Fatal case of influenza pneumonia with suprainfection by multiple bacteria and Herpes simplex virus.

A case of influenza pneumonia is described in which death occurred from persistence of the influenza infection and suprainfection with two bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and another virus, Herpes simplex. Of additional interest were the observations that this overwhelming illness developed in a previously healthy person, that typical influenza virus particles were present in antemortem lung tissue, and that the patient died despite 6 days of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and corticosteroids.