Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Abstract Abnormal function of the alveolar macrophage system may explain the enhanced susceptibility to pulmonary infection in human neonates. This hypothesis was investigated by infecting 1- to 14-day-old rabbits with aerosols of Staphylococcus aureusand then measuring in siturates of bacterial ingestion, inactivation, and destruction in the lapine lung. The inhaled staphylococci were killed within the lungs of 1-day-old rabbits at a significantly slower rate than that for 7- and 14-day-old rabbits (P 0.05). Much of this decrease was due to diminished rates of bacterial ingestion by alveolar macrophages of younger animals. Staphylococci were also killed and destroyed less rapidly within these macrophages, but these differences could not be tested for significance.
Sherman et al. (Thu,) studied this question.