DP038 | EPIDEMIOLOGY OF VIRAL INFECTIONS IN HEMATOLOGICAL PATIENTS: INFLUENZA, SARS-COV-2, AND RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS – TRENDS AND SHIFTS: A MONOCENTRIC EXPERIENCE

Background: Influenza virus infections and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are common causes of self-limiting upper respiratory tract infections. However, in hematological patients, who are often more susceptible to severe and life-threatening infections, these infections can progress to the lower respiratory tract. There is limited data available on the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of influenza A/B and RSV in this patient cohort.Method: In our virology laboratory, we analyzed 1,424 nasopharyngeal swabs from hematological patients between 01/04/2023 and 31/03/2024, and 718 swabs between 01/04/2024 and 31/03/2025. The swabs were tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (Abbott Resp-4-Plex) to detect respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A/B, and SARS-CoV-2 in both febrile and asymptomatic patients.Results: From 01/04/2023 to 31/03/2024, we identified 112 positive swabs for SARS-CoV-2, 30 for influenza A, 2 for influenza B, and none for RSV. From 01/04/2024 to 31/03/2025, we identified 18 positive swabs for SARS-CoV-2, 7 for influenza A, 5 for influenza B, and 10 for RSV. In the first year, the positive swabs corresponded to 25 patients with SARS-CoV-2, 6 patients with influenza A, and 1 patient with influenza B. In the second year, the positive swabs corresponded to 8 patients with SARS-CoV-2, 4 patients with influenza A, 1 patient with influenza B, and 4 patients with RSV. All patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 were treated with Remdesivir. In the first year, only two patients with influenza were treated with oseltamivir, while in the second year, all patients with influenza received oseltamivir. No patients died due to viral complications.Conclusion: We conclude that, despite the reduction in viral infection monitoring, no increase in mortality was observed, suggesting that clinical management has not negatively impacted overall patient health. On the contrary, healthcare costs were reduced without compromising patient safety. A decline in SARS-CoV-2 infections and an increase in RSV infections were noted, with no severe complications associated with either. All infections were mild and self-limiting. These findings suggest that with proper monitoring and timely treatment, viral infections in hematological patients can be effectively managed without major impact on mortality. However, further multicenter studies are needed to confirm these results and investigate additional treatment options.