The pediatrician's point of view

Bacteriological diagnosis: The causal germ is rarely identified. In 3 studies in pediatric patients with community-acquired infections of the lower respiratory tract, the causal agent was identified in 38 to 85% of the cases. Depending on the extent of the explorations, the causal agent is identified as a virus in 1 out of 3 cases, mainly the syncitial respiratory virus, bacteria in 17 to 48% of the cases, mainly pneumococci, and numerous cases of mixed infections. Epidemiological data: The most commonly identified germs are H. influenzae, Pneumococcus, Staphylococcus, or M. catarrhalis. Haemophilus influenzae: Anti Hib vaccination has reduced the incidence of systemic and pulmonary Hib infections but there is a progression of non typable Hi infections.