Saira Baloch, Zafar Ahmed, Syed Ali Arsalan, Aneel Roy Bhagwani.
Causative Organisms of Community Acquired Pneumonia and their Drug Sensitivity.
Pak J Chest Med Jan ;19(1):28-31.

Background: Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a serious disease most commonly caused by pyogenic organisms like Streptococcus Pneumonia and H influenzae. It is becoming an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality due to increased antibiotic resistance. Objective: Our aim was to study the organisms causing CAP and their drug sensitivity. Methodology: This was an observational study carried out in the department of Pulmonology, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi from May 2010 to April 2011. All patients who were admitted with a diagnosis of CAP in Chest ward, HDU and ICU were included in the study. Clinical records were reviewed for risk factors, co-morbidities and immunization status along with laboratory reports of blood sputum and culture test. History of prior pneumococcal vaccination was also obtained. Results: Out of 111 patients, 66 were males and 45 were females with a mean age of 52 years. One hundred sputum cultures were sent in which 40 samples were positive while the rest 60 negative. Out of 35 blood cultures sent, only 1 was positive. The most common organism in this cohort was Streptococcus pneumonia (24) followed by H influenza and Klebsiella in 6 each. Sensitivity pattern of these organisms showed pan sensitivity in 20, 6 and 2 samples respectively. Among co-morbidities, commonest was hypertension in 30 patients; 33 patients had more than one diseases. Out of these111 patients 9 patients died. The CURB-65 scores were 5 in 2 patients, 4 in 4 patients, 3 in 3 patients. Conclusion: Our results confirm prevalence of Streptococcus pneumonia as the most common organism for CAP. Culture yield in sputum and blood samples was poor, perhaps reflecting early and widespread use of antibiotics in the community. Despite this most cases with streptococcus pneumonia are still sensitive to Amoxicillin.

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