Bacterial Colonization in Neonates May Lead to Asthma

Neonatal colonization with respiratory bacterial species was associated with childhood asthma in a prospective study.

Investigators in Denmark previously proposed that bacterial airway colonization during infancy might increase the risk for childhood asthma. Now, they have tested this hypothesis in a prospective study of 321 term or near-term infants born to women with asthma.

Hypopharyngeal samples were obtained at ages 1 and 12 months and were cultured for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Staphylococcus aureus. Parents recorded wheezing-related respiratory symptoms in daily diaries for up to 5 years; symptoms that persisted for ≥3 days were confirmed by physicians.

At age 1 month, 61% of infants were colonized with S. aureus, and 21% of infants were colonized with S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, M. catarrhalis, or …

Reviewing Author

Robert S. Baltimore, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsInfectious Diseases in Children

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesMember Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis and Kawasaki Disease

Robert S. Baltimore, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsInfectious Diseases in Children

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesMember Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis and Kawasaki Disease