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[Invasive pneumococcal pneumonia in children 0-24 months old: does bacterial resistance affect outcome]

M C Pírez García1, G Giachetto Larraz, C Romero Rostagno

  • 1Clínica Pediátrica, Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell, Montevideo, Uruguay. mcpirez@yahoo.com

Anales De Pediatria (Barcelona, Spain : 2003)
|September 9, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae did not impact pneumonia outcomes in young Uruguayan children. This study found no significant differences in complications or hospital stay for children with susceptible versus resistant strains.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Community-acquired bacterial pneumonia is a major cause of illness and death in Uruguay.
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae is the primary pathogen, with higher severity in children under two.
  • The impact of pneumococcal penicillin resistance on pneumonia outcomes remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare outcomes in children aged 0-24 months with invasive pneumococcal pneumonia.
  • To assess the effect of penicillin-susceptible versus penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae on disease severity and hospital stay.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective study included 168 children (0-24 months) hospitalized with invasive pneumococcal pneumonia between 1998 and 2005.
  • Penicillin susceptibility was determined by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC).
  • Outcomes assessed included empyema, sepsis, septic shock, mechanical ventilation, death, and length of hospital stay.

Main Results:

  • Of 168 children, 90 had penicillin-susceptible S. pneumoniae and 78 had reduced susceptibility.
  • Groups were comparable in age, comorbidities, nutritional status, and initial antibiotic treatment.
  • No significant differences were observed in clinical outcomes or hospital stay duration between the groups.

Conclusions:

  • Penicillin resistance in S. pneumoniae did not adversely affect the clinical outcomes of invasive pneumonia in this cohort of young children.
  • These findings suggest that current treatment approaches may be effective despite rising resistance levels.
Abstract

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