In the COVID-19 Pandemic Era: Portray of the Common Causative Pathogens of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children

Abdel Aziz, Heba Sherif; Abdel Halim, Mona Mohiedden; Badr Eldeen, Reem Mahmoud; El Sherbini, Seham Awad; Ibrahim, Adel K.; Abdel Hafeez, Muhammed Ahmed; Iraqy, Radwa

doi:10.21608/ejmm.2023.305801

In the COVID-19 Pandemic Era: Portray of the Common Causative Pathogens of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children

Document Type : New and original researches in the field of Microbiology.

Authors

¹ Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

² Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

³ Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

⁴ Department of Pediatric, Egyptian Ministry of Health, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/ejmm.2023.305801

Abstract

Background: as COVID-19 spreads in a pandemic manner declare the spreading pattern of other viruses inducing lower respiratory tract infection in children is of high diagnostic value due to interfering symptoms where most common being Respiratory syncytial virus, Rhinovirus, Adenovirus, Influenza, and Parainfluenza viruses. Due to the use of the Pneumococcal conjugate and the Hemophilus influenza type b vaccines, Staphylococcus aureus and H. influenza non-type b are emerging as the most common bacterial organisms causing acute community-acquired pneumonia. In low- and middle-income countries, other bacterial organisms are also reported as Klebsiella pneumoniae, E-coli, and Bordetella pertussis. The most frequent symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, dyspnea, anosmia, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Some children may require intensive care unit admission and mechanical ventilation. Objectives: to detect the most prevalent viral and bacterial agents causing acute community-acquired pneumonia among children in the era of COVID-19, and to assess their hospital stay length and their clinical outcomes. Methodology: This prospective observational study included 100 children presented with community-acquired pneumonia to Cairo University Specialized Pediatric Hospital and 6th October Health Insurance Hospital from October 2020 to September 2021. Respiratory samples were subjected to viral detection by PCR and microbiological isolation. Results: The most prevalent pathogens causing community-acquired pneumonia were viruses (44%) followed by bacteria (40%). The most prevalent virus was Influenza B virus (18%). The most prevalent bacteria was Klebsiella pneumoniae (14%). Conclusions: Viral agents are the most prevalent pathogen causing acute community-acquired pneumonia in children under 5 years during COVID-19.

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