Prevalence and risk factors of concurrent bacteremia in children under 5 years of age hospitalized with viral lower respiratory tract infections.

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of concurrent bacteremia in otherwise healthy children under 5 years of age hospitalized with PCR-confirmed viral lower respiratory tract infections (VLRTIs), and to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its prevalence and etiology.

METHODS

This retrospective study included children (≤ 5 years) hospitalized with PCR-confirmed VLRTIs between January 2018 and December 2024. Based on microbiology results obtained within 24 h of admission, we assessed the presence of concurrent, community-acquired bacteremia. Risk factors for bacteremia were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among 1845 patients, concurrent bacteremia was identified in 36 (1.9%) patients with influenza- and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated LRTIs. Age ≤ 6 months [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 14.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.7-37.5], C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥ 4 mg/dL (aOR 3.9, 95% CI 1.5-9.8), fever (≥ 39 °C) (aOR 4.8, 95% CI 1.3-18.0), and the need for advanced respiratory support (aOR 8.3, 95% CI 3.0-23.2) were independently associated with an increased risk of bacteremia. In the post-pandemic period, a significant shift in pathogen distribution was observed, with gram-negative bacteria, particularly Klebsiella spp., emerging as the predominant cause of bacteremia.

CONCLUSION

Although rare, concurrent bacteremia was associated with high fever, elevated CRP levels, the need for advanced respiratory support, and an age of ≤ 6 months in children hospitalized with RSV and influenza associated LRTIs. Notably, gram-negative bacteria, particularly Klebsiella spp., emerged as predominant pathogens in the post-pandemic period, suggesting a potential shift in the epidemiology of bacteremia associated with VLRTIs.