Abstract

BACTERIA CONTAMINATING SPUTUM IN COPD PATIENT

Sangeeta Mahale*, Kirti Jain, Bharti Jain, Padmakar Tripathi and Nagmi Aliya

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for a collection of lung diseases including chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic obstructive airways disease. Typical symptoms of COPD include increasing breathlessness, persistent cough with phlegm and frequent chest infection. Buist et al., (2007); Gershon et al.,(2011) It affected more than 5% of the population and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. CDC(2012), Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a slowly progressive disease.5 In many developing countries both pulmonary tuberculosis and COPD are common. Fairall et al., (2005). Normal flora of the oropharynx usually contaminate the sputum sample. Overgrow large number of different species preventing the determination of the true pathogen. Nihan and Aysegul (2010) Commonly seen problem with the patients is that they are not well trained therefore most of the times it is watery saliva which they send instead of the purulent sputum to the laboratory, leading to erroneous result. Ravichandran et al.,(2001) Organisms most commonly associated with exacerbations are Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and some gram-negative bacilli. Mandell et al.,(2003).

Keywords: COPD, Morbidity, Mortility, Contamination.