Severe Invasive Pneumococcal Sepsis Associated with Influenza a Infection

Abstract

We present two patients admitted to the intensive care unit with sepsis secondary to severe community-acquired pneumococcal pneumonia who had, in addition, influenza A positive serology. Both Streptococcus pneumoniae and influenza A are known to be responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in their own right during the winter months. This report highlights the need, in cases of confirmed pneumococcal pneumonia, to test for other organisms at an early stage, in particular influenza A and other respiratory viruses, as this synergistic combination is known to carry a very high mortality. The early detection of the influenza A virus in addition to pneumococcus and early treatment with oseltamivir could potentially improve clinical outcomes in this condition.