Effectiveness of nirsevimab immunization against RSV infection in preterm infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis Author name

Wang, Xiaopeng; Li, Kong; Liu, Xueou; Wu, Panpan; Zhang, Lulu; Ding, Fangrui

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2025.1581970

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Immunol.

Sec. Vaccines and Molecular Therapeutics

Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1581970

Effectiveness of nirsevimab immunization against RSV infection in preterm infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis Author name

Provisionally accepted

Xiaopeng Wang Kong Li

Kong Li

Xueou Liu

Panpan Wu

Lulu Zhang

Fangrui Ding ^*

Tianjin Central Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

BackgroundRespiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is one of the primary pathogen responsible for severe lower respiratory tract infections in preterm infants, placing a significant burden on patients, their families, and society. Nirsevimab, a recently developed RSV monoclonal antibody, has demonstrated promising efficacy in this population according to preliminary studies. However, there remains a need for comprehensive systematic reviews and meta-analyses to evaluate the effectiveness of nirsevimab in preventing RSV-related lower respiratory tract infections in preterm infants.MethodsA search of the PubMed and EMBASE databases was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies assessing the prevention of RSV infection in preterm infants using nirsevimab. Relevant data were extracted and subjected to meta-analysis.ResultsFive studies involving a total of 7,347 preterm infants (3,987 in the nirsevimab group and 3,360 in the control group) were included. The meta-analysis revealed that nirsevimab significantly reduced the incidence of medically attended RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infections (OR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.40; P < 0.0001) and hospitalizations due to RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infections (OR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.38; P < 0.0001).ConclusionNirsevimab significantly decreases the risk of RSV realted infection in preterm infants and represents a valuable intervention for RSV prevention in this vulnerable population.

Keywords: preterm (birth), RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), nirsevimab, Infection, Newbom

Received: 23 Feb 2025; Accepted: 31 Mar 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Wang, Li, Liu, Wu, Zhang and Ding. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Fangrui Ding, Tianjin Central Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin, China

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.