A Study on Trends of Chest X-Ray Radiological Patterns in Community Acquired Pneumonia, In Association with Bacterial and Fungal Etiologic Agents

Introduction: Pneumonia is one of the leading cause of infectious disease worldwide. Chest radiography plays a crucial role in clinical diagnosis of Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP). This study is conducted to identify the common infiltrative patterns in CAP and their association with specific microbial pathogens. Materials & Methods: Chest radiography infiltrative patterns for about 150 cases of CAP are studied and the specific etiologic pathogens were identified by microbiological investigations, according to Standard Operating Procedures. Results: The most common type of radiologic finding is lobar type of consolidation (55.33%) followed by bronchopneumonia type of consolidation (17.33%). Culture positivity rate was 69.33%. Monomicrobial infection was identified in 90 cases (86.54%), while polymicrobial infection was found in 14 cases (13.46%). Bacterial pathogens predominate over fungal pathogens. 85.18% of K. pneumoniae isolates presented with lobar type of consolidation.66.66% of Staphylococcus aureus isolates with bronchopneumonia type of consolidation.50-100% of poly microbial infections presented with lobar type of consolidation.27.77 % each of fungal isolates presented with cavitary consolidation and nodular type of consolidation. Conclusion: As newer pathogens are emerging with specific pattern of chest infiltrates, primary knowledge about the specific chest X ray patterns by various pathogens are important to obtain preliminary idea about the possible pathogen and thereby to choose an ideal empiric antibiotic therapy, which is the main line of treatment in CAP.