“I’ll do anything to protect him,” says Katrina Villalobos, of her son Santino.
Santino was born just under 23 weeks at Sunnybrook, making him a ‘nano-preemie’ very sensitive to respiratory infections.
Katrina holding her baby, Santino
For Katrina, this means ensuring her newborn receives a special preventive antibody in hospital to protect Santino from RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) infection. RSV is a major cause of respiratory illness, particularly among infants, young children, and older adults, affecting the lungs and airways.
“It’s really a no-brainer to say that all babies, especially those born prematurely, should receive the RSV preventive antibody. It’s the most common virus affecting babies and can lead to serious breathing problems, especially in premature babies,” says Dr. Asaph Rolniksky, Chief of Newborn and Developmental Paediatrics at Sunnybrook.
An RSV infection causes inflammation and secretions to buildup in the lungs. This means less oxygen can pass through the lungs, causing breathing and feeding difficulty, hospitalization, oxygen therapy and sometimes ventilation. RSV infection is the leading viral cause of infant death in Canada – almost nine times more than flu, and the most common cause of babies’ admission in hospitals.
Santino
A preventive antibody is a protein that helps the body fight harmful substances like bacteria and viruses. It’s called nirsevimab, or by its brand name Beyfortus.
All newborn babies born during 2024 in Ontario are now eligible to receive the preventive antibody. The NICU will routinely provide the antibody to all newborn before discharge home to ensure protection again RSV. Full-term babies may also receive it in Sunnybrook’s Birthing Unit or Maternal Newborn Unit.
To learn more, check out our Q&A for families.
