Viral infection and antiviral therapy in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Abstract

Viral diseases are leading causes of mortality and morbidity among infants requiring care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), with ongoing discoveries of new viral pathology likely to add to the burdens posed. Many viral diseases in NICU infants are undiagnosed or appreciated only late in the course because of subtle or asymptomatic presentation, confusion with bacterial disease, and failure to consider viral disease. We present an overview of viral disease in NICU infants, with emphasis on pharmacologic agents currently employed for prophylaxis and treatment of such diseases. Advances in molecular biology and popular demand to develop antiviral agents for viral diseases (eg, human immunodeficiency virus) offer great promise for the future.

• Authors: Galina Barford, Alison C Rentz, Roger G Faix
• Journal: The Journal of perinatal & neonatal nursing (J Perinat Neonatal Nurs) 2004 Jul-Sep Vol. 18 Issue 3 Pg. 259-74 ISSN: 0893-2190 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15478476 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents

Topics

• Antibiotic Prophylaxis
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Infant Welfare
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Newborn, Diseases (drug therapy, nursing, virology)
• Infant, Premature
• Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
• Male
• Prevalence
• Risk Assessment
• Risk Factors
• Time Factors
• United States (epidemiology)
• Virus Diseases (drug therapy, nursing, virology)