Why carry out the study?

According to reports, lower respiratory tract infections ranked second of the top ten causes of disability-adjusted life-years in children under 10 in 2019. Our previous surveillance results showed that S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and M. catarrhalis have been the most frequently detected in our hospital.

The aim of this study is to understand the regularity of the prevalence of common lower respiratory tract infections among children in Shenzhen, and the impact of the strict protection in Shenzhen against COVID-19 on the distribution and resistance of these bacteria.

What was learned from the study?

S. pneumoniae, M. catarrhalis, and H. influenzae have obvious seasonal epidemic patterns, and, during the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, their number dropped significantly compared to 2019 (S. pneumoniae: 801 vs. 1 545; M. catarrhalis: 783 vs. 1 273; H. influenzae: 354 vs. 1 741), the detection rates of β-lactamase-positive H. influenzae, ceftriaxone-resistant K. pneumoniae, MRSA, and CRKP also decreased. However, compared to 2020, antimicrobial resistance of most bacteria in 2021 still continue to rise, despite normalized prevention and control measures.

We can block the spread of common bacteria through protective measures during the epidemic season of community-acquired lower respiratory tract. However, to block the spread of nosocomial-acquired lower respiratory tract infection bacteria (including multidrug-resistant bacteria), it is still necessary to strengthen the prevention and control of nosocomial infection and the rational use of antibiotics for a long time.