Epidemiological Characteristics of Pathogens in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid in Children With Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: A Retrospective Analysis.

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the etiological spectrum and epidemiological characteristics of pediatric respiratory diseases, and a profound understanding of these changes is crucial for guiding clinical treatment. The purpose of this study is to analyze the etiological patterns and epidemiological features of pathogens in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from children with pediatric lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) after the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of providing effective therapeutic evidence for clinical practice.

METHODS

This study enrolled pediatric patients diagnosed with LRTIs who were treated and underwent BALF pathogen detection at our hospital from June 1, 2023, to June 1, 2024. Demographic characteristics and clinical outcomes of the patients, along with the results of BALF pathogen detection, were meticulously collected and subsequently analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 682 children with LRTIs who underwent BALF examinations were included in this study. In pediatric LRTIs, winter was the peak season for disease onset. Regarding diagnostic categories, lobar pneumonia and bronchopneumonia were the most common diseases, representing 62.5% and 27.1% of diagnosed cases, respectively. The vast majority of pediatric patients showed complete recovery in clinical symptoms or imaging findings within 2 weeks after receiving treatment. The BALF examination results revealed that the five most frequently identified pathogens were Mycoplasma pneumoniae (83.1%), followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (21.3%), Haemophilus influenzae (16.6%), Staphylococcus aureus (11.7%), and Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (11.3%).

CONCLUSION

The etiological spectrum of pediatric LRTIs is complex, necessitating targeted clinical treatments tailored to the predominant pathogens.