<i>a</i>. BAL neutrophil levels and <i>b</i>. LRSQ scores in elective BAL samples that were positive and negative for microbial rDNA (m rDNA).

<p>Elective BAL samples that were m rDNA positive had significantly higher neutrophil levels than m rDNA negative samples (33%[18–70] vs. 8.5%[4–38] p<0.05). The median total LRSQ-Neuro score was generally higher in the BAL m rDNA positive group (17[5–32] vs. 5[0–9]), but not significantly so (p = 0.097).</p

Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) neutrophil levels as a percentage of total BAL cells in PICU-ND, Elective-ND and healthy control patients.

<p>Elective-ND patients had significant BAL neutrophilia in comparison to healthy controls (p<0.001).</p

Basic demographic, and broncho-alveolar lavage cellular/cytokine characteristics.

<p>Median (IQR) cellular, protein and cytokine components of BAL are shown.</p><p>Basic demographic, and broncho-alveolar lavage cellular/cytokine characteristics.</p

Microbes identified in BAL following Molzym Sepsitest analysis for <i>a</i>. Healthy control and Elective-ND patients and <i>b</i>. PICU-ND patients who were on antibiotics (abx) for > 24 hours prior to recruitment and PICU-ND patients who had not received antibiotics prior to PICU admission.

<p>(White bars, no microbes detected; Black bars, <i>Streptococcus Mitis</i>; grey bars, other microbes).</p

Mean (SEM) LRSQ-Neuro domain scores in PICU-ND, Elective-ND and healthy control patients over previous three months.

<p>Elective-ND patients scored significantly higher than healthy controls in all LRSQ-Neuro domains, except ‘Symptoms with colds’ (p<0.05).</p

Microbiological and clinical characteristics of Elective ND and PICU ND patients.

<p>(No patients had tracheostomies in place)</p><p>Microbiological and clinical characteristics of Elective ND and PICU ND patients.</p