Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Pneumonia: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Data

• Published in: Clinical Infectious Diseases Vol. 43; no. 6; pp. 748 - 756
• Main Authors: Bauer, Torsten T., Ewig, Santiago, Rodloff, Arne C., Müller, Eckhard E.
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 15.09.2006; University of Chicago Press; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adult respiratory distress syndrome; Animals; Avian influenza virus; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Bacteria - pathogenicity; Biological and medical sciences; Chickenpox; Clinical Practice; Coronavirus; Coronavirus - isolation & purification; Disease Susceptibility; Dosage; Hematocrit; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Influenza A virus; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - isolation & purification; Invited; Medical sciences; Parasites - isolation & purification; Parasites - pathogenicity; Pathology; Pneumology; Pneumonia; Pneumonia - complications; Pneumonia - epidemiology; Pneumonia - microbiology; Respiratory distress syndrome; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult - complications; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult - epidemiology; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult - microbiology; Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases; Respiratory Tract Infections - complications; Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Infections - virology; Risk Factors; Sepsis; Sepsis - complications; Viral pneumonia; Viruses; Infection; Lung disease; Pneumonia; Respiratory disease; Acute; Respiratory distress; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1086/506430

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and pneumonia are closely correlated in the critically ill patient. Whereas ARDS is often complicated by nosocomial pneumonia, pulmonary infection is also the most frequent single cause of ARDS. The prevalence of pneumonia during the course of ARDS seems to be particularly high, but whether persons with ARDS are more susceptible to pneumonia or simply have more risk factors remains unknown because of methodological limitations. Recent research suggests that host factors have a major bearing on the development of ARDS. To date, sepsis seems to be the principal link between pneumonia and ARDS. However, prospective observational data on this supposed sequence are not available. The individual role of specific pathogens for the development of ARDS is difficult to assess, because prospective studies are missing. Respiratory viruses have received particular attention, but this review suggests that infections with coronavirus and avian influenza virus (H5N1) are associated with a high incidence of ARDS.