Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a frequent cause of acute lower respiratory infection in children, imposing a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems. This systematic review aimed to assess the economic burden and healthcare utilisation of RSV in children aged 0-59 months in Italy. Systematic review. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the International HTA Database, including studies published in English or Italian, was conducted between January 2000 and July 2022. Inclusion criteria required studies to be conducted in Italy and provide data on the economic costs and healthcare resource utilisation related to RSV infections. Out of 20,845 records screened, 18 articles met the inclusion criteria. Only one study provided comprehensive data on RSV disease costs, including hospitalisation, diagnostic tests, and medical procedures for infants with RSV-bronchiolitis. The mean cost per inpatient was higher for RSV-positive children (€5753.43 ± €2041.62) than that for RSV-negative children. Additionally, five studies reported a median length of hospital stay of 5 days for RSV-infected children, and four studies indicated a higher frequency of intensive care unit admissions for RSV-infected children than for those with other viral infections. This is the first systematic review to examine the economic burden and healthcare utilisation of RSV in children aged 0-59 months in Italy. While limited data were available, the findings underscore the urgency to conduct further research and gather additional evidence on the costs and healthcare resource utilisation associated with RSV infections. Such efforts are essential for informing the development of effective prevention strategies for paediatric RSV infections in Italy.

Co-administration of multiple vaccines during a single clinical visit is common in pediatric immunization programs, but administering three or more injections simultaneously has raised safety concerns. This systematic review, conducted in 2023, assessed the safety of administering three or more vaccines at the same time compared with giving fewer or the same vaccines across separate sessions. Data from 26 studies were analyzed using random-effects meta-analyses. The risk of any adverse event (AE) was modestly increased (OR ≈ 1.54), mainly due to expected and transient reactions such as fever, irritability and injection-site pain. Importantly, there was no significant increase in serious adverse events (SAEs) (OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.92-1.25). Differences in systemic (OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.95-1.50) or local AEs (OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.85-2.22) were not statistically significant. These findings support the continued co-administration of multiple vaccines in pediatric programs, providing a nuanced safety profile for policymakers and clinicians.

Background: Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is a key contributor to lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), affecting children aged 0–5 years and often leading to outpatient visits, emergency department utilization, and hospitalization. With the development of hRSV vaccines for mitigation, understanding the epidemiological impact of hRSV infections among 0–5-year-old pediatric outpatients in Italy is crucial. Methods: This systematic review conducted searches on PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the International HTA Database, yielding 20,845 English and Italian records from January 2000 to July 2022. Results: Six eligible articles were identified following inclusion and exclusion criteria. These studies demonstrated hRSV-positivity proportions ranging from 18% to 41% in pediatric outpatients with respiratory infections. However, data comparability was hindered by diverse diagnostic approaches, data sources, sample populations, and study designs. Notably, hRSV-positivity showed temporal variability, rising from 23.8% (2001–2002) to 40.6% (2019–2020). This trend could stem from evolving epidemiological factors, heightened clinician awareness in hRSV diagnosis, or more sensitive molecular techniques. Conclusion: As the first review of its kind, this study underscores the need for more comprehensive data to inform effective preventive strategies against hRSV-related burdens in pediatric outpatients.

Background: Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) exhibit a global circulation characterized by prolonged epidemics and a less concentrated seasonal distribution compared with other respiratory viruses. In this study, we describe the timing, amplitude and duration of HRV epidemics on a global scale, analyzing seasonal patterns in relation to geographic latitude. Methods: HRV surveillance data reported to WHO FluNet from 2016 to 2025 were analyzed. Epidemic peak timing, amplitude and duration were estimated as a function of geographic latitude using harmonic analyses, with a comparison between the pre-pandemic (2016–2019) and post-pandemic (2021–2025) periods. Results: During the study period, 432,399 HRV detections were reported to WHO FluNet across 50 countries. Among these, 24 countries met the predefined criteria for seasonal analysis. Epidemic peak timing showed differences consistent with latitude, with peaks occurring in late autumn and winter in the Northern Hemisphere, during the central months of the year in the Southern Hemisphere, and greater temporal variability in the intertropical belt. Peak amplitude showed marked heterogeneity across countries (median 68.2%, range 28.1–96.7%), while epidemic duration indicated prolonged circulation (median 31 weeks, range 5–48 weeks). A secondary seasonal peak was identifiable in most countries, further supporting the relatively diffuse seasonal profile of HRV circulation. Comparison between the pre- and post-pandemic periods showed largely stable peak timing in most countries, alongside heterogeneous changes in peak amplitude. Conclusions: HRV is characterized by prolonged and weakly concentrated seasonal activity, with epidemic circulation often extending over several months. Despite major epidemiological perturbations during the COVID-19 pandemic, the timing of seasonal peaks remained largely stable across countries, highlighting the epidemiological resilience of HRV and the need for continuous, pathogen-specific surveillance.

Background: Human adenoviruses (HAdV) circulate globally, but their seasonal patterns remain poorly defined. We aimed to characterize the timing, amplitude, and duration of HAdV epidemics worldwide and to compare patterns before and after the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods: Virological surveillance data on HAdV were obtained from the WHO FluNet database: data from 65 countries were analyzed to estimate epidemic peak timing, amplitude, and duration across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and the intertropical belt, comparing prepandemic (2016–2019) with postpandemic (2021–2024) periods. To ensure robustness, analyses were restricted to country‐seasons with ≥ 30 reporting weeks. Results: From 2016 to 2024, 65 countries reported roughly 148,000 HAdV detections across 335 country‐seasons; 46% of seasons had ≥ 50 detections. In the 20 countries with sufficient data for seasonality analyses, median epidemic duration was 31 weeks (range 5–42) and median peak amplitude 70% (40%–98%). Peak timing followed latitude: June–July in Southern Hemisphere, November–December in high‐latitude Northern countries, March–April in lower latitude. After COVID‐19, several countries showed marked timing shifts, with concurrent changes in amplitude. Conclusions: After the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic, the usual seasonal patterns of HAdV were altered, with pronounced shifts in peak timing across settings and latitudes. These results underscore the need for strong, ongoing, type‐specific surveillance to guide public health strategies.

COVID-19 vaccines represent an important opportunity for defeating the disease, as long as high vaccination acceptance rates are achieved. Healthcare workers (HCWs) have a relevant role in the promotion of immunization among the population and since students in healthcare area will be HCWs it is crucial to provide more in-depth knowledge on vaccinations. Therefore, the aim of the study is to assess the knowledge of medical and pharmaceutical area students regarding COVID-19 vaccination and the impact of a specific Elective Teaching Activity (ETA) on the increase of students' knowledge. The ETA was held one year after the immunization campaign in Italy. Students' knowledge was tested with a questionnaire before and after attending the course. Descriptive statistical methods were used to analyse the results obtained. Student's t-tests for paired data were used. Overall, 387 students at the University of Florence attended the course and took the same test before and after the ETA on COVID-19 vaccines. Despite achieving satisfactory average scores in the pre-course test (26/32 ± 4.0), all students were able to significantly enhance their final score (+17.1%; p < 0.001), indicating that the ETA was highly effective in improving their knowledge of COVID-19 vaccination. Medical students demonstrated a better comprehension of the role of the medical specialist in public health in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, while some uncertainties were revealed regarding the role of pharmacists. The results of this study confirm that specific training activities on vaccination are effective for implementing the knowledge of future health professionals.