Prevalence of secondary respiratory infections in newly diagnosed microbiologically positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients: A cross-sectional study

• Published in: Multidisciplinary Science Journal Vol. 7; no. 12; p. 2025578
• Main Authors: Karnan, Ashwin, Jadhav, Ulhas, Ghewade, Babaji, Alone, Vivek, Wagh, Pankaj
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2025
• DOI: 10.31893/multiscience.2025578
• ISSN: 2675-1240

Secondary respiratory infections are frequent and serious complications in patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), often complicating clinical management and increasing morbidity and mortality rates. This study assessed the prevalence, demographic profile, and microbiological characteristics of secondary respiratory infections among newly diagnosed microbiologically positive pulmonary TB patients attending a tertiary care hospital. Identifying factors associated with secondary infections could provide insights for improving patient outcomes and guiding targeted interventions. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Respiratory Medicine Outpatient Department of AVBRH JNMC from January 2023 to January 2024. One hundred ten newly diagnosed sputum-positive pulmonary TB patients were enrolled on the basis of the inclusion criteria. Patients with drug-resistant TB, extrapulmonary TB, those unable to expectorate sputum, and those unwilling to provide informed consent were excluded from the study. Demographic details, occupational history, addiction status, differential blood counts, and sputum analysis results (including sputum Gram staining and culture results) were recorded. The prevalence of secondary respiratory infections was determined, and associations with demographic and clinical parameters were statistically analyzed via chi-square tests. Of the 110 patients, 40 (36.4%) were diagnosed with secondary respiratory infections. The study revealed that most patients were male (70, 63.6%), with a significant number belonging to the 41–50-year age group (35, 31.8%). Manual labor was the most common occupation (45, 40.9%), and 50 (45.5%) patients reported a history of tobacco use. Among those with secondary infections, Streptococcus pneumoniae was the predominant pathogen identified in 15 (37.5%) patients, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (10, 25.0%) and Staphylococcus aureus (8, 20.0%). A significant association was observed between secondary infection and age group (p=0.033) as well as addiction history (p=0.017). Patients with secondary infections presented increased total leukocyte counts, neutrophil percentages, and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESRs) and decreased hemoglobin and lymphocyte percentages, indicating a heightened inflammatory response. This study revealed a considerable prevalence of secondary respiratory infections among newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients, particularly those with certain demographic and clinical characteristics. Early recognition and management of these infections are crucial for reducing disease burden and improving patient prognosis. Further research is recommended to explore effective prevention and treatment strategies for secondary infections in this vulnerable population.