Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
11:32

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2014

Ambulatory visit rates and antibiotic prescribing for children with pneumonia, 1994-2007

Matthew P Kronman1, Adam L Hersh, Rui Feng

  • 1Abramson Research Center, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street and Civic Center Blvd, Room 1202F, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. kronman@email.chop.edu

Pediatrics
|February 16, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) outpatient visit rates remained stable from 1994-2007. Broad-spectrum antibiotics were frequently prescribed for pediatric CAP, despite limited evidence of benefit over narrow-spectrum options.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Public health surveillance
  • Antibiotic stewardship

Background:

  • Pediatric hospitalizations for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) have decreased following widespread heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine use.
  • National incidence rates for outpatient pediatric CAP are not well-established.
  • Current pediatric CAP treatment often relies on narrow-spectrum antibiotics, though specific guidelines are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Estimate incidence rates of outpatient pediatric CAP.
  • Analyze trends in antibiotic prescribing for pediatric CAP.
  • Identify factors associated with broad-spectrum antibiotic use in pediatric CAP.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized National Ambulatory and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys (1994-2007).
  • Identified pediatric CAP cases (ages 1-18) using a validated algorithm.
  • Examined age-specific CAP rates, antibiotic prescribing trends, and factors influencing broad-spectrum antibiotic use.

Main Results:

  • Annual outpatient CAP visit rates ranged from 16.9 to 22.4 per 1000 children, with highest rates in ages 1-5.
  • Outpatient CAP visit rates showed no significant change between 1994 and 2007.
  • Macrolides and cephalosporins were commonly prescribed, with cephalosporin use increasing significantly from 2000-2007.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric ambulatory CAP incidence remained stable between 1994-2007, irrespective of pneumococcal vaccination.
  • Broad-spectrum antibiotics, particularly macrolides, were frequently prescribed for pediatric CAP.
  • Prescribing broad-spectrum antibiotics was associated with increasing patient age, non-emergency department visits, and diagnostic testing.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment01:30

Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment

Pneumonia poses the potential for numerous complications that warrant consideration. These complications include the following:
Pneumonia IV: Management01:28

Pneumonia IV: Management

The treatment of pneumonia varies based on its severity and the causative pathogen. Here is a structured approach to managing pneumonia, integrating pharmaceutical and supportive care strategies.
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include:
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...
Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention01:30

Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention

Nursing management of pneumonia involves promoting airway patency, facilitating rest and conserving energy, encouraging fluid intake, maintaining nutrition, and educating patients.
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed.
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...