J Korean Med Sci.  2011 Feb;26(2):174-183. 10.3346/jkms.2011.26.2.174.

Etiology of Invasive Bacterial Infections in Immunocompetent Children in Korea (1996-2005): A Retrospective Multicenter Study

• Lee JH
• Cho HK
• Kim KH
• Kim CH
• Kim DS
• Kim KN
• Cha SH
• Oh SH
• Hur JK
• Kang JH
• Kim JH
• Kim YK
• Hong YJ
• Chung EH
• Park SE
• Choi YY
• Kim JS
• Kim HM
• Choi EH
• Lee HJ

• KMID: 1782103
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2011.26.2.174

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the major etiological agents responsible for invasive bacterial infections in immunocompetent Korean children. We retrospectively surveyed invasive bacterial infections in immunocompetent children caused by eight major pediatric bacteria, namely Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella species that were diagnosed at 18 university hospitals from 1996 to 2005. A total of 768 cases were identified. S. agalactiae (48.1%) and S. aureus (37.2%) were the most common pathogens in infants younger than 3 months. S. agalactiae was a common cause of meningitis (73.0%), bacteremia without localization (34.0%), and arthritis (50%) in this age group. S. pneumoniae (45.3%) and H. influenzae (20.4%) were common in children aged 3 months to 5 yr. S. pneumoniae was a common cause of meningitis (41.6%), bacteremia without localization (40.0%), and bacteremic pneumonia (74.1%) in this age group. S. aureus (50.6%), Salmonella species (16.9%), and S. pneumoniae (16.3%) were common in older children. A significant decline in H. influenzae infections over the last 10 yr was noted. S. agalactiae, S. pneumoniae, and S. aureus are important pathogens responsible for invasive bacterial infections in Korean children.

Keyword

Bacterial Infections; Epidemiology; Bacteremia; Meningitis; Streptococcus agalactiae; Streptococcus pneumonia; Staphylococcus aureus

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Bacteria/*pathogenicity
Bacterial Infections/*etiology/*microbiology/mortality
Child
Child, Preschool
Humans
Infant
Republic of Korea
Retrospective Studies

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Distribution of causative bacterial organisms in invasive infections in immunocompetent Korean children between 1996 and 2005 according to age group and clinical spectrum.

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  Fig. 2 Temporal changes in the relative proportions of the four most prevalent causative bacterial organisms of invasive infections in immunocompetent Korean children 3 months of age or older between 1996 and 2005.

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