Adenovirus 14 Associated with Severe Pneumonia

Human adenoviruses (Ads) are ubiquitous and are associated with a variety of clinical syndromes. The ≥52 recognized Ad serotypes have been classified within seven subgroups. Until recently, Ad serotype 14 (Ad14) was not frequently linked to clinical illness.

Now, researchers describe three patients in New Mexico who were diagnosed with severe pneumonia caused by Ad14. Patient 1 was a 49-year-old man with chronic lung disease who died of acute respiratory failure 2 weeks after hospital admission for worsening respiratory symptoms. Patient 2, a 17-month-old infant with multilobar pneumonia and tracheobronchitis, survived after a 36-day hospitalization. Patient 3 was a 3-year-old boy with severe developmental disability who presented with respi…