SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Pneumocystis Infection in Hospitalized Children: Demographics, Clinic and Temporal Trends

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This retrospective study examined national trends in pediatric Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) hospitalizations in the United States using the Kids’ Inpatient Database from 1997 to 2019. PCP is a serious opportunistic fungal infection that primarily affects immunocompromised patients and can be fatal.<br /><br />The analysis found that PCP was uncommon in hospitalized children overall, with a prevalence of 5.2 cases per 100,000 hospital discharges, or 4.2 cases per million U.S. children. The case fatality rate was 11.7%, highlighting the severity of the infection. Although the prevalence of PCP declined significantly over time, especially in later study years, mortality did not improve and remained unchanged throughout the study period.<br /><br />Age-specific trends showed the highest prevalence among children aged 10–14 years, followed closely by those aged 5–9 years. Neonates had the lowest prevalence. The study also noted a major decrease in pediatric HIV prevalence during the same period, falling from 98 cases per 100,000 discharges in 1997 to 8 cases per 100,000 in 2019, suggesting that declining HIV rates may partly explain the reduced PCP burden.<br /><br />The authors concluded that while PCP hospitalizations in children have become less frequent in the United States, the infection continues to carry a high risk of death. They suggested that improved use of PCP prophylaxis in immunocompromised children may have contributed to the decline in prevalence, but further evaluation is needed.

Asset Subtitle

Silvia Carolina Escudero

Meta Tag

Author List Balagangadhar R. Totapally, Maria Daniela Godoy, Silvia Carolina Escudero

Category Research

Concept Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia

Concept Prevalence

Concept Case fatality rate

Concept Pneumocystis jirovecii prophylaxis

Concept Hospitalized Children

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Nicklaus Children's Hospital

Presenting Author Silvia Carolina Escudero

Track Outcomes Research

Keywords

Pneumocystis pneumonia

PCP

pediatric hospitalizations

United States

Kids' Inpatient Database

opportunistic fungal infection

immunocompromised children

case fatality rate

HIV prevalence

PCP prophylaxis

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia

Prevalence

Case fatality rate

Pneumocystis jirovecii prophylaxis

Hospitalized Children