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Neonatal and pediatric respiratory care continues to move forward at a truly impressive pace. Recent technologic advances and an increasing number of randomized clinical trials are leading to improved outcomes for neonates, infants, children, and adolescents with respiratory illness. The goals of this 47th RESPIRATORY CARE Journal Conference were to review pertinent recent advances in neonatal and pediatric respiratory care and, more importantly, to offer thoughts and perspectives for the future of our field. It is important to note that of the prior 46 Journal Conferences, only 2 have been dedicated to neonatal and/or pediatric respiratory care topics. It is our hope that the publication of these proceedings will provide respiratory therapists, physicians, and other members of the clinical care team a foundation on which to ponder the future of neonatal and pediatric respiratory care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aerosol delivery of measles vaccine to the respiratory mucosa, mimicking the natural route of transmission for measles virus, is the most promising non-injectable method of measles vaccination studied so far. A phase II/III study is underway in India to confirm that its efficacy is equivalent to that of existing routes of administration. Studies suggest aerosolized measles vaccine appears to be equally or more immunogenic than subcutaneous vaccine in children 9 months and older. Aerosol delivery devices are available or being developed, and could be used by lay people with limited training, and would avoid issues of injection safety. Measles vaccine is not licensed for respiratory administration. Administration of the current measles vaccine via the respiratory route is being comprehensively studied to achieve licensure for international use under the auspices of the WHO''s Measles Aerosol Project. The most suitable aerosol administration device for use in low resource environments is being evaluated in such studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The 43rd RESPIRATORY CARE Journal Conference brought together experts from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom to review the art and science of cystic fibrosis (CF). This is the first time that CF was the topic for the Journal Conference, and it came about 6 decades after the disease was named, and 20 years after the gene was discovered on chromosome 7. Though CF is a multisystem disease, it is the chronic and progressive lung disease that causes most of the morbidity and mortality. The participants at the conference reviewed the epidemiology, pathophysiology, treatment, and novel therapies in the pipeline for CF lung disease. They also emphasized the many crucial roles that the respiratory therapist plays in CF, including diagnostic testing, aerosol therapies, airway clearance, infection control, patient and peer education, and patient advocacy. The May and June 2009 issues of the Journal reflect how diligently the participants worked to provide up-to-date reviews and lively discussions of these topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]