Clinical, Bacteriological and Radiological Study of Community Acquired Pneumonia - A Hospital based Study

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of deathand morbidity, both in developing and developed countriesand is the commonest cause (10%) of hospitalization. CAPmortality is variable depending on the site of care; it is lessthan 1% in the outpatient setting, around 5% in inpatients notrequiring ICU care, up to 25% in intubated patients, and near50% in ICU patients requiring vasopressors. The aim of thisstudy was to analyse the mode of presentation of pneumonias,its clinical features, bacteriological and radiological featuresfor the early detection of disease, the causative agent and tofind out the complications.Material and methods: This was a prospective study whichincluded total 50 cases. Patient with acute onset of feverassociated chills and rigors and patients with chest pain,breathlessness and cough with expectoration were selected aspneumonia patients. Blood for WBC Count and DifferentialCount were done. Sputum for gram stain, AFB, and Culturewere done. Chest X-ray PA view were performed to know thesite of consolidation. ELISA was also done to rule out HIVinfection.Results: The age group in this study group varied from 18-85years, most of them were between 30- 70 years of which 56.0%were <60 years. The incidence of CAP was most common inmen (74%) compared to female (26%). The associated diseasesin this study were COPD (22.0%). The commonest presentingsymptoms were fever (100%), cough (100%), expectoration(92%); other symptoms include dyspnoea (78%), and chestpain (62%).Conclusion: In our study prognosis was good with mortalityof 8%, about 4 patients died due to respiratory failure. Mostof the patients recovered without any complications, expect inpatients with COPD, symptoms were not completely reducedand were advised for follow-up.