Identification of potential pathogens of pneumonia in sputum samples from adult patients at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka
type: CreativeWork
description: Introduction: Pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and a significant cause of mortality worldwide. Although information is available on pneumonia in children in Zambia, the incidence in adults in many parts of Africa including Zambia is unknown. Knowledge of the local aetiological agents of pneumonia is critical for making rational decisions about treatment as differences in aetiology may result in poor response to therapy chosen to cover pathogens common in studies done in high income countries. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify aetiological agents of pneumonia in adult patients and determine their antibiotic susceptibility patterns at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out from March 2014 to August 2014. A total of 312 sputum samples from adults suspected of pneumonia were cultured and of which 146 samples were also analysed by PCR. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done on bacterial isolates according to Clinical Laboratory Standards International guidelines. Results: Of the 312 samples cultured, 56.1% (175/312) yielded probable pathogens with the most common being Moraxella catarrhalis 20.8% (47/226), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 19.9% (45/226), and Klebsiella pneumoniae 14.2% (32/226). Almost all (10/11) K. pneumoniae isolates were multidrug resistant (7 of 9 drugs) and were ESBL positive. About 71% of the 146 samples tested using PCR yielded human cytomegalovirus 24.3% (44/181), K. pneumoniae 17.7% (32/181), H. influenzae non-type b 16.0% (29/181), S. pneumoniae and S. aureus 9.4% (17/181) each. Other agents, which included Rhinovirus (5.5%, 10/181), M. catarrhalis (4.4%, 8/181), Pneumocystis jirovecii (3.9%, 7/181), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) A/B (3.9%, 7/181), Adenovirus (1.7%, 3/181), Human bocavirus (1.1%, 2/181), Human metapneumoviruses A/B (1.1%, 2/181), Parainfluenzae type 1 (1.1%, 2/181), Parainfluenzae type 2 (1.1%, 2/181), Parainfluenzae type 4 (1.…
abstract: Introduction: Pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and a significant cause of mortality worldwide. Although information is available on pneumonia in children in Zambia, the incidence in adults in many parts of Africa including Zambia is unknown. Knowledge of the local aetiological agents of pneumonia is critical for making rational decisions about treatment as differences in aetiology may result in poor response to therapy chosen to cover pathogens common in studies done in high income countries. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify aetiological agents of pneumonia in adult patients and determine their antibiotic susceptibility patterns at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out from March 2014 to August 2014. A total of 312 sputum samples from adults suspected of pneumonia were cultured and of which 146 samples were also analysed by PCR. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done on bacterial isolates according to Clinical Laboratory Standards International guidelines. Results: Of the 312 samples cultured, 56.1% (175/312) yielded probable pathogens with the most common being Moraxella catarrhalis 20.8% (47/226), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 19.9% (45/226), and Klebsiella pneumoniae 14.2% (32/226). Almost all (10/11) K. pneumoniae isolates were multidrug resistant (7 of 9 drugs) and were ESBL positive. About 71% of the 146 samples tested using PCR yielded human cytomegalovirus 24.3% (44/181), K. pneumoniae 17.7% (32/181), H. influenzae non-type b 16.0% (29/181), S. pneumoniae and S. aureus 9.4% (17/181) each. Other agents, which included Rhinovirus (5.5%, 10/181), M. catarrhalis (4.4%, 8/181), Pneumocystis jirovecii (3.9%, 7/181), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) A/B (3.9%, 7/181), Adenovirus (1.7%, 3/181), Human bocavirus (1.1%, 2/181), Human metapneumoviruses A/B (1.1%, 2/181), Parainfluenzae type 1 (1.1%, 2/181), Parainfluenzae type 2 (1.1%, 2/181), Parainfluenzae type 4 (1.…
author: Mulemena, Amos John
language: en
keywords: Diagnostic Microbiology, Pneumonia-Diagnosis, Pneumonia-Therapy
date published: 2016
date modified: 2026-07-27T22:06:49Z
provider: University of Zimbabwe
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: The University of Zambia