Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the proportion of pulmonary TB among patients hospitalized with suspected communityacquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) admitted to a tertiary care centre over a 2 year period was studied prospectively. Systematic investigation of samples of sputum and blood cultures was performed. A subset of patients had urine antigen tests and serum serology. Results: We enrolled 104 CAP suspected patients in the study group according to the BTS guidelines for CAP. Among these patient’s sputum AFB smear positivity was observed in 21 cases (20.19%). 18 (17.30%) patients turned out to be sputum gram stain positive, but their respective cultures didn’t show any growth. 65 (62.50%) of them turned out to be gram stain and culture positive for bacteriological aetiology. The Commonest cause for CAP among sputum and blood culture positive cases was Streptococcus pneumoniae (19/65) followed by, Klebsiella pneumoniae (17/65), Staphylococcus aureus (13/65), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8/65), Escherichia coli (4/65), Acinetobactor spp. (3/65). Conclusion: Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of CAP in TB-prevalent areas. Our diagnostic index may help clinicians identify pulmonary TB cases immediately from CAP and initiate appropriate isolation and optimal treatment.
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