Pneumonia in childhood: Etiology and response to antimicrobial therapy

Abstract

A prospective eight-month study was carried out in 50 children admitted to hospital for radiologically confirmed community-acquired pneumonia. A potential causative agent of infection was identified in 44 (88%) cases. Using virus isolation, virus antigen detection and enzyme immunoassay serology, respiratory virus infection was diagnosed in 30 (60%) patients. Antibody assays for seven bacteria and antigen detection from serum and urine for Streptococcus pneumoniae produced evidence of bacterial infection in 31 (62%) cases. Streptococcus pneumoniae (38%), respiratory syncytial virus (30%) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (20%) were the most common causative agents. A mixed infection was diagnosed in 25 (50%) episodes. Nine patients failed to respond to antibiotics within 24 h after onset of treatment. Three of them had a pure viral infection, three a mixed viral-bacterial infection, two a Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection mixed with other bacteria and one a pure Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. All three Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections were initially treated with penicillin.

Identification of respiratory viral infection agents by multiplex real-time PCR among children hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia in Konya province

“…These results may corroborate previously reported etiological rates; in previous studies, the rate has been reported as 43% to 85% (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20).…”

Mycoplasma pneumoniaeand Its Role as a Human Pathogen

“…pneumoniae causes up to 40% or more of cases of community-acquired pneumonias and as many as 18% of cases requiring hospitalization in children (5,47,137,156,180,182,199,273,357,403,446). Older studies relying upon serology and culture reported M. pneumoniae pneumonia to be somewhat uncommon in children aged less than 5 years and greatest among school-aged children 5 to 15 years of age, with a decline after adolescence and on into adulthood (5,(143)(144)(145).…”

Study on pleural effusions due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection

“…Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common aetio-logical agent of community-acquired pneumonia in both children and adults 1,2 . It can cause a wide variety of respiratory tract manifestations including acute pharyngitis, bronchitis, bronchiolitis and bronchopneumonia.…”