title: Bacteria Etiological Agents Causing Lower Respiratory Tract Infections and Their Resistance Patterns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lower respiratory tract infections (LTRIs) are among the most common infectious diseases with potential life-threatening complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study consisted of 426 patients with suspected LTRIs from mid and far western region of Nepal between September 2011 and July 2014. The specimens were collected and processed according to the standard microbiological methods at the Central Laboratory of Microbiology of Nepalgunj Medical College, Nepal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the isolated Gram-positive organisms, Streptococcus pneumonia (n = 30, 51.7%) was the most predominant pathogen, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (n = 28, 48.3%). Among the isolated Gram-negative organisms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 71, 35.32%) was the most predominant pathogen, followed by Haemophilus influenzae (n = 68, 33.83%), Klebsiella pneumonia (n = 36, 17.19%), and Escherichia coli (n = 26, 12.94%). The pattern of resistance varied regarding the bacteria species, and there were multi-resistant isolates. Also, a significant difference (P value less than 0.05) was observed between males and females for each type of bacterial species. Among 259 isolates, 86 (33.20%) were from children aged 1-10 years, which were statistically significant (P valuse less than 0.05) compared to the other age groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  P. aeruginosa and H. influenzae (Gram-negative) and S. pnemoniae (Gram-positive) were the most common bacterial isolates recovered from LTRIs. Age group of 1-10 years old was at a higher risk. Many isolates showed appreciable levels of antibiotic resistance due to antibiotic abuse. There is a need to increase surveillance and develop better strategies to curb the increasing prevalence of LRTI in this region of Nepal.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Microbiology, Nepalgunj Medical College, Nepal.
authors.forename: Salman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biochemistry, Nepalgunj Medical College, Nepal.
authors.forename: Singh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Priti
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Microbiology, Santosh Medical College, India.
authors.forename: Sachan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ankit
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009390:Nepal; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000382:microbiology*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Antimicrobial drug resistance; Bacterial infections; Nepal; Respiratory system