Type 3 adenoviral pneumonia occurring in a respiratory intensive care unit

A patient developed a life-threatening type 3 adenoviral pneumonia while hospitalized in a respiratory intensive care unit. Diagnosis was made by open lung biopsy, with confirmation by viral culture and characteristic serologic and histologic findings. To our knowledge, this is the first report of serologically, histologically, and culturally documented type 3 adenoviral pneumonia occurring in an adult in a nonmilitary setting. Positive throat cultures for type 3 adenovirus in symptomatic medical staff working in the intensive care unit suggested the possibility for nosocomial transmission of this infection.