Kolkata: Pneumonia and COPD cases have risen sharply across the city's private hospitals, many of which have remained fully occupied for the past 7 days. Some hospitals reported a 5-10% mortality rate among pneumonia patients, most with pre-existing lung conditions such as COPD. Doctors warned the surge could continue for another month as weather conditions remain favourable for bacterial pneumonia and lung ailments.
CMRI Hospital's respiratory ICU has been full with 24 patients for over a week, forcing several admissions to wards. "There was a relentless inflow of severe lung disease cases, mostly pneumonia, requiring ICU care, along with COPD exacerbations. Pneumonia was more severe in patients with a COPD history. We recorded a few deaths, with pneumonia mortality at around 5-10%," said CMRI Hospital pulmonology director Raja Dhar.
He added that the flow of patients seemed unlikely to reduce for 1 month. "The pollution and the temperature remain conducive to pneumonia and viral spread," he added.
Twenty patients are currently admitted at Charnock Hospital with pneumonia and COPD exacerbations. Recent temperature fluctuations, with the mercury rising after a sharp fall on Dec 31, triggered infections, said Soumya Sengupta, head of pulmonology at Charnock Hospital.
"Bacterial pneumonia is dominant, with severe cases mainly among those with prior lung disease. Vaccinated elderly patients had mild illness and were treated at home, while unvaccinated younger patients — especially those seeking late care — had more severe disease. Early treatment is controlling infections with oral antibiotics," added Sengupta.
Peerless Hospital diagnosed 2 to 4 pneumonia cases daily over the past week, said chief microbiologist Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhury. "Streptococcus was the most common bacterial pneumonia, with Klebsiella and Haemophilus also detected among both admitted and OPD patients," he added.
Hospitals detected streptococcus and Klebsiella pneumonia, along with Haemophilus influenza, with many severe cases among middle-aged patients. "It's affecting not just the elderly but also relatively young people without prior lung disease. So, the infection is in the air," said Dhar.
There was a significant increase in COPD cases owing to the dip in temperature, poor air quality, and pollutants, said Debraj Jash, HOD Pulmonology, Manipal Hospitals.
BP Poddar Hospital has an occupancy of 90%, with admissions dominated by respiratory cases. "Fifty-three patients are currently admitted with COPD, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. Many patients have acute flare-ups triggered by cold weather and infections, with poor air quality and high particulate matter further aggravating respiratory conditions and precipitating disease exacerbations," said Supriyo Chakrabarty, Group Advisor, BP Poddar Hospital.