A Review of Microbiologic Isolates of Adults with Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

Aims: This study was designed to determine the isolates from microbial cultures and the antibiotics susceptibility pattern of adults with lower respiratory tract infection.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the Pulmonology units of Medicine department and Microbiology research laboratory unit, Microbiology and Parasitology department, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory (F.C.T) from August 2015 to September 2018 (Thirty-six months).

Methodology: This was a retrospective study. patients with LRTI who met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. The data were extracted from patients’ case notes using well-structured tools. The quality of clinical and laboratory work up were verified by the contribution of specialist Pulmonologist and Microbiologist in the management of patients.

Results: A total of one hundred and ninety-eight sample were reviewed of which fifty-seven percent (112) were males and the mean age of the study populations was 37± 13.8 years. From the positive cultures 86.9% were bacteremia and 4.0% were fungaemia. Streptococcus pneumoniae (30.3%) was the most predominant bacteria recovered from the sputum specimens; closely followed by Klebsiella pneumoniea and Staphylococcus aureus. imipenem and ofloxacin had good susceptibility activity and bacteria eradication rate with susceptibility rate of 92.8% and 92.5% respectively. Erythromycin, Augmentin and ceftriaxone had susceptibility of 66.2%, 89.4% and 90.0% respectively.

Conclusion: Streptococcus pneumonia, Klebsiella pneumoniea and Staphylococcus aureus are the most common bacteria isolated from sputum of patient who presented with LRTI. Quinolone (ofloxacin) and imipinem are the most sensitive antibiotics and should be considered in initiation of empiric antibiotic treatment.