Community-acquired Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Parainfluenza Virus Infections After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Experience

Community respiratory viruses (CRVs) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality among recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT). At the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza virus (PIV) infections in HSCT recipients have been studied intensively for more than a decade. Over time, mortality from these infections has declined as the approach to diagnosis has become more aggressive and more stringent preventive measures have been instituted. However, mortality among HSCT recipients with RSV or PIV pneumonia remains high. Uncontrolled studies at our center suggest that prompt therapy with aerosolized ribavirin has reduced mortality from RSV pneumonia but does not appear to affect the course of established PIV pneumonia. Two controlled clinical trials of ribavirin therapy for RSV infection in HSCT recipients are in progress.