Gram negative bacterial pathogens and their sensitivity pattern in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD

We studied 90 patients who were admitted due to acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Aim of our study was to isolate bacterial pathogens in sputum culture of these patients and to find the sensitivity pattern of these pathogens.73 males, 17 females aged between 45 to 85 years were included inthis cross sectional study. The sputum specimen was collected using sterile sputum cups prior to empiricalantibiotic administration and subjected to Gram's stain, culture & sensitivity. Out of 90 cases 81% were males and 19% werefemales. The prevalence of Gram negativebacteria was 79% and Gram Positive bacterium was 21%. Pseudomonasaueroginosa was the commonest bacteria isolated (28%) followed by Klebsiellapneumoniae (16%). 79.55% of isolates were sensitive to a combination of Ciprofloxacin with gentamicin. The best single antibiotic was piperacillin with tazobactam(68.18%).Sensitivity to Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid was observed in 54.55% of isolates. As an empirical therapyin AECOPD patients the best antibiotic that can be started in our hospital would be Ciprofloxacin with gentamicin or cefotaxime withgentamicin. Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid is not very effective as resistance is high. Other best antibioticwould be pipericillin+tazobactam as monotherapy.