What Is Bacterial Tracheitis? – What About You Need To Know

What Is Bacterial Tracheitis?/Bacterial Tracheitis was first described in medical literature in the 1920s despite the name not being coined until much later. The disease was initially referred to as acute laryngotracheobronchitis. Bacterial tracheitis, also known as bacterial croup, acute laryngotracheobronchitis, or membranous croup, is a potentially lethal infection of the subglottic trachea. It is often a secondary bacterial infection preceded by a viral infection affecting children most commonly under age six. Concern for airway protection is the mainstay of treatment as thick, mucopurulent secretions can cause airway narrowing. Treatment is aimed at the protection of the airway, assessing the need for endoscopy for therapeutic and/or diagnostic reasons, and antimicrobial therapy. On presentation this must be distinguished from the more immediately lethal epiglottitis.[rx][rx][rx]

Bacterial tracheitis is a unique entity that is rarely seen but can be a highly morbid infection in children; it should be included in the differential diagnosis for an acutely strident child. Bacterial tracheitis is associated with a superinfection that leads to thick membranous tracheal secretions that do not clear effectively with coughing. Children will often have a history of symptoms for several days, which might suggest a viral upper respiratory infection. After a 2- to 3-day prodrome, the child with bacterial tracheitis would then begin to have a rapid onset of a high fever, respiratory distress, and a toxic appearance.

Causes of Bacterial Tracheitis

Bacterial tracheitis is a bacterial infection of the trachea often preceded by a viral upper respiratory infection. The most common viruses implicated include Influenza A and B (with type A being the most common), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza virus, measles virus, and enterovirus. These viruses cause airway mucosal damage via a local immune response which predisposes the trachea to the seeding of bacterial infections. Children affected are usually healthy prior to onset, and most will recover with appropriate recognition and treatment. However, at-risk populations including immunocompromised individuals are prone to severe sequelae. Implicated bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus (most common, including MRSA), Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Moraxella catarrhalis, Haemophilus influenzae type B, and less commonly, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and anaerobic organisms. The long-term presence of a tracheostomy is another potential predisposing factor, presumed to be a result of spread from bacterial colonization of the tracheostomy tube. Meticulous tracheostomy care including pulmonary toilet and scheduled routine changes of the inner cannula daily and the tracheostomy tube monthly are required to minimize the risk in this specific population.[rx][rx][rx]

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Bacterial tracheitis is a bacterial infection of the trachea and is capable of producing airway obstruction.

One of the most common causes is Staphylococcus aureus and often follows a recent viral upper respiratory infection. Bacterial tracheitis is a rare complication of influenza infection.^[rx] It is the most serious in young children, possibly because of the relatively small size of the trachea that gets easily blocked by swelling. The most frequent sign is the rapid development of stridor. It is occasionally confused with croup. If it is inflamed, a condition known as tracheitis can occur. In this condition there can be inflammation of the linings of the trachea. A condition called tracheo-bronchitis can be caused, when the mucous membrane of the trachea and bronchi swell. A collapsed trachea is formed as a result of defect in the cartilage, that makes the cartilage unable to support the trachea and results in dry hacking cough. In this condition there can be inflammation of the linings of the trachea. If the connective nerve tissues in the trachea degenerate it causes tracheomalacia. Infections to the trachea can cause tracheomegaly.

Symptoms of Bacterial Tracheitis 

• Increasing deep or barking croup cough following a recent upper respiratory infection
• Crowing sound when inhaling (inspiratory stridor)
• ‘Scratchy’ feeling in the throat
• Chest pain
• Fever
• Ear ache
• Headache
• Dizziness (light headed)
• Labored breathing
• Fever in a critically ill appearing child
• Stridor, cough and respiratory distress.
• Copious purulent secretions.
• As opposed to epiglottitis the onset of symptoms is gradual and the child prefers to lie flat.
• In severe cases there is a risk of complete airway obstruction, especially in very young children.

Diagnosis of Bacterial Tracheitis

History and Physical

Presentation occurs in two primary ways. The most common is the more insidious development with prodromal symptoms that suggest a viral respiratory tract infection. These are present for 1 to 3 days until the more severe development of airway deterioration and increased mucopurulent secretions occurs due to a secondary bacterial infection. Less commonly, fulminant respiratory distress with less than 24 hours of symptoms can occur. These children tend to be more toxic appearing. Signs and symptoms include stridor (inspiratory or expiratory), fever, productive cough, thick secretions from a tracheostomy when present, and can include frank respiratory distress. Drooling and tripoding are less common and suggest an alternative diagnosis such as epiglottitis, as children with bacterial tracheitis do not have difficulty swallowing their oral secretions. Patients with severe subglottic obstruction may have cyanosis, appear lethargic or can be combative suggesting hypoxemia and/or hypercarbia.[rx]

Evaluation

The diagnosis of bacterial tracheitis is primarily clinical via a thorough history and physical examination. Children may appear febrile, toxic-appearing, and in respiratory distress. Trial with nebulized epinephrine and glucocorticoids will fail to show improvement in the patient’s clinical course. Laboratory investigation with white blood cell count is variable and nonspecific. Leukocytosis, as well as mild leukopenia, are commonly seen. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are also nonspecific but are estimated to be elevated in 68% of patients. Blood cultures are rarely positive, however, they should be obtained if there is suspicion for sepsis or in the immunocompromised. Radiographic images of the lateral or anteroposterior neck show tracheal narrowing, typical of that seen with croup (steeple sign). Less commonly, irregularity or haziness of the tracheal mucosal wall can also be seen on lateral neck radiographs. This has been referred to as the “candle dripping” sign. The epiglottis should appear normal. The tracheal air column can sometimes be visualized with atypical clouding. Airway stabilization should be a priority before obtaining imaging in patients with severe respiratory symptoms or overt respiratory compromise. Chest radiographs commonly show findings suggestive of pneumonia, reported in roughly 50% of cases. The presence of concomitant pneumonia increases the severity of disease and the probability of endotracheal intubation.

Definitive diagnosis is made by direct visualization, although it is not necessary with strong clinical suspicion. Laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy allow visualization of the infected airway and will demonstrate a normal or mildly erythematous epiglottis and an erythematous, edematous trachea with thick mucopurulent exudates. Bronchoscopy is performed with either a rigid or flexible endoscope, with the former suggested for suctioning the exudations to provide transient relief of airway obstruction as well as obtain specimens for culture. The decision to undergo bronchoscopy is made on the basis of clinical severity. More severe cases benefit from the therapeutic stripping of exudates to provide relief of obstruction related to these secretions. Exudates can be thick secretions or pseudomembranes that adhere to the tracheal wall. Flexible bronchoscopy is an alternative for those patients with a less severe presentation. However, those patients without severe respiratory distress, hypoxia, and with minimal tracheal abnormalities on radiograph can be managed without bronchoscopy initially. Exudative secretions can extend distally to the mainstem bronchi. If bronchoscopy is performed, specimens for gram stain and cultures should be obtained during this time. Less severe cases not requiring endoscopy or endotracheal intubation can obtain cultures via a sputum sample. In practice, this can be difficult in children.

Diagnosis of bacterial tracheitis can be difficult given its rarity, in addition to more prevalent diseases with similar presentations. Epiglottitis can also present with fever, upper airway obstruction, and toxic appearance. However, these patients often present with drooling and preference for the tripod position which is uncommon in bacterial tracheitis. Croup can also present with stridor and similar radiographic presentation with subglottic narrowing (steeple sign). Bacterial tracheitis can be a complication of croup and should be suspected if therapeutic interventions such as nebulized racemic epinephrine or steroids do not improve the clinical course. Peritonsillar or retropharyngeal abscesses will demonstrate fever, drooling, muffled voice changes, and pharyngeal pain with limited mobility of the neck. They also will not demonstrate the classic findings on X-ray. Other diseases that can mimic bacterial tracheitis include foreign body aspiration, diphtheria, and severe bacterial pneumonia.

Treatment of Bacterial Tracheitis

Treatment of bacterial tracheitis includes a prompt assessment for airway compromise first. The need for intubation is common and is required in an estimated 72% to 75% of patients. This procedure can be difficult secondary to airway edema, and it is recommended to be performed in the operating room or intensive care unit setting by the most experienced provider available, with instruments ready for a potential surgical airway if intubation is unsuccessful. Hypoxia, respiratory muscle retractions, fatigue, altered mental status, and decreased breath sounds are signs indicative of impending airway failure. Younger children with smaller airways are at higher risk for the need for airway stabilization. If intubation is indicated, endotracheal tubes one or two sizes smaller should be selected due to airway narrowing. Placement into the ICU after intubation is indicated to provide close monitoring and frequent suctioning of the endotracheal tube. In one case series, the average intubation duration was 3.2 days. Extubation should be considered in those with clinical improvement, reduced tracheal secretions, and development of an air leak around the endotracheal tube. Other treatments in less severe cases include supplemental humidified oxygen, racemic epinephrine trial, heliox, and avoiding patient agitation which can worsen an already compromised airway.[rx][rx]

Antibacterial management should be prompt and include broad coverage, including MRSA. Gram stain results, if obtained, can focus antibiotic selection but broad coverage should be initially chosen until culture results are obtained. Current guidelines recommend a 10-day to 14-day antibiotic course, although no formal studies have investigated the recommended time length of antimicrobial treatment. The first-line treatments suggested include ceftriaxone plus nafcillin or vancomycin, or clindamycin plus a third-generation cephalosporin, or ampicillin-sulbactam. For patients with a true, severe, beta-lactam antibiotic allergy, the recommended antibiotic treatment regimen includes vancomycin or clindamycin plus levofloxacin or ciprofloxacin. Glucocorticoids have not been shown to alter clinical course or patient outcomes. Antiviral therapy may be beneficial if a preceding viral etiology is determined to be influenza and symptoms have been present for less than 48 hours. Routine, emperic antiviral treatment has not been shown to be effective. [rx]