Bacterial Isolates andAntibiotic Sensitivity in Community Acquired Pneumonia

Objective: The objective of the studywas to determine bacterialcauses of community acquired pneumonia and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern amongst patients admitted intomedicalwards inAminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, NigeriaMethods: The study incorporated patients aged fifteen years and above admitted into the Accident and Emergency unit, Medical wards, and Intensive care unit of AKTH with a provisional diagnosis of Community-Acquired Pneumonia between June 1, and November 30 2006.Those who have been on antibiotics two weeks prior to presentation were excludedfrom the study. Each patient had collection of sputum samples for gram and ziehl-Neelson (ZN) staining and bacteriological culture. Blood culture was also done for all cases and antibiotic sensitivity testing was done on isolates.Results: During the six month period, 50 patients (mean, age 43.2 range18-76, were evaluated. All patients had single conventional bacterial isolates. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the commonest isolate, found in 32 cases (64%). Klebsiella pneumoniae was the second, found in 7 cases (14%), others isolates found were Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 5 cases (10%), E coli 3cases (6%), Staphylococcus aureus in 2 cases (4%) andProteus spp in 1 case (2%). 2 patients (4%) were sputumsmear positive for acid- fast bacilli (AFB).The isolates showed good sensitivity to the newer and more expensive antibiotics (quinolones and cephalosporins), with resistance to the older and cheaper ones except gentamycin.Conclusion: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most prevalent pathogen isolated in cases of community acquired pneumonia in Kano and the newer antibiotics; cephalosporins and quinolones showed good sensitivity profile.Niger Med J. Vol. 49, No.3, July– Sept, 2008: 63 – 66.Keywords: bacteria, isolates, antibiotic, sensitivity, pneumonia