Hantavirus: recognition, escalation and antimicrobial stewardship

Hantavirus infection is an uncommon but potentially severe zoonotic illness transmitted primarily through exposure to infected rodents or their urine, droppings and saliva. Recent Andes hantavirus cases associated with the Motor Vessel Hondius cruise ship have renewed clinical attention to this infection, particularly because Andes virus is the only hantavirus for which limited person-to-person transmission has been documented. This article provides an update for prescribers on hantavirus, with emphasis on recognition, exposure assessment, escalation and antimicrobial stewardship.