Prevalence of Bacterial Lower Respiratory Tract Infections at a Tertiary Hospital in Jordan

Ayman Wahbeh,Faruque Parvez,Isam Bsisu,Mai Altous,Mohammed N Obeidat,Nathir Obeidat,Nidaa Ababneh,Randa Farah,Zafrin Islam,Zaina Obeidat

doi:10.3823/837

Abstract

Background: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that LRTI are the most common global cause of death from infectious diseases. However, the specific etiologic agent associated with LRTI is often unknown. Aims: We determined the bacterial infections and seasonal patterns associated with LRTI among hospitalized cases at Jordan University Hospital (JUH) for a period of five years. Methods: We conducted a multi-year study among hospitalized patients in Jordan on LRTI-associated bacterial etiology. Results: We found bacterial infections among 105 (21.1%) out of 495 LRTI patients. The most frequently identified bacteria in the LRTI patients were Staphylococcus aureus (7.7%) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.1%). Most of the LRTI patients (95.2%) had at least one chronic disease and many were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (16.8%). Of the 18 (3.64%) patients with LRTI who died at the hospital, 2 had a bacterial infection. We noticed a seasonal pattern of bacterial infections, with the highest prevalence during the winter months. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that early identification of bacterial agents and control of chronic disease may improve clinical management and reduce morbidity and mortality from LRTI.

Highlights

Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) continue to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide
Our findings suggest that early identification of bacterial agents and control of chronic disease may improve clinical management and reduce morbidity and mortality from LRTIs
A meta-analysis involving 38 studies from Asia showed a similar pattern with S. pneumoniae being the most common pathogen identified in LRTI (13.3%), followed by M. pneumoniae, and H. influenzae

Summary

Results

Patients’ characteristics This study included 495 patients. The average age of the study participants was 58 years (range 1392). The most frequently identified causative agents were Klebsiella spp., P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus Each of these bacterial species was identified in 6 cases (7.23%), followed by other Gram-negative bacteria, which were identified in 5 cases (6%). When comparing the causative agents between pneumonia and acute bronchitis in ICU patients, 5 (8.8%) of the pneumonia patients were infected with Klebsiella spp., 5 (8.8%) were infected with S. aureus, 4 (7%) patients had P. aeruginosa and 3(5.3%) patients had other Gram-negative bacteria infections. Only one of those diagnosed with acute bronchitis was infected with Klebsiella spp., one patient had S. aureus, 2 (7.7%) patients had P. aeruginosa and 2 (7.7%) patients had Gram-negative bacteria as the causative agent.

Conclusions

Introduction

Method

Discussion

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