RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS-INFECTION IN ADULT BMT RECIPIENTS - EFFECTIVE THERAPY WITH SHORT-DURATION NEBULIZED RIBAVIRIN

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common cause of both upper and lo wer respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in infants and children, is rar ely described as an infective agent in adults. It has been reported in bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients and patients with malignancy immunosuppressed by chemotherapy. Such reports are often associated wi th a high mortality. We report an outbreak of RSV infection which occu rred predominantly in BMT recipients in which early investigation and institution of ribavirin therapy resulted in all patients making a ful l recovery.