Review Article

Systematic review and meta-analysis on the etiology of bacterial pneumonia in children in sub-Saharan Africa

Chukwuemeka Onwuchekwa, Bassey Edem, Victor Williams, Ibiloye Olujuwon, Musa Jallow, Binta Sanyang, Kristien Verdonck
Journal of Public Health in Africa | Vol 13, No 3 | a419 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2022.2151 | © 2024 Chukwuemeka Onwuchekwa, Bassey Edem, Victor Williams, Ibiloye Olujuwon, Musa Jallow, Binta Sanyang, Kristien Verdonck | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 11 April 2024 | Published: 07 September 2022

About the author(s)

Chukwuemeka Onwuchekwa, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
Bassey Edem, Vaccine and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Atlantic Boulevard, Fajar, Gambia
Victor Williams, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Ibiloye Olujuwon, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
Musa Jallow, Vaccine and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Atlantic Boulevard, Fajara, Gambia
Binta Sanyang, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Banjul, Gambia
Kristien Verdonck, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium

Full Text:

PDF (2MB)

Abstract

Introduction. Before the introduction of vaccination to protect children from pneumonia, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type B (HiB) were the most frequent aetiological agents causing bacterial pneumonia in children under five years old. However, the etiology of childhood pneumonia appears to be changing and nonvaccine- type S. pneumoniae, non-typeable H. influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus are becoming more relevant.

Objective. We conducted a systematic review aimed at identifying the common causes of bacterial pneumonia in children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods. We searched PubMed, Web of Science and African Index Medicus and included primary studies conducted since January 2010 that reported on the bacterial causes of pneumonia in children under five from sub-Saharan Africa. We extracted data items (about the study setting, pneumonia diagnosis, sampling, microbiological methods, and etiological agents) as well as study quality indicators.Results. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common bacteria in blood cultures from children with pneumonia (8%, 95% CI: 4- 14%), and H. influenzae was second (3%, 95% CI: 1-17%). Children’s nasopharynx commonly contained S. pneumoniae (66%), Moraxella catarrhalis (62%), and H. influenzae (44%).

Conclusion. S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae cause bacterial pneumonia in sub-Saharan African children. Our review also highlights the prevalence of potentially pathogenic bacteria in the nasopharynx of children under five and calls for more research into how nasopharyngeal colonization causes pneumonia.


Keywords

Pneumococcus; Staphylococcus; Haemophilus; Moraxella; Children; Sub Saharan Africa; Pneumonia

Metrics

Total abstract views: 1310
Total article views: 1038

 

Crossref Citations

1. Delay in seeking healthcare for pneumonia and associated factors among mothers/caregivers of children aged 2–59 months in public health facilities in Nekemte town, Ethiopia
Dereje Temsesgen, Berhanu Wordofa, Tewodros Tesfaye, Werku Etafa
BMC Pediatrics  vol: 23  issue: 1  year: 2023  
doi: 10.1186/s12887-022-03825-x