Evaluating the burden of respiratory tract infections among mortality cases in Karachi, Pakistan: a post-pandemic surveillance analysis
We observed a high burden of RTIs in Karachi, with Klebsiella pneumoniae playing a major role in overall mortality across all age groups. Co-infections with multiple respiratory pathogens were common, underscoring the need for better diagnostic and treatment strategies. Improved surveillance and potential vaccine development for Klebsiella pneumoniae and other notable pathogens could reduce mortality in similar settings. However, limitations such as post-mortem colonisation, contamination, and the absence of histopathologic confirmation necessitate cautious interpretation of pathogen-related mortality.
Authors
- Shabina Ariff (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9627-2662)
- Obianuju Genevieve Aguolu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7082-3024)
- Fátima Aziz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9836-9142)
- İnci Yıldırım (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8631-0020)
- Saad B. Omer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5383-3474)
- Abdul Momin Kazi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8253-1777)
- Sameer Mohiuddin Belgaumi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2106-8517)
- Aneeta Hotwani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8990-2793)
- Raheel Allana (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7547-8154)
- Saima Jamal
- Nazia Ahsan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4200-3918)
- Zahra Hasan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2263-236X)
- Fauzia Malik
- Furqan Kabir
Institutions
- Aga Khan University (PK)
- Ohio Department of Health (US)
- Yale University (US)
- Southwestern Medical Center (US)
- The Ohio State University (US)
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Global Health
- Published
- 2025-08-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.15.04198
- Primary Topic
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00