title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ruuskanen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nohynek
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Capeding
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rikalainen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huovinen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leinonen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000382:microbiology; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010253:Respirovirus Infections; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015163:Superinfection; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D000658:Amoxicillin