Sputum bacteriology and antibiotic sensitivity patterns of community-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized adult patients in Nigeria: a 5-year multicentre retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: A clear knowledge of the pathogens responsible for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in a given region and their antibiotic sensitivity patterns is necessary for optimal treatment. We determined the common bacterial pathogens causing CAP in Nigeria and further reviewed their antibiotic senstivity patterns with a view to providing recommendations to improve antibiotic management of CAP. METHODS: Case notes of all adult patients who were 18 years or more admitted to four major tertiary hospitals in South East Nigeria with a diagnosis of CAP between 2008 and 2012 were retrospectively studied. To be eligible, patients were required to have sputum culture and sensitivity results available. Socio-demographic, clinical, pre-admission and in-hospital treatment data were also obtained. RESULTS: Of 400 patients with a radiologically confirmed diagnosis of CAP, 232 fulfilled the study criteria; 122 (52.6%) were women and the mean age was 50.6 ± 18.8 years. Aetiological agents were identified from sputum in 189 (81.5%) patients. Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 90, 47.6%) was the most frequent isolate followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 62, 32.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 24, 12.7%) and Streptococcus pyogenes (n = 13, 6.9%). The pathogens were most sensitive to levofloxacin (77%), ceftazidime (75.5%) and ofloxacin (55.8%). The susceptibility of the isolates to antibiotics most frequently presecribed for empirical therapy was low (co-amoxiclav, 47.6%; ciprofloxacin, 45.9% and ceftriaxone, 47.6%) and this was associated with higher mortality and/or longer duration of hospital stay in survivors. CONCLUSION: Strep. pneumoniae and K. pneumoniae were the most common causes of CAP. The pathogens were most sensitive to levofloxacin and ceftazidime. We suggest that these antibiotics should increasingly be considered as superior options for empirical treatment of CAP in Nigeria.

Predictors of in-hospital mortality and length of stay in community-acquired pneumonia: a 5-year multi-centre case control study of adults in a developing country.

BACKGROUND: We investigated predictors of in-hospital mortality and length of hospital stay among adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Nigeria in order to provide recommendations to improve CAP outcomes in developing countries. METHODS: This was a multi-centre case control study of patients ≥18 years who were admitted with CAP between 2008 and 2012. Case notes of 100 consecutive patients who died (cases) and random sample of 300 patients discharged (controls) were selected. RESULTS: Mean ages were 55.4±19.6 (cases) and 49.3±19.2 (controls). Independent predictors of mortality were CURB-65 score ≥3: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 24.3, late presentation: aOR 8.6, co-morbidity: aOR 3.9, delayed first dose antibiotics (>4 hours): aOR 3.5, need for supplemental oxygen: aOR 4.9, multilobar pneumonia: aOR 4.0, non-pneumococcal aetiology: aOR 6.5, anaemia: aOR 3.8 and hyperglycemia: aOR 8.6. CURB-65 ≥3 predicted mortality with a high specificity (96.1%) but low sensitivity (75%); positive predictive value of 88.2% and negative predictive value of 90.8%. Care in hospital A and B: aOR 3.3 and 2.2 respectively, male gender aOR 2.1, co-morbidity aOR 3.0, anaemia aOR 2.1 and elevated serum creatinine aOR 6.3 independently predicted length of hospital stay >10 days among survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Several modifiable patient-related and process-of-care factors predicted in-hospital mortality, and length of hospital stay among survivors. Our findings should be used to improve CAP outcomes in developing countries.