Etiology of pneumonia and other common childhood infections requiring hospitalization and parenteral antimicrobial therapy. SE-TU Study Group.
The etiology of acute lower respiratory tract infections (mostly pneumonia) in children is well characterized, but these are only some of the community-acquired infections warranting parenteral antimicrobial therapy. We prospectively evaluated all such infections among children aged 3 months to 15 years by use of blood cultures, examination of nasopharyngeal aspirates, and serologies for 15 viral, 7 bacterial, and 1 protozoal agent. Immunocompromised patients and those with urinary tract infection, meningitis, or osteoarticular infection were excluded. In all, 170 children were included. The pathogenic agent was identified in 62% of the cases. Bacteria were detected in 54%, and a pneumococcus was found in 59% of the cases identified. Viruses were found in 15% overall. Sole bacterial or viral infections were detected in 47.1% and 8.1%, respectively. Since thorough screening established the etiology in less than two-thirds of patients ill enough to be hospitalized and treated parenterally, better diagnostics are needed, especially to identify those who would truly benefit from antimicrobial therapy.
Vuori
E
E
Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCH), Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki, Finland.
Peltola
H
H
Kallio
M J
MJ
Leinonen
M
M
Hedman
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007239:Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents