Current opinion in infectious diseases
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Curr. Opin. Infect. Dis. · Apr 2010
ReviewManagement of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia.
Staphylococcus aureus, and particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become an increasingly important etiology of pneumonia, both in healthcare and community settings. Associated with highest morbidity, mortality and costs in public health, it represents a major challenge for the management of this group of patients. ⋯ Overall, MRSA is an important cause of pneumonia; optimal management strategies for improving morbidity and mortality are still under development.
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Two recent viral epidemics producing pneumonitis (severe acute respiratory syndrome and pandemic influenza A H1N1) have highlighted the potential for viral infections to cause respiratory failure with a significant risk of mortality. This review describes these epidemics and other causes of epidemic viral pneumonia. ⋯ The severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak was too short to allow management protocols to be tested in a research environment. The current 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic is fortunately not associated with as high a mortality rate as the avian influenza A (H5N1), another potential pandemic candidate virus. Prior pandemic planning as well as research planning has allowed a rapid response to this outbreak, with a significant amount of literature generated in a few months. Other common seasonal viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza, as well as previously poorly recognized viruses such as hantavirus, have the ability to cause significant respiratory morbidity and mortality.