Bacteraemia in hospitalized children

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Microbiology

Background:

• Bloodstream infections (bacteremia) are a significant concern in hospitalized children.
• Identifying common pathogens and associated risk factors is crucial for effective treatment and prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the etiological agents and clinical characteristics of bacteremia in hospitalized children during 1977.
• To determine the prevalence of specific microorganisms and their association with patient demographics and clinical findings.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 3,037 blood cultures from hospitalized children in 1977.
• Categorization of positive cultures into bacteremia (171 patients) and contaminants (67 patients).
• Identification of common bacterial pathogens and analysis of their distribution based on age and clinical presentation.

Main Results:

• The most frequent pathogens causing bacteremia were Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus spp., accounting for 80% of cases.
• Haemophilus influenzae and group B and D streptococci were more common in children under 3 years old.
• Group D streptococci were also observed more frequently in newborns and those with congenital anomalies. Bacteremia caused by H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae often correlated with a defined focus of infection.
• Fever and elevated absolute differential cell counts were present in 75% of patients with bacteremia.

Conclusions:

• Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae were the predominant pathogens in pediatric bacteremia in 1977.
• Age and congenital anomalies are associated with specific bacterial isolates in pediatric bloodstream infections.
• Clinical signs like fever and elevated white blood cell counts are common indicators of bacteremia in children.