Burden of bacterial lower respiratory tract infections in hospitalized children and epidemiological characteristics of pathogens in Hanzhong, China (2023–2024)
Retrospective analysis identifies Staphylococcus aureus and Haemophilus influenzae as major pathogens in children, indicating seasonal trends and age-specific risks.
Key Points
Staphylococcus aureus was the leading pathogen in hospitalized children, especially under 3 years old, revealing significant health implications.
A total of 2093 bacterial strains were isolated from 5,463 specimens, resulting in a culture positivity rate of 38.30%, highlighting diagnostic challenges.
Seasonal variations showed higher infection rates in spring and summer, indicating a need for seasonal surveillance and tailored treatment strategies.
Male children exhibited higher infection rates than females across all quarters, particularly for Staphylococcus aureus, indicating gender-specific risk factors.