Aetiology and short-term outcome of acute respiratory distress syndrome: a real-world experience from a medical intensive care unit in southern India

Background Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a highly fatal syndrome especially in resource constrained settings. In this study we prospectively studied the aetiology of ARDS and its short-term outcome. Methods Consecutive adults with suspected ARDS were screened. ARDS was diagnosed by the Berlin criteria. Aetiology was determined clinically, and by imaging and microbiological investigations. Patients presenting with fever, prominent cough and expectoration had a throat swab tested for influenza H1N1 virus. Outcome was discharge from hospital or death. Results A total of 42 patients, mean age 42.6 years, were studied. All received mechanical ventilation. Thirteen (31%) had pulmonary ARDS: H1N1 virus infection (n = 5), pneumonia (n = 7) and tuberculosis (n = 1). Twenty nine (69%) had extrapulmonary ARDS: sepsis (n = 16) and scrub typhus (n = 8). Thirty three (79%) died, of the nine survivors scrub typhus was diagnosed in seven patients. Conclusion The aetiology of ARDS in tropical medical setting is infection related. ARDS due to scrub typhus appeared to be mild with good outcome.