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Pathogens
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Respiratory Tract Infections in Children: 2nd Edition
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Respiratory Tract Infections in Children: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 5078

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Tobias Tenenbaum

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Clinic for Child and Adolescent Medicine, Sana Klinikum Lichtenberg, Academic Teaching Hospital, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Interests: respiratory tract infections; CNS infections; biomarker diagnostics, antibiotic stewardship
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 pandemic underlined the role of respiratory tract infections as a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Especially children came into major focus, both in the scientific world and among the public. After 3 years of the pandemic, the overall burden of pediatric respiratory tract infections remains high. It is for this reason that we have decided to launch a second edition of the Special Issue on “Respiratory Tract Infections in Children”, to which we are inviting scientists with a pediatric and/or infectious disease background to submit manuscripts dealing with clinical as well as experimental data. Recent clinical data demonstrating the role of pathogens and pathogen interaction in the respiratory tract are particularly welcome. This Special Issue also aims to shed light on the cellular and molecular interaction between pathogens and the host, as well as viral–viral and bacterial–viral interaction. Finally, the role of respiratory microbiome is in this context also of particular interest.

Both original research and review articles are welcome. We look forward to receiving your contribution to Pathogens.

With kind regards,

Prof. Dr. Tobias Tenenbaum
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • respiratory tract infections
  • bacterial infection
  • viral infection
  • fungal infection
  • co-infections
  • microbiome
  • pathogen-host interaction
  • pathogenesis
  • epidemiology
  • ermerging infections
  • diagnostics
  • therapy

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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12 pages, 293 KiB  
Article
Antibiotic Utilization in Hospitalized Children with Bronchiolitis: A Prospective Study Investigating Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics at a Secondary Hospital in Madrid (2004–2022)
by María Luz García-García, Sonia Alcolea, Patricia Alonso-López, Clara Martín-Martín, Guadalupe Tena-García, Inmaculada Casas, Francisco Pozo, Ana Méndez-Echevarría, Jara Hurtado-Gallego and Cristina Calvo
Pathogens 2023, 12(12), 1397; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12121397 - 28 Nov 2023
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Abstract
Bronchiolitis is a viral respiratory infection, with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) being the most frequent agent, requiring hospitalization in 1% of affected children. However, there continues to be a noteworthy incidence of antibiotic prescription in this setting, further exacerbating the global issue of [...] Read more.
Bronchiolitis is a viral respiratory infection, with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) being the most frequent agent, requiring hospitalization in 1% of affected children. However, there continues to be a noteworthy incidence of antibiotic prescription in this setting, further exacerbating the global issue of antibiotic resistance. This study, conducted at Severo Ochoa Hospital in Madrid, Spain, focused on antibiotic usage in children under 2 years of age who were hospitalized for bronchiolitis between 2004 and 2022. In that time, 5438 children were admitted with acute respiratory infection, and 1715 infants (31.5%) with acute bronchiolitis were included. In total, 1470 (87%) had a positive viral identification (66% RSV, 32% HRV). Initially, antibiotics were prescribed to 13.4% of infants, but this percentage decreased to 7% during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to adherence to guidelines and the implementation of rapid and precise viral diagnostic methods in the hospital. HBoV- and HAdV-infected children and those with viral coinfections were more likely to receive antibiotics in the univariate analysis. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a statistically independent association between antibiotic prescription and fever > 38 °C (p < 0.001), abnormal chest-X ray (p < 0.001), ICU admission (p = 0.015), and serum CRP (p < 0.001). In conclusion, following guidelines and the availability of rapid and reliable viral diagnostic methods dramatically reduces the unnecessary use of antibiotics in infants with severe bronchiolitis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Tract Infections in Children: 2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 2725 KiB  
Article
Galacto-Oligosaccharides as an Anti-Infective and Anti-Microbial Agent for Macrolide-Resistant and -Sensitive Mycoplasma pneumoniae
by Hongzhen Zhu, Yang Cai, Lisa J. M. Slimmen, Adrianus C. J. M. de Bruijn, Annemarie M. C. van Rossum, Gert Folkerts, Saskia Braber and Wendy W. J. Unger
Pathogens 2023, 12(5), 659; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12050659 - 28 Apr 2023
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Abstract
The worldwide increase in the incidence of antibiotic resistance of the atypical bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) challenges the treatment of MP infections, especially in children. Therefore, alternative strategies for the treatment of MP infections are warranted. Galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides (GOS and FOS) are [...] Read more.
The worldwide increase in the incidence of antibiotic resistance of the atypical bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) challenges the treatment of MP infections, especially in children. Therefore, alternative strategies for the treatment of MP infections are warranted. Galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides (GOS and FOS) are a specific group of complex carbohydrates that were recently shown to possess direct anti-pathogenic properties. In this study, we assessed whether GOS and FOS exert anti-microbial and anti-infective effects against MP and, especially, macrolide-resistant MP (MRMP) in vitro. The MIC values of GOS for MP and MRMP were 4%. In contrast, the MIC values of FOS for both MP and MRMP were 16%. A time-kill kinetic assay showed that FOS possess bacteriostatic properties, while for GOS, a bactericidal effect against MP and MRMP was observed after 24 h at a concentration of 4x MIC. In co-cultures with human alveolar A549 epithelial cells, GOS killed adherent MP and MRMP and also concentration-dependently inhibited their adherence to A549 cells. Further, GOS suppressed (MR)MP-induced IL-6 and IL-8 in A549 cells. None of the aforementioned parameters were affected when FOS were added to these co-cultures. In conclusion, the anti-infective and anti-microbial properties of GOS could provide an alternative treatment against MRMP and MP infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Tract Infections in Children: 2nd Edition)
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9 pages, 874 KiB  
Article
Febrile Children with Pneumonia Have Higher Nasopharyngeal Bacterial Load Than Other Children with Fever
by Bryndis Bjornsdottir, Ubaldo Benitez Hernandez, Asgeir Haraldsson and Valtyr Thors
Pathogens 2023, 12(4), 517; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12040517 - 27 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1231
Abstract
Febrile episodes are common in children and the most frequent reason for attending emergency services. Although most infections have a benign and self-limiting course, severe and sometimes life-threatening infections occur. This prospective study describes a cohort of children presenting to a single-centre pediatric [...] Read more.
Febrile episodes are common in children and the most frequent reason for attending emergency services. Although most infections have a benign and self-limiting course, severe and sometimes life-threatening infections occur. This prospective study describes a cohort of children presenting to a single-centre pediatric emergency department (ED) with suspected invasive bacterial infection, and explores the relationships between nasopharyngeal microbes and outcomes. All children attending the ED who had a blood culture taken were offered to participate over a two-year period. In addition to conventional medical care, a nasopharyngeal swab was obtained., which was analysed for respiratory viruses and three bacterial species using a quantitative PCR. Fisher’s exact test, Wilcoxon rank sum, and multivariable models were used for statistical analyses of the 196 children (75% younger than four years) who were enrolled and had sufficient data for analysis; 92 had severe infections according to the study protocol, while five had bloodstream infections. Radiologically confirmed pneumonia was the most common severe infection found in 44/92 patients. The presence of respiratory viruses and the carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae were associated with a higher risk of pneumonia. Higher density colonisation with these bacteria were independent risk factors for pneumonia, whereas Moraxella catarrhalis carriage was associated with lower risk. Our data support the hypothesis that higher nasopharyngeal density of pneumococci and H. influenzae could play a role in the development of bacterial pneumonia in children. A preceding viral infection of the respiratory tract may be a trigger and play a role in the progression to severe lower respiratory tract infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Tract Infections in Children: 2nd Edition)
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7 pages, 918 KiB  
Brief Report
Surveillance of Viral Respiratory Infections in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit—Evolution in the Last 5 Years
by Blanca Bravo-Queipo-de-Llano, Laura Sánchez García, Inmaculada Casas, Francisco Pozo, Leticia La Banda, Sonia Alcolea, Jorge Atucha, Rocío Sánchez-León, Adelina Pellicer and Cristina Calvo
Pathogens 2023, 12(5), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12050644 - 27 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1161
Abstract
Viral respiratory infections (VRIs) in very low birthweight infants can be associated with high rates of morbidity. The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted a strong impact on viral circulation. The purpose of this study is to report on VRIs during NICU admission in infants [...] Read more.
Viral respiratory infections (VRIs) in very low birthweight infants can be associated with high rates of morbidity. The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted a strong impact on viral circulation. The purpose of this study is to report on VRIs during NICU admission in infants below 32 weeks’ gestation and compare data collected between the pre-and post-COVID-19 pandemic periods. A prospective surveillance study was conducted at a tertiary NICU between April 2016 and June 2022. The COVID-19 post-pandemic period was established as being from March 2020 onwards. Respiratory virus detection was performed by real-time multiplex PCR assays in nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs). A total of 366 infants were enrolled. There were no statistical differences between periods regarding infants’ birth weight, gestational age, gender distribution, or rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Among the 1589 NPA collected during the pre-COVID-19 period, 8.9% were positive, and among the 1147 NPA collected during the post-pandemic period, only 3% were positive (p < 0.005). The type of viruses detected did not differ according to the study period (pre-COVID19 vs. post-COVID-19): rhinovirus (49.5% vs. 37.5%), adenovirus (22.6% vs. 25%), and human coronavirus (12.9% vs. 16.7%). SARS-CoV-2 was only detected in one patient. In conclusion, the viral profile causing VRI during the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 era was similar. However, the total number of VRI dropped significantly, most probably due to the global increase in infection prevention measures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Tract Infections in Children: 2nd Edition)
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