CAUSATIVE ORGANISMS OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IN NORTHERN THAILAND

Abstract

We examined the causative organisms of respiratory infections from 1989 to 1990 at Mae Sot General Hospital in collaboration with Chiang Mai University, Thailand. We collected sputum from patient with acute bronchitis and pneumonia to identify the causative organisms by sputum culture and inflammatory sputum cytology. We experienced 72 cases (97 strains of bacteria) of acute broncitis and 17 cases of pneumonia (20 strains of bacteria) in Mae Sot General Hospital. The most frequently identified pathogens in respiratory infections were Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Branhamella catarrhalis. This study shows that Gram-stained smears and quantitative sputum culture together have a significant role in enhancing the diagnostic value of expectorated sputum specimens. The causative organisms between Thailand and Japan were very similar in acute respiratory infections. The most important outcome of this study was the detection of Branhamella catarrhalis in many adult cases with acute respiratory infection.