| Respiratory Virus Detection Rate in Patients with Severe or Atypical Community-acquired Pneumonia. |
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Ji Won Park, Sun Young Jung, Hyuk Soo Eun, Shinhye Cheon, Seok Woo Seong, Dong Il Park, Myung Rin Park, Hee Sun Park, Sung Soo Jung, Ju Ock Kim, Sun Young Kim, Jeong Eun Lee |
1Department of Internal Medicine, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
2Department of Internal Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea. vov-x@hanmail.net |
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| Abstract |
BACKGROUND
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world in all age groups. Viral causes of CAP are less well characterized than bacterial causes. We analyzed the characteristics of hospitalized patients with CAP who had a viral pathogen detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). METHODS: Multiplex real-time PCR was performed for respiratory viruses in samples collected from 520 adults who developed CAP at Chungnam National University Hospital. Clinical, laboratory, and radiological features at presentation as well as other epidemiological data were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 520 patients with CAP, a viral pathogen was detected in 60 (11.5%), and influenza A was the most common. The virus detection rate in patients with CAP was highest in November. Two or more pathogens were detected in 13 (21.7%) patients. Seven patients had severe disease and were administered in the intensive care unit. Most patients (49/60, 81.7%) had comorbidities. However, nine (15%) patients had no comorbidities, and their age was <60 years. The ground glass opacity pattern was the most common radiological feature. Seven (11.7%) patients died from CAP. CONCLUSION: Viral pathogens are commonly detected in patients with CAP, and a respiratory virus may be associated with the severity and outcome of pneumonia. Careful attention should be paid to the viral etiology in adult patients with CAP. |
| Key Words:
Viruses, Pneumonia, Polymerase Chain Reaction |
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