A Literature Review and Survey of Childhood Pneumonia Etiology Studies: 2000–2010

Abstract

The Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health (PERCH) project is the largest multicountry etiology study of childhood pneumonia since the Board on Science and Technology in International Development studies of the 1980s. However, it is not the only recent or ongoing pneumonia etiology study, and even with seven sites, it cannot capture all epidemiologic settings in the developing world. Funding providers, researchers and policymakers rely on the best available evidence to strategically plan programs, new research directions and interventions. We aimed to describe the current landscape of recent pneumonia etiology studies in children under 5 years of age in the developed and developing world, as ascertained by a literature review of relevant studies with data since the year 2000 and a survey of researchers in the field of childhood pneumonia. We collected information on the study population, study design, case definitions, laboratory samples and methods and identified pathogens. A literature review identified 88 studies with child pneumonia etiology results. As of June 2010, our survey of researchers identified an additional 65 ongoing and recently completed child pneumonia etiology studies. This demonstrates the broad existing context into which the PERCH study must be placed. However, the landscape analysis also reveals a multiplicity of case definitions, levels of clinician involvement, facility types, specimen collection, and laboratory techniques. It reinforces the need for the standardization of methods and analyses for present and future pneumonia etiology studies in order to optimize their cumulative potential to accurately describe the microbial causes of childhood pneumonia.

Pneumonia in low and middle income countries: progress and challenges

“…Nevertheless data from vaccine-probe studies indicate that the predominant aetiologic agent is Streptococcus pneumoniae , which is estimated to cause 18% of severe cases and 33% of deaths 1 9. Other important vaccine preventable pathogens include Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), estimated to account for 4% of severe episodes and 16% of deaths and influenza virus which is associated with approximately 7% of severe episodes and 11% of deaths 1.…”

Bacteriological and clinical profile of community acquired pneumonia in hospitalised children with associated co-morbidity in a tertiary care centre of Western Rajasthan, India

“…Recent systematic reviews of childhood pneumonia etiology suggest that in developing countries, a few bacteria (S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae) and viruses (respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus) are associated with majority of childhood CAP. 3,5,[10][11][12] A systematic review from India suggested that about 15-24% of bacterial pneumonia in South Asian countries can be attributed to S. pneumonia. 13 Accurate, reliable and rapid determination of etiology in childhood CAP is important because it would influence individual treatment decisions, antibiotic policy in the community, and also rational immunization policy at a national level.…”

Caracteristics of pneumonia hospitalizations at Pediatric clinic Tuzla

“…Consequently, studies describe different frequency and types of pathogens associated with pneumonia. Recent studies based on modern microbiological diagnostics stated that in more than 25% of children with pneumonia causative agent does not identify; in 25% proved by the viral etiology in 25% of bacterial and 25% of patients have a mixed infection (17). Major viral causes of pneumonia in infants and children include respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, adenoviruses, parainfluenza and human metapneumovirus.…”