Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
Methods for Detecting Cytotoxic Amyloids Following Infection of Pulmonary Endothelial Cells by Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Published on: July 12, 2018
Lethality by pneumonia and factors associated to death
Sidnei Ferreira1, Clemax C Sant'anna1, Maria de Fátima B P March1
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Insights
This study found that disease severity was the main risk factor for death in children with community-acquired acute pneumonia. Case-fatality rates significantly decreased over time, possibly due to improved socioeconomic status.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Community-acquired acute pneumonia (CAP) remains a significant cause of childhood mortality globally.
- Understanding case-fatality rates (CFR) and associated risk factors is crucial for effective pediatric healthcare strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the case-fatality rate (CFR) of pediatric community-acquired acute pneumonia (CAP).
- To identify risk factors associated with mortality in children hospitalized with CAP.
- To analyze trends in CFR and clinical profiles over time.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study was conducted from 1996 to 2011, including 860 children aged 1 month to 12 years.
- Demographic, clinical, and etiological data were collected, along with initial treatment information.
- Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify variables associated with death.
Main Results:
- The overall case-fatality rate (CFR) was 3% (26 deaths out of 860 patients).
- Pneumococcus was the most frequent pathogen (50.4%).
- Disease severity was the only factor significantly associated with death in multivariate analysis (OR = 3.2; 95%CI: 1.2-8.9).
Conclusions:
- A significant reduction in CFR was observed between 1996-2000 (5.8%) and 2001-2011 (lower percentage).
- Changes in the clinical profile of hospitalized pediatric patients were noted, potentially linked to improved socioeconomic status.
- Initial penicillin G treatment did not influence the case-fatality rate.
Objective:
To describe the case-fatality rate (CFR) and risk factors of death in children with community-acquired acute pneumonia (CAP) in a pediatric university hospital.
Method:
A longitudinal study was developed with prospective data collected from 1996 to 2011. Patients aged 1 month to 12 years were included in the study. Those who left the hospital against medical orders and those transferred to ICU or other units were excluded. Demographic and clinical-etiological characteristics and the initial treatment were studied. Variables associated to death were determined by bivariate and multivariate analysis using logistic regression.
Results:
A total of 871 patients were selected, of whom 11 were excluded; thus 860 children were included in the study. There were 26 deaths, with a CFR of 3%; in 58.7% of these, penicillin G was the initial treatment. Pneumococcus was the most common pathogen (50.4%). From 1996 to 2000, there were 24 deaths (93%), with a CFR of 5.8% (24/413). From 2001 to 2011, the age group of hospitalized patients was older (p = 0.03), and the number of deaths (p = 0.02) and the percentage of disease severity were lower (p = 0.06). Only disease severity remained associated to death in the multivariate analysis (OR = 3.2; 95%CI: 1.2-8.9; p = 0.02).
Conclusion:
When the 1996-2000 and 2001-2011 periods were compared, a significant reduction in CFR was observed in the latter, as well as a change in the clinical profile of the pediatric inpatients at the institute. These findings may be related to the improvement in the socio-economical status of the population. Penicillin use did not influence CFR.
More Related Videos
11:32Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
Published on: February 23, 2014
07:43A Non-invasive and Technically Non-intensive Method for Induction and Phenotyping of Experimental Bacterial Pneumonia in Mice
Published on: September 28, 2016
Related Concept Videos
01:29Pneumonia I: Introduction
01:30Pneumonia I: Introduction
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
01:29Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
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....
01:28Pneumonia IV: Management
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: