Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Analysis of Hospitalized Infants with Chlamydia trachomatis Pneumonia

Background/Objectives: Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is an important cause of community-acquired pneumonia in early infancy; however, its subtle and nonspecific clinical features often result in underdiagnosis and delayed treatment. Evidence regarding clinical predictors of severe disease and distinctive imaging manifestations remains limited. This study aimed to characterize the clinical and imaging features of hospitalized infantile C. trachomatis pneumonia and to identify potential indicators associated with disease severity.

Methods

This retrospective study enrolled infants with confirmed C. trachomatis pneumonia hospitalized at Beijing Children’s Hospital from January 2016 to December 2025. Data on demographics, clinical presentations, laboratory findings, chest imaging, treatments, and outcomes were systematically collected. Exploratory subgroup analyses were performed to compare severe and non-severe cases and identify severity-associated factors.