BACKGROUND AND METHODS To understand the burden and epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae disease among children between 1 and 59 months of age in China, we conducted a review of literature published between 1980 and 2008 applying standardized algorithms. Because of the absence of population-based surveillance for pneumococcal disease (PD), we identified all-cause pneumonia, bacteremia and m...

Introduction Pneumonia is a leading cause of death among children worldwide; however, in developing countries the greatest burden of the disease is among the under-5s. This review article details the aetiology, clinical features, investigations, diagnosis, complications, treatment, and other forms of management of pneumonia. The prevention of pneumonia is discussed and the future prospects for ...

The innate immune system employs C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) to recognize carbohydrate structures on pathogens and self-antigens. The Macrophage-inducible C-type lectin (Mincle) is a FcRγ-coupled CLR that was shown to bind to mycobacterial cord factor as well as certain fungal species. However, since CLR functions during bacterial infections have not yet been investigated thoroughly, we aime...

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a critical mediator of severe inflammatory diseases such as pneumonia, and the PAF-receptor (PAFR) is known to be an anchor for Streptococcus pneumoniae attachment to lung epithelial cells. We conducted a DNA microarray analysis to detect critical factors that mediate fulminant pneumonia due to influenza virus and S. pneumoniae co-infection in mice. Among the...

Compared with community-dwelling persons, residents in long-term care facilities have more functional disabilities and underlying medical illnesses and are at increased risk of acquiring infectious diseases. Pneumonia is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in this group. Risk factors include unwitnessed aspiration, sedative medication, and comorbidity. Recognition may be delayed becaus...

Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of hospitalisation and mortality in the United States [1]. Effective empiric treatment involves selecting an antibiotic with a spectrum of activity that includes the possible causative pathogen(s) [1]. Therefore, an evidence-based classification scheme that differentiates pneumonia based on the most likely causative organism(s) will help clinicians maximiz...

BACKGROUND Recently, we described the discovery of a novel group 2 coronavirus, coronavirus HKU1 (CoV-HKU1), from a patient with pneumonia. However, the clinical and molecular epidemiological features of CoV-HKU1-associated pneumonia are unknown. METHODS Prospectively collected (during a 12-month period) nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) from patients with community-acquired pneumonia from 4 ho...

OBJECTIVE Staphylococcal pneumonia typically presents high rates of morbidity and mortality. It typically occurs in cases of influenza (airborne transmission) or during episodes of bacteremia (blood-borne transmission). METHODS A retrospective and descriptive study was conducted in patients admitted to our hospital between January of 1992 and December of 2003. All of he patients included had ...

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the potential role of CT in the early diagnosis of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-OIV) pneumonia. We present a case of acute influenza-like illness in which the CT findings of peribronchovascular and subpleural ground-glass opacities and consolidation resembled organizing pneumonia, and lead the radiologist to prospectively and correctly sug...

BACKGROUND α-toxin is one of the major virulence factors secreted by most Staphylococcus aureus strains, which played a central role in the pathogenesis of S. aureus pneumonia. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of capsaicin on the production of α-toxin by community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) strain USA 300 and to further assess its perform...