Synagis and RSV season

[Tiki_Torch]

Does your NICU have a policy that during RSV season, babies who are candidates for Synagis are given their first injection before they are discharged home?

I know a lot of home health facilities employ nurses to go to the homes of these babies to give them their injections each month, but I'm wondering if your NICU gives the first injection before they leave the hospital. I'm concerned that if we don't give an injection before discharge that a baby could contract RSV in the window of time between discharge and when the home health nurse comes to give them their first dose after they get home....

Any thoughts on the subject?

Thanks,

Tiki

[prmenrs, RN]

We do!

[nikiw]

We do as well!

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

We always give it at least 72 hours before DC.

[neonursey]

We give our synagis to all the babies before they leave. Usually all on the same day too. (bunch of nurses running around the room with IM needles... ) Our babies must all have their first shot before discharge, at least 72 hours as well.

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

All the infants at risk for RSV have a pulmonary consult, and after the MD speaks with the parents the infant will get the Synagis within 1-2 days of going home. They all have follow-up appointments with the pulm. clinic for monthly Synagis unless the infant's pedi gives them. Occasionally if there is any fear that there may have been an RSV exposure in the unit any infant of any decent size will get Synagis. I had to vaccinate three of my four infants one night in the feeder/grower room (the other had his on day shift).

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

We also give it before the kids go home, but I don't think we do it 72hrs+ before they are discharged.

Who gets it? All babies going home on oxygen and/or NG feedings because they are felt to be the most medically fragile. Other preemies going home on room air and full PO feeds may get it as well, but usually only if they were less than about 34 weeks at birth. I'm just going by what I see - not sure if we have an actual policy or if it's up to the current attending neo.

[JVanRN]

we give ours in the unit also before d/c

[MsJessikia]

we give it to our little guys before they go home... and if anyone else is seemed to be at risk, they get it that day too. The synagis is really expensive so we try to be cost effective!!

[nekhismom]

No we don't give it.

[Mimi2RN, ASN, RN]

We give it before they go home. It's expensive, but the little ones do better with it. Sometimes they still get admitted with RSV, but hopefully not as sick.