Viral Infections in ICU Linking Pathophysiology to Clinical Presentation and ICU Management

Abstract

iral infections in ICU are less common but play an important clinical role, there is many viruses are present in the community and lead to a lot of infections in the community, these infections are determined according to mode of transmission, and cell entry, and host immunology, and site of infection. There are viruses that cause upper and lower respiratory tract infections, viruses that cause encephalitis, and hepatitis, myocarditis and pericarditis. The pathophysiology of these viruses and clinical presentation are determined according to site of main lesion. Respiratory viruses (Influenza, CMV, SARS,……….) lead to multiple complications in ICU patients like ARDS, respiratory failure and etc…. Hepatitis viruses are very common (hepatitis A, B, C,….) Also viral encephalitis, myocarditis and pericarditis are very important. The management of these viruses is different from virus to another one and according to its complications that were be done by these virus. There are also some of high lights on HIV that will lead to AIDS and its role in ICU patients.