COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS AMONG CHILDREN IN AN URBAN-ENVIRONMENT - A 2-YEAR PROSPECTIVE-STUDY IN LIVERPOOL, UK

Community-acquired infections are an important cause of admission of c hildren to hospital. Mie have made a 2-year prospective study of 1,599 children admitted with infection to the Royal Liverpool Children's Ho spital in ol del to determine the pattern of infections, their seasona l distribution and the role of the laboratory in isolating causative a gents. Respiratory infections (32% cases) and gastroenteritis (28% cas es) were the principal causes of admission. Of all admissions, 64% wer e children aged less than 1 year. Appropriate specimens were obtained and/or investigations made of 48% cases. Overall, a causative agent wa s determined in 21% cases. Individual pathogens showed marked seasonal ity. Respiratory syncytial virus, rotavirus and Shigella species were found more often in the winter months, while Salmonella species and ad enovirus infections were most common in the summer. The results provid e local data thar is relevant to both public health and hospital plann ing. They also emphasise the need for continuing surveillance of commu nity-acquired infections.