Acta paediatrica
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A wide range in incidence of breastfeeding has been reported in preterm infants. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of infant and maternal factors on the development of preterm infants' breastfeeding behaviour and breastfeeding outcome. The sample consisted of 71 preterm infants born after a gestation of 26-35 wk. ⋯ Infants with a short gestation period achieved full breastfeeding at low postmenstrual and high postnatal age. Infants with Theophylline treatment, low haemoglobin level, and a longer period of separation from their mothers established full breastfeeding at higher postmenstrual and postnatal age. In conclusion, low gestational age at birth was associated with early emergence of efficient breastfeeding behaviour and a high incidence of full breastfeeding.
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The aims of this retrospective study were to (i) determine the risk of contamination of lower respiratory tract samples obtained during fiberoscopy in children; (ii) determine the incidence and profile of the bacterial flora of the lower respiratory tract in a selected group of asthmatic children at high risk for bacterial infection; and (iii) identify risk markers for such findings. In 29 asthmatic children, comparison of bacterial cultures of specimens obtained from the upper and, lower respiratory tracts showed that contamination was a possibility in only 3.4% (1/29) of cases. The results from bacterial samples obtained via flexible bronchoscopy in a further 273 consecutively investigated physician-diagnosed asthmatic children were analysed. ⋯ No clinical or radiological markers were significantly associated with lower respiratory tract bacterial infection. Large quantities of bacteria were present in the lower respiratory tracts of a substantial number of children (1/8) in this selected group of asthmatics. For the moment, however, the clinical implications of this finding remain unclear.