Effectiveness of treatment with surfactant in premature infants with respiratory failure and pulmonary infection.

INTRODUCTION

Surfactant inactivation is present in neonatal pneumonia.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

One hundred thirty-nine preterm babies with Birth Weight (BW) < or = 1250 grams were studied and subdivided in two groups: RDS Group, with a diagnosis of "simple" RDS (N 80) and RDS with Pneumonia Group, consisting of babies with a diagnosis of RDS and a positive BALF culture in the first 24-48 h of life (N 59).

OUTCOMES: Surfactant administration seems less effective in the latter group, because a significantly higher number of infants needed a second dose of surfactant, compared to the patients suffering from RDS alone. (www.actabiomedica.it).