RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Surfactant improves lung function and mitigates bacterial growth in immature ventilated rabbits with experimentally induced neonatal group B streptococcal pneumonia
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition
JO Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP F3
OP F8
DO 10.1136/fn.76.1.F3
VO 76
IS 1
A1 Herting, Egbert
A1 Sun, Bo
A1 Jarstrand, Connie
A1 Curstedt, Tore
A1 Robertson, Bengt
YR 1997
UL http://fn.bmj.com/content/76/1/F3.abstract
AB Aims—To study the influence of surfactant on lung function and bacterial proliferation in immature newborn rabbits with experimental group B streptococcal (GBS) pneumonia. METHODS Preterm rabbit fetuses (gest-ational age 28 days) underwent tracheotomy and were mechanically ventilated in a warmed body plethysmograph that permitted measurement of lung-thorax compliance. Fifteen minutes after the onset of ventilation the animals received either GBS or saline intratracheally; at 30 minutes, a bolus of saline or 200 mg/kg of a porcine surfactant (Curosurf) was administered via the airway. Bacterial proliferation was evaluated in lung homogenate at the end of the experiments and the results expressed as mean log10 cfu/g lung (SD). Animals receiving only saline (n=20) or saline and surfactant (n=20) served as controls. RESULTS The average survival time was about three hours in all groups. Infected animals receiving surfactant (n = 22) had significantly less bacterial growth (9.09 (0.45) vs 9.76 (0.91)) and improved lung function (compliance: 0.61 (0.14)vs 0.34 (0.19) ml/kg . cm H2O) than infected rabbits receiving saline at 30 minutes (n = 22). CONCLUSION Surfactant improves lung function and mitigates bacterial growth in preterm rabbits infected with group B streptococci.