Aerobic bacteriological profile of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

COPD is a major cause of morbidity and one of the predominant causes of the death across the world, characterised by a worsening in the patient’s respiratory symptoms which is beyond normal day-to-day variations and eventually leads to a change in the medication. Causative agents for the exacerbation includes factors such as viruses, bacteria and common pollutants. This was a retrospective study conducted from sputum samples received from 551 diagnosed cases of AECOPD to the department of microbiology KIMS Hubli. Out of 551 patient’s sputum samples, 335(60.79%) were Males and 216 (39.20%) were females. The total number of culture positive isolates were 51.17%. Among the 282 culture positive isolates, 280 were Mono-microbial (99.3%) and 2 were Polymicrobial (0.7%). Among 282 isolates, Gram Negative Bacilli were 263 (93.26%) and Gram Positive Cocci were 19 (6.74%) Among the total isolates 116 (41.13%) was the predominant isolate followed by 63 (22.34%), 28(9.93%), 26 (9.22%), NFGNB 25 (8.87%), 5 (1.79%), 16 (5.67%), CONS 2(0.7%) and 1(0.35%). 51(43.96%) of the isolates were found to be ESBL producers. In case of gram positive organisms, 2(12.5%) were methicillin resistant. This study shows that and are the commonest organisms associated with acute exacerbation of COPD. A high rate of ESBL producers was observed.