Hib and S. pneumoniae as Causes of Pneumonia in Children in Beijing, China
Author Information
Author(s): Orin S. Levine, Gang Liu, Robert L. Garman, Scott F. Dowell, Sangie Yu, Yong-Hong Yang
Primary Institution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing Children's Hospital, Rollins School of Public Health
Hypothesis
Can Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and Streptococcus pneumoniae be identified more often from the nasopharynx of patients with pneumonia than from control patients?
Conclusion
Hib and S. pneumoniae are found more frequently in children with pneumonia compared to those without, indicating their potential role as causes of pneumonia in Chinese children.
Supporting Evidence
- Pneumonia patients were more likely to be colonized with Hib and S. pneumoniae than control patients.
- The prevalence of Hib colonization was significantly greater among pneumonia patients.
- Colonization with S. pneumoniae was significantly associated with pneumonia after adjusting for confounders.
Takeaway
This study shows that two germs, Hib and S. pneumoniae, are more common in kids with pneumonia than in kids without it, suggesting they might cause pneumonia.
Methodology
The study involved nasopharyngeal swab specimens from 96 pneumonia patients and 214 age-matched controls, comparing the rates of Hib and S. pneumoniae colonization.
Potential Biases
Potential biases include the reliance on nasopharyngeal cultures and the influence of prior antibiotic use on colonization rates.
Limitations
The study cannot establish causation due to its case-control design, and the low rate of positive blood cultures may affect the findings.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 2 to 60 months with pneumonia and age-matched controls with diarrhea or dermatitis.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Confidence Interval
95% C.I. for ORs provided in the results
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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