[Forty-seven cases of lower respiratory tract infections due to E. ictaluri].
OBJECTIVE
To study the risk factors and treatment of lower respiratory tract infections due to E. ictaluri, and the cause of its improved detection by sputum culture in recent years.


METHODS
To sum up the number of positive cultures and analyze the clinical features of the cases with positive sputum culture tested from 1959 to 1998.


RESULTS
Before 1996, there were no positive cultures (0%) in 17,500 sputum samples using manual techniques, in 1997 and 1998 the aggregate positive rate was 2.3% (47/1,962), using SCEPTOR detecting instrument. On chi square testing of the two results derived from the two methods, P < 0.001. On drug sensitivity testing, E. ictaluri was sensitive to imipenem, cefotaxime and tobramycin.


CONCLUSIONS
E. ictaluri is an uncommon opportunistic pathogen of lower respiratory tract infections. Lowered body resistance is a risk factor, and improved technology is the principal cause for detection of E. ictaluri infections.
Hou
H
H
Department of Respiratory Diseases, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053.
Li
S
S
Yu
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020610:Edwardsiella ictaluri / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents