The changes of prevalence and etiology of pediatric pneumonia from National Emergency Department Information System in Korea, between 2007 and 2014

Shin, Eun Ju; Kim, Yunsun; Jeong, Jin-Young; Jung, Yu Mi; Lee, Mi-Hee; Chung, Eun Hee

A multicenter retrospective study undertaken in Korea between 1996 and 2005 identified invasive bacterial infection as the most prevalent cause of pneumonia in children, with S. pneumoniae being the most common pathogen for bacterial pneumonia, meningitis and bacteremia among children 3 months to 5 years of age. 3) S. pneumoniae was also reported as a major pathogen for pediatric empyema in a multicenter survey conducted in Korea between 1999 and 2004. 4) A single center in Korea identified the cause of lobar/ lobular pneumonia among children 2 to 15 years of age, between June 2006 and May 2008. Mycoplasma pneumoniae (50.7%) was the most common organism in all age groups and bacteria was 5.9%. S. pneumoniae (88.9%) was the major cause of bacterial pneumonia including mixed infection. 5) S. pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae were major bacterial pathogens of pneumonia. S. pneumoniae had caused 11% of deaths in children aged under 5 years globally in the pre-PCV era. 6) As medical costs associated with pneumonia are substantial, there have been continuous worldwide efforts to reduce the rate of pneumoniaassociated morbidity and mortality, including the use of vaccines. Changes in complications, morbidity, and the rate of pneumonia of PCV use were analyzed in the United States but not in Korea. The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiology of CAP in Korea, including yearly trends in incidence, frequency of viral and bacterial pathogens and the impact of PCV.