Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of pathogens responsible for the hospitalization of children with segmental/lobar pattern pneumonia

Abstract Backgrounds The occurrence of segmental/lobar pattern pneumonia (S/L-PP) in children increases with years. The pathogens of the disease may change for the abuse of antibiotics and the application of vaccines. Therefore, pathogens of S/L-PP in hospitalized children and their association with clinical characteristics may have changed. Objective: To analyze the pathogens of S/L-PP in hospitalized children and their association with clinical characteristics. Methods: The current study analyzed the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pathogens in children with S/L-PP at a single hospital between 1st Jan 2014 and 31st Dec 2018 retrospectively. The pathogens and their associations with clinical characteristics were statistically analyzed. Results: A total of 593 children with S/L-PP received treatment at a single hospital during the study period by inclusion criteria. 451 patients were single positive for one pathogen and 83 patients had multiple infections. Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M.pneumoniae) (72.34%) was the most commonly detected pathogen, followed by streptococcus pneumoniae (S.pneumoniae) (8.77%). The infection of M.pneumoniae in children with S/L-PP increased with years (p<0.05). The positive rate of M.pneumoniae increased with ages of patients (p<0.05). M.pneumoniae was statistically associated to 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 years and the ages of children. M.pneumoniae was associated with extrapulmonary manifestations while S.pneumoniae was associated with abnormal WBCs and CRPs.