Infect Chemother.  2012 Oct;44(5):372-376. 10.3947/ic.2012.44.5.372.

A Clinical features of Severe Adenovirus Pneumonia among Members of the Korea Military: A Case Series

• Heo JY
• Kim HK
• Cha YJ
• Lee JE
• Shim YS
• Choe KW

• KMID: 2170382
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2012.44.5.372

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Adenoviral diseases generally present as self-limiting upper respiratory illnesses. However, in some cases, adenovirus can cause fatal outcomes, even in healthy adults. Severe pneumonia caused by adenovirus in young soldiers at basic military training sites have been reported.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of patients with pneumonia who were hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit of the Armed Forces Capital Hospital between January 2011 and March 2012.
RESULTS
Nine patients with pneumonia who required ventilator treatment were analyzed. Adenovirus was proved to be the causative agent of the illness in six out of nine patients, three of whom died due to severe adenoviral pneumonia or adenovirus-related illness. Among these six patients, three were military trainees. Clinical features were characterized by fever (100%) and cough (100%). Other important findings included thrombocytopenia (83.3%), leukopenia (66.6%), and radiologically lobar consolidation (66.7%).
CONCLUSIONS
Adenovirus appeared to be the most important pathogen of young Korean soldiers, particularly among military trainees with severe pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation. Outbreak surveillance for adenovirus associated illness is necessary.

Keyword

Adenovirus; Severe pneumonia; Military personnel

MeSH Terms

Adenoviridae
Adult
Arm
Cough
Fatal Outcome
Fever
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Korea
Leukopenia
Medical Records
Military Personnel
Pneumonia
Respiration, Artificial
Retrospective Studies
Thrombocytopenia
Ventilators, Mechanical

Figure

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  Figure 1 Serial Chest X-ray of Case No. 2 on the (A) 1st hospital day, (B) 3rd hospital day, and (C) 5th hospital day, and (D) chest CT scan on the 5th hospital day: Despite antibiotics and antiviral treatment, pneumonia on the right lung field showed rapid deterioration.

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