Lower respiratory infections (LRIs) etiologies in hospitalized children in New Caledonia: a PERCH pilot study

Background Worldwide, lower respiratory infections (LRIs) are the most frequent cause of death in children under 5 years. The Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health (PERCH) project is a large, multi-center case-control study of hospitalized pediatric patients with severe LRI to determine the etiology and risk factors associated with the syndrome. By applying modern tools with standardized methods, PERCH will contribute to new, precise information to guide the development of future vaccines and treatments. A pilot study aims to describe LRI etiologies in New Caledonia and to evaluate new diagnostic techniques.