The review summarizes data on contemporary approaches to diagnosis, prevention and treatment of severe acute parenchymal respiratory failure of various origins including in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by bacterial and viral pneumonia. It is based on the data of modern properly organized studies, an analysis of international clinical guidelines with a high degree of evidence, as well as the results of many years of own experimental research and clinical observations of treatment of patients with ARDS of various origin, including those with viral pneumonia in 2009–2016–2020. The article states scientifically-based procedures for prevention, differential diagnosis and personalized treatment of severe acute respiratory failure with the use of innovative medical technologies and a wide range of respiratory treatments. The authors did their best to adapt specific proposals for everyday clinical practice.