Pneumonia in military trainees: a comparison study based on adenovirus serotype 14 infection

Adenovirus serotype 14 (Ad-14) recently emerged as a respiratory pathogen in the United States, with studies suggesting higher morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to determine whether Ad-14 is associated with clinical outcomes in otherwise healthy patients with pneumonia.

Medical records of military trainees hospitalized with pneumonia during an outbreak of Ad-14 infection were reviewed. Clinical, radiographic, and laboratory parameters were compared on the basis of Ad-14 infection.

Two hundred thirty-four trainees received a diagnosis of pneumonia, and 83(35%) were hospitalized. Sixty-one percent of patients with pneumonia were Ad-14 positive; 43% of patients with Ad-14 pneumonia were hospitalized (83% of female patients and 40% of male patients; P = .04), compared with 40% of patients with Ad-14 negative cases. Ad-14 infection was associated with higher admission temperature (38.3°C [interquartile range, (IQR) 37.7, 39.4] vs 37.3°C [IQR (36.7, 38.5)]; P < .01) and lower white blood cell count (8.3 × 1000 cells/μL [IQR, 5.7, 12.4] vs 13 × 1000 cells/μL [IQR, 7.5, 12.9]; P = .01), neutrophil count (6.7 × 1000 cells/μL [IQR, 2.8, 9.7] vs 9.7 × 1000 cells/μL [IQR, 5.6, 12.1]; P = .02), lymphocyte count (0.9 × 1000 cells/μL [IQR, 0.8, 1.1] vs 1.3 × 1000 cells/μL [IQR, 1, 1.9]; P = .001), and platelet count (210 × 1000 cells/μL [IQR, 145, 285] vs 261 × 1000 cells/μL [IQR, 238, 343]; P < .01). Ad-14 pneumonia was not associated with specific radiographic findings, pneumonia severity score, intensive care unit admission, longer hospitalization, or 30-day mortality.

During an outbreak of Ad-14 infection, Ad-14 infection was not associated with excess overall morbidity or mortality. Ad-14 infection was associated with specific laboratory and clinical parameters and higher hospitalization rates in female trainees. These data provide new insight to the epidemiology of Ad-14 infection.