Microbiology
One virus was isolated in 71.6% of the patients, and 2 viruses in
14.7% of the patients, with RSV present in 78.4% of cases. No more
than 2 viruses were isolated in any patient. In 12.7% of cases, no
virus was isolated. Among the patients requiring IMV, 1 virus was
isolated in 71.4% of patients, and 2 viruses in 21.4% of patients. No
virus was isolated in 7.1% of patients. Table 2 shows the
virus isolation results from nasal swabs. Infants with parents who
smoked had a higher RSV infection rate (87% vs. 76%) compared with
those who had not been exposed to tobacco smoke (Figure 2A) .
ETA was performed just after intubation in all the 28 patients requiring
IMV. A total of 13/28 (46.4%) intubated patients presented with
bacterial isolation in the infection range; in 7/28 (25%), 2 or more
bacteria were isolated. In 7/28 (25%) intubated patients,
microorganisms in the colonization range were isolated. In 8/28
(28.6%), no other microorganisms were isolated. Of the 8 infants on IMV
in whom no microorganisms were isolated, 5 (62.5%) had received
previous antibiotic therapy. Table 3 shows the percentage of
ETA-isolated microorganisms in patients whose parents smoked and in
those whose parents did not smoke.
Blood cultures were positive in 7 (6.9%), and urine cultures in 6
(5.9%) of the patients.