Chest Radiographic Findings and Outcomes of Pneumonia Among Children in Botswana

Prevalence and predictors of radiographic pneumonia in children with wheeze: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Diagnostic uncertainty exists surrounding the identification of radiographic pneumonia in children with wheeze. It is important to determine the prevalence and clinical predictors of pneumonia in this population to limit chest radiography (CXR) and promote judicious antibiotic use.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives were to (1) estimate the prevalence of radiographic pneumonia in children with wheeze and (2) systematically review the diagnostic accuracy of clinical findings for the identification of radiographic pneumonia.

METHODS

Data sources were MEDLINE, PubMed Central, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Web of Science (January 1995 to September 2023). For study selection, two reviewers identified high-quality studies reporting on clinical characteristics associated with radiographic pneumonia in wheezing children (age 0-21 years). Using Covidence software, data regarding study characteristics, methodologic quality, and results were extracted. Data were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 8333 unique titles and abstracts were reviewed. Twelve studies, representing 7398 patients, were included. Fifteen percent of children with wheeze undergoing CXR had pneumonia. Findings associated with radiographic pneumonia included temperature ≥ 38.4°C (positive likelihood ratio [LR+] 2.1, 95% CI 1.2-3.6, specificity 85%), oxygen saturation < 92% (LR+ 3.6, 95% CI 1.4-8.9, specificity 89%), and grunting (LR+ 2.7, 95% CI 1.6-4.4, pooled specificity 91%). Factors associated with the absence of radiographic pneumonia included lack of fever (negative likelihood ratio [LR-] 0.67, 95% CI 0.52-0.85) and oxygen saturation ≥ 95% (LR- 0.64, 95% CI 0.42-0.98). Tachypnea and auscultatory findings were not associated with radiographic pneumonia.

DISCUSSION

Heterogeneity across studies limits generalizability. Additionally, all included studies overestimate the rate of radiographic pneumonia given the fact that all subjects had a CXR performed due to clinical suspicion of pneumonia.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiographic pneumonia occurs in 15% of wheezing children undergoing CXR for pneumonia. Auscultatory findings and tachypnea do not differentiate children with and without pneumonia, and the rate of radiographic pneumonia is very low in the absence of fever and hypoxemia.

Treatment outcomes and its associated factors among pneumonia patients admitted to public hospitals in Harar, eastern Ethiopia: a retrospective follow-up study

OBJECTIVE

Although there is a high risk of drug resistance, empiric treatment is a common approach for pneumonia management. In this respect, it is relevant to know treatment outcomes of patients with pneumonia. This study aimed to assess treatment outcomes and its associated factors among pneumonia patients treated at two public hospitals in Harar, eastern Ethiopia.

DESIGN

Retrospective follow-up study.

SETTING

Jugal General Hospital and Hiwot Fana Specialised University Hospital in Harar, eastern Ethiopia.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients admitted and treated for pneumonia in the two public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia between April 2020 and April 2021.

PRIMARY OUTCOME

The primary outcome was unfavourable treatment outcome (died or transferred to intensive care unit) for pneumonia patients.

RESULTS

A total of 693 patients with pneumonia were included in the study. 88 (12.7%) of these patients had an unfavourable treatment outcome, which included 14 (2%) transfers to the intensive care unit and 74 (10.7%) deaths. Patients with comorbidity (adjusted OR, AOR=2.96; 95% CI: 1.47 to 5.97) and with clinical features including abnormal body temperature (AOR=4.03; 95% CI: 2.14 to 7.58), tachycardia (AOR=2.57; 95% CI: 1.45 to 4.55), bradypnoea or tachypnoea (AOR=3.92; 95% CI:1.94 to 7.92), oxygen saturation below 90% (AOR=2.52; 95% CI:1.37 to 4.64) and leucocytosis (AOR=2.78, 95%, CI:1.38 to 5.58) had a significantly increased unfavourable treatment outcome.

CONCLUSION

We found that nearly one out of eight patients with pneumonia had unfavourable treatment outcomes. It was considerably high among patients with comorbidities and apparent abnormal clinical conditions. Therefore, taking into account regionally adaptable intervention and paying close attention to pneumonia patients admitted with comorbidity and other superimposed abnormal conditions might help improve the treatment outcomes of these populations.

Severity of illness and mortality among children admitted to a tertiary referral hospital in Botswana: A secondary data analysis of a prospective cohort study

Objectives

Data on triage practices of children admitted to Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone, Botswana is limited. The inpatient triage, assessment, and treatment score was developed for low resource settings to predict mortality in children. We assess its performance among children admitted to Princess Marina Hospital and their demographic, clinical, and risk factors for death.

Methods

This was a secondary data analysis of a prospective cohort study comprising 299 children ages 1 month to 13 years admitted June to September 2018. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression were used. Sensitivity and specificity data were generated for the inpatient triage, assessment, and treatment score.

Results

Thirteen children died (13/284, 4.6%). Comorbidity (adjusted odds ratio 4.0, p = 0.020) and high inpatient triage, assessment, and treatment score (adjusted odds ratio 5.0, p = 0.017) increased odds of death. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.81. Using inpatient triage, assessment, and treatment cutoff of 4, the sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio were 31%, 94%, and 5.0, respectively.

Conclusion

Implementing the inpatient triage, assessment, and treatment score in low resource settings may improve identification, treatment, and evaluation of the sickest children.

Clinical Findings and Radiological Evaluation of WHO-Defined Severe Pneumonia Among Hospitalized Children

BACKGROUND

The leading infectious cause of death in children worldwide is pneumonia. Pneumonia claimed the lives of 740,180 kids under the age of five in 2019, accounting for 14% of all fatalities and 22% of deaths in kids between the ages of 1 and 5. Children and families worldwide are affected by pneumonia, but South Asia and Africa have the highest fatality rates.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to determine the clinical risk factors and radiological assessment of the World Health Organization (WHO)-defined severe pneumonia in Pakistani hospitalized children.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out in the pediatric department of the Hayatabad Medical Complex between January 2021 and December 2021. The study included kids who had a fever, cough, and fast or difficulty breathing between the ages of 2 and 60 months. All of the included clinical pneumonia cases were acquired in the community.

RESULTS

A total of 360 clinically confirmed patients with pneumonia who presented with fever, cough, and fast or difficulty breathing were enrolled. Age ranged between 2 and 60 months, with a mean age of ±31 months. There were 168 (46.7%) males and 192 (53.3%) females. About 232 (64.4%) had radiological pneumonia, while the rest of the pneumonia cases 128 (35.5%) were without a radiological diagnosis. The most common presenting complaint was noisy breathing 119 (33%), followed by refusal of feeds 81 (22.5%), lethargy 69 (19.2%), seizure 40 (11.1%), nasal drainage 29 (8%), and abdominal pain 22 (6.1%).

CONCLUSION

The most specific clinical finding of radiographic pneumonia was bronchial breathing, while tachypnea was the most sensitive sign.

The utility of chest x-ray and lung ultrasound in the management of infants and children presenting with severe pneumonia in low-and middle-income countries: A pragmatic scoping review

Background

Chest x-ray (CXR) is commonly used (when available) to support clinical management decisions for child pneumonia and provide a reference standard for diagnosis in research studies. However, its diagnostic and technical limitations for both purposes are well recognised. Recent evidence suggests that lung ultrasound (LUS) may have diagnostic utility in pneumonia. This systematic scoping review of research on the utility of CXR and LUS in the management of severe childhood pneumonia aims to inform pragmatic guidelines for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and identify gaps in knowledge.

Methods

We included peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2020 in infants and children aged from one month to nine years, presenting with severe pneumonia. CXR studies were limited to those from LMICs, while LUS studies included any geographic region. LUS and CXR articles were mapped into the following themes: indications, role in diagnosis, role in management, impact on outcomes, and practical considerations for LMIC settings.

Results

85 articles met all eligibility criteria, including 27 CXR studies and 58 LUS studies. CXR studies were primarily observational and examined associations between radiographic abnormalities and pneumonia aetiology or outcomes. The most consistent finding was an association between CXR consolidation and risk of mortality. Difficulty obtaining quality CXR images and inter-reader variability in interpretation were commonly reported challenges. Research evaluating indications for CXR, role in management, and impact on patient outcomes was very limited. LUS studies primarily focused on diagnostic accuracy. LUS had higher sensitivity for identification of consolidation than CXR. There are gaps in knowledge regarding diagnostic criteria, as well as the practical utility of LUS in the diagnosis and management of pneumonia. Most LUS studies were conducted in HIC settings with experienced operators; however, small feasibility studies indicate that good inter-operator reliability may be achieved by training of novice clinicians in LMIC settings.

Conclusions

The available evidence does not support the routine use of CXR or LUS as essential tools in the diagnosis and initial management of severe pneumonia. Further evaluation is required to determine the clinical utility and feasibility of both imaging modalities in low-resource settings.

Chest radiography in children aged 2-59 months enrolled in the Innovative Treatments in Pneumonia (ITIP) project in Lilongwe Malawi: a secondary analysis

BACKGROUND

Pneumonia is the leading infectious cause of death in children aged under 5 years in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). World Health Organization (WHO) pneumonia diagnosis guidelines rely on non-specific clinical features. We explore chest radiography (CXR) findings among select children in the Innovative Treatments in Pneumonia (ITIP) project in Malawi in relation to clinical outcomes.

METHODS

When clinically indicated, CXRs were obtained from ITIP-enrolled children aged 2 to 59 months with community-acquired pneumonia hospitalized with treatment failure or relapse. ITIP1 (fast-breathing pneumonia) and ITIP2 (chest-indrawing pneumonia) trials enrolled children with non-severe pneumonia while ITIP3 enrolled children excluded from ITIP1 and ITIP2 with severe pneumonia and/or selected comorbidities. A panel of trained pediatricians classified the CXRs using the standardized WHO CXR research methodology. We analyzed the relationship between CXR classifications, enrollee characteristics, and outcomes.

RESULTS

Between March 2016 and June 2018, of 114 CXRs obtained, 83 met analysis criteria with 62.7% (52/83) classified as having significant pathology per WHO standardized interpretation. ITIP3 (92.3%; 12/13) children had a higher proportion of CXRs with significant pathology compared to ITIP1 (57.1%, 12/21) and ITIP2 (57.1%, 28/49) (p-value = 0.008). The predominant pathological CXR reading was "other infiltrates only" in ITIP1 (83.3%, 10/12) and ITIP2 (71.4%, 20/28), while in ITIP3 it was "primary endpoint pneumonia"(66.7%, 8/12,; p-value = 0.008). The percent of CXRs with significant pathology among children clinically cured (60.6%, 40/66) vs those not clinically cured (70.6%, 12/17) at Day 14 was not significantly different (p-value = 0.58).

CONCLUSIONS

In this secondary analysis we observed that ITIP3 children with severe pneumonia and/or selected comorbidities had a higher frequency of CXRs with significant pathology, although these radiographic findings had limited relationship to Day 14 outcomes. The proportion of CXRs with "primary endpoint pneumonia" was low. These findings add to existing data that additional diagnostics and prognostics are important for improving the care of children with pneumonia in LMICs.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ITIP1, ITIP2, and ITIP3 were registered with ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT02760420 , NCT02678195 , and NCT02960919 , respectively).

Interobserver agreement in interpretation of chest radiographs for pediatric community acquired pneumonia: Findings of the pedCAPNETZ-cohort

Although chest radiograph (CXR) is commonly used in diagnosing pediatric community acquired pneumonia (pCAP), limited data on interobserver agreement among radiologists exist. PedCAPNETZ is a prospective, observational, and multicenter study on pCAP. N = 233 CXR from patients with clinical diagnosis of pCAP were retrieved and n = 12 CXR without pathological findings were added. All CXR were interpreted by a radiologist at the site of recruitment and by two external, blinded pediatric radiologists. To evaluate interobserver agreement, the reporting of presence or absence of pCAP in CXR was analyzed, and prevalence and bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK) statistical testing was applied. Overall, n = 190 (82%) of CXR were confirmed as pCAP by two external pediatric radiologists. Compared with patients with pCAP negative CXR, patients with CXR-confirmed pCAP displayed higher C-reactive protein levels and a longer duration of symptoms before enrollment (p < .007). Further parameters, that is, age, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation showed no significant difference. The interobserver agreement between the onsite radiologists and each of the two independent pediatric radiologists for the presence of pCAP was poor to fair (69%; PABAK = 0.39% and 76%; PABAK = 0.53, respectively). The concordance between the external radiologists was fair (81%; PABAK = 0.62). With regard to typical CXR findings for pCAP, chance corrected interrater agreement was highest for pleural effusions, infiltrates, and consolidations and lowest for interstitial patterns and peribronchial thickening. Our data show a poor interobserver agreement in the CXR-based diagnosis of pCAP and emphasized the need for harmonized interpretation standards.

An analysis of clinical predictive values for radiographic pneumonia in children

Introduction

Healthcare providers in resource-limited settings rely on the presence of tachypnoea and chest indrawing to establish a diagnosis of pneumonia in children. We aimed to determine the test characteristics of commonly assessed signs and symptoms for the radiographic diagnosis of pneumonia in children 0–59 months of age.

Methods

We conducted an analysis using patient-level pooled data from 41 shared datasets of paediatric pneumonia. We included hospital-based studies in which >80% of children had chest radiography performed. Primary endpoint pneumonia (presence of dense opacity occupying a portion or entire lobe of the lung or presence of pleural effusion on chest radiograph) was used as the reference criterion radiographic standard. We assessed the sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios for clinical findings, and combinations of findings, for the diagnosis of primary endpoint pneumonia among children 0–59 months of age.

Results

Ten studies met inclusion criteria comprising 15 029 children; 24.9% (n=3743) had radiographic pneumonia. The presence of age-based tachypnoea demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.92 and a specificity of 0.22 while lower chest indrawing revealed a sensitivity of 0.74 and specificity of 0.15 for the diagnosis of radiographic pneumonia. The sensitivity and specificity for oxygen saturation <90% was 0.40 and 0.67, respectively, and was 0.17 and 0.88 for oxygen saturation <85%. Specificity was improved when individual clinical factors such as tachypnoea, fever and hypoxaemia were combined, however, the sensitivity was lower.

Conclusions

No single sign or symptom was strongly associated with radiographic primary end point pneumonia in children. Performance characteristics were improved by combining individual signs and symptoms.

Interpretation of pediatric chest radiographs by non-radiologist clinicians in Botswana using World Health Organization criteria for endpoint pneumonia

BACKGROUND

In low- and middle-income countries, chest radiographs are most frequently interpreted by non-radiologist clinicians.

OBJECTIVE

We examined the reliability of chest radiograph interpretations performed by non-radiologist clinicians in Botswana and conducted an educational intervention aimed at improving chest radiograph interpretation accuracy among non-radiologist clinicians.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We recruited non-radiologist clinicians at a referral hospital in Gaborone, Botswana, to interpret de-identified chest radiographs for children with clinical pneumonia. We compared their interpretations with those of two board-certified pediatric radiologists in the United States. We evaluated associations between level of medical training and the accuracy of chest radiograph findings between groups, using logistic regression and kappa statistics. We then developed an in-person training intervention led by a pediatric radiologist. We asked participants to interpret 20 radiographs before and immediately after the intervention, and we compared their responses to those of the facilitating radiologist. For both objectives, our primary outcome was the identification of primary endpoint pneumonia, defined by the World Health Organization as presence of endpoint consolidation or endpoint effusion.

RESULTS

Twenty-two clinicians interpreted chest radiographs in the primary objective; there were no significant associations between level of training and correct identification of endpoint pneumonia; concordance between respondents and radiologists was moderate (κ=0.43). After the training intervention, participants improved agreement with the facilitating radiologist for endpoint pneumonia from fair to moderate (κ=0.34 to κ=0.49).

CONCLUSION

Non-radiologist clinicians in Botswana do not consistently identify key chest radiographic findings of pneumonia. A targeted training intervention might improve non-radiologist clinicians' ability to interpret chest radiographs.

Chest radiograph findings in children aged 2-59 months hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia, prior to the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in India: a prospective multisite observational study

OBJECTIVES

The current study was a hospital-based surveillance of cases hospitalised with WHO-defined community-acquired pneumonia in children aged 2-59 months, to assess the radiological abnormalities in chest X-rays and to identify the demographic and clinical correlates of specific radiological abnormalities, in residents of prespecified districts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, India.

DESIGN

Prospective, active, hospital-based surveillance.

SETTING

Multisite study conducted in a network of 117 secondary/tertiary care hospitals in four districts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, India.

PARTICIPANTS

Included were children aged 2-59 months, hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia, residing in the project district, with duration of illness <14 days and who had not been hospitalised elsewhere for this episode nor had been recruited previously.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Concordant radiological abnormalities in the chest X-rays.

RESULTS

From January 2015 to April 2017, 3214 cases were recruited and in 99.40% (3195/3214) chest X-rays were available, among which 88.54% (2829/3195) were interpretable. Relevant radiological abnormalities were found in 34.53% (977/2829, 95% CI 32.78 to 36.28). These were primary end point pneumonia alone or with other infiltrates in 22.44% (635/2829, 95% CI 20.90% to 23.98%) and other infiltrates in 12.09% (342/2829; 95% CI 10.88% to 13.29%). There was a statistically significant interdistrict variation in radiological abnormalities. Statistically significantly higher proportion of abnormal chest X-rays were found in girls, those with weight-for-age z-score ≤-3SD, longer duration of fever, pallor and with exposure to biomass fuel.

CONCLUSIONS

Among hospitalised cases of community-acquired pneumonia, almost one-third children had abnormal chest radiographs, which were higher in females, malnourished children and those with longer illnesses; and an intra-district variation was observed.

Correlation between chest radiographic findings and clinical features in hospitalized children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

Background

Radiologic evaluation of children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae is important for diagnosis and management.

Objective

To investigate the correlation between chest radiographic findings and the clinical features in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.

Materials and methods

This study included 393 hospitalized children diagnosed with M. pneumoniae pneumonia between January 2000 and August 2016. Their clinical features and chest radiographs were reviewed. Radiographic findings were categorized and grouped as consolidation group (lobar or segmental consolidation) and non-consolidation group (patchy infiltration, localized reticulonodular infiltration, or parahilar peribronchial infiltration).

Results

Lobar or segmental consolidation (37%) was the most common finding, followed by parahilar or peribronchial infiltration (27%), localized reticulonodular infiltration (21%) and patchy infiltration (15%). The consolidation group was more frequently accompanied by pleural effusions (63%), compared to the non-consolidation group (16%). Compared with patients in the non-consolidation group, those in the consolidation group were associated with a significantly higher rate of hypoxia, tachypnea, tachycardia, extrapulmonary manifestations, prolonged fever, and longer periods of anti-mycoplasma therapy and hospitalization. Lobar or segmental consolidation was significantly more frequent in children ≥5 years old (44%) compared with children 2–5 years old (34%) and <2 years old (13%). Parahilar peribronchial infiltration was significantly more frequent in children <2 years old (56%) compared with children 2–5 years old (32%) and ≥5 years old (18%).

Conclusion

The chest radiographic findings of children with M. pneumoniae pneumonia correlate well with the clinical features. Consolidative lesions were frequently observed in older children and were associated with more severe clinical features.

Aetiology and risks factors associated with the fatal outcomes of childhood pneumonia among hospitalised children in the Philippines from 2008 to 2016: a case series study

OBJECTIVE

Pneumonia remains the leading cause of hospitalisations and deaths among children aged <5 years. Diverse respiratory pathogens cause acute respiratory infections, including pneumonia. Here, we analysed viral and bacterial pathogens and risk factors associated with death of hospitalised children.

DESIGN

A 9-year case series study.

SETTING

Two secondary-care hospitals, one tertiary-care hospital and one research centre in the Philippines.

PARTICIPANTS

5054 children aged <5 years hospitalised with severe pneumonia.

METHODS

Nasopharyngeal swabs for virus identification, and venous blood samples for bacterial culture were collected. Demographic, clinical data and laboratory findings were collected at admission time. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with death.

RESULTS

Of the enrolled patients, 57% (2876/5054) were males. The case fatality rate was 4.7% (238/5054), showing a decreasing trend during the study period (p<0.001). 55.0% of the patients who died were either moderately or severely underweight. Viruses were detected in 61.0% of the patients, with respiratory syncytial virus (27.0%) and rhinovirus (23.0%) being the most commonly detected viruses. In children aged 2-59 months, the risk factors significantly associated with death included age of 2-5 months, sensorial changes, severe malnutrition, grunting, central cyanosis, decreased breath sounds, tachypnoea, fever (≥38.5°C), saturation of peripheral oxygen <90%, infiltration, consolidation and pleural effusion on chest radiograph.Among the pathogens, adenovirus type 7, seasonal influenza A (H1N1) and positive blood culture for bacteria were significantly associated with death. Similar patterns were observed between the death cases and the aforementioned factors in children aged <2 months.

CONCLUSION

Malnutrition was the most common factor associated with death and addressing this issue may decrease the case fatality rate. In addition, chest radiographic examination and oxygen saturation measurement should be promoted in all hospitalised patients with pneumonia as well as bacteria detection to identify patients who are at risk of death.

Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Children in a Well-vaccinated South African Birth Cohort: Spectrum of Disease and Risk Factors

Background

Childhood lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) cause substantial morbidity and under-5 child mortality. The epidemiology of LRTI is changing in low- and middle-income countries with expanding access to conjugate vaccines, yet there are few data on the incidence and risk factors for LRTI in these settings.

Methods

A prospective birth cohort enrolled mother–infant pairs in 2 communities near Cape Town, South Africa. Active surveillance for LRTI was performed for the first 2 years of life over 4 respiratory seasons. Comprehensive data collection of risk factors was done through 2 years of life. World Health Organization definitions were used to classify clinical LRTI and chest radiographs.

Results

From March 2012 to February 2017, 1143 children were enrolled and followed until 2 years of age. Thirty-two percent of children were exposed to antenatal maternal smoking; 15% were born at low birth weights. Seven hundred ninety-five LRTI events occurred in 429 children by February 2017; incidence of LRTI was 0.51 and 0.25 episodes per child-year in the first and second years of life, respectively. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–exposed, uninfected infants (vs HIV-unexposed infants) were at increased risk of hospitalized LRTI in the first 6 months of life. In regression models, male sex, low birth weight, and maternal smoking were independent risk factors for both ambulatory and hospitalized LRTI; delayed or incomplete vaccination was associated with hospitalized LRTI.

Conclusions

LRTI incidence was high in the first year of life, with substantial morbidity. Strategies to ameliorate harmful exposures are needed to reduce LRTI burden in vulnerable populations.

Infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae in children with or without radiologically confirmed pneumonia

OBJECTIVE

Community-acquired pneumonia is an important cause of morbidity in childhood, but the detection of its causative agent remains a diagnostic challenge. The authors aimed to evaluate the role of the chest radiograph to identify cases of community-aquired pneumonia caused by typical bacteria.

METHODS

The frequency of infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis was compared in non-hospitalized children with clinical diagnosis of community acquired pneumonia aged 2-59 months with or without radiological confirmation (n=249 and 366, respectively). Infection by S. pneumoniae was diagnosed by the detection of a serological response against at least one of eight pneumococcal proteins (defined as an increase ≥2-fold in the IgG levels against Ply, CbpA, PspA1 and PspA2, PhtD, StkP-C, and PcsB-N, or an increase ≥1.5-fold against PcpA). Infection by H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis was defined as an increase ≥2-fold on the levels of microbe-specific IgG.

RESULTS

Children with radiologically confirmed pneumonia had higher rates of infection by S. pneumoniae. The presence of pneumococcal infection increased the odds of having radiologically confirmed pneumonia by 2.8 times (95% CI: 1.8-4.3). The negative predictive value of the normal chest radiograph for infection by S. pneumoniae was 86.3% (95% CI: 82.4-89.7%). There was no difference on the rates of infection by H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis between children with community-acquired pneumonia with and without radiological confirmation.

CONCLUSIONS

Among children with clinical diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia submitted to chest radiograph, those with radiologically confirmed pneumonia present a higher rate of infection by S. pneumoniae when compared with those with a normal chest radiograph.

The Nasopharyngeal Microbiota of Children With Respiratory Infections in Botswana

BACKGROUND

Nearly half of child pneumonia deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Microbial communities in the nasopharynx are a reservoir for pneumonia pathogens and remain poorly described in African children.

METHODS

Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from children with pneumonia (N = 204), children with upper respiratory infection symptoms (N = 55) and healthy children (N = 60) in Botswana between April 2012 and April 2014. We sequenced the V3 region of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene and used partitioning around medoids to cluster samples into microbiota biotypes. We then used multivariable logistic regression to examine whether microbiota biotypes were associated with pneumonia and upper respiratory infection symptoms.

RESULTS

Mean ages of children with pneumonia, children with upper respiratory infection symptoms and healthy children were 8.2, 11.4 and 8.0 months, respectively. Clustering of nasopharyngeal microbiota identified 5 distinct biotypes: Corynebacterium/Dolosigranulum-dominant (23%), Haemophilus-dominant (11%), Moraxella-dominant (24%), Staphylococcus-dominant (13%) and Streptococcus-dominant (28%). The Haemophilus-dominant [odds ratio (OR): 13.55; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.10-87.26], the Staphylococcus-dominant (OR: 8.27; 95% CI: 2.13-32.14) and the Streptococcus-dominant (OR: 39.97; 95% CI: 6.63-241.00) biotypes were associated with pneumonia. The Moraxella-dominant (OR: 3.71; 95% CI: 1.09-12.64) and Streptococcus-dominant (OR: 12.26; 95% CI: 1.81-83.06) biotypes were associated with upper respiratory infection symptoms. In children with pneumonia, HIV infection was associated with a lower relative abundance of Dolosigranulum (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Pneumonia and upper respiratory infection symptoms are associated with distinct nasopharyngeal microbiota biotypes in African children. A lower abundance of the commensal genus Dolosigranulum may contribute to the higher pneumonia risk of HIV-infected children.