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Neonatal Pneumonia

By

Brenda L. Tesini

, MD, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

Reviewed/Revised Jul 2022 | Modified Sep 2022
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Neonatal pneumonia is lung infection in a neonate. Onset may be within hours of birth and part of a generalized sepsis syndrome or after 7 days and confined to the lungs. Signs may be limited to respiratory distress or progress to shock and death. Diagnosis is by clinical and laboratory evaluation for sepsis. Treatment is initial broad-spectrum antibiotics changed to organism-specific drugs as soon as possible.

Pneumonia is the most common invasive bacterial infection after primary sepsis. Early-onset pneumonia is part of generalized sepsis that first manifests at or within hours of birth ( see Neonatal Sepsis Neonatal Sepsis Neonatal sepsis is invasive infection, usually bacterial, occurring during the neonatal period. Signs are multiple, nonspecific, and include diminished spontaneous activity, less vigorous sucking... read more ). Late-onset pneumonia usually occurs after 7 days of age, most commonly in neonatal intensive care units among infants who require prolonged endotracheal intubation because of lung disease (called ventilator-associated pneumonia).

Etiology of Neonatal Pneumonia

Organisms are acquired from the maternal genital tract or the nursery. These organisms include gram-positive cocci (eg, groups A and B streptococci Streptococcal Infections Streptococci are gram-positive aerobic organisms that cause many disorders, including pharyngitis, pneumonia, wound and skin infections, sepsis, and endocarditis. Symptoms vary with the organ... read more Streptococcal Infections , both methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Staphylococcal Infections Staphylococci are gram-positive aerobic organisms. Staphylococcus aureus is the most pathogenic; it typically causes skin infections and sometimes pneumonia, endocarditis, and osteomyelitis... read more Staphylococcal Infections ) and gram-negative bacilli (eg, Escherichia coli Escherichia coli Infections The gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli is the most numerous aerobic commensal inhabitant of the large intestine. Certain strains cause diarrhea, and all can cause infection when... read more , Klebsiella Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Serratia Infections The gram-negative bacteria Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Serratia are closely related normal intestinal flora that rarely cause disease in normal hosts. Diagnosis is by... read more species, Proteus Proteeae Infections The Proteeae are normal fecal flora that often cause infection in patients whose normal flora have been disturbed by antibiotic therapy. The Proteeae constitute at least 3 genera of gram-negative... read more species). In infants who have received broad-spectrum antibiotics, many other pathogens may be found, including Pseudomonas Pseudomonas and Related Infections Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other members of this group of gram-negative bacilli are opportunistic pathogens that frequently cause hospital-acquired infections, particularly in ventilator... read more , Citrobacter, Bacillus, and Serratia Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Serratia Infections The gram-negative bacteria Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Serratia are closely related normal intestinal flora that rarely cause disease in normal hosts. Diagnosis is by... read more . Viruses or fungi cause some cases.

Symptoms and Signs of Neonatal Pneumonia

Late-onset hospital-acquired pneumonia manifests with unexplained worsening of the patient's respiratory status and increased quantities and a change in the quality of the respiratory secretions (eg, thick and brown). Infants may be acutely ill, with temperature instability and neutropenia.

Diagnosis of Neonatal Pneumonia

  • Chest x-ray

Evaluation includes chest x-ray, pulse oximetry, blood cultures, and Gram stain and culture of tracheal aspirate.

If Gram stain of tracheal aspirate shows a significant number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and a single organism that is consistent with the one that grows from culture of the tracheal aspirate, the likelihood increases that this organism is the cause of the pneumonia. Because bacterial pneumonia in neonates may disseminate, a full evaluation for sepsis Diagnosis Neonatal sepsis is invasive infection, usually bacterial, occurring during the neonatal period. Signs are multiple, nonspecific, and include diminished spontaneous activity, less vigorous sucking... read more , including a lumbar puncture, should also be done. However, blood cultures are positive in only 2 to 5% of cases of hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Treatment of Neonatal Pneumonia

  • Usually vancomycin and a broad-spectrum beta-lactam drug

Antimicrobial therapy in early-onset disease is similar to that for neonatal sepsis. Vancomycin (see table Vancomycin Dosage for Neonates ) and a broad-spectrum beta-lactam drug such as meropenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, or cefepime ( see Table: Recommended Dosages of Selected Parenteral Antibiotics for Neonates Recommended Dosages of Selected Parenteral Antibiotics for Neonates Recommended Dosages of Selected Parenteral Antibiotics for Neonates ) are the initial treatment of choice for most late-onset hospital-acquired pneumonia. This regimen treats sepsis as well as pneumonia with typical hospital-acquired pathogens including P. aeruginosa. Local patterns of infection and bacterial resistance should always be used to help guide empiric choices of antimicrobials. More specific antibiotics are substituted after sensitivity results are available. General treatment is the same as that for neonatal sepsis Treatment Neonatal sepsis is invasive infection, usually bacterial, occurring during the neonatal period. Signs are multiple, nonspecific, and include diminished spontaneous activity, less vigorous sucking... read more .

Chlamydial Pneumonia

Exposure to chlamydial organisms during delivery may result in development of chlamydial pneumonia at 2 to 18 weeks. Infants are tachypneic but usually not critically ill and may also have a history of conjunctivitis Neonatal Conjunctivitis Neonatal conjunctivitis is watery or purulent ocular drainage due to a chemical irritant or a pathogenic organism. Prevention with antigonococcal topical treatment at birth is routine. Diagnosis... read more Neonatal Conjunctivitis caused by the same organism. Eosinophilia may be present, and x-rays show bilateral interstitial infiltrates with hyperinflation.

Treatment of Chlamydial Pneumonia

  • Erythromycin or azithromycin

Treatment with erythromycin 12.5 mg/kg orally every 6 hours for 14 days or azithromycin 20 mg/kg orally/IV once a day for 3 days typically resolves the pneumonia. Occasionally, however, a second course may be necessary ( see Table: Recommended Dosages of Selected Oral Antibiotics for Neonates* Recommended Dosages of Selected Oral Antibiotics for Neonates* Recommended Dosages of Selected Oral Antibiotics for Neonates* ). Because erythromycins in neonates may cause hypertrophic pyloric stenosis Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is obstruction of the pyloric lumen due to pyloric muscular hypertrophy. Diagnosis is by abdominal ultrasonography. Treatment is surgical. Hypertrophic pyloric... read more (HPS), all neonates treated with erythromycin or azithromycin should be monitored for symptoms and signs of HPS, and their parents should be counseled regarding potential risks.

The diagnosis of pneumonia secondary to Chlamydia trachomatis should prompt an evaluation of the mother and her partner because untreated maternal chlamydial infection may have complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease and sterility.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Drug Name Select Trade
FIRVANQ, Vancocin, Vancocin Powder, VANCOSOL
Merrem
Zosyn, Zosyn Powder
Maxipime
A/T/S, Akne-mycin, E.E.S., Emcin Clear , EMGEL, E-Mycin, ERYC, Erycette, Eryderm , Erygel, Erymax, EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythra Derm , Erythrocin, Erythrocin Lactobionate, Erythrocin Stearate, Ilosone, Ilotycin, My-E, PCE, PCE Dispertab , Romycin, Staticin, T-Stat
Azasite, Zithromax, Zithromax Powder, Zithromax Single-Dose , Zithromax Tri-Pak, Zithromax Z-Pak, Zmax, Zmax Pediatric
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NOTE: This is the Professional Version. CONSUMERS: View Consumer Version
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