Background: COPD is a major cause of mortality and morbidity which varies across countries and has emerged as the third leading cause of death. Most of the exacerbations are associated with infective causes like either virus or bacteria, although non-infective triggers like air pollution are important.

Objectives: To determine the bacteriology of COPD and to assess their antibiogram.

Material and Methods: A total of 176 sputum samples of clinically diagnosed patients of COPD received at the Department of Microbiology, J. N. Medical College, Belagavi, were investigated for sputum culture and drug sensitivity testing following standard microbiological protocol.

Results: Growth of pathogens was obtained in 54.97% of sputum samples. Gram negative bacilli (GNB) were the predominant etiological agents (62.76%). Among GNB, K. pneumoniae (49.15%) was the most common isolated organism followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (33.89%) and E.coli (11.86%). Piperacillin+tazobactum and Aminoglycosides were the most effective antibiotic against all organism. Cephalosporins and Quinolones were less effective. Gram positive cocci- Streptococci sp. being the predominate was isolated in 29.78% of the samples.

Conclusion: With continuously changing bacterial flora of COPD, choice of antibiotic should be based on the local bacterial resistance pattern. Periodic studies to identify probable agents and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern would assist in formulating a cost effective antibiotic strategy reducing the emergence of drug resistance.

Keywords: Sputum, COPD, Antibiogram, Bacteriology.

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Dr S.Soumya

Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KAHER, Belagavi

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