Increasing burden of viral bronchiolitis in the pediatric intensive care unit; an observational study

PURPOSE

Viral bronchiolitis is a major cause of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission. Insight in the trends of bronchiolitis-associated PICU admissions is limited, but imperative for future PICU resource and capacity planning.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively studied trends in PICU admissions for bronchiolitis in six European sites, including three full national registries, between 2000 and 2019 and calculated population-based estimates per 100,000 children where appropriate. Information concerning risk factors for severe disease and use of invasive mechanical ventilation was also collected when available.

RESULTS

In total, there were 15,606 PICU admissions for bronchiolitis. We observed an increase in the annual number, rate and estimates per 100,000 children of PICU admissions for bronchiolitis at all sites over the last two decades, while the proportion of patients at high risk for severe disease remained relatively stable.

CONCLUSIONS

The international increased burden of bronchiolitis for the PICU is concerning, and warrants further international attention and investigation.

The Association between Weather Conditions and Admissions to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Bronchiolitis

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis is a leading cause of global child morbidity and mortality. Every year, seasonal RSV outbreaks put high pressure on paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) worldwide, including in the Netherlands, and this burden appears to be increasing. Weather conditions have a strong influence on RSV activity, and climate change has been proposed as a potential important determinant of future RSV-related health care utilisation. In this national study spanning a total of 13 years with 2161 PICU admissions for RSV bronchiolitis, we aimed (1) to identify meteorological variables that were associated with the number of PICU admissions for RSV bronchiolitis in the Netherlands and (2) to determine if longitudinal changes in these variables occurred over time as a possible explanation for the observed increase in PICU burden. Poisson regression modelling was used to identify weather variables (aggregated in months and weeks) that predicted PICU admissions, and linear regression analysis was used to assess changes in the weather over time. Maximum temperature and global radiation best predicted PICU admissions, with global radiation showing the most stable strength of effect in both month and week data. However, we did not observe a significant change in these weather variables over the 13-year time period. Based on our study, we could not identify changing weather conditions as a potential contributing factor to the increased RSV-related PICU burden in the Netherlands.

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Increase Airway Mucus Viscoelasticity and Slow Mucus Particle Transit

Mucus obstruction is a key feature of many inflammatory airway diseases. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are released upon neutrophil stimulation and consist of extracellular chromatin networks studded with cytotoxic proteins. When released in the airways, these NETs can become part of the airway mucus. We hypothesized that the extracellular DNA and/or oxidative stress (e.g., by the release of reactive oxygen species and myeloperoxidase during NETs formation in the airways) would increase mucus viscoelasticity. We collected human airway mucus from endotracheal tubes of healthy patients admitted for elective surgery and coincubated these samples with NETs from phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated neutrophils. Unstimulated neutrophils served as controls, and blocking experiments were performed with dornase alfa for extracellular DNA and the free radical scavenger dimethylthiourea for oxidation. Compared with controls, the coincubation of mucus with NETs resulted in 1) significantly increased mucus viscoelasticity (macrorheology) and 2) significantly decreased mesh pore size of the mucus and decreased movement of muco-inert nanoparticles through the mucus (microrheology), but 3) NETs did not cause visible changes in the microstructure of the mucus by scanning EM. Incubation with either dornase alfa or dimethylthiourea attenuated the observed changes in macrorheology and microrheology. This suggests that the release of NETs may contribute to airway mucus obstruction by increasing mucus viscoelasticity and that this effect is not solely due to the release of DNA but may in part be due to oxidative stress.

Burden of respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis on the Dutch pediatric intensive care units

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis causes substantial morbidity and mortality in young children, but insight into the burden of RSV bronchiolitis on pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) is limited. We aimed to determine the burden of RSV bronchiolitis on the PICUs in the Netherlands. Therefore, we identified all children ≤ 24 months of age with RSV bronchiolitis between 2003 and 2016 from a nationwide PICU registry. Subsequently we manually checked their patient records for correct diagnosis and collected patient characteristics, additional clinical data, respiratory support modes, and outcome. In total, 2161 children were admitted to the PICU for RSV bronchiolitis. The annual number of admissions increased significantly during the study period (β 4.05, SE 1.27, p = 0.01), and this increase was mostly driven by increased admissions in children up to 3 months old. Concomitantly, non-invasive respiratory support significantly increased (β 7.71, SE 0.92, p < 0.01), in particular the use of high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) (β 6.69, SE 0.96, p < 0.01), whereas the use of invasive ventilation remained stable.Conclusion: The burden of severe RSV bronchiolitis on PICUs has increased in the Netherlands. Concomitantly, the use of non-invasive respiratory support, especially HFNC, has increased. What is Known: • RSV bronchiolitis is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality and may require pediatric intensive care unit admission. • The field of pediatric critical care for severe bronchiolitis has changed due to increased non-invasive respiratory support options. What is New: • The burden of RSV bronchiolitis for the Dutch PICUs has increased. These data inform future strategic PICU resource planning and implementation of RSV preventive strategies. • There was a significant increase in the use of high flow nasal cannula at the PICU, but the use of invasive mechanical ventilation did not decrease.