Transmission Route
The most common transmission of infection is via droplet infection from an infected and contagious person to another contact person. The nasal mucous membranes and conjunctiva are the main entry points.
Indirect transmission via surfaces, objects and contaminated hands cannot be ruled out as a route of transmission either. In respiratory secretions, the RS virus can survive on the hands for 20 minutes. It lasts up to 45 minutes on paper towels and cotton gowns, while it can survive for several hours on disposable gloves, stethoscopes and plastic surfaces. Therefore, medical staff in particular can contribute to a rapid, even nosocomial spread as soon as hygiene measures are incomplete.
Incubation Period & Contagiousness
The incubation period is 2-8 days. As early as one day after infection and even before the onset of symptoms, it is possible for RSV-infected persons to be infectious. As a rule, infected persons are considered contagious for 3 to 8 days. In immunocompetent patients, the symptoms usually subside within a week. Premature babies, newborns, immunodeficient or immunosuppressed patients, on the other hand, can excrete the respiratory syncytial virus for several weeks, in rare cases even for months.
However, to be able to reliably diagnose an infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), it is necessary to detect the pathogen. Since detection should take place promptly in order to effectively prevent nosocomial RSV infections and to be able to initiate therapeutic measures as quickly as possible, it is recommended that a immunographic rapid test is performed. The rapid test provides results within a few minutes. Thus, a preliminary diagnosis can quickly be made at the doctor's surgery. To confirm this result, detection of the pathogen by PCR/NAT is recommended. In our shop, you will find rapid RSV tests from various manufacturers for the detection of RSV virus antigens in swab samples within only 10 to 15 minutes.
