Neonatal Pneumonia

Neonatal pneumonia is a serious respiratory infectious disease caused by a variety of microorganisms, mainly bacteria, with the potential of high mortality and morbidity (1,2). Worldwide neonatal pneumonia is estimated to account for up to 10% of childhood mortality, with the highest case fatality rates reported in developing countries (3,4). It ́s impact may be increased in the case of early onset, prematurity or an underlying pulmonary condition like RDS, meconium aspiration or CLD/bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), when the pulmonary capacity is already limited. Ureaplasma pneumonia and ventilatorassociated pneumonia (VAP) have also been associated with the development of BPD and poor pulmonary outcome (5,6,7). In this chapter we will review different aspects of neonatal pneumonia and will present case reports from our level III neonatal unit in Graz.