INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY & LIFE SCIENCES Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of Moraxella catarrhalis at a tertiary care hospital

Moraxella catarrhalis is a human-specific bacterium previously discounted as a simple commensal organism withonly limited pathogenic potential. This view ha s changed considerably and we now know that M. catarrhalis is associatedwith a range of disease states affecting both children and adults. A retrospective study was carried out to assess the clinical significance of Moraxella catarrhalis (M. catarrhalis) isolated from sputum specimens received from patients seen during a 1year period. The isol ation of M.catarrhalis should be considered signiicant in adult patients with lower respiratory tract infections an d associated underlying risk factors. Since 70 % of the isolates showed penicillin resistance, treatment with approp riate antibiotics should be instituted.