To investigate the pathogenic characteristics and risk factors of pediatric severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).
We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of hospitalized children with severe CAP from April 2014 to June 2019 in China. Data of age, sex and pathogenic results were collected: bacterial and fungal cultures, respiratory viruses from sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), serum
A total of 679 children with severe CAP were included in the analysis. The number of cases infected with MP was higher in males than in females. There were significant differences between the ≤1-year and >1-year groups in terms of pathogen. The top three bacteria cultured were
AdV and MP were dominant pathogens in children with severe CAP. AdV and MP infection predisposed each other to develop severe illness. AdV-MP co-infection may lead to severe pneumonia.