Open AccessSignificance of Moraxella catarrhalis as a causative organism of lower respiratory tract infections
Author(s) -
Mona O. Ramadan,
Ibrahim S. Ibrahim,
Ahmad Shaheen,
Waqar Ali
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
egyptian journal of chest diseases and tuberculosis/egyptian journal of chest diseases and tuberculosis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2090-9950
pISSN - 0422-7638
DOI - 10.1016/j.ejcdt.2016.05.011
Subject(s) - moraxella catarrhalis , medicine , respiratory tract , respiratory tract infections , sputum , pathogen , lower respiratory tract infection , moraxella (branhamella) catarrhalis , moraxella , immunology , sputum culture , respiratory system , microbiology and biotechnology , streptococcus pneumoniae , biology , antibiotics , pathology , tuberculosis , bacteria , genetics
BackgroundMoraxella catarrhalis is an exclusively human pathogen that may be overlooked in culture because of its phenotypic similarity to commensal Neisseria. Indeed, beta lactamase producing isolates of M. catarrhalis appear to be wide spread, and this may play an important role in the therapy of infections, particularly in the treatment of mixed infectionsObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the significance of M. catarrhalis as a pathogen in causing lower respiratory tract infection.MethodsThis study was carried out on 200 patients who were diagnosed as having lower respiratory tract infection and admitted during the period of the research to chest unit of Tanta University hospitals, another 50 adult volunteer were considered as control group during the period from January 2014 to August 2014. All patients were subjected to the following assessment, full clinical history; their records were reviewed for name, age, sex, and special habits. Patients suspected to be suffering from lower respiratory tract infection were considered. Only sputum samples of high bacteriological quality were analyzed. All specimens were cultured.ResultM. catarrhalis is responsible for 11.5% of all cases of lower respiratory tract infection included in this study. Infection occurs more common in patients having underlying lung disease especially chronic pulmonary diseases.ConclusionThis study shows that when microbiological and clinical criteria are met, M. catarrhalis when isolated should be considered as a pathogen causing lower respiratory tract infections. M. catarrhalis, lower respiratory tract infections