Secondary bacterial infections - The other side of influenza pathogenesis

摘要

Secondary bacterial infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality following influenza. This was especially true during past pandemics, where 50-95% of all deaths were complicated by or attributed to bacterial pathogens. The emergence in 2009 of a new pandemic strain has increased the urgency for us to understand how bacteria work together with influenza viruses to cause pneumonia. Several mechanisms have been postulated to explain this interaction. The viral neuraminidase has been shown to enhance adherence of bacteria and increase the incidence of bacterial pneumonia.