Mycological Profile of Lower Respiratory Tract samples- A Study from North India

Dr Shaika Farooq; Dr Tabinda Farooq; Dr Khursheed Dar

Volume : IX, Issue : I, January - 2020

Mycological Profile of Lower Respiratory Tract samples- A Study from North India

Dr Shaika Farooq, Dr Tabinda Farooq, Dr Khursheed Dar

Abstract :

INTRODUCTION: Opportunist fungal infections are on the rise due to a changing health care Paradigm. Since the data of systemic fungal infections from our valley are scant, we conducted this study to evaluate the prevalence of fungal infections in chronic lower respiratory infections not resolved by antibacterial chemotherapy and to observe the mycological profile from lower respiratory tract samples of such patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted for a period of 4 years from January 2015 to Jan 2019 in the Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College Srinagar. A total of 221 lower respiratory tract samples (148– onchoalveolar lavage, 49– sputum, and 22–pleural fluid and 2–endo onchial biopsy samples) were received from patients with suspected chronic non–resolving lower respiratory tract infections from Chest Disease Hospital, Srinagar. Specimens were processed for detection of bacteria, fungi and mycobacteria as per standard methods. RESULTS: The most common host factors in our study population were patients with post primary pulmonary tuberculosis lesions (cavitary) {n=70}, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease {n=20}, onchiectasis {n=10}, non–resolving consolidation {n=70}, and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus {n=50}.The commonest co–morbid condition associated was diabetes mellitus. The male to female ratio was 1.2:1.Out of 221 samples, 97(44.29%) tested positive for fungal elements. Sixty–five percent of fungi isolated were Aspergillus spp. Among these, Aspergillus fumigatus was found to be the most common species isolated (16%). Scopulariopsis spp.( 6.5%) and Rhizopus spp (5%) were other molds grown on culture. CONCLUSION: Patients with respiratory tract symptoms not responding to conventional treatment should be screened for fungi by microscopy and culture in addition to other diagnostic modalities.