Diseases of the upper respiratory tract: structure of pathogens

Introduction. Upper respiratory tract diseases traditionally remain among the leading conditions in the structure of infectious pathology and represent a significant medical and social problem, affecting both pediatric and adult populations, contributing to temporary disability, impacting patients’ quality of life, and increasing healthcare system costs. The nosological spectrum of inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract is diverse, and the microbiological landscape is highly variable, necessitating regular updates on the etiological structure of pathogens. The aim of the study – to study the etiological structure of pathogens causing upper respiratory tract diseases in an otorhinolaryngology inpatient setting. Materials and methods. A total of 115 patients with upper respiratory tract diseases were examined in an otorhinolaryngology specialty hospital. Microbiological analysis was performed on 139 samples from the mucosa of the oropharynx, nasopharynx, nasal sinuses, and larynx. Results and discussion. Microbiological studies identified 41 microbial species, including three fungal species. The most frequently detected microorganisms were Staphylococcus aureus (20,1 %), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15,6 %), Staphylococcus epidermidis (11,7 %), Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (each 6,5 %). A significant proportion of the isolates exhibited pronounced antibiotic resistance: 72,2 % were ESBLproducing strains, 16,7 % were methicillin-resistant staphylococci, and 11,1 % were carbapenem-resistant. Conclusion. The data reflect the polymicrobial nature of inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract and confirm the increasing prevalence of resistant microbial forms. The results highlight the necessity of regular microbiological monitoring and a differentiated approach to selecting antibacterial therapy based on local pathogen susceptibility data.