saudi Medical Journal PG - 1200--1206 VI - 39 IP - 12 4099 - http://smj.org.sa/content/39/12/1200.short 4100 - http://smj.org.sa/content/39/12/1200.full SO - Saudi Med J2018 Dec 01; 39 AB - Objectives: To assess the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection incidence rate through the analysis of data collected before and after implementation of a new palivizumab dosing regimen customized for a high-risk Saudi population.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study performed at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between November 2009 andApril 2017 on 1704 high risk Saudi young children and comparing 3 palivizumab regimens: a 4-week interval dosing regimen starting in either November or mid-September and a 3-week interval dosing regimen starting in mid-September.Results: Despite a decrease in the incidence rate of RSV infection with the three-week interval regimen (3.9% versus 5.9% in seasons 1 and 9.1% in seasons 2), we did not find significant differences among the 3 groups.Conclusion: Expanded use of palivizumab in newborn children could improve outcomes, but further investigation and a careful cost analysis are required.