The etiology of community acquired pneumonia in adults in Addis Ababa.

Over a two year period, we prospectively studied 110 adult patients with Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) who presented to the Black Lion Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Pneumococcal infection was diagnosed in 41% by the detection of pneumococcal antigen in sputum and other biologic fluids; in 72% by Gram stain of Lung Aspirate (LA) and in 67.5% by Gram stain of sputum. Blood and Lung Aspirate culture grew Streptococcus Pneumoniae in 4 cases (6%), Staphylococcus Aureus in 4 (6%), Enterobacteriacae in 3(5%), Pseudomonas, Klebsiella Pneumoniae and Strep. Viridans in one case each. Other non-bacterial causes included Mycoplasma Pneumoniae in 4 (4%) Influenza A in 4 (4%), Influenza B in 3 (3%) and Psittacosis/LGV in a 4 (4%). There was no case of Legionnaires disease. 39% had taken treatment before coming to hospital. The mortality was 11%. The study showed that antibiotic treatment during the preceding 36 hours did not affect the outcome of the Gram stain.