Respiratory infections caused by Branhamella catarrhalis in 5 different hospitals

During 9 months (from January 1988 to September 1988), we experienced 82 patients (94 episodes) of respiratory infections with Branhamella catarrhalis in 5 different hospitals. There were 11 patients of acute bronchitis, 8 patients of pneumonia, 56 patients of chronic bronchitis (68 episodes), 3 patients of bronchiectasis, 3 patients of bronchial asthma with infection and chronic pulmonary emphysema in one patient. Ten cases of acute bronchitis and 3 cases of pneumonia had a recent history of common cold, with no underlying disease. There were 68 episodes of acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, the highest among 94 episodes of all respiratory infection. In chronic bronchitis the single pathogen B. catarrhalis was more than B. catarrhalis associated with other pathogens. H. influenza was associated with B. catarrhalis in in most cases of polymicrobial infection. beta-lactamase producing B. catarrhalis was 71% and oral penicillin was not effective in 8 cases of infection by beta-lactamase producing strains. These results show that B. catarrhalis is very important as a common pathogen of respiratory infection.