Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of pathogens positive in hospitalized children with segmental/lobar pattern pneumonia

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of segmental/lobar pattern pneumonia (S/L-PP) in children has recently increased. The pathogens of the disease may change for the misuse of antibiotics and the application of vaccines. Therefore, pathogens positive in hospitalized children with S/L-PP and their association with clinical characteristics may have changed. The aim of this study was to analyze the pathogens positive in hospitalized children with S/L-PP and their association with clinical characteristics. METHOD: The current study analyzed the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pathogens positive in children with S/L-PP under 14 years old at a single hospital between 1st Jan 2014 and 31st Dec 2018 retrospectively. The pathogens were detected by microbial cultivation, indirect immunofluorescence of the kit (PNEUMOSLIDE IgM), Elisa, and/or real-time PCR in the samples of the patients. RESULTS: A total of 593 children with S/L-PP received treatment at a single hospital during the study period by inclusion criteria. Four hundred fifty-one patients were single positive for one pathogen and 83 patients were positive for at least 2 pathogens. Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M.pneumoniae) (72.34%) was the most commonly detected pathogen, followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (S.pneumoniae) (8.77%). The prevalence of M.pneumoniae in children with S/L-PP increased with time (p < 0.05). The positive rate of M.pneumoniae increased with ages of patients (p < 0.05). M.pneumoniae was statistically associated with the extrapulmonary manifestations while S.pneumoniae was statistically associated with abnormal white blood cells (WBCs) and C reactive proteins (CRPs) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: M.pneumoniae was the most positive pathogen in children with S/L-PP. The positive rate of M.pneumoniae in children with S/L-PP increased with time and the ages of children. M.pneumoniae was associated with extrapulmonary manifestations while S.pneumoniae was associated with abnormal WBCs and CRPs.