Prevalence of Bacterial and Fungal Agents Causing Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv) Infection

Abstract

Present study was carried out to study the prevalence of bacterial and fungal agents causing lower respiratory tract infection in HIV infected individuals. LRTI is a common problem among HIV positive patients and majority are due to bacterial infections. A total of 120 HIV infected individuals were included in this study. Gram stain, Ziehl-Neelsen stain and sputum culture were performed. The pattern of microbial distribution on direct microscopic examination was: Gram-positive bacteria-19, Gram-negative bacteria-37, AFB-6 and fungal isolates-36. Sixty-five percent samples showed growth of different bacteria in different culture media. Among them K. pneumoniae (28.6%) was most frequently isolated bacterial pathogen followed by E. coli (17.9%), S. pneumoniae (17.9%), S. aureus (16.1%), AFB (5.0%), P. aeruginosa (8.9%), M. catarrhalis (7.0%) and H. influenzae (3.6%). Among fungal pathogens, most frequently isolated was Candida albicans (44.4%), Aspergillus spp (30.6%) and Penicillium spp (8.3%). Antibiotic susceptibility pattern was examined for bacterial isolates. Among Gram negative bacteria, K. pneumoniae was most sensitive towards chloramphenicol (62.5%) whereas least sensitive towards co-trimoxazole (37.5%). E. coli showed 60% sensitivity towards chloramphenicol and gentamicin whereas 20% sensitivity towards ampicillin. P. aeruginosa was most sensitive towards gentamicin (60%) and least sensitive towards chloramphenicol. M. catarrhalis showed 50% sensitivity towards chloramphenicol, co-trimoxazole and gentamicin whereas 25% sensitivity towards ampicillin and tetracycline. H. influenzae showed 50% sensitivity towards chloramphenicol, ampicillin, gentamicin and tetracycline whereas least sensitive towards co-trimoxazole. S. pneumoniae showed 50% sensitivity towards chloramphenicol, gentamicin and tetracycline whereas 20% sensitivity towards ampicillin. S. aureus showed 55.5% sensitivity towards chloramphenicol, gentamicin,and tetracycline whereas 22.2% sensitivity towards ampicillin. Polymicrobial isolation was also observed. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was not documented in our stu