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Bacterial tracheitis in pediatrics: 12 year experience at a medical center in Taiwan
Author(s) -
Huang YuLan,
Peng ChunChih,
Chiu NanChang,
Lee KuoSheng,
Hung HanYang,
Kao HsinAn,
Hsu ChyongHsin,
Chang JuiHsin,
Huang FuYuan
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.2008.02669.x
Subject(s) - tracheitis , medicine , pediatrics , staphylococcus aureus , pediatric intensive care unit , streptococcus , surgery , bronchitis , biology , bacteria , genetics
Background: Bacterial tracheitis may cause life‐threatening airway obstruction. Methods: Records of patients admitted to the pediatric wards of Mackay Memorial Hospital between 1994 and 2005 with a diagnosis of bacterial tracheitis made on bronchoscopic visualization of thick membranous tracheal secretions were retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of 40 patients (aged 1 month–8 years, 29 [73%] under 3 years old) were included. Cough, fever, dyspnea, and hoarseness were the commonest symptoms. Fourteen patients (21%) required intubation. The most frequently isolated bacteriae were α‐hemolytic streptococcus (in 11, 38%), pseudomonas (5, 17%), and Staphylococcus aureus (4, 14%). Intubation was more frequent in patients seen between 1994 and 1999 compared with those seen later (8/12 early vs 9/28 late). In the early period α‐hemolytic streptococcus (55%) and pseudomonas (36%) were isolated. In the later period the most frequently isolated bacteria was α‐hemolytic streptococcus (28%), followed by S. aureus (22%). No patients died, but those with pseudomonas infection had more severe complications, including tracheal stenosis. The average hospital stay in the early period was 26.2 ± 20.5 days versus 9.1 ± 4.8 days in the late period. The corresponding lengths of stay in the intensive care unit were 10.5 ± 11.5 days and 2.0 ± 2.2 days. Conclusions: Bacterial tracheitis requiring hospitalization of children appeared to be milder in the second half of the study period. Pseudomonas tracheitis tends to have a severe course.