Introduction: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients in intensive care units. The consequences of increased drug resistance are far reaching since bacterial infection of the lower respiratory tract is a major cause of death from infectious disease. The study was conducted w Objective: ith the aim of determining the bacterial aetiology of LRTI in the intensive care unit (ICU) as well as to update the clinicians with the various antimicrobial alternatives available in the treatment of LRTI. Sputum, endotracheal and tracheostomy tube aspirate, pleural fluid of patie Materials And Methods: nts of LRT infections from medical and surgical ICUs were collected and processed by standard microbiological techniques. Routine antibiotic susceptibility with multi drug resistance were tested. Total 430 patients were clinically suspected Results: of LRTI, out of which significant pathogens were isolated from 187 ( 43. 48%). Klebsiella pneumoniae (33. 7%) was the most dominant pathogen followed by Acinetobacter baumannii(31. 6%). Alarmingly high percentage of extended spectrum beta-lactamase and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates were detected. The resistance to cephalosporins, aminoglycosides and carbapenem were remarkable. For Conclusions: the effective management of LRTI's, an ultimate and detailed bacteriological diagnosis and susceptible testing is required to overcome global problem of antibiotic resistance
John et al. (Wed,) studied this question.