Lower Respiratory Tract Bacterial Profiles Are Associated With Respiratory Severity and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Neonates.

Summary: Babies born too early often have lung problems, like a condition called BPD. Doctors wanted to know if bacteria in the babies' lungs make these problems worse. They looked at lung fluid from 204 babies in the intensive care unit. They found that certain bacteria, especially one called Klebsiella pneumoniae, were linked to a higher need for breathing support. Babies with this bacteria were also more likely to be diagnosed with BPD. This means checking for these bacteria could help doctors better treat premature babies with lung issues.