Using Data-Driven Rules to Predict Mortality in Severe Community Acquired Pneumonia

Prediction of patient-centered outcomes in hospitals is useful for performance benchmarking, resource allocation, and guidance regarding active treatment and withdrawal of care. Yet, their use by clinicians is limited by the complexity of available tools and amount of data required. We propose to use Disjunctive Normal Forms as a novel approach to predict hospital and 90-day mortality from instance-based patient data, comprising demographic, genetic, and physiologic information in a large cohort of patients admitted with severe community acquired pneumonia. We develop two algorithms to efficiently learn Disjunctive Normal Forms, which yield easy-to-interpret rules that explicitly map data to the outcome of interest. Disjunctive Normal Forms achieve higher prediction performance quality compared to a set of state-of-the-art machine learning models, and unveils insights unavailable with standard methods. Disjunctive Normal Forms constitute an intuitive set of prediction rules that could be easily implemented to predict outcomes and guide criteria-based clinical decision making and clinical trial execution, and thus of greater practical usefulness than currently available prediction tools. The Java implementation of the tool JavaDNF will be publicly available.     

肺超声在获得性肺炎患儿诊断中的临床应用

目的:探索肺超声(LUS)在获得性肺炎(CAP)患儿诊断中的临床应用价值。方法:选取自2013年4月至2014年11月我院确诊为CAP的患儿95例,以腋前线、腋后线为界,将患儿肺脏分为前、后、侧三个区域,对所有患儿进行LUS检查,观察胸膜线、B线、肺实变程度及胸腔积液,并对支气管充气征进行检查。结果:95例CAP患儿经LUS检查后,诊断为阳性的有93例,阴性有2例,准确率为97.89%;CAP患儿的LUS的主要表现为肺泡-间质综合征、支气管充气症、胸膜线异常、胸腔积液;80例为综合表现(84.21%),15例为单一表现(15.79%)。结论:LUS诊断CAP患儿具有较高的准确率,结果安全可靠,可以应用于为临床诊断CAP。     

Post-Discharge Mortality in Children with Severe Malnutrition and Pneumonia in Bangladesh

Background

Post-discharge mortality among children with severe illness in resource-limited settings is under-recognized and there are limited data. We evaluated post-discharge mortality in a recently reported cohort of children with severe malnutrition and pneumonia, and identified characteristics associated with an increased risk of death.

Methods

Young children (<5 years of age) with severe malnutrition (WHO criteria) and radiographic pneumonia on admission to Dhaka Hospital of icddr,b over a 15-month period were managed according to standard protocols. Those discharged were followed-up and survival status at 12 weeks post-discharge was determined. Verbal autopsy was requested from families of those that died.

Results

Of 405 children hospitalized with severe malnutrition and pneumonia, 369 (median age, 10 months) were discharged alive with a follow-up plan. Of these, 32 (8.7%) died in the community within 3 months of discharge: median 22 (IQR 9–35) days from discharge to death. Most deaths were reportedly associated with acute onset of new respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms. Those that died following discharge were significantly younger (median 6 [IQR 3,12] months) and more severely malnourished, on admission and on discharge, than those that survived. Bivariate analysis found that severe wasting on admission (OR 3.64, 95% CI 1.66–7.97) and age <12 months (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.1–8.8) were significantly associated with post-discharge death. Of those that died in the community, none had attended a scheduled follow-up and care-seeking from a traditional healer was more common (p<0.001) compared to those who survived.

Conclusion and Significance

Post-discharge mortality was common in Bangladeshi children following inpatient care for severe malnutrition and pneumonia. The underlying contributing factors require a better understanding to inform the potential of interventions that could improve survival.     

Reducing Deaths from Severe Pneumonia in Children in Malawi by Improving Delivery of Pneumonia Case Management

Objective

To evaluate the pneumonia specific case fatality rate over time following the implementation of a Child Lung Health Programme (CLHP) within the existing government health services in Malawi to improve delivery of pneumonia case management.

Methods

A prospective, nationwide public health intervention was studied to evaluate the impact on pneumonia specific case fatality rate (CFR) in infants and young children (0 to 59 months of age) following the implementation of the CLHP. The implementation was step-wise from October 1^st 2000 until 31^st December 2005 within paediatric inpatient wards in 24 of 25 district hospitals in Malawi. Data analysis compared recorded outcomes in the first three months of the intervention (the control period) to the period after that, looking at trend over time and variation by calendar month, age group, severity of disease and region of the country. The analysis was repeated standardizing the follow-up period by using only the first 15 months after implementation at each district hospital.

Findings

Following implementation, 47,228 children were admitted to hospital for severe/very severe pneumonia with an overall CFR of 9•8%. In both analyses, the highest CFR was in the children 2 to 11 months, and those with very severe pneumonia. The majority (64%) of cases, 2–59 months, had severe pneumonia. In this group there was a significant effect of the intervention Odds Ratio (OR) 0•70 (95%CI: 0•50–0•98); p = 0•036), while in the same age group children treated for very severe pneumonia there was no interventional benefit (OR 0•97 (95%CI: 0•72–1•30); p = 0•8). No benefit was observed for neonates (OR 0•83 (95%CI: 0•56–1•22); p = 0•335).

Conclusions

The nationwide implementation of the CLHP significantly reduced CFR in Malawian infants and children (2–59 months) treated for severe pneumonia. Reasons for the lack of benefit for neonates, infants and children with very severe pneumonia requires further research.     

儿童重症腺病毒肺炎的临床研究

目的:分析儿童重症腺病毒肺炎(SAP)的临床特点。方法:选择2011年01月至2015年01月广州市妇女儿童医疗中心重症监护室收治的被诊断为SAP的患儿53例。患儿入监护室后24 h内采集静脉血,检测血常规、血气、生化等指标,并结合病史与常规生化等检测指标同步给出PCIS评分。根据患儿的转归,将所有患儿分为生存组和死亡组进行比较分析。结果:53例重症腺病毒肺炎患儿,男女比例为3.4:1,2岁以下发病者48例,夏秋季发病共40例。死亡组患儿共8例(15.1%),其LDH、AST、Pa CO2水平、肺叶受累数量、并发症种类较存活组患儿明显升高,危重症评分(PCIS)、血小板、白蛋白、Pa O2水平、Pa O2/FIO2比值均较生存组显著降低(P均0.05)。结论:儿童SAP炎症反应重,常伴肺内外各种损害,早期的LDH、AST、白蛋白水平、血小板数量、Pa O2、Pa CO2、Pa O2/Fi O2及PCIS评分是疾病预后的早期预测指标,有助于临床医生对重症腺病毒肺炎患儿病情危重程度尽早作出正确判断。     

Decreased Interleukin-10 Responses in Children with Severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia

Several cytokines may play roles in the immunological pathogenesis of mycoplasmal pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. In this study, we investigated serum cytokine profiles in children with mycoplasmal pneumonia. The serum levels of interleukin (IL)-8, IL-10, and IL-18 were examined using ELISA kits in 34 patients with M. pneumoniae infection (Group 1, 11 with severe mycoplasmal pneumonia; Group 2, 13 with mild mycoplasmal pneumonia; Group 3, 10 with asthma) and 32 age-matched, non-infected controls. The serum levels of IL-8, IL-10, and IL-18 increased significantly in patients with mycoplasmal pneumonia compared with those in controls (P<0.01). The serum levels of IL-10 decreased significantly in Group 1 compared with those in Group 2 (P<0.01). The serum levels of IL-18 increased significantly in Group 1 compared with those in Group 2 (P<0.01). The serum levels of IL-10 and IL-18 decreased significantly in 10 M. pneumoniae-infected patients with asthma compared with those in 24 M. pneumoniae-infected patients without asthma (P<0.01). We examined the level of interleukins (IL-8, IL-10 and IL-18) after the patients started therapy. The data showed that IL-18 were lower after therapy (P<0.01). Collectively, our data suggested that these cytokines may be involved in the pathogenesis of mycoplasmal pneumonia.     

儿童社区获得性支原体肺炎病原学与影像学特征分析

目的:回顾性分析我院儿童社区获得性肺炎(Community-acquired pneumonia,CAP)患儿病原学检测结果,为本地区CAP患儿的临床治疗提供参考依据。方法:选取2014年5月-2018年5月812例符合中华医学会儿科学分会制定的儿童社区获得性肺炎(2013修订)诊断标准的CAP患儿,分析患儿的临床特征及影像学检查结果,并进行分析。结果:非重症CAP患儿812例,CAP占10.2%;感染病原体例数481例,阳性检出率为59.2%;1月-1岁龄组与1-5岁龄组比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05);5-14岁龄组发热发生率明显高于前两组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。咳嗽、喘息、固定湿啰音发生率集中在1月-1岁龄组与1-5岁龄组,且高于5-14岁龄组发生率(P0.0);肺部影像学改变的患儿共657例,占80.9%。三个年龄组;肺部影像学改变差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:不同年龄段CAP患儿病原体检出率不同;不同年龄和不同病原学感染的儿童CAP的影像学表现各有特点,对于临床医生早发现、早诊断、早治疗具有一点的指导性意义。     

Linezolid Has Unique Immunomodulatory Effects in Post-Influenza Community Acquired MRSA Pneumonia

Introduction

Post influenza pneumonia is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity, with mortality rates approaching 60% when bacterial infections are secondary to multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens. Staphylococcus aureus, in particular community acquired MRSA (cMRSA), has emerged as a leading cause of post influenza pneumonia.

Hypothesis

Linezolid (LZD) prevents acute lung injury in murine model of post influenza bacterial pneumonia

Methods

Mice were infected with HINI strain of influenza and then challenged with cMRSA at day 7, treated with antibiotics (LZD or Vanco) or vehicle 6 hours post bacterial challenge and lungs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) harvested at 24 hours for bacterial clearance, inflammatory cell influx, cytokine/chemokine analysis and assessment of lung injury.

Results

Mice treated with LZD or Vanco had lower bacterial burden in the lung and no systemic dissemination, as compared to the control (no antibiotic) group at 24 hours post bacterial challenge. As compared to animals receiving Vanco, LZD group had significantly lower numbers of neutrophils in the BAL (9×10³ vs. 2.3×10⁴, p < 0.01), which was associated with reduced levels of chemotactic chemokines and inflammatory cytokines KC, MIP-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-1β in the BAL. Interestingly, LZD treatment also protected mice from lung injury, as assessed by albumin concentration in the BAL post treatment with H1N1 and cMRSA when compared to vanco treatment. Moreover, treatment with LZD was associated with significantly lower levels of PVL toxin in lungs.

Conclusion

Linezolid has unique immunomodulatory effects on host inflammatory response and lung injury in a murine model of post-viral cMRSA pneumonia.     

Usefulness of Midregional Proadrenomedullin to Predict Poor Outcome in Patients with Community Acquired Pneumonia

Background

midregional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) is a prognostic biomarker in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We sought to confirm whether MR-proADM added to Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) improves the potential prognostic value of PSI alone, and tested to what extent this combination could be useful in predicting poor outcome of patients with CAP in an Emergency Department (ED).

Methods

Consecutive patients diagnosed with CAP were enrolled in this prospective, single-centre, observational study. We analyzed the ability of MR-proADM added to PSI to predict poor outcome using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, logistic regression and risk reclassification and comparing it with the ability of PSI alone. The primary outcome was “poor outcome”, defined as the incidence of an adverse event (ICU admission, hospital readmission, or mortality at 30 days after CAP diagnosis).

Results

226 patients were included; 33 patients (14.6%) reached primary outcome. To predict primary outcome the highest area under curve (AUC) was found for PSI (0.74 [0.64-0.85]), which was not significantly higher than for MR-proADM (AUC 0.72 [0.63-0.81, p > 0.05]). The combination of PSI and MR-proADM failed to improve the predictive potential of PSI alone (AUC 0.75 [0.65-0.85, p=0.56]). Ten patients were appropriately reclassified when the combined PSI and MR-proADM model was used as compared with the model of PSI alone. Net reclassification improvement (NRI) index was statistically significant (7.69%, p = 0.03) with an improvement percentage of 3.03% (p = 0.32) for adverse event, and 4.66% (P = 0.02) for no adverse event.

Conclusion

MR-proADM in combination with PSI may be helpful in individual risk stratification for short-term poor outcome of CAP patients, allowing a better reclassification of patients compared with PSI alone.     

Adjunctive Corticotherapy for Community Acquired Pneumonia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) induces lung and systemic inflammation, leading to high morbidity and mortality. We systematically reviewed the risks and benefits of adjunctive corticotherapy in the management of patients with CAP.

Methods

We systematically searched Pubmed, Embase and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials comparing adjunctive corticotherapy and antimicrobial therapy with antimicrobial therapy alone in patients with CAP. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes were length of hospital stay, time to clinical stability and severe complications.

Results

14 trials (2077 patients) were included. The reported 30-day mortality was 7.9% (80/1018) among patients treated with adjunctive corticotherapy versus 8.3% (85/1028) among patients treated with antimicrobial therapy alone (RR 0.84; 95%CI 0.55 to1.29). Adjunctive corticotherapy was associated with a reduction of severe complications (RR 0.36; 95%CI 0.23 to 0.56), a shorter length of stay (9.0 days; 95%CI 7.6 to 10.7 vs 10.6 days; 95%CI 7.4 to 15.3) and a shorter time to clinical stability (3.3 days; 95% CI 2.8 to 4.1 vs 4.3 days; 95%CI 3.6 to 5.1). The risk of hyperglycemia was higher among patients treated with adjunctive corticotherapy (RR 1.59; 95%CI 1.06 to 2.38), whereas the risk of gastro-intestinal bleeding was similar (RR 0.83; 95%CI 0.35 to 1.93). In the subgroup analysis based on CAP severity, a survival benefit was found among patients with severe CAP (RR 0.47; 95%CI 0.23 to 0.96).

Conclusion

Adjunctive corticotherapy is associated with a reduction of length of stay, time to clinical stability, and severe complications among patients with CAP, but the effect on mortality remains uncertain.     

小儿重症支原体肺炎高危因素分析

目的:筛选并分析重症支原体肺炎患儿的临床危险因素,为重症支原体肺炎的预防、诊断、治疗提供科学参考。方法:回顾性分析我院自2009年10月~2013年7月期间,确诊为支原体肺炎的患儿347例,根据患儿病情严重程度分为重症组和一般组,重症组有重症支原体肺炎患儿107例,一般组有患儿240例,从两组患儿的病例资料中抽取年龄、性别、居住地、(C reactive protein,CRP)、人肺炎支原体抗体(Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibody,MP-Ab)阳性率、病程、生活环境、反复呼吸道感染(Recurrent respiratory tract infection,RRI)、超敏C反应蛋白(High sensitivity C reactive protein,HSCRP)、红细胞沉积率(Erythrocyte sedimentation rate,ESR)、白细胞数(white blood cell,WBC)等相关指标,进行相关统计分析。对其分类指标进行合理赋值处理,实施单因素分析和多因素非条件的Logistic分析。结果:单因素分析显示:年龄、RRI、特殊体质、HSCRP、ESR以及先天性心脏病与重症支原体肺炎的发生相关(P=0.000,0.000,0.010,0.000,0.000,0.022);多因素非条件Logistic分析显示:年龄、RRI、HSCRP、ESR为重症支原体肺炎的危险因素(P=0.001,0.000,0.008,0.000)。结论:年龄、RRI、HSCRP、ESR是重症支原体肺炎的危险因素,通过对以上危险因素的密切关注对于重症支原体肺炎的预防、诊断、治疗有着重要的意义。     

经鼻加温加湿高流量吸氧对重症肺炎伴呼吸衰竭患儿血气指标、肺功能及细胞因子水平的影响

摘要 目的：观察经鼻加温加湿高流量吸氧（HFNC）对重症肺炎伴呼吸衰竭患儿血气指标、肺功能及细胞因子水平的影响。方法：选取南京医科大学附属儿童医院2020年3月~2022年3月期间收治的86例重症肺炎伴呼吸衰竭患儿,按照随机数字表法分为经鼻持续气道正压通气（nCPAP）组和HFNC组,各为43例。对比两组临床相关指标、血气指标、肺功能及细胞因子水平,同时观察两组镇静剂使用、预后及并发症发生情况。结果：HFNC组的机械通气时间、咳嗽缓解时间、肺部啰音消失时间、入住儿童重症监护室（PICU）时间均短于nCPAP组（P<0.05）。两组患儿治疗后心率（HR）升高,呼吸频率（RR）下降,且HFNC组的变化大于nCPAP组（P<0.05）。两组患儿治疗后pH值、血氧分压（PO₂）、血氧饱和度（SpO₂）、氧合指数（OI）均升高,且HFNC组高于nCPAP组（P<0.05）。两组患儿治疗后用力肺活量（FVC）、1s用力呼气容积（FEV1）、用力呼气时最高呼气流速（PEF）升高,且HFNC组高于nCPAP组（P<0.05）。两组患儿治疗后降钙素原（PCT）、白细胞介素（IL-6）和肿瘤坏死因子（TNF-α）下降,且HFNC组低于nCPAP组（P<0.05）。HFNC组镇静剂使用、再住院例数均少于nCPAP组（P<0.05）。两组死亡例数、并发症发生率组间对比未见统计学差异（P>0.05）。结论：HFNC可有效缓解重症肺炎伴呼吸衰竭患儿的临床症状,改善血气指标、肺功能及细胞因子水平。     

乌司他丁可降低重症肺炎患者的血清炎性因子水平并改善肺功能

为探讨乌司他丁对重症肺炎血清炎性指标、肺功能的影响,为临床应用提供有利的支持,本研究选取2015年1月至2017年6月期间在我院治疗的重症肺炎患者150例作为本次研究的对象,其中接受常规治疗联合乌司他丁治疗的患者83例(乌司他丁组),只接受常规治疗的患者67例(对照组)。比较两组患者治疗前后血清抗炎介质及促炎介质水平,并比较治疗前后的肺功能相关指标、肺表面活性蛋白水平,分析乌司他丁对重症肺炎血清炎性指标、肺功能改善情况。结果表明,治疗前两组患者的血清抗炎及促炎介质指标,差异无统计学意义(p>0.05),而治疗7 d后,乌司他丁组均明显低于对照组,且乌司他丁组肺功能相关指标明显优于对照组,肺表面活性蛋白水平明显低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(p<0.05);本研究表明,乌司他丁可降低重症肺炎患者的血清炎性因子水平,改善肺功能,具有一定的临床推广价值。     

重症肺炎患儿suPAR水平对比分析及与影像学表现的相关性

摘要 目的：探讨重症肺炎患儿可溶性尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物受体（soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor,suPAR）水平并对比分析及与影像学表现的相关性。方法：选取贵阳市第二人民医院及贵阳市儿童医院2020年1月到2020年12月共收治的70例肺炎患儿作为研究对象,其中重症肺炎患儿35例,男22例、女13例,将其分为重症组,轻症肺炎患儿35例,男20例、女15例,将其分为轻症组。对比两组患儿的suPAR水平、心肌酶水平以及肺部影像学结果,了解suPAR在重症肺炎中是否具有敏感性及特异性,并分析重症肺炎suPAR水平与心肌酶、肺部影像学结果是否存在相关性。结果：重症组suPAR水平较轻症组明显升高,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,重症组患儿肌酸激酶同工酶（creatine kinase isoenzymes-MB,CK-MB）、肌酸激酶（creatine kinase,CK）、乳酸脱氢酶（lactate dehydrogenase,LDH）、谷草转氨酶（Aspartate aminotransferase,AST）心肌酶相关指标明显高于轻症组,差异具有显著性（P＜0.05）;两组患儿密度增高影、带片絮状影、节段性实变、斑片状影人数对比无明显差异（P＞0.05）,两组患儿肺不张、大片状影、双肺纹增多人数对比差异显著（P＜0.05）;suPAR水平与CK-MB、CK、LDH、AST以及影像学特征呈正相关（P＜0.05）。血清suPAR水平对重症肺炎病情危重程度ROC的AUC为0.897（95%CI：0.819~0.975）,最佳cutoff值为1.9 ng/mL,此时特异度、灵敏度为82.86 %、85.71 %。结论：重症肺炎组suPAR的值与心肌酶呈正相关;suPAR水平与影像学表现具有相关性;suPAR水平越高提示病情越危重,在重症肺炎评估中其敏感性及特异性增高。     

Efficacy and Day 7 Plasma Piperaquine Concentrations in African Children Treated for Uncomplicated Malaria with Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine

Background

One promising new Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) is dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PQ). However, the pharmacokinetics of piperaquine and the relationship between drug levels and clinical efficacy are incompletely characterized, particularly in children.

Methods

We performed a single-arm open-label trial in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. A total of 379 participants aged 6 months or more with uncomplicated falciparum malaria were enrolled. Each participant received daily dose of DHA-PQ for three days and followed for 42 days. Parasitological efficacy was analyzed, considering rates of recrudescence and overall recurrence. PK was an exploratory endpoint and a priori, no sample size had been determined. Day 7 capillary and venous plasma concentrations of piperaquine were measured in children aged 2–10 years.

Results

Of the 379 participants, 365 (96.3%) completed 42 days of follow-up. The median daily dose of PQ was 18.5 mg/kg [6.5–24]. Treatment with DHA-PQ was well tolerated with fever and parasitemia resolution within 48 hours in nearly all children. Recurrent malaria within 42 days of follow-up occurred in 31.3% (10/34) of children less than 2 years old, 16.0% (16/106) of those aged 2–5 years, 9.4% (15/160) of those aged 5–10 years, and none (0/68) of those over 10 years old. After genotyping, 3 of 41 recurrent episodes were recrudescence. An exploratory analysis shows that children with successful treatment outcomes had significantly higher median plasma concentrations of PQ compared to those with recurrent malaria within 42 days after therapy, considering either capillary samples (68 ng/ml [50–85] compared to 48 ng/ml [36–55], p<0.001) or venous samples (42 ng/ml [29–59] compared to 25 ng/ml [19–44], p<0.001).

Conclusion

DHA-PQ was effective for uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria treatment and offers an alternative to other ACTs. Recurrent malaria was mainly due to new infections after treatment and was correlated with low day 7 PQ concentration in the youngest patients.

Trial Registration

Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN59761234     

Predictors of Duration and Treatment Failure of Severe Pneumonia in Hospitalized Young Nepalese Children

Background

Pneumonia in young children is still the most frequent cause of death in developing countries. We aimed to identify predictors for recovery and treatment failure in children hospitalized with severe pneumonia.

Methods

We enrolled 610 Nepalese children, aged 2 – 35 months from February 2006 to June 2008. Study participants were provided with standard treatment for pneumonia and followed up until discharge. Three multiple regression models representing clinical variables, clinical and radiological combined and all variables, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and viral etiology were used to assess the associations.

Results

The median age of study participants was 6 months with 493 (82%) infants and 367 (61%) males. The median time (IQR) till recovery was 49 (31, 87) hours and treatment failure was experienced by 209 (35%) of the children. Younger age, hypoxia on admission and radiographic pneumonia were independent predictors for both prolonged recovery and risk of treatment failure. While wasting and presence of any danger sign also predicted slower recovery, Parainfluenza type 1 isolated from the nasopharynx was associated with earlier resolution of illness. Gender, being breastfed, stunting, high fever, elevated CRP, presence of other viruses and supplementation with oral zinc did not show any significant association with these outcomes.

Conclusion

Age, hypoxia and consolidation on chest radiograph were significant predictors for time till recovery and treatment failure in children with severe pneumonia. While chest radiograph is not always needed, detection and treatment of hypoxia is a crucial step to guide the management of hospitalized children with pneumonia.     

Severe Sepsis in Severely Malnourished Young Bangladeshi Children with Pneumonia: A Retrospective Case Control Study

BackgroundIn developing countries, there is no published report on predicting factors of severe sepsis in severely acute malnourished (SAM) children having pneumonia and impact of fluid resuscitation in such children. Thus, we aimed to identify predicting factors for severe sepsis and assess the outcome of fluid resuscitation of such children.MethodsIn this retrospective case-control study SAM children aged 0–59 months, admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Dhaka Hospital of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh from April 2011 through July 2012 with history of cough or difficult breathing and radiologic pneumonia, who were assessed for severe sepsis at admission constituted the study population. We compared the pneumonic SAM children with severe sepsis (cases = 50) with those without severe sepsis (controls = 354). Severe sepsis was defined with objective clinical criteria and managed with fluid resuscitation, in addition to antibiotic and other supportive therapy, following the standard hospital guideline, which is very similar to the WHO guideline.ResultsThe case-fatality-rate was significantly higher among the cases than the controls (40% vs. 4%; p<0.001). In logistic regression analysis after adjusting for potential confounders, lack of BCG vaccination, drowsiness, abdominal distension, acute kidney injury, and metabolic acidosis at admission remained as independent predicting factors for severe sepsis in pneumonic SAM children (p<0.05 for all comparisons).

Conclusion and Significance

We noted a much higher case fatality among under-five SAM children with pneumonia and severe sepsis who required fluid resuscitation in addition to standard antibiotic and other supportive therapy compared to those without severe sepsis. Independent risk factors and outcome of the management of severe sepsis in our study children highlight the importance for defining optimal fluid resuscitation therapy aiming at reducing the case fatality in such children.