Article in Japanese

Search for causative microorganisms in respiratory tract infections in patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities using multiplex polymerase chain reaction test

Haruki Mori^1）, Yuu Haraki^1）, Shota Yamamoto^1）, Taizo Kusano^1）, Tadashi Hoshino^1）

Children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities frequently present with multifactorial respiratory disorders, and respiratory infections are a major cause of mortality in this group. In this retrospective study, the epidemiology of microorganism infections was investigated and the clinical utility of the FilmArrayⓇ Respiratory Panel （FA） was evaluated in these patients. Ninety-five episodes of respiratory infection were reviewed in 43 patients who had undergone tracheostomy, were Oshima classification types 1〜4, and were admitted as an emergency patient to Chiba Children’s Hospital between June 2021 and March 2024. FA was positive in 34 episodes （35.8%）, with rhinovirus and enterovirus being the most frequently detected pathogens, which is consistent with previous reports. In contrast, severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 and respiratory syncytial virus were detected in only two episodes （2%） and one episode （1%）, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in antibiotic use or duration of hospitalization between the FA-positive and -negative groups. However, among FA-positive episodes, those without significant bacteria on endotracheal aspirate culture had a significantly shorter duration of antibiotic therapy than those with significant bacteria. These findings suggest that while FA alone may have a limited clinical impact, its combination with the results of sputum culture may assist in optimizing antibiotic use.

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1）Department of Infectious Diseases, Chiba Children’s Hospital

Key words	patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities，respiratory infection，multiplex polymerase chain reaction test
Received	July 15, 2025
Accepted	March 12, 2026

38 (2)：123─130,2026