Isolation and identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Patients with Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Khartoum State

Abstract

This study was carried out in Khartoum state during the period from November 2008 to March 2009, to isolate S. pneumoniae in patients with lower respiratory tract infections. One hundred sputum specimens were collected from patients attended to Abu- Anga hospital. Ziehl Neelsen stain was done for all specimens, then the specimens were cultured on Blood agar, Chocolate agar and MacConkey's agar for primary isolation of pathogens. Identification of the isolates were done by colonial morphology ,gram's stain, biochemical tests and API 20 Strep. Out of the enrolled specimens examined, 33 specimens were showed Acid Fast Bacilli, 12 were S. pneumoniae, 2 were S. faecium, 4 were S. oralis, 3 were S. salivurius, 5 were S. viridans, 3 were S. aureus, 3 were Lactobacilli, 2 were S. pyogenes, 5 were S. mitis, 7 were Unidentified isolates, 3 were K. pneumoniae, 2 were S. sanguinis, 9 were aerobic actinomycetes. 7 were no growth . The study concluded that S. pneumoniae consider as a major cause of lower respiratory tract infection in Khartoum state, hence more attention showed be drown towards this pathogen .