Bacterial Infections of the Human Respiratory Tract (BIHRT)

Abstract

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) affect various components of the respiratory system—including the lungs, trachea, pleural cavity, bronchi, upper respiratory tract, and the associated muscles and nerves—either individually or in combination. The most dangerous and fatal of these infections are typically of bacterial aetiology. Bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis are commonly implicated. Clinical manifestations include sinusitis, rhinitis, otitis, tonsillitis, epiglottitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia. The efficacy of conventional antibiotics (e.g., ampicillin, erythromycin, amoxicillin, and penicillin) is diminishing due to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Consequently, there is an urgent need to explore alternative treatment options to manage these infections effectively.