| pubmed-article:2125358 | pubmed:abstractText | Histopathologic studies and isolation of virus and bacteria in culture were carried out for 71 children less than 5 years of age with fatal pneumonia. A potential microbial etiology was identified for 61 children (86%): bacteria for 19 (27%), virus for 16 (23%), and virus plus bacteria for 26 (37%). Staphylococcus was the most prevalent pathogen, alone or in combination with other organisms, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Viral infection may predispose to bacterial infection in some children. A correlation of clinical course, results of cultures, and morphologic changes revealed cofactors that may have contributed to a fatal outcome. Lung abscess, pericarditis, myocarditis, endocarditis, and meningitis were associated with bacterial infection. Many patients in this study had severe bronchopneumonia, with a high prevalence of complications such as abscess (62%), atelectasis (40%), pericarditis (28%), and empyema (7%). Such complications added to multiple infections, measles, and malnutrition contributed to the fatal outcome in these children. | lld:pubmed |
