Pharmacy U presenter Sherilyn Houle: The ABCs of RSV: What is it, and what can we do about it?
Sherilyn Houle will be presenting at Pharmacy U Toronto on April 1, 2023.
In late 2022, North America experienced a surge in respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, cases, especially among children. This surge, along with co-circulating COVID-19 and influenza viruses, placed considerable strain on our healthcare system and led many people to seek advice from pharmacists on the management of RSV. While the peak of this surge may be behind us, RSV remains an ongoing concern in every respiratory virus season.
As a pharmacy professional, you may have received questions from patients about non-prescription products for managing the symptoms of RSV, or prescribers seeking your advice on bronchodilators or corticosteroids for patients with underlying asthma. You may have wondered about the availability of testing for RSV using PCR or rapid antigen tests or heard about vaccines in the pipeline for RSV prevention. At PharmacyU, we will cover an overview of RSV, spanning burden of disease, presentation, complications, prevention, and therapeutic options.
Research and development in RSV is booming. A recently published article in Lancet Infectious Diseases has identified 33 RSV prevention candidates under various stages of clinical trials and approval, including vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. Reviews are underway by both the Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada for vaccines indicated for RSV prevention in older adults, with decisions expected in the coming months. As the public increasingly views pharmacies as a preferred setting for influenza, COVID-19, and other vaccination services and advice, it is anticipated that pharmacy professionals will also play important roles in future RSV vaccination efforts.
When providing patient care for RSV, pharmacists will need to be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to identify individuals at elevated risk of severe illness or complications, assess symptoms of RSV, determine whether a patient case is appropriate for self-management or requires referral, and evaluate the appropriateness of pharmacotherapy and vaccination. In addition, this PharmacyU session will update pharmacists on the current criteria for and availability of testing for RSV, as well as monoclonal antibody use for the prevention of RSV in high-risk children.
Join us on Saturday, April 1st at 10 a.m. to learn more about RSV and the current and future roles of pharmacy professionals in its prevention and management.
Sherilyn Houle will be presenting at Pharmacy U Toronto on April 1, 2023.