Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health
Severe Acute Respiratory Failure Associated with Viral Respiratory Infections: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Diagnosis, Pharmacotherapy, Respiratory Support, and Critical Care Management
Background: Severe acute respiratory failure caused by respiratory viruses is an important cause of intensive care unit admission and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Advances in molecular diagnostics have increased the detection of respiratory viruses in lower respiratory tract infections, while also highlighting challenges in distinguishing true viral disease from asymptomatic carriage and bacterial-viral co-infection. Respiratory viruses can cause direct epithelial injury, dysregulated inf …