Pediatric Community-acquired Pneumonia with High Coinfection Burden: A Single-center Experience in Taiwan

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a leading cause of pediatric hospitalization worldwide. However, the role of viral–bacterial coinfections and the clinical utility of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostics in pediatric CAP remain insufficiently defined. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the distribution of pathogens and clinical outcomes associated with viral, bacterial, and mixed infections in children hospitalized with CAP, using multiplex PCR testing. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed hospitalized pediatric patients (