Study of bacterial microbiota in patients with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis

Abstract

Introduction: Microbiota of respiratory tract may be responsible for acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis. So the present study was carried out to find out specific bacterial etiological agents' involvement in acute exacerbation of these diseases. Materials and Methods: Sputum samples from patients of bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis during acute exacerbation and endotracheal aspirates from control cases were processed to isolate the microbiota of respiratory tract using quantitative methods after liquefying and diluting the samples. Significant and insignificant bacterial counts from the samples were determined. Grading of pus cells and bacterial morphology was seen by Gram's staining. Results: Pus cell grading of 1+ to 3+ were seen in the both cases of bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis whereas pus cells were not found in control cases. Percentage of microorganisms by Gram's staining in asthmatics, chronic bronchitis, and controls cases were 93.33%, 86.67%, 76.67% respectively. Among the pathogenic bacteria, percentage of significant count of Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia were found to be high in chronic bronchitis cases when compared these pathogens in asthmatics. In bronchial asthma cases, the percentage of significant count of Streptococcus pyogenes, Proteus mirablis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were high as compared to chronic bronchitis cases. In chronic bronchitis patients and asthmatics, significant count of non-pathogens were 16.67% and 13.33% respectively. Conclusion:The quantitative cultures showing significant numbers as 10 4 /ml and 10 7 /ml of pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria respectively are found to be associated with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis.