High frequency of Haemophilus influenzae associated with respiratory tract infections among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims
Background: Overcrowding during the annual Hajj pilgrimage has been known to increase the risk of infectious diseases transmission. Despite the high prevalence of respiratory illness among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims, knowledge about the etiologic pathogens is yet very limited. Thus, this study aimed to...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2018-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection and Public Health |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187603411830114X |
| _version_ | 1819069510622117888 |
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| author | Nik M.N. Nik Zuraina Abdullah Sarimah Mohamad Suharni Habsah Hasan Siti Suraiya |
| author_facet | Nik M.N. Nik Zuraina Abdullah Sarimah Mohamad Suharni Habsah Hasan Siti Suraiya |
| author_sort | Nik M.N. Nik Zuraina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Overcrowding during the annual Hajj pilgrimage has been known to increase the risk of infectious diseases transmission. Despite the high prevalence of respiratory illness among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims, knowledge about the etiologic pathogens is yet very limited. Thus, this study aimed to determine the spectrum of bacterial respiratory pathogens among the Hajj pilgrims returning to Malaysia in year 2016. Methods: Expectorated sputum specimens were collected from the Hajj pilgrims with symptomatic respiratory tract infections (RTIs). Subsequently, the bacterial pathogens were identified using the standard bacteriological culture method and Vitek II system. Results: This study indicated that 255 (87.33%) out of 292 cultured sputa were positive with at least one potential pathogenic bacteria. Out of 345 total bacterial isolates, 60% (n = 207) were Haemophilus influenzae, which was associated with both single bacterium infection (132/173, 76.3%) and multiple bacterial infections (75/82, 91.5%). The other bacterial isolates included; Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 37, 10.7%), Moraxella catarrhalis (n = 27, 7.8%), Haemophilus parainfluenzae (n = 25, 7.2%), Streptococcus group G (n = 18, 5.2%), Klebsiella spesies (n = 16, 4.6%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 11, 3.2%) and few other organisms. Conclusion: High frequency of H. influenzae was isolated from Malaysian Hajj pilgrims, especially those with respiratory symptoms. Further study should evaluate the actual pathogenicity of the organism and the interactions between the respiratory microbiota towards developing effective prevention strategies of RTIs among the local pilgrims. Keywords: Haemophilus influenzae, Respiratory tract infections, Hajj, Infectious diseases |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T16:51:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0745a8b5086e465e8f9c603fbc4e05dc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1876-0341 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T16:51:12Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Infection and Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-0745a8b5086e465e8f9c603fbc4e05dc2022-12-21T18:56:51ZengElsevierJournal of Infection and Public Health1876-03412018-11-01116878883High frequency of Haemophilus influenzae associated with respiratory tract infections among Malaysian Hajj pilgrimsNik M.N. Nik Zuraina0Abdullah Sarimah1Mohamad Suharni2Habsah Hasan3Siti Suraiya4Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, MalaysiaBiostatistics and Research Methodology Unit, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, MalaysiaSchool of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, MalaysiaDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, MalaysiaDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia; Corresponding author.Background: Overcrowding during the annual Hajj pilgrimage has been known to increase the risk of infectious diseases transmission. Despite the high prevalence of respiratory illness among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims, knowledge about the etiologic pathogens is yet very limited. Thus, this study aimed to determine the spectrum of bacterial respiratory pathogens among the Hajj pilgrims returning to Malaysia in year 2016. Methods: Expectorated sputum specimens were collected from the Hajj pilgrims with symptomatic respiratory tract infections (RTIs). Subsequently, the bacterial pathogens were identified using the standard bacteriological culture method and Vitek II system. Results: This study indicated that 255 (87.33%) out of 292 cultured sputa were positive with at least one potential pathogenic bacteria. Out of 345 total bacterial isolates, 60% (n = 207) were Haemophilus influenzae, which was associated with both single bacterium infection (132/173, 76.3%) and multiple bacterial infections (75/82, 91.5%). The other bacterial isolates included; Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 37, 10.7%), Moraxella catarrhalis (n = 27, 7.8%), Haemophilus parainfluenzae (n = 25, 7.2%), Streptococcus group G (n = 18, 5.2%), Klebsiella spesies (n = 16, 4.6%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 11, 3.2%) and few other organisms. Conclusion: High frequency of H. influenzae was isolated from Malaysian Hajj pilgrims, especially those with respiratory symptoms. Further study should evaluate the actual pathogenicity of the organism and the interactions between the respiratory microbiota towards developing effective prevention strategies of RTIs among the local pilgrims. Keywords: Haemophilus influenzae, Respiratory tract infections, Hajj, Infectious diseaseshttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187603411830114X |
| spellingShingle | Nik M.N. Nik Zuraina Abdullah Sarimah Mohamad Suharni Habsah Hasan Siti Suraiya High frequency of Haemophilus influenzae associated with respiratory tract infections among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims Journal of Infection and Public Health |
| title | High frequency of Haemophilus influenzae associated with respiratory tract infections among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims |
| title_full | High frequency of Haemophilus influenzae associated with respiratory tract infections among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims |
| title_fullStr | High frequency of Haemophilus influenzae associated with respiratory tract infections among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims |
| title_full_unstemmed | High frequency of Haemophilus influenzae associated with respiratory tract infections among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims |
| title_short | High frequency of Haemophilus influenzae associated with respiratory tract infections among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims |
| title_sort | high frequency of haemophilus influenzae associated with respiratory tract infections among malaysian hajj pilgrims |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187603411830114X |
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