Community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections in the neonatal period are one of the most common causes of hospitalization, especially in winter. Although the causative agent is viral in most patients, it may rarely be of bacterial origin. “Multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction” (PCR) screening for the detection of agents in respiratory tract infections is a reliable and fast method that provides rapid identification of the infectious agent and reduces unnecessary antibiotic use. The aim of this study is to evaluate the factors detected in newborns with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Newborns who were followed up in the neonatal intensive care unit with the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia were included in the study. Viral and bacterial factors were screened by PCR method in nasopharyngeal swab samples of these patients. The distribution of the factors during the year was evaluated. A total of 139 patients were included in the study and the causative agent was detected in 105 (75.5%) of the patients. There were 95 (68.5%) patients with solely viral agents, three patients (2%) with only bacterial agents, and seven (5%) patients with both viral and bacterial agents. The most common viral agents are RSV A (n=33, 23.7%) and RSV B (n=26, 18.7%). RSV A was most detected between January and March. The most common bacterial agent was Haemophilus influenza in six patients (4.3%). In conclusion, viruses are the most common cause of community-acquired respiratory tract infection in newborns, and RSV was the most detected agent. Demonstration of viral agents may provide unnecessary treatment and reduce treatment time.

Keywords: newborn, community-acquired pneumonia, PCR