IngentaConnect Aetiological agents, interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and CRP concent...

Authors: Tumgor, Gokhan¹; Celik, Umit²; Alabaz, Derya²; Cetiner, Salih³; Yaman, Akgun⁴; Yildizdas, Dincer⁵; Alhan, Emre²

Source: Annals of Tropical Paediatrics: International Child Health, Volume 26, Number 4, December 2006 , pp. 285-291(7)

Publisher: Maney Publishing

Abstract:

Objective: To determine the pathogens causing pneumonia in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and to investigate serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and CRP in pneumonia caused by different aetiological agents.

Study design: Eighty-seven children (mostly < 5 years of age) were recruited in a prospective study, 55 of them with CAP without prior antibiotic treatment and 32 with HAP. Thirty healthy outpatient children served as controls.

Results: The causative micro-organisms were determined by serological and microbiological methods in 40 cases with CAP (72.7%) and 30 with HAP (93.7%). In CAP, M. pneumoniae was the most common causative agent (43.6%), followed by S. pneumoniae (20%) and C. pneumoniae (18.1%). Bacteria alone were the sole causative agents in only 21.8% of cases with HAP. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (34.3%) and K. pneumoniae (32.5%) were the most frequently isolated. Although IL-6 and IL-8 levels were raised, there was no statistical difference between the CAP and HAP groups, or between bacterial and mycoplasma infections; neither was there a difference in CRP levels between these two groups.

Conclusion: The causes of pneumonia differ between CAP and HAP. Levels of IL-6, IL-8 and CRP are raised in pneumonia but are unhelpful in differentiating the various aetiologies.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1179/146532806X152809

Affiliations: 1: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey 2: Department of Pediatric Infection, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey 3: Department of Biochemistry, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey 4: Department of Microbiology, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey 5: Department of Paediatric Intensive Care, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey

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Aetiological agents, interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and CRP concentrations in children with community- and hospital-acquired pneumonia