Experts discuss prevention to ease hospital pressure

Experts will discuss how preventing respiratory infections could protect vulnerable groups and reduce pressure on hospitals at an event marking World Pneumonia Day on Thursday, LSM reported, citing the organisers.

The discussion will focus on measures to protect children, people at risk and older adults. Pneumonia remains a significant cause of hospitalisation and death, although some severe cases can be prevented. Newborns, older people and those with chronic illnesses are particularly vulnerable. Severe infections can put patients’ health and lives at risk, prolong hospital stays and require rehabilitation, adding to the burden on healthcare services.

One central topic will be preventing pneumococcal infections in adults. The number of invasive pneumococcal infections in Latvia rose 2.12-fold from 2020 to 2023, with the highest incidence among people over 65. While children can receive state-funded pneumococcal vaccination, experts say protection for older adults and at-risk groups remains inadequate. They will discuss adding the vaccine to the national immunisation schedule.

Experts will also consider how to protect newborns from respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, which can cause severe lower respiratory tract infections and lead to hospital or intensive care treatment. They will discuss providing passive immunisation to infants and its potential to reduce hospitalisations and pressure on healthcare facilities.

The organisers say vaccination and timely protection against infections can prevent severe illness, reduce hospitalisations and deaths, and lower healthcare costs over time. They estimate a return of about 19 euros for every euro invested in RSV prevention and about 33 euros for every euro invested in preventing pneumococcal disease.