Anusmita Das1, Saurav J Patgiri, Lahari Saikia, Pritikar Dowerah, Reema Nath. 1. Departments of Microbiology, and #Pediatrics, and *Multidisciplinary Research Unit (ICMR), Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam, India. Correspondence to: Dr Lahari Saikia, Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh 786 002, Assam, India. lahari.saikia@gmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the spectrum of bacterial pathogens causing community-acquired pneumonia in children below 5 years of age. METHODS: Children aged below 5 years satisfying the WHO criteria for pneumonia, severe pneumonia or very severe pneumonia, and with the presence of lung infiltrates on chest X-ray were enrolled. Two respiratory samples, one for culture and the other for PCR analysis, and a blood sample for culture were collected from every child. RESULTS: Of the 180 samples processed, bacterial pathogens were detected in 64.4%. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae were most frequently detected. The performance of PCR analysis and culture were identical for the typical bacterial pathogens; atypical pathogens were detected by PCR analysis only. CONCLUSION: S. pneumoniae and H. influenza were the most commonly detected organisms from respiratory secretions of children with community acquired pneumonia.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the spectrum of bacterial pathogens causing community-acquired pneumonia in children below 5 years of age. METHODS:Children aged below 5 years satisfying the WHO criteria for pneumonia, severe pneumonia or very severe pneumonia, and with the presence of lung infiltrates on chest X-ray were enrolled. Two respiratory samples, one for culture and the other for PCR analysis, and a blood sample for culture were collected from every child. RESULTS: Of the 180 samples processed, bacterial pathogens were detected in 64.4%. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae were most frequently detected. The performance of PCR analysis and culture were identical for the typical bacterial pathogens; atypical pathogens were detected by PCR analysis only. CONCLUSION:S. pneumoniae and H. influenza were the most commonly detected organisms from respiratory secretions of children with community acquired pneumonia.