RESUMO
Background: There is paucity of information about viral etiology of community acquired pneumonia in adults. Aim: To investigate the viral etiology of pneumonia among hospitalized patients. Material and Methods: All adults with pneumonia that were hospitalized were prospectively enrolled at Puerto Montt hospital. A microbiological and viral assessment was carried out. Viral assessment included direct immunofluorescence of nasopharyngeal aspirates for influenza A and B virus and serum samples obtained during the acute phase of the disease and during convalescence for Hanta virus. Results: Between April 1 2005 and March 31 2006,159 adults aged 62 ± 20 years (58 % males), were admitted to the hospital for pneumonia. Mean hospital stay was 11.9 ± 8.6 days. Four patients had Hantavirus acute infection. Other viruses were identified in twelve patients (7.7%). Nine had influenza A, one syncytial respiratory virus, one syncytial and influenza A virus and one varicella zoster virus. Excluding patients with Hantavirus, no significant differences in age, clinical presentation, chest X ray findings, laboratory results and mortality were observed between patients with bacterial or viral etiology of the pneumonia. Conclusions: Viral etiology was confirmed in 10% of adult patients hospitalized with community acquired pneumonia.