BRONCHOPULMONARY INFECTION WITH MORAXELLA-CATARRHALIS IN INFANTS REQUIRING EXTRACORPOREAL MEMBRANE-OXYGENATION

Moraxella (formerly Branhamella) catarrhalis is now a well-recognized pathogen of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Four pediatric case s of life-threatening pneumonia requiring extracorporeal membrane oxyg enation are presented. M. catarrhalis was isolated within 48 hours of admission in three of the cases and within 24 hours of an acute deteri oration in the fourth. We conclude that M. catarrhalis is either a sig nificant pathogen in its own right, a marker of severe disease, or a s econdary invader. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.