title: Respiratory syncytial virus in critically ill adult patients with community-acquired respiratory failure: a prospective observational study.
abstract: The incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus infection was determined during three RSV seasons in 158 adult patients consecutively admitted to the intensive care unit with community-acquired respiratory failure. Nasopharyngeal swabs were tested for the presence of RSV and influenza virus by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Six patients (4%) were positive for RSV and all recovered. This finding was in sharp contrast to influenza (23 (15%) patients, 4 (17%) deaths). In conclusion, even in the midst of the RSV season, RSV is an infrequent cause of respiratory failure in adults admitted to the intensive care unit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: D S Y
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: P M C
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Klein Klouwenberg
authors.forename: O L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Cremer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Christiaan Boerma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sietses
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van Loon
authors.forename: M J M
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bonten
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bont
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*
keywords: Adult; influenza; intensive care unit; respiratory failure; respiratory syncytial virus