Neonatal lung injury

Dexamethasone has been used to diminish the inflammatory injury which contributes to the chronic lung disease in oxygen- and ventilator-depen-dent neonates with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (22,23). The use of corticosteroids in high doses would seem to create an additional risk for infection in these vulnerable children. There does not appear to be any definite increase in risk for the development of nosocomial LRI in dexamethasone-treated neonates (22-25). 

---