Clinical and Bacteriological Profile of Hospitalised Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)

Clinical and Bacteriological Profile of Hospitalized Community Acquired Pneumonia

Abstract

Community acquired pneumonia[CAP] occurring in a hospital or long term care facilities remains a common and serious illness, despite the availability of potent new antimicrobials and effective vaccines. Objectives: To find out the most common bacteria causing CAP in hospitalized patients and to study the clinical profile of CAP. Methodology: The present study was carried out in 50 patients of community acquired pneumonia admitted to Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, from March1998 to Nov 2000. The diagnosis was based on acute illness of fever and cough with clinical signs of crepitation and/or bronchial breathing along with radiological evidence of pulmonary consolidation. Results: After studying the 50 cases of adult community acquired pneumonia following conclusions was drawn. Streptococcus pneumonia is still the most common cause of community acquired pneumonia (22%) Next common cause in the present study is Gram- negative bacilli (22%) and Staphylococcus aureus (12%). Among Gram-negative bacilli Klabasiella and E-coli were common ( 8% each). Inspite of all possible diagnostic methods like sputum gram-stain, culture, blood culture and invasive procedure like bronchoscopic aspirate, no organism were detected in 44% of cases. Pleural effusion were noted in 7 cases i.e. 14%.Streptococcus pneumonia is the causative agent in 3 cases out of 7 i.e. 42.8%. Conclusion- The mortality in the present study was 8%. The decrease in mortality is due to early hospitalization and vigorous therapy with broad spectrum antibiotics. 80% of the patients were improved. 8% were expired and 12% had slow resolving pneumonias.