Loading...
The 52 serotypes of human adenovirus (Ad) cause a variety of (usually mild) clinical syndromes. One rare serotype, Ad14, was responsible for two recent outbreaks of severe respiratory illness in the U.S.
One of the outbreaks occurred in Oregon in 2006–2007. Ad14 accounted for 40 (60%) of the 67 Ad infection cases detected during that period. Medical records were available for review for 38 of the patients with Ad14 infection. Among these patients, hospitalization was required for 76%, supplemental oxygen for 61%, critical care support for 47%, and vasopressors for 24%; seven patients (18%) died. Twenty-six (90%) of the hospitalized patients had abnormal chest x-rays on admission; 25 of them were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, usual…