Epidemic viral pneumonia and other emerging pathogens

Kathryn A Radigan; Richard G Wunderink

doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2011.05.010

Epidemic viral pneumonia and other emerging pathogens

Clin Chest Med. 2011 Sep;32(3):451-67. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2011.05.010.

Authors

Kathryn A Radigan¹, Richard G Wunderink

Affiliation

¹ Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. k-radigan@northwestern.edu

Abstract

Viruses cause a high percentage of community-acquired pneumonias. The advent of polymerase chain reaction and other molecular techniques has been associated with the detection of a higher prevalence of common respiratory viruses than previously suspected. Better diagnostics have shown new viral pathogens regularly in epidemics, immunocompromised patients, and occasionally children. Despite better diagnostics, treatment for all but influenza is still very limited.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adenovirus Infections, Human / diagnosis
Adenovirus Infections, Human / drug therapy
Adenovirus Infections, Human / epidemiology
Common Cold / therapy
Cytomegalovirus Infections / diagnosis
Cytomegalovirus Infections / drug therapy
Herpesvirus 3, Human
Humans
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype*
Influenza, Human / diagnosis*
Influenza, Human / drug therapy
Influenza, Human / epidemiology
Paramyxoviridae Infections / diagnosis
Paramyxoviridae Infections / drug therapy
Paramyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis*
Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy
Pneumonia, Viral / virology*
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / diagnosis
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / drug therapy
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / epidemiology