Pattern of Community Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia in Kano, North-Western Nigeria

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the clinical pattern of bacterial community acquired pneumonia amongst patients admitted into medical wards in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. The study was a descriptive prospective study incorporating consecutive adult 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. Patients who have been on antibiotics two weeks prior to presentation were excluded from the study. Fifty patients (mean age 43.2 range18-76) with a diagnosis of bacterial community acquired pneumonia were evaluated. All patients had single conventional bacterial isolates. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the commonest isolate, found in 32 cases (64%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae in 7 cases (14%). Other isolates found were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus spp in 5,3,2 and 1 cases respectively. Lobar consolidation was the commonest radiological pattern observed. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most prevalent cause of community acquired pneumonia in Kano, North –Western Nigeria and lobar consolidation is the commonest radiological pattern observed. Key words: pattern, community, acquired, pneumonia.