Isolation and Identification of Bacteria Associated with Lower Respiratory Tract Infection among Patients Attending General Hospital Katsina

Abstract

Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) have been one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Routine diagnosis of LRTIs in our hospitals does not include adequate and extensive identification of these organisms. This study was carried out to isolate and identify some of the bacteria associated with LRTIs and their common antibiotic sensitivity pattern. Streptococcus pneumoniae was screened by Optochin disc sensitivity testing in all the samples collected. A total of 35 (41.18%) bacterial pathogens were isolated from the 85 samples collected from General Hospital Katsina. Klebsiella pneumoniae (34.29%) has the highest percentage of occurrence, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (31.43%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (25.71%) and Escherichia coli (8.57%). Streptococcus pneumoniae was not isolated in this study. Patients in age groups 21 – 30 years and 31 – 40 years had the highest percentage of occurrence. Gentamycin and fluoroquinolones showed higher activity on the bacterial isolates and are therefore essential in the treatment of LRTIs.