Clinical and hematological characterization of lower respiratory tract bacterial infections in children with tracheostomy

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K16856
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52050:Embryonic medicine and pediatrics-related
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Minamikawa Shogo 神戸大学, 医学研究科, 医学研究員 (10772634)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 気管切開 / 下気道感染症 / リアルタイムPCR

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study analyzed the differences in clinical characteristics between bacterial and nonbacterial infections of the lower respiratory tract in 29 children undergoing tracheostomy with airway symptoms. Sputum culture examination of tracheostomized children suggested that many of them had commensal bacteria, as previously reported. In the comprehensive real-time PCR test performed, it was difficult to differentiate the indigenous bacteria from the causative organisms, but the results of the viral search could be useful for differential diagnosis in some of the cases. In the blood test markers, classical markers were found to be useful.

Free Research Field

小児感染症学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

気管切開児における下気道感染症は細菌感染症の判断が非常に困難かつ、多くの耐性化した常在菌により、広域抗菌薬が頻用される。しかし、これらの例の中にはウイルス感染や胃食道逆流症などの非細菌感染症例も数多くいると推定され、抗菌薬使用の適正化のためにも、気管切開児における細菌感染症の診断方法の確立が急務である。本研究では、網羅的リアルタイムPCR検査は気管切開児に対しての有用性は限定的であることを明らかとし、血液マーカーの有効性を示したことで、今後の感染症診療においての1つの指標となりえる。