Optimization strategy to minimize wastage of palivizumab during the 2008 RSV season in São Paulo, Brazil.

Palivizumab is currently recommended to high-risk children as a prophylaxis for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. However, it is still very expensive for developing countries like Brazil. Herein, we describe our strategy to minimize wastage of Palivizumab during the 2008 RSV season. Appointments were fixed for 304 children on 2 days of the week, so that a mean of 19.9 children received Palivizumab per day. That allowed remaining volumes of Palivizumab vials to be pooled and used for other children on the same day within the 6 h period after opening a vial. That strategy saved 26.3% of vials, which represents USD $749,143.75.