Successful extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for fulminant community-acquired pneumococcal pneumonia

Life-threatening human metapneumovirus pneumonia requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a preterm infant

We present the first report in the literature of a child with human metapneumovirus pneumonia who required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for survival. This was a 3-month-old premature boy from British Columbia, Canada, who developed severe respiratory failure, experienced failure of high-frequency oscillatory mechanical ventilation, and required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support for 10 days. This case illustrates the importance of including this newly discovered pathogen among the causes of childhood pneumonia.

[Non-antibiotic treatments for community-acquired pneumonia in children]

Besides antibiotic therapy (when warranted), treatment of acute pneumonia in children usually requires only simple measures, including: fractionated feeding, analgesic and antipyretic medications and detection of hypoxemia. There is no evidence that physical chest therapy, bronchial mucus modificators and corticosteroid therapy are really useful. The best prevention relies upon vaccinations, suppression of passive smoking, and hygiene and nutritional improvements.