PMID: 9543472Apr 16, 1998Paper

Impact of influenza and other community-acquired viruses

Seminars in Respiratory Infections
T R Cate

Abstract

The incidence of community-acquired pneumonia peaks during the winter season each year. Increases in mortality from these pneumonias and influenza-like illnesses (P&I) above an "epidemic threshold" for 2 or more weeks generally signify increased numbers of influenza virus infections in the community, although peaks in P&I mortality typically lag a few weeks behind peaks in influenza virus activity. Most of the pneumonias cases found during influenza virus epidemics are due to secondary bacterial infections, with an increase in the frequency of Staphylococcus aureus over that seen in nonepidemic periods. One interaction between bacteria and influenza viruses that may increase disease severity by increasing growth of the virus is proteolytic cleaving of the hemagglutinin mediated directly or indirectly by bacterial products. Influenza virus infections also have many effects on the host that can enhance secondary bacterial infections; included are impairments of mucus clearance and T cell, polymorphonuclear cell and macrophage functions, as well as alterations in respiratory epithelium that can enhance adherence of bacteria. Recent studies indicate that the role of respiratory syncytial virus infections in causing acute pulmonary ...Continue Reading

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