The authors studied 58 infants hospitalized for pneumonia in a semi-intensive care unit. Age ranged from 1 complete to 6 incomplete months. The infants were sent from another hospital in 20 cases and from home in a further 38. Pulmonary involvement, which was alveolar in 46 cases and interstitial in 12, was bilateral in 31 children. The investigation was carried out prospectively on the etiological agents associated with respiratory infection to look for evidence of aerobic bacteria (blood cultures), Chlamydia trachomatis and Cytomegalovirus (serology), and Pneumocystis carinii (direct microscopy of tracheal aspirated material). The following infectious agents were diagnosed in 21 children (36.2%): Aerobic bacteria (8), Chlamydia trachomatis (5), Pneumocystis carinii (3), Cytomegalovirus (3), Cytomegalovirus and Chlamydia trachomatis (1), Aerobic bacteria and Cytomegalovirus (1). Seven cases of infection by Chlamydia trachomatis and/or Cytomegalovirus were diagnosed out of the 12 cases with pulmonary interstitial involvement.
PIP: This paper reports the results of a prospective study designed to evaluate the occurrence of potential pulmonary pathogens in a group of socioeconomically deprived infants hospitalized in a semi-intensive care unit for severe pneumonia. The study was conducted over a 2-year period and included infants ranging in age from 1 complete to 6 incomplete months. Inclusion criteria for this study were: a) history of acute respiratory disease; b) respiratory rate over 60 times/minute; and c) radiographic exam revealing alveolar or interstitial pulmonary alteration. A total of 58 infants were selected for the study, of which 33 (56.9%) were male and the 25 (43.1%) were female. Mean age was 2.3 months. Pulmonary involvement, which was alveolar in 46 (79.3%) patients and interstitial in 12 (20.7%) patients, was bilateral in 31 (53.4%) infants. The investigation of etiological agents associated with respiratory infection sought evidence of aerobic bacteria (blood cultures), Chlamydia trachomatis and Cytomegalovirus (serology), and Pneumocystis carinii (direct microscopic exam of tracheal aspirate). The following infectious agents were diagnosed in 21 (36.2%) patients: aerobic bacteria (8), C. trachomatis (5), P. carinii (3), Cytomegalovirus (3), Cytomegalovirus and C. trachomatis (1), aerobic bacteria and Cytomegalovirus (1). 7 of 12 (58.3%) cases with pulmonary interstitial involvement were infections by C. trachomatis and/or Cytomegalovirus. The authors recommend that the investigation of the role of other infectious agents for this age bracket should continue.