Respiratory Pathogens Thwart Treatment of Asthma Exacerbations

Investigators from multiple institutions conducted a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study to assess the association of specific respiratory pathogens on asthma exacerbation severity and treatment failure. The objective of the original study was to assess determinants of ED management failure after standardized therapy and included children who were 1–17 years old, had a physician diagnosis of asthma, and presented to a study ED with a moderate or severe asthma exacerbation. The study protocol included obtaining a nasopharyngeal swab from participants for respiratory viruses and atypical bacteria, as well as administering each a standardized dose of oral corticosteroids. For the secondary analysis, child participants were included if they had a valid respiratory specimen obtained. Data on demographics, asthma and atopy history, and tobacco exposure …