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Bacterial colonization of the larynx and trachea in healthy children
Author(s) -
Hjuler IM,
Hansen MB,
Olsen B,
Renneberg J
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1995.tb13696.x
Subject(s) - larynx , medicine , pneumonia , airway , microbiological culture , intubation , pathogenic bacteria , pathology , surgery , bacteria , biology , genetics
Fifty healthy children were included in the study; tracheal and laryngeal aspirations were performed after oral endotracheal intubation during minor surgery. The aspirates were evaluated and examined in the same way as aspirates from children suspected of pneumonia; 31 samples were accepted for the final analysis. After culturing, specimens from 30 children exhibited growth of potential pathogenic bacteria either from the larynx, the trachea or both. Prior to culture, bacteria were seen by microscopy in 24 samples from 30 children. These results indicate that the majority of healthy children carry potential pathogenic bacteria, not only in the larynx but also to a certain extent in the trachea. We conclude that aspirates from the larynx and the trachea are of limited value in the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia in children.