ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of mortality in United States. The majority of pediatric pneumonias are viral in origin, but a bacterial etiology should always be considered in the differential diagnosis because antibiotic administration may be crucial to the patient's management. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacteria responsible for community-acquired pneumonia in children of all ages. Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae are important from the age of 5 years onwards. Nosocomial pneumonia is a common hospital-acquired infection in children which can be fatal. Approximately 60% of cases of nosocomial pneumonia are caused by aerobic gram-negative bacilli. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common Gram-positive bacteria causing nosocomial pneumonia but infections with these organisms have a better outcome than those caused by Gram-negative bacteria. The selected antibiotics should be effective against the most common bacterial pathogens found in the child's age group and will account for antibiotic-resistant organisms in the child's community and local hospitals.
