Pediatric Community-acquired Pneumonia Research Articles

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Staphylococcus aureus infections in pediatric patients admitted with community acquired pneumonia.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly transformed the infection spectrum of various pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infections among pediatric patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP). We retrospectively reviewed pediatric CAP admissions before (from 2018 to 2019) and during (from 2020 to 2022) the COVID-19 pandemic. The epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of S. aureus isolates were examined to assess the pandemic's effect. As a result, a total of 399 pediatric CAP patients with S. aureus infections were included. The positivity rate, gender, and age distribution of patients were similar across both periods. There was a marked reduction in respiratory co-infections with Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to 2019. Additionally, there were significant changes in the resistance profiles of S. aureus isolates to various antibiotics. Resistance to oxacillin and tetracycline increased, whereas resistance to penicillin, gentamicin, and quinolones decreased. Notably, resistance to erythromycin significantly decreased in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains. The number of S. aureus isolates, the proportion of viral co-infections, and the number of resistant strains typically peaked seasonally, primarily in the first or fourth quarters of 2018, 2019, and 2021. However, shifts in these patterns were noted in the first quarter of 2020 and the fourth quarter of 2022. These findings reveal that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the infection dynamics of S. aureus among pediatric CAP patients, as evidenced by changes in respiratory co-infections, AMR patterns, and seasonal trends.

Twenty-four Month Outcomes of Extended- Versus Standard-course Antibiotic Therapy in Children Hospitalized With Pneumonia in High-Risk Settings: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) can lead to long-term respiratory sequelae, including bronchiectasis. We determined if an extended (13-14 days) versus standard (5-6 days) antibiotic course improves long-term outcomes in children hospitalized with CAP from populations at high risk of chronic respiratory disease. We undertook a multicenter, double-blind, superiority, randomized controlled trial involving 7 Australian, New Zealand, and Malaysian hospitals. Children aged 3 months to ≤5 years hospitalized with radiographic-confirmed CAP who received 1-3 days of intravenous antibiotics, then 3 days of oral amoxicillin-clavulanate, were randomized to either extended-course (8-day oral amoxicillin-clavulanate) or standard-course (8-day oral placebo) arms. Children were reviewed at 12 and 24 months. The primary outcome was children with the composite endpoint of chronic respiratory symptoms/signs (chronic cough at 12 and 24 months; ≥1 subsequent hospitalized acute lower respiratory infection by 24 months; or persistent and/or new chest radiographic signs at 12-months) at 24-months postdischarge, analyzed by intention-to-treat, where children with incomplete follow-up were assumed to have chronic respiratory symptoms/signs ("worst-case" scenario). A total of 324 children were randomized [extended-course (n = 163), standard-course (n = 161)]. For our primary outcome, chronic respiratory symptoms/signs occurred in 97/163 (60%) and 94/161 (58%) children in the extended-courses and standard-courses, respectively [relative risk (RR) = 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85-1.22]. Among children where all sub-composite outcomes were known, chronic respiratory symptoms/signs between groups, RR = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.69-1.76 [extended-course = 27/93 (29%) and standard-course = 24/91 (26%)]. Additional sensitivity analyses also revealed no between-group differences. Among children from high-risk populations hospitalized with CAP, 13-14 days of antibiotics (versus 5-6 days), did not improve long-term respiratory outcomes.

Risk factors associated with wheezing in severe pediatric community-acquired pneumonia: a retrospective study.

Wheezing is a common clinical manifestation in children with pneumonia. However, the risk factors associated with the development of wheezing pneumonia and its clinical features are not fully characterized, especially in children with severe pneumonia. We retrospectively recruited 1434 pediatric patients diagnosed with severe pneumonia between April 2012 and September 2019 in Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital. The medical records regarding demographic information, clinical manifestations, radiographic/laboratory findings, and complications were collected. Based on the presence or absence of wheezing symptoms and signs, subjects were divided into wheezing cohort (N.=684) and non-wheezing cohort (N.=750), and their clinical data were compared. Multivariate cox regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors of wheezing. Demographic features including gender, weigh, onset season, birth weight, full-term birth or not, history of pneumonia were significantly associated with the occurrence of wheezing in severe CAP (P<0.05). Specifically, male gender, onset seasons in autumn/winter, and absence of a history of pneumonia were identified as independent risk factors of wheezing in multivariate analysis (P<0.05). As for clinical features, wheezing cohort differed from the non-wheezing one in terms of clinical manifestation (higher incidence of cough and breathless, but lower incidence of fever), laboratory finding (higher levels of red blood cells, hemoglobin, and albumin and lower levels of total or indirect bilirubin and creatine), pathogen detection (higher incidence of respiratory syncytial viral infection), and clinical complications (lesser risk of sepsis and hydrothorax) (P<0.05). Severe CAP with wheezing is a special clinical entity of severe pneumonia in children, which has specific risk factors and differ from non-wheezing pneumonia in terms of clinical features and etiologic pathogens.

Antibiotic route and outcomes for children hospitalized with pneumonia.

Emerging evidence suggests that initial oral and intravenous (IV) antibiotics have similar efficacy in pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), but further data are needed. We determined the association between hospital-level initial oral antibiotic rates and outcomes in pediatric CAP. This retrospective cohort study included children hospitalized with CAP at 43 hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information System (2016-2022). Hospitals were grouped by whether initial antibiotics were given orally in a high, moderate, or low proportion of patients. Regression models examined associations between high versus low oral-utilizing hospitals and length of stay (LOS, primary outcome), intensive care unit (ICU) transfers, escalated respiratory care, complicated CAP, cost, readmissions, and emergency department (ED) revisits. Initial oral antibiotics were used in 16% (interquartile range: 10%-20%) of 30,207 encounters, ranging from 1% to 68% across hospitals. Comparing high versus low oral-utilizing hospitals (oral rate: 32% [27%-47%] and 10% [9%-11%], respectively), there were no differences in LOS, intensive care unit, complicated CAP, cost, or ED revisits. Escalated respiratory care occurred in 1.3% and 0.5% of high and low oral-utilizing hospitals, respectively (relative ratio [RR]: 2.96 [1.12, 7.81]), and readmissions occurred in 1.5% and 0.8% (RR: 1.68 [1.31, 2.17]). Initial oral antibiotics varied across hospitals without a difference in LOS. While high oral-utilizing hospitals had higher escalated respiratory care and readmission rates, these were rare, the clinical significance of these small differences is uncertain, and there were no differences in other clinically relevant outcomes. This suggests some children may benefit from initial IV antibiotics, but most would probably do well with oral antibiotics.

Diagnostic accuracy of pocket-size lung ultrasound for etiological definition of pneumonia and surveillance of complications in children hospitalized: a prospective diagnostic cohort study

Background: Pneumonia, the leading infectious cause of death in children worldwide, often requires a chest radiograph (CXR) for diagnosis, involving radiation exposure. Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) offers a radiation-free alternative and, specifically the pocket-size variant, enhances convenience at the patient's bedside. While evidence supports ultrasound's accuracy in detecting community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children comparable to CXR, few studies have explored its ability to distinguish pneumonia etiology, especially utilizing pocket-size POCUS devices. Methods: In this prospective diagnostic cohort study conducted over a year in a tertiary pediatric referral center, we aim to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a pocket-size POCUS device compared to CXR for determining the etiology of CAP in pediatric patients (aged &gt;6 months and &lt;18 years). At least 76 participants diagnosed with CAP will undergo independent POCUS examinations at various intervals, complemented by CXRs when necessary, independently classified by a third investigator. The General Electrics Vscan AirTM®, featuring Bluetooth connectivity to smartphone/tablet, will be employed for POCUS. Data collection will include systematized POCUS and CXR descriptions, alongside sociodemographic, clinical, and therapeutic variables. Statistical analysis using SPSS® version 28 will evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the POCUS device. Conclusions: This trial's outcomes hold significant promise in unveiling unknown data about the diagnostic accuracy of pocket-size POCUS for pediatric CAP etiological diagnosis. Utilizing a device meeting technical recommendations, featuring a dual-headed probe and Bluetooth connectivity, this study has the potential to bring innovation to clinical practice, improving patient care and creating scientific value. Trial Registration Number: NCT06296693.

Comparison of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children admitted with community acquired pneumonia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective study at a tertiary hospital of southwest China.

The COVID-19 pandemic has notably altered the infection dynamics of various pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the pandemic's impact on the infection spectrum of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) among children with community acquired pneumonia (CAP). We enrolled pediatric CAP patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in southwest China to compare the prevalence and characteristics of M. pneumoniae infections before (2018-2019) and during (2020-2022) the COVID-19 pandemic. Detection of M. pneumoniae IgM antibodies in serum were conducted using either indirect immunofluorescence or passive agglutination methods. The study included 1505 M. pneumoniae-positive and 3160 M. pneumoniae-negative CAP patients. Notable findings were the higher age and frequency of pneumonia-associated symptoms in M. pneumoniae-positive patients, alongside a lower male proportion and fewer respiratory co-infections. The year 2019 saw a notable increase in M. pneumoniae infections compared to 2018, followed by a decline from 2020 to 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic period witnessed significant alterations in age distribution, male proportion, and co-infections with specific pathogens in both M. pneumoniae-positive and negative patients. The M. pneumoniae infections were predominantly seasonal, peaking in autumn and winter during 2018 and 2019. Although there was a sharp drop in February 2020, the infection still peaked in cold months of 2020 and 2021. However, the typical seasonal pattern was nearly absent in 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic has markedly changed the infection landscape of M. pneumoniae in pediatric CAP patients, with shifts observed in infection rates, demographic profiles, co-infections, and seasonal patterns.

Impact of antibiotic treatment duration on community-acquired pneumonia in children: a systematic review

The treatment of pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with antibiotics is important due to its substantial global health impact. To support clinical practice and antibiotic stewardship, this narrative review investigates the effects of the length of antibiotic therapy on the outcomes of childhood CAP. A thorough search of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar produced English articles published in the last ten years (2019–2024) and looked at the connection between the length of antibiotic therapy and the outcomes of community-associated pneumonia in children. There is increasing evidence to support the similarity of shorter and longer antibiotic regimens for treating juvenile community-acquired pneumonia. Research continuously shows that shorter periods of antibiotic therapy—usually five days—produce similar clinical results as lengthier regimens that last seven to 10 days. Furthermore, emphasis is placed on tailored treatment plans that take into account the child's age, the severity of the symptoms, and regional trends of antibiotic resistance. The included studies, albeit observational and retrospective, provide important insights into the safety, effectiveness, and consequences of various antibiotic regimens in the therapy of pediatric CAP. This review emphasizes the significance of evidence-based strategies to maximize antibiotic treatment for pediatric CAP, while also noting research limitations. More research is required to enhance treatment methods and results for kids with CAP. This includes carefully planned randomized controlled trials and integrated diagnostic tools.

Multiplex PCR and Antibiotic Use in Children with Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

Antibiotics are frequently prescribed to children with pneumonia, although viruses are responsible for most cases. We aimed to evaluate the impact of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) on antibiotic use. We conducted a prospective study of children under 14 years of age admitted for suspected viral pneumonia, from October 2019 to June 2022 (except March-November 2020). A mPCR respiratory panel (FilmArray® 2plus, bioMérieux, Marcy-l'Étoile, France) was performed within 72 h of admission. Patients with positive reverse transcription PCR for respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, or SARS-CoV-2 were excluded. We compared the patients with historical controls (2017-2018) who had suspected viral pneumonia but did not undergo an aetiological study. We included 64 patients and 50 controls, with a median age of 26 months. The respiratory panel detected viral pathogens in 55 patients (88%), including 17 (31%) with co-infections. Rhinovirus/enterovirus (n = 26) and human metapneumovirus (n = 22) were the most common pathogens, followed by adenovirus and parainfluenza (n = 10). There were no statistically significant differences in the total antibiotic consumption (83% of cases and 86% of controls) or antibiotics given for ≥72 h (58% vs. 66%). Antibiotics were prescribed in 41% of the cases and 72% of the controls at discharge (p = 0.001). Ampicillin was the most commonly prescribed antibiotic among the patients (44% vs. 18% for controls, p = 0.004), while azithromycin was the most commonly prescribed among the controls (19% vs. 48% for patients and controls, respectively; p = 0.001). Our findings underscore the need for additional interventions alongside molecular diagnosis to reduce antibiotic usage in paediatric community-acquired pneumonia.

Risk Factor of Paediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Wajo Regency, Indonesia

Background: Pneumonia is the second highest cause of under-five mortality in Indonesia. This study aimed to analyse the risk factors for pneumonia among under-fives in Wajo Regency. Methodology: This type of research was a quantitative study using a case-control study design. The population was all children in the working areas of Salewangeng Health Centre, Penrang Health Centre, and Belawa Health Centre. The sample size was 224 children consisting of 112 cases and 112 controls. The odds ratio test and logistic regression were used to evaluate the data. Results: Risk factors associated with pneumonia were under-five nutritional status (OR=3.563; 95%CI=1.57-8.65; p=0.0008), indoor smoke exposure (OR=5.852; 95%CI=2.88-12.36; p=0.000), maternal age (OR=2.575; 95%CI=1.45-4.58; p=0.0005), and number of children in the family (OR=3.133; 95%CI=1.65-6.05; p=0.0002). Conclusions: The most influential risk factor for under-five pneumonia was indoor smoke exposure. The probability of pneumonia among under-fives who were exposed to indoor smoke, had a maternal age 30 years, and had poor nutritional status was 89.8%. It is recommended for the community to reduce smoking activities in the house and reduce the use of mosquito coils to prevent smoke exposure to children at home.

Adenovirus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae co-infection as a risk factor for severe community-acquired pneumonia in children.

To investigate the pathogenic characteristics and risk factors of pediatric severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of hospitalized children with severe CAP from April 2014 to June 2019 in China. Data of age, sex and pathogenic results were collected: bacterial and fungal cultures, respiratory viruses from sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), serum Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP)-IgM and Chlamydia Pneumoniae-IgM, and BALF or blood (1-3)-β-D-glucan/galactomannan test. A total of 679 children with severe CAP were included in the analysis. The number of cases infected with MP was higher in males than in females. There were significant differences between the ≤1-year and >1-year groups in terms of pathogen. The top three bacteria cultured were Haemophilus influenzae (57/679, 8.4%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (50/679, 7.4%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (25/679, 3.7%). The top three viruses detected were adenovirus (AdV, 124/679, 18.3%), respiratory syncytial virus (24/679, 3.5%), and parainfluenza virus (21/679, 3.1%). AdV and MP were the leading pathogens, detected in 18.3% and 32.6% cases, respectively. MP infection increased the risk of AdV infection (OR 3.77, p < 0.0001). MP infection was a risk factor for severe AdV-infected pneumonia, while sex, age, bacteria, Chlamydia Pneumoniae, fungal, and AdV infections were risk factors for severe MP-infected pneumonia. AdV and MP were dominant pathogens in children with severe CAP. AdV and MP infection predisposed each other to develop severe illness. AdV-MP co-infection may lead to severe pneumonia.

The Clinical Significance and the Potential Regulatory Mechanism of the LncRNA OIP5-AS1 in Paediatric Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia Blood Through the MiR-150-5p/PDCD4 Axis

ABSTRACT Background This study aimed to elucidate the clinical significance and regulatory mechanism of the long non-coding RNA OIP5-AS1 in severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) among paediatric patients. Methods qRT-PCR was used to assess the mRNA levels of OIP5-AS1. ROC curve analysis was used to assess the diagnostic significance of OIP5-AS1. Short-term prognostic significance was evaluated through Kaplan-Meier survival. An in vitro cell model was developed using LPS-induced MRC-5 cells. CCK-8, flow cytometry, and ELISA were conducted to measure cell viability, apoptosis, and inflammatory factor levels. The association between miR-150-5p and PDCD4 was confirmed through DLR assays. Results Elevated OIP5-AS1 were observed in paediatric patients with SCAP, which enabled effective differentiation from healthy individuals. High expression of OIP5-AS1 correlated with reduced survival rates. OIP5-AS1 knockdown attenuated cell viability suppression and the promotion of apoptosis and inflammatory factors induced by LPS. However, this attenuation was reversed by reduced levels of miR-150-5p. miR-150-5p was identified as a target of PDCD4 and OIP5-AS1. Conclusion Increased OIP5-AS1 levels show potential as a valuable diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for paediatric patients with SCAP. This study illustrates its role in regulating cell viability, apoptosis, and the inflammatory response via the miR-150-5p/PDCD4 axis, acting as a ceRNA.

Investigating the Efficacy of Zinc and Vitamin A in Treating Pediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) poses a significant global health challenge, even more so for children less than five years old. Nutritional interventions, such as zinc and vitamin A supplementation, are gaining attention for their therapeutic potential in enhancing recovery and minimizing pneumonia severity in pediatric patients. To assess the therapeutic benefits of zinc and vitamin A supplementation in pediatric CAP patients under five years old and to advocate for their use in clinical settings. Three groups were formed in a randomized controlled trial conducted from October 2022 to September 2023, to address zinc and vitamin A supplementation inpediatric patients under five years old in the intensive care unitwith severe pneumonia. Group 1 received zinc supplementation, group 2 received vitamin A supplementation, and group 3 served as the control group, receiving antibiotic treatment exclusively for pneumonia. This treatment comprised either a β-lactam (amoxicillin-clavulanate, commonly referred to as Augmentin) administered orally at 500 mg/125 mg three times a day, Augmentin 875 mg/125 mg orally twice daily, or Augmentin 2000 mg/125 mg orally once daily. Additionally, the control group received a macrolide (azithromycin or clarithromycin) or doxycycline at a dosage of 100 mg orally twice daily.Linear regression analysis identified statistically significant decreases in both length of hospital stay and active pneumonic effusion. The study encompassed 90 pediatric pneumonia patients with an age range of six to 55 months. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that both vitamin A and zinc led to a significant decrease in hospitalization length by 2.39 days (p < 0.01, 95% CI: 4.19-0.47) and 3.17 days (p < 0.01, 95% CI: 5.19-1.31), respectively. In comparison to the control group, both the vitamin A and zinc supplementation groups were linked to a shorter pneumonic effusion duration (p < 0.001). Both interventions significantly reduced the duration of hospitalization (2.39 days for vitamin A and 3.17 days for zinc) and pneumonic effusion compared to the control group. These findings highlight the potential of zinc and vitamin A as valuable additions to standard CAP treatment regimens, potentially leading to improved clinical outcomes and reduced healthcare burdens.

Plasma levels of neurogenic inflammation related neuropeptides in pediatric patients with community-acquired pneumonia and their potential diagnostic value in distinguishing viral and bacterial pneumonia.

Our findings suggest that these neuropeptides may be implicated in pediatric CAP. CGRP, SP and NPY together may be a promising candidate in distinguishing viral and bacterial/mixed pneumonia, however, for this, further studies are needed. • Neurogenic inflammation contributes to the development and progression of respiratory inflammatory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma. • Plasma levels of neurogenic inflammation related neuropeptides calcitonin gene-related peptide, substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide and neuropeptide Y are changed in pediatric community-acquired pneumonia. Calcitonin gene-related peptide, substance P and neuropeptide Y are promising candidates in distinguishing viral and bacterial/mixed pneumonia.

Correlation between fat-soluble vitamin levels and inflammatory factors in paediatric community-acquired pneumonia: A prospective study.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common respiratory disease in children. This prospective cohort study of 110 children with CAP and 100 healthy children investigated the relationship between the levels of vitamin A, D and E and inflammatory markers, such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF-a), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-10 (IL-10), neutrophils (NE) and C-reactive protein (CRP), in CAP. The haemoglobin, leukocyte concentration, NE, monocytes and CRP concentration in the CAP group showed significant differences (P < 0.05). The levels of vitamin A, D and E in the CAP group were lower than those in the control group, while the levels of TNF-a and IL-1 were higher than in the control group; the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The IL-10 levels showed no significant differences (P > 0.05). Pearson analysis revealed that the vitamin A, D and E levels were all correlated with the TNF-a, IL-10 and CRP levels (P < 0.05). The vitamin A, D and E levels of the CAP children were lower than those of the healthy children. Thus, the content of fat-soluble vitamins is correlated with the secretion of TNF-a and IL-10. The research provides a new direction for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of CAP.

Improving Short Course Treatment of Pediatric Infections: A Randomized Quality Improvement Trial.

Short courses of antibiotic treatment are effective for pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). We compared the effectiveness of education with performance feedback, clinical decision support (CDS), and the combination in encouraging appropriately short treatment courses by primary care clinicians. We designed a site-randomized, quality improvement trial within a large pediatric primary care network. Each practice was randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: education and feedback; CDS; both interventions ("combined group"); and control. We performed difference-in-differences analysis to compare the proportion of cases with short course treatment before and after intervention among the 4 groups. For all cases of CAP and SSTI, the proportion in the control group treated with the recommended duration did not change from the baseline period (26.1% [679 of 2603]) to the intervention period (25.8% [196 of 761]; P = .9). For the education and feedback group, the proportion rose from 22.3% (428 of 1925) to 45.0% (239 of 532; P < .001); for the CDS group, from 26.6% (485 of 1824) to 52.3% (228 of 436; P < .001); and for the combined group, from 26.2% (491 of 1875) to 67.8% (314 of 463; P < .001). A difference-in-differences analysis showed that all 3 intervention groups improved performance compared with the control group (P < .001); the combined group had greater improvement than the education and feedback group or the CDS group (P < .001). In this quality improvement project to encourage shorter duration treatment of CAP and SSTI, both education with performance feedback and CDS were effective in modifying clinician behavior; however, the combination of the two was substantially more effective than either strategy alone.

Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the most common cause of childhood mortality globally. In the United States, CAP is a leading cause of pediatric hospitalization and antibiotic use and is associated with substantial morbidity. There has been a dramatic shift in microbiological etiologies for CAP in children over time as pneumococcal pneumonia has become less common and viral etiologies have become predominant. There is no commonly agreed on approach to the diagnosis of CAP in children. When indicated, antimicrobial treatment should consist of narrow-spectrum antibiotics. In this article, we will describe the current understanding of the microbiological etiologies, clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, risk factors, treatment, and future directions in the diagnosis and management of pediatric CAP.

Caregiver knowledge and attitudes relating to paediatric pneumonia and antimicrobial stewardship: a qualitative study

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to understand caregiver perspectives and experiences relating to the treatment of paediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).Design, setting and patientsThis was a phenomenological qualitative study involving...

1646. Optimizing Antibiotic Durations of Therapy in Pediatric Community-acquired Pneumonia

Abstract Background Several recent high-quality studies have shown similar efficacy for a shorter, 5-day duration of antibiotics instead of the prior standard, 10 days, in pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Despite high-quality literature support, implementing short courses into routine clinical practice remains challenging. This study aimed to assess the impact on the duration of antibiotics for CAP of a pilot clinical pharmacist discharge antibiotic prescription review and departmental education supporting short-course antibiotics for CAP. Methods This was a single-center retrospective cohort study for patients admitted with an order for any antimicrobial for CAP. Patients were excluded if they were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit or transferred during their course of care. The pre-intervention period was from June 2021 to June 2022, and the postintervention group was from August to October 2022. A one-time education session was hosted with the Pediatric Hospital Medicine department summarizing the literature supporting short courses. Statistical analysis included ANOVA, Fisher’s Exact, and Mann-Whitney U test as appropriate. Results One hundred twenty-four patients were included, 85 in the pre-intervention and 39 in the post-intervention groups. The median age was two years old in both groups (p=0.2). No differences were present in the median length of stay, penicillin-allergy status, or vaccination status. Patients had a positive viral test 56% and 59%, respectively (p=0.8). Discharge attendings did differ and impact the total length of therapy (p&amp;lt; 0.001). Overall median antibiotic duration for CAP decreased from 8 to 5 days (p&amp;lt; 0.01). Inpatient median durations remained the same at 2 days (p=0.5), while outpatient durations fell from 6 to 4 days (p&amp;lt; 0.01). Patients that received over seven days for CAP decreased from 62% to 10% (p&amp;lt; 0.01). Treatment failure at 30 days occurred in 2 and 8% (p=0.16), respectively. Conclusion A pilot discharge prescription review by clinical pharmacists and education supporting short courses for CAP effectively reduced the duration of antibiotic therapy. Consideration should be given to discharge antibiotic prescription reviews when adopting short courses for common pediatric infections. Disclosures Shubho Sarkar, MD, Abbott Laboratories: Stocks/Bonds|Abbvie INC: Stocks/Bonds|Bristol-Myers Squibb: Stocks/Bonds|CVS Health Corp: Stocks/Bonds|Johnson &amp; Johnson: Stocks/Bonds

1650. Caregiver Perspectives on Educational Materials Used for Paediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia and Antibiotic Stewardship in the Emergency Department: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to determine the best modality for educating caregivers on paediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and antibiotic stewardship within the emergency department (ED) setting. This was to inform the design of educational materials used in a prospective study (PIONEER study, NCT 05114161) testing a novel care pathway for treating non-severe paediatric CAP that aims to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. Methods This was a phenomenologically-informed qualitative study involving interviews with caregivers of young children in Hamilton, Ontario. Caregivers were presented with four educational materials on appropriate antibiotic prescribing for paediatric pneumonia management. The four materials included: a video of a physician presenting the information, a caregiver discussing her own experiences with antibiotic use for her children, an animated video with audio alongside written information and illustrations, and a brochure. Following this, participants were asked open-ended questions about how they felt about the effectiveness of the materials shown. Results Eleven caregivers were interviewed. Most caregivers preferred the combination of the animated video and brochure to the use of either the didactic physician or caregiver video. Participants reported that the stress of the ED environment may hinder their ability to easily process information in the moment. As such, some participants preferred the simpler visuals of the animated video as well as the brochure which they could refer to following their child’s discharge. One caregiver expressed a desire for increasing the diversity of racial identities represented in the educational materials. Although our study focused on paediatric CAP, these findings may have implications in the larger context of caregiver education in the ED. Conclusion The findings from this study emphasize the importance of providing clear and concise information to caregivers in the ED environment. Educational aids with simple visuals and concise information which can be referenced following the ED visit are preferred. Additionally, increasing diversity in educational materials can help promote a more inclusive care experience. Disclosures Jeffrey Pernica, MD, MSc, FRCPC, DTMH, MedImmune: Grant/Research Support|Merck: Grant/Research Support

Quality of antibiotic prescribing for pediatric community-acquired Pneumonia in outpatient care

BackgroundAntibiotics remain the primary treatment for community acquired pneumonia (CAP), however rising rates of antimicrobial resistance may jeopardize their future efficacy. With higher rates of disease reported in the youngest populations, effective treatment courses for pediatric pneumonia are of paramount importance. This study is the first to examine the quality of pediatric antibiotic use by agent, dose and duration.MethodsA retrospective cohort study included all outpatient/primary care physician visits for pediatric CAP (aged < 19 years) between January 1 2014 to December 31 2018. Relevant practice guidelines were identified, and treatment recommendations extracted. Amoxicillin was the primary first-line agent for pediatric CAP. Categories of prescribing included: guideline adherent, effective but unnecessary (excess dose and/or duration), under treatment (insufficient dose and/or duration), and not recommended. Proportions of attributable-antibiotic use were examined by prescribing category, and then stratified by age and sex.Result(s)A total of 42,452 episodes of pediatric CAP were identified. Of those, 31,347 (76%) resulted in an antibiotic prescription. Amoxicillin accounted for 51% of all prescriptions. Overall, 27% of prescribing was fully guideline adherent, 19% effective but unnecessary, 10% under treatment, and 44% not recommended by agent. Excessive duration was the hallmark of effective but unnecessary prescribing (97%) Macrolides accounted for the majority on non-first line agent use, with only 32% of not recommended prescribing preceded by a previous course of antibiotics.Conclusion(s)This study is the first in Canada to examine prescribing quality for pediatric CAP by agent, dose and duration. Utilizing first-line agents, and shorter-course treatments are targets for stewardship.