Resp infection cases in Kolkata keep most pvt hosps full, remain a worry for docs
Times of India | 3 January 2025
123 Kolkata: The city continues to reel under a spate of respiratory viral and bacterial infections with the mercury on a yo-yo ride over the last two weeks, striking the elderly population with potentially fatal illnesses, including severe pneumonia. Such infections have remained unabated since early Dec.
This has kept occupancy high across hospitals, with at least two facing a bed shortage. Respiratory ICUs are fully occupied at most private hospitals. More than 50% of general ICUs have patients with respiratory disorders.
A clutch of viruses like RSV, human metapneumovirus, rhinovirus, and bacteria like streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae would remain active until the mercury settles down, said physicians and pulmonologists. Due to the multiplicity of viruses, the intensity of the diseases is greater as well, the experts, who are grappling with the situation, added.
Haemophilus influenzae is a bacterium that can trigger severe respiratory infections, including pneumonia, meningitis, and epiglottitis.
At CMRI Hospital, 25% of all patients have respiratory diseases. More than 80% of patients at the hospital's pulmonology department have respiratory issues, according to CMRI Pulmonology director, Raja Dhar. "Other than a range of viruses, we have also traced bacteria, notably streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, which have been triggering more intense respiratory diseases than viruses," explained Dhar.
He added that while CMRI sees a lull in admissions between Dec 25 and Jan 1, this year there was no respite amid a continuous flow of patients with respiratory diseases.
A range of viruses and bacteria have been detected at Peerless Hospital over the last fortnight. "Apart from the usual viruses, we have traced Haemophilus influenzae that tends to strike those with weaker lungs and patients who either suffered structural lung damage or have been long-standing patients of COPD or pneumonia. This time, fewer have tested positive for pneumonia than other winters at our hospital," said Peerless chief microbiologist, Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhury.
BP Poddar Hospital has been operating at full capacity, with nearly 60% of ITU (intensive therapy unit) beds occupied by patients with respiratory illnesses,requiring CPAP and BiPAP support. Most patients were treated and discharged without complications. "We recorded two mortalities last week. Both were above 70 with COPD and a history of long-standing diabetes and hypertension ," said Supriyo Chakrabarty, BP Poddar group advisor, adding that the hospital was forced to decline several patients over the last few days due to full occupancy.
At Charnock Hospital, the majority of ICU patients have respiratory diseases, according to head of emergency, Nishant Agarwal. "We have had a continuous flow of asthma, COPD, respiratory tract infection, and pneumonia patients since Dec. We are running at more than 80% of our capacity," said Agarwal.
OPD and admissions at Manipal Hospitals have been high due to a spike in respiratory infections. "Bacterial infections are dominating, but we have been receiving virus-triggered pneumonia cases also," said Manipal infectious diseases physician, Sayan Chakrabarty.