ISSN 2736-1756
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2015 International Scholars Journals
Review
A review of bacterial isolates in blood cultures of children with suspected septicemia in a Nigerian tertiary Hospital
S. I. Nwadioha1*, E. O. P. Nwokedi1, E. Kashibu2, M. S. Odimayo1 and E. E. Okwori1
1Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi.
2Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.
Accepted 24 December, 2014
Abstract
Septicaemia is a common condition in children with a resultant high morbidity and mortality. The gold standard for diagnosis of septicemia is the isolation of bacteria agents from blood cultures. To determine the common etiology of septicemia in children and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern, a retrospective study with a review of blood culture reports of paediatric patients aged 0 - 15 years, suspected of septicemia, from October 2006 to October 2008 in the Medical Microbiology department of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria was carried out. Out of a total of 3840 blood culture samples, only 18.2% was culture positive. Gram–negative and gram–positive bacteria constituted 69.3 and 30.7%, respectively. The most prevalent bacterial isolates were Escherichia coli (44.3%) and Staphylococcus aureus (30.7%). E. coli were sensitive to Ceftriaxone, Ciprofloxacin, Gentamycin and Clavulinate – Amoxyl. The commonest bacterial isolate from blood culture of children with suspected septicemia in Kano was E. coli. The most sensitive and preferable among the tested antibiotics was Ceftriaxone. Rational use of antibiotics with regular antibiotic susceptibility surveillance studies is recommended to maintain high antibiotic therapeutic profile.
Key words: Blood cultures, bacterial isolates, antibiotic sensitivity, children.