Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41545885›Full record

ArticleItalian journal of pediatrics2026

Pathogen trends and paradigm shifts of respiratory infections in children: a 5-year retrospective study from Perugia.

Fiumicelli Elena, Nicolì Sofia, Pazzelli Paola, Penta Laura, Biccardi Angela, Camilloni Barbara, Mencacci Antonella, Di Cara Giuseppe, Verrotti Alberto, Valitutti Francesco

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Italian journal of pediatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Fiumicelli ElenaDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-2176-2586
Nicolì SofiaDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Pazzelli PaolaPediatric Unit, AO Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Penta LauraPediatric Unit, AO Perugia, Perugia, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0945-2997
Biccardi AngelaDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-2399-9308
Camilloni BarbaraDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2198-0127
Mencacci AntonellaDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9221-6172
Di Cara GiuseppeDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7632-6774
Verrotti AlbertoDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4221-3990
Valitutti FrancescoDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. francesco.valitutti@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1473-2240

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRespiratory infections are one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among children. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the epidemiology of respiratory tract infections has changed and has been better traced by more frequent and less expensive molecular and antigenic tests. The main aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the epidemiology of respiratory infections among children hospitalized in Perugia during the epidemic seasons of 2018-2019 and 2023-2024, comparing clinical severity, hospitalization length, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.

methodsWe retrospectively analysed hospital records of all patients admitted to our clinic from October 2018 to March 2019 and from October 2023 to March 2024.

resultsIn the post-COVID-19 era, hospitalizations for respiratory infections increased proportionally to other hospitalization causes, remaining the most common ones. Length of hospital stay was shorter, with no difference based on age, C-Reactive Protein levels or symptoms at admission. A change of respiratory infection epidemiology after the COVID-19 pandemic has been witnessed also in our setting: Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza played a central role, displaying earlier peaks and severe clinical pictures. Increased use of molecular testing allowed for prompt etiological diagnoses, likely contributing to shorter inpatient stays and fewer antibiotic prescriptions, thus reducing economic burden for each patient and promoting improved antibiotic stewardship.

conclusionIn our setting, respiratory infections still accounted for the majority of pediatric hospitalizations during the autumn/winter seasons. A comprehensive testing strategy for etiological diagnosis of respiratory infections in hospitalized patients seemed to be cost-effective by reducing hospital stay and antibiotic prescriptions. This study may inform healthcare policy by emphasizing the importance of etiological diagnosis and the economic burden of inappropriate treatments.

Indexed as

COVID-19Respiratory Tract InfectionsAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHospitalizationHumansInfantItalyLength of StayMaleRetrospective StudiesSARS-CoV-2Antimicrobial stewardshipCOVID-19Infectious diseaseMicrobiologyPediatricsRespiratory infectionsVirology

Identifiers

PMID41545885
PMCPMC12896027

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.