Detection of Acid-Fast Bacilli and Other Bacterial Pathogens In Patients with Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

Abstract

This study was aimed to isolate and identify the causative agent of lower respiratory tract Infection in addition to frequency of pulmonary tuberculosis among suspected individuals. A total of one hundred and sixty patients with symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection attending to Abu-Anga Hospital and Hospital of Tropical Diseases were enrolled in this study. This study was carried out during the period from October 2008 to March 2009. Selection of all patients depends mainly on clinical symptoms and consulted chest X-ray. Sputum specimens were taken from patient. And the age of the enrolled patients varies from 13 to 83 year. About 102 (63.8 %) were male, while 58 (36.3%) were female., the result of Z.N stain reveled 50 (31.3%) specimens was found to be positive, while the remaining specimens 110(68.8%) showed negative result, concerning other causative agents of lower respiratory tract infection colonial morphology on(blood ,chocolate and MacConkey’s Agar) , Gram's stain and biochemical tests were used. The results obviously showed that secondary invaders to tuberculosis were found in (31.3 %) were found as fellows Streptococcus pneumoniae (26.0%), Streptococcus pyogenes (26.0%), Streptococcus pyogenes and aerobic Actinomycetes (26.0%) as co-infection, unidentified (12.0%), Staphylococcus aureus (4.0%), Haemophilus Influenzae (2.0%) and aerobic Actinomycetes (12.0%). Regarding the non tuberculosis patients 110(68.8%) the result clearly showed Streptococcus pneumoniae (43.6%), Streptococcus pyogenes (10.0%), Streptococcus pyogenes and aerobic Actinomycetes (15.5%) as co-infection, unidentified (14.5 %), Staphylococcus aureus (4.5%), Haemophilus Influenzae (0.9%) and aerobic Actinomycetes (8.1%), Klebsiella Pneumoniae (0.9%) and no growth (1.8%). According to this finding S. pneumoniae found to be the most common isolate in both tuberculosis patients 26.0% and non tuberculosis patients 43.6%.