MMWR Early Release Volume 58, Early Release September 29, 2009
Bacterial Coinfections in Lung Tissue Specimens from Fatal Cases of 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) United States, May–August 2009
To help determine the role of bacterial coinfection during the current influenza pandemic, postmortem lung specimens from patients with fatal 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) were examined. A total of 22 (29%) of 77 U.S. patients with fatal pandemic influenza A (H1N1) had concurrent bacterial lung infections.
These findings underscore the importance of pneumococcal vaccination for persons at increased risk for pneumococcal pneumonia and the need for early recognition of bacterial pneumonia in persons with influenza.
For the full article, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm58e0929.pdf
For information on target groups for pneumococcal vaccine, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/pneumo/default.htm
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