Influenza and bacterial pneumonia – constant companions.

Link to article at PubMed

Influenza and bacterial pneumonia - constant companions.

Crit Care. 2010 May 13;14(3):150

Authors: Wunderink RG

ABSTRACT: Sequential or concomitant influenza and bacterial pneumonia are two common syndromes seen in community-acquired pneumonia. Inadequacies of diagnostic testing make separating simple pneumonia with either bacteria or influenza from concomitant or sequential influenza with both microorganisms difficult, although the novel 2009 H1N1 epidemic may improve the availability of molecular testing for viruses. Given the frequency of viral pneumonia and diagnostic limitations, empirical antivirals may be underutilized in community-acquired pneumonia. Thankfully, increasingly effective vaccines appear to disrupt this synergistic relationship.

PMID: 20500906 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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