Abstract
Secondary infections are the most common complications in patients of tuberculosis. In the present study the prevalence of opportunistic organisms was assessed among tuberculosis patients with respect to drug addiction, an important predisposing factor to acquire secondary and opportunistic infections. Moreover, the antibiotic sensitivity testing of these isolates was also performed. Clinical specimens were collected from hospitalized tuberculosis patients and were characterized to species level by using standard diagnostic criteria. Out of 510 tuberculosis patients, 199 (39%) were addicted to tobacco, cannabinoids, opioids or alcohol. The most frequently isolated bacteria from these patients were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Moroxella catarrhalis, Streptococcus viridans and coagulase positive and negative Staphylococci. Emergence of multi drug resistance among Gram positive and Gram negative organisms was noted against most of the broad spectrum antibiotics such as penicillin derivatives and cephalosporin of first and second generation. The results of present study highlight that drug abuse not only enhances incidence of tuberculosis but also results in causing complications in such patients by prevalence of secondary infections by multidrug resistant microorganisms. Prompt management of such patients is of prime importance to minimize complications.
