Frequency of streptococcus pneumoniae, haemophilus influenzae and moraxella catarrhalis causing lower respiratory tract infection in local population

ABSTRACT

To see the frequency of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis causing lower respiratory tract infection and sensitivity pattern of the isolated organisms to various antibiotics. Experimental Study. This study was conducted at the Dept. of Microbiology Basic Medical Sciences Institute, JPMC, Karachi, from January 2001 to September 2001. A total of one hundred clinically suspected cases of lower respiratory tract infections attending OPD or admitted to the wards of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre [JPMC] and Civil Hospital, Karachi were included in the study. Out of 100 cases 53% cases were positive for bacterial pathogens. Of the positive cases. S. pneumonae was 35.9%, H.influenzae 30.2% and other bacteria were 34.9%, in rest of the cases no bacterial pathogen was isolated. Age range in this study was 15-90 years and mean age was 38 years. Smokers have higher frequency i.e., 65.5% as compared to non-smokers in which 47.9% cases were positive for bacterial pathogens. Higher the number of pus cells /HPF [high power field] in sputum greater was the positivity of bacterial pathogen. Sensitivity pattern to antibiotics of different organisms was also seen in this study. The goal of the study was to see the behavior of the frequent organisms on the culture and to see the antibiotic sensitivity of lower respiratory tract specimen for the treatment. It requires increased number of patients with more advanced testing system