The Management of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Hospitalized Children

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the most common infectious cause of hospitalizations and deaths in children. The etiology of CAP in hospitalized children is typically viral, with respiratory syncytial virus being the most common pathogen in children aged < 2 years. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the chief bacterial cause of CAP in children aged < 5 years. Hallmark signs include fever, cough, poor feeding, and hypoxemia. Positive chest radiography is informative for assessing clinical outcome and disease etiology, which helps guide disease management. CAP in hospitalized patients should be managed according to current treatment guidelines, and the pharmacist should ensure that antimicrobial stewardship and preventive measures are implemented.