Seasonal respiratory viruses in adult ICU patients

Respiratory viruses are frequently detected in adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and are increasingly being recognised for their role as causal agents in severe respiratory tract infections. Diagnostic sensitivity and time to result have greatly improved with the advent of molecular diagnostics. However, the burden of viral respiratory tract infections in adults remains unclear, and challenges persist in the adequate interpretation of test results and clinical implications on the adult ICU, especially for non-influenza viruses. Many promising antivirals for influenza infection are in clinical development. This review describes the epidemiology, diagnostics, prevention, therapeutic interventions and clinical challenges of seasonal respiratory viruses in adult critically ill patients.