Endotracheal colonization at birth is associated with a pathogen-dependent pro- and antiinflammatory cytokine response in ventilated preterm infants: a prospective cohort study.
The possible association between mediators of inflammation such as cytokines and perinatal colonization of the respiratory tract remains unclear. This prospective cohort study evaluated endotracheal colonization in 141 ventilated preterm infants at birth. The relation with cytokine response in the airways and C-reactive protein (CRP) in umbilical blood was investigated. Of the 141 preterm infants enrolled in this study, 37 (26%) were colonized. In addition to traditional pathogens (61%), commensal species (26%) and Mycoplasmataceae (13%) were isolated. Both the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha as well as the antiinflammatory IL-10 are increased in colonized patients in a dose-dependent manner, with the strongest response in neonates colonized with Gram-negative organisms. There was no antimicrobial IL-12p70 response in colonized infants. Commensal flora is associated with the same inflammatory response as traditional pathogens. Although the umbilical cord blood CRP level was significantly higher in neonates with endotracheal colonization, it was highest in those colonized with Gram-negative organisms but still close to normal limits. Microorganisms in the endotracheal fluid of ventilated preterm infants are associated with a pathogen-specific and dose-dependent cytokine response in the airways and systemic CRP response.
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine, B-2610 Wilrijk. jd978722@planetinternet.be
Jozef
J
De Dooy
Margareta
M
Ieven
Wim
W
Stevens
Annemie
A
Schuerwegh
Ludo
L
Mahieu
D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000276:immunology*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D014132:Trachea / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
D016207:Cytokines; D002097:C-Reactive Protein