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Bacterial infections of the lower respiratory tract at Nnamdi Azikiwe Unversity Teaching Hospital Nnewi
Abstract
Method: A prospective study of the endemicity and pattern of bacterial infections of the lower respiratory among patients attending the General Outpatient Clinic of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, using the WHO guideline for clinical diagnosis for patients selection.
Result: A total of 112 patients were enlisted during the period giving an incidence of 76 per 1000 outpatient attendance. Out of this number, 80 (71.4%) had bacterial isolates in their sputa. The commonest bacterium isolated was staphylococcus aureus (38.7%) followed by streptococcus pneumoniae (36.4%), haemophillus influenzae (12.5%) pseudomonas aerogenosa and klebsiella pneumoniae, 5% each while haemophillus parainfluenzae was seen in only 2.5%. The mean age was 47.0 years with a range of 16-74 years. The peak incidence was in the 7th decade of life, M:F was 1.2:1.
Conclusion: There was evidence that the patients with sterile sputa had taken some antibiotics before presentation. This may have suppressed the growth of the causative organisms. This brings to fore the enormity of antibiotic abuse and its consequences in our environment.
Tropical Journal of Medical Research 2004;8(2):40-43
Result: A total of 112 patients were enlisted during the period giving an incidence of 76 per 1000 outpatient attendance. Out of this number, 80 (71.4%) had bacterial isolates in their sputa. The commonest bacterium isolated was staphylococcus aureus (38.7%) followed by streptococcus pneumoniae (36.4%), haemophillus influenzae (12.5%) pseudomonas aerogenosa and klebsiella pneumoniae, 5% each while haemophillus parainfluenzae was seen in only 2.5%. The mean age was 47.0 years with a range of 16-74 years. The peak incidence was in the 7th decade of life, M:F was 1.2:1.
Conclusion: There was evidence that the patients with sterile sputa had taken some antibiotics before presentation. This may have suppressed the growth of the causative organisms. This brings to fore the enormity of antibiotic abuse and its consequences in our environment.
Tropical Journal of Medical Research 2004;8(2):40-43
