Abstract:

Objective To analyze the characteristics of bacteria isolated from lower respiratory tract in premature infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and to explore the correlation between the bacteria and BPD. Methods A total of 185 preterm infants diagnosed as BPD in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with invasive mechanical ventilation ≥ 72 h were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into the mild moderate BPD group (n=124) and the severe BPD group (n=61) according to the severity of the disease. The general clinical data such as birth weight and gestational age were collected, as well as the treatment process indicators of neonatal diseases such as necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Respiratory aspirate fluid (TAF) samples from 2 groups were collected for pathogen culture and statistically analyzed. Results Compared with the mild moderate group, birth weight and gestational age were lower in the severe group (P<0.05), and the proportion of children with gram-negative bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Corynebacterium detected by TAF were increased (P<0.05). Conclusion Changes of lower respiratory tract flora in preterm infants may be an important factor in the development of BPD, and the proportion of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Corynebacterium detected in TAF of children with severe BPD is higher.

Key words: bronchopulmonary dysplasia, infant, premature, respiratory tract infections, bacteria, bodily secretions, invasive ventilation