The aetiology of community associated pneumonia in children in Nanjing, China and aetiological patterns associated with age and season.

Keping Chen,Runqing Jia,Yan Shi,Chuankun Yang,Li Li

doi:10.1186/s12889-015-1422-1

Keping Chen, Runqing Jia + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1422-1

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Abstract

BackgroundViral and atypical bacterial pathogens play an important role in respiratory tract infection. Using the Pneumoslide IgM test, the presented study explored the aetiology of community-acquired pneumonia and investigated further whether there was an association between age or season and aetiological organisms.MethodsSerum samples, taken between August 2011 and August 2013, from patients with CAP were tested with the Pneumoslide IgM kit. The Pneumoslide IgM technology can simultaneously diagnose 9 viral and atypical bacterial pathogens: Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (LP1), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP), Coxiella burnetii (COX), Chlamydophila pneumonia (CP), Adenovirus (ADV), Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Influenza A (INFA), Influenza B (INFB), Parainfluenza 1, 2 and 3 (PIVs). The data was analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows (SPSS, version 11.0).ResultsOf a total of 1204 serum samples tested, 624 samples were positive. M. pneumoniae was the dominant pathogen, with INFB, PIVs, and RSV ranking second to fourth, respectively. The positive percentages of MP, INFB, PIVs and RSV were found to be associated with age, especially MP, INFB and PIVs. The positive percentages of MP, PIVs and RSV were also found to be associated with season. The positive percentage of MP in autumn was the highest. The positive percentages of LP1 in August and September, ADV in June and INFB in March were relatively higher than that in other months.ConclusionsThe results show there were 4 main viral and atypical bacterial pathogens causing CAP in our study. Some pathogens were found to be associated with age and season. M. pneumoniae was the most predominant pathogen among these 9 pathogens. It is necessary to take preventative measures in order to prevent the spread of these pathogens in susceptible age groups during peak season.

Highlights

Viral and atypical bacterial pathogens play an important role in respiratory tract infection
Serums samples of patients were separated from venous blood drawn from every child and tested with Pneumoslide IgM to explore the aetiology of Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP)
The pathogens ranking second to fourth place were Influenza B (INFB), PIVs, and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), with positive percentages of 7.06%, 4.82%, and 3.32%, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Viral and atypical bacterial pathogens play an important role in respiratory tract infection. Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) refers to pneumonia acquired outside of a health care facility. In the United States, CAP is the number-one cause of death from infection and the sixth leading cause of death overall. Each year, it is responsible for about 4.2 million outpatient visits and more than 60,000 deaths [1,2]. Chen et al BMC Public Health (2015) 15:113 death in children 1 to 4 years of age [6]. Viral pathogens are the most common cause of CAP in children younger than 2 years of age, accounting for 80% of cases [8]

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