A Report of Two Cases of Human Metapneumovirus Infection in Pregnancy Involving Superimposed Bacterial Pneumonia and Severe Respiratory Illness

Abstract

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a cause of mild to severe respiratory viral infection. There are few descriptions of infection with HMPV in pregnancy. We present two cases of HMPV infection occurring in pregnancy, including a case of superimposed bacterial pneumonia in a pregnant woman after HMPV infection. In the first case, a 40-year-old woman at 29 weeks of gestation developed an asthma exacerbation in association with a positive respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) for HMPV infection. She was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for progressive respiratory failure. In the second case, a 36-year-old woman at 31 weeks of gestation developed respiratory distress in association with a positive RPP for HMPV. A subsequent sputum culture was positive for beta-lactamase producing Haemophilus influenzae raising concern for superimposed bacterial pneumonia. HMPV can be an important cause of severe respiratory illness in pregnant women and may predispose pregnant women to superimposed bacterial pneumonia. J Clin Gynecol Obstet. 2019;8(4):107-110 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jcgo573