Co-occurrence of Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens in Children Under Five with Pneumococcal Carriage in Peninsular Malaysia - Summary - MDSpire

Co-occurrence of Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens in Children Under Five with Pneumococcal Carriage in Peninsular Malaysia

  • By

  • Andrew Chun Hoong Tan

  • Nurul Hanis Ramzi

  • Nur Alia Johari

  • Pei Kuan Lai

  • Simone Wong

  • Xuan Qi Chang

  • Eileen Eng Jia Lin

  • Xin Ru Lum

  • Azim Haikal Md Roslan

  • Anna Marie Nathan

  • Cindy Shuan Ju Teh

  • Mohamad Ikram Ilias

  • Zakuan Zainy Deris

  • Asrar Abu Bakar

  • Muhd Alwi Muhd Helmi

  • Norhidayah Kamarudin

  • Lokman Hakim Sulaiman

  • February 12, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To assess the presence of other respiratory bacterial pathogens and determine the prevalence and risk factors of pneumococcal co-carriage among children under five in Peninsular Malaysia, highlighting its significance for pneumonia outcomes.

Key Findings:
  • Pneumonia contributed to 2.6% of deaths in children under five in Malaysia in 2023, underscoring the need for effective interventions.
  • SPN co-carriage with other pathogens like HI and MP was prevalent among children with pneumonia, indicating a complex infection landscape.
  • Early colonization of SPN is linked to increased risk of respiratory conditions, emphasizing the importance of early detection.
Interpretation:

The study highlights the importance of monitoring pneumococcal co-carriage with other respiratory pathogens to better understand pneumonia's etiology and improve clinical outcomes, directly addressing the study's objective.

Limitations:
  • Limited to children under five with pneumonia; findings may not be generalizable to older populations, potentially affecting broader public health strategies.
  • Exclusion of children with recent antibiotic use may affect the prevalence rates, possibly underestimating co-infection rates.
Conclusion:

The findings underscore the need for rapid molecular diagnostics to identify co-infections in pediatric pneumonia cases, which is crucial for improving treatment strategies.

Original Source(s)

Co-occurrence of Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens in Children Under Five with Pneumococcal Carriage in Peninsular Malaysia

  • by Andrew Chun Hoong Tan, Nurul Hanis Ramzi, Nur Alia Johari, Pei Kuan Lai, Simone Wong, Xuan Qi Chang, Eileen Eng Jia Lin, Xin Ru Lum, Azim Haikal Md Roslan, Anna Marie Nathan, Cindy Shuan Ju Teh, Mohamad Ikram Ilias, Zakuan Zainy Deris, Asrar Abu Bakar, Muhd Alwi Muhd Helmi, Norhidayah Kamarudin, Lokman Hakim Sulaiman

  • February 12, 2026

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