NOSOCOMIAL VIRAL PNEUMONIA IN THE INTENSIVE-CARE UNIT

The role viruses play in nosocomial ICU pneumonias is not well documen ted except for outbreaks of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. Clinically, viral pneumonias are difficult to differ entiate from bacterial pneumonias, and most routine diagnostic tests a re able to diagnose viral pathogens. Therefore, the incidence of viral pneumonias is almost certainly underestimated. The likelihood of a vi ral pneumonia is increased if the patient is not responding to antimic robial agents, if pneumonia occurs during the winter months, or if the re is evidence of viral outbreaks in the hospital or community. In the past few years, new diagnostic tests and a number of effective antivi ral agents have been introduced; this makes the rapid diagnosis and tr eatment of viral pneumonia possible.