Acute bronchiolitis is a common viral chest infection that mainly affects infants under the age of one. It is most common in the autumn and winter. It causes small tubes in the lungs (bronchioles) to become narrowed by inflammation and mucus, leading to difficulty breathing and poor feeding. A small proportion of infants require treatment to help their breathing and feeding.
The clinical aims of this initiative are to:
- reduce unwarranted clinical variation
- reduce unnecessary investigations and ineffective treatments.
Snapshot of acute bronchiolitis in NSW public hospitals, 2017-18
67 public hospitals
134 emergency departments
treat infants with
bronchiolitis
Guideline
Infants and Children – Acute Management of Bronchiolitis
This guideline provides evidence-based clinical direction in the acute management of bronchiolitis in infants.
For clinicians and services
What to improve
A summary of the four clinical components of the initiative:
- diagnosis
- acute management
- optimising health
- working with families
How to improve
Explore options for different organisational models to tailor clinical services for your local requirements:
- paediatric acute review service (non-admitted patient)
- paediatric short stay service (admitted patient)
- virtual health model
Additional resources
- Research: Use of radiography in patients diagnosed with acute bronchiolitis in US emergency departments, 2007-2015, published October 2018: CXR in Bronchiolitis, JAMA, October 2018
- Research: General paediatricians and value-based payments, US, published September 2018
- Monitoring and evaluation plan
- Audit tool: Search bronchiolitis and select broncholitis_statewide_re-audit (note: log in required)
- Bronchiolitis initiative 2019 Year in review
Contact the Paediatric Network
Email the team at ACI-Paed@health.nsw.gov.au or visit the ACI Paediatric Network.