Adult Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection and Hypoxic Cardiac Arrest—Coexistent or Causal? A Hypothesis-Generating Case Report

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a well-known pathogen in paediatric patients. However, it also causes substantial morbidity and mortality in adults, posing a major healthcare problem. We present a patient with chronic pulmonary conditions and an acute RSV infection, thus leading to cardiac arre...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sebastian Schnaubelt, Felix Eibensteiner, Marieke Merrelaar, Daniel Tihanyi, Robert Strassl, Christian Clodi, Hans Domanovits, Heidrun Losert, Michael Holzer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-08-01
Series:Medicina
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/8/1121
Description
Summary:Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a well-known pathogen in paediatric patients. However, it also causes substantial morbidity and mortality in adults, posing a major healthcare problem. We present a patient with chronic pulmonary conditions and an acute RSV infection, thus leading to cardiac arrest (CA). We speculate that RSV as the causative agent for CA should be considered in post-resuscitation care. From a wider public health perspective, immuno-naivety for RSV caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic may induce a severe rise in cases, morbidity, and mortality in the future.
ISSN:1010-660X
1648-9144