So far, the swine flu has claimed few people in comparison to the yearly flu numbers.  However, it seems that in many of the cases where there is no apparent reason for death, a bacterial superinfection may have been the cause.  A few of the cases that have been reviewed by the CDC did, in fact, have a super-infection with bacterial pneumonia.  This means that doctors may need to redefine their approach to the worst cases of the flu, and consider adding antibiotics to treat for a bacterial infection, even in patients with the flu for which a bacterial pneumonia has not been diagnosed.  Bacterial pneumonia or superinfection were the most common cause of death in the last few pandemics.  We have to increase our level of suspicion for these types of infections in patients with severe flu symptoms, or patients that progressively get worse.  Treating earlier in its course will likely save lives.  Read more here.