Clinical characteristics of influenza with or without Streptococcus pneumoniae co-infection in children

Abstract

Background/purpose: Influenza is frequently complicated with bacterial co-infection. This study aimed to disclose the significance of Streptococcus pneumoniae co-infection in children with influenza.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of pediatric patients hospitalized for influenza with or without pneumococcal co-infection at the National Taiwan University Hospital from 2007 to 2019. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared between patients with and without S. pneumoniae co-infection.

Results: There were 558 children hospitalized for influenza: 494 had influenza alone whereas 64 had S. pneumoniae co-infection. Patients with S. pneumoniae co-infection had older ages, lower SpO₂, higher C-Reactive Protein (CRP), lower serum sodium, lower platelet counts, more chest radiograph findings of patch and consolidation on admission, longer hospitalization, more intensive care, longer intensive care unit (ICU) stay, more mechanical ventilation, more inotropes/vasopressors use, more surgical interventions including video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and higher case-fatality rate.

Conclusion: Compared to influenza alone, patients with S. pneumoniae co-infection had more morbidities and mortalities. Pneumococcal co-infection is considered when influenza patients have lower SpO₂, lower platelet counts, higher CRP, lower serum sodium, and more radiographic patches and consolidations on admission.

Keywords: Children; Co-infection; Influenza; Outcome; Streptococcus pneumoniae.