Bacterial Isolates and Antibiotic Sensitivity among Gambian Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition

Background. Establishing the pattern of infection and antimicrobial sensitivities in the local environment is critical to rational use of antibiotics and the development of management algorithms. Methods. Morbidity history and physical examination of 140 children with severe acute malnutrition were...

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Main Authors: Uduak A. Okomo, Danlami Garba, Augustin E. Fombah, Ousman Secka, Usman N. A. Ikumapayi, Jacob. J. Udo, Martin O. C. Ota
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:International Journal of Pediatrics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/825123
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author Uduak A. Okomo
Danlami Garba
Augustin E. Fombah
Ousman Secka
Usman N. A. Ikumapayi
Jacob. J. Udo
Martin O. C. Ota
author_facet Uduak A. Okomo
Danlami Garba
Augustin E. Fombah
Ousman Secka
Usman N. A. Ikumapayi
Jacob. J. Udo
Martin O. C. Ota
author_sort Uduak A. Okomo
collection DOAJ
description Background. Establishing the pattern of infection and antimicrobial sensitivities in the local environment is critical to rational use of antibiotics and the development of management algorithms. Methods. Morbidity history and physical examination of 140 children with severe acute malnutrition were recorded. Their blood, stool, and urine samples were cultured and antibiotic sensitivity patterns determined for any bacterial pathogens isolated. Results. Thirty-eight children had a pathogen isolated from blood culture, 60% of which were considered contaminants. Coagulase negative staphylococcus was the predominant contaminant, while the major causes of bacteraemia were nontyphoidal Salmonella (13%), S. pneumoniae (10%), and E. coli (8%). E. coli accounted for 58% of the urinary isolates. No pathogen was isolated from stool. In vitro sensitivity by disk diffusion showed that 87.5% of the isolates were sensitive to ampicillin and/or gentamicin and 84.4% (27/32) to penicillin and/or gentamicin. Conclusions. A combination of ampicillin and gentamicin provides adequate antibiotic cover for severely malnourished children in The Gambia.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2011-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series International Journal of Pediatrics
spelling doaj-art-e8a4f40d0fe8405a88c1ba9d668cfacf2025-02-03T05:45:35ZengWileyInternational Journal of Pediatrics1687-97401687-97592011-01-01201110.1155/2011/825123825123Bacterial Isolates and Antibiotic Sensitivity among Gambian Children with Severe Acute MalnutritionUduak A. Okomo0Danlami Garba1Augustin E. Fombah2Ousman Secka3Usman N. A. Ikumapayi4Jacob. J. Udo5Martin O. C. Ota6Medical Research Council (UK) Laboratories, Atlantic Road, Fajara, P.O. Box 273, Banjul, GambiaMedical Research Council (UK) Laboratories, Atlantic Road, Fajara, P.O. Box 273, Banjul, GambiaMedical Research Council (UK) Laboratories, Atlantic Road, Fajara, P.O. Box 273, Banjul, GambiaMedical Research Council (UK) Laboratories, Atlantic Road, Fajara, P.O. Box 273, Banjul, GambiaMedical Research Council (UK) Laboratories, Atlantic Road, Fajara, P.O. Box 273, Banjul, GambiaDepartment of Paediatrics, University of Calabar teaching Hospital, PMB 1278, Calabar, Cross River State, NigeriaMedical Research Council (UK) Laboratories, Atlantic Road, Fajara, P.O. Box 273, Banjul, GambiaBackground. Establishing the pattern of infection and antimicrobial sensitivities in the local environment is critical to rational use of antibiotics and the development of management algorithms. Methods. Morbidity history and physical examination of 140 children with severe acute malnutrition were recorded. Their blood, stool, and urine samples were cultured and antibiotic sensitivity patterns determined for any bacterial pathogens isolated. Results. Thirty-eight children had a pathogen isolated from blood culture, 60% of which were considered contaminants. Coagulase negative staphylococcus was the predominant contaminant, while the major causes of bacteraemia were nontyphoidal Salmonella (13%), S. pneumoniae (10%), and E. coli (8%). E. coli accounted for 58% of the urinary isolates. No pathogen was isolated from stool. In vitro sensitivity by disk diffusion showed that 87.5% of the isolates were sensitive to ampicillin and/or gentamicin and 84.4% (27/32) to penicillin and/or gentamicin. Conclusions. A combination of ampicillin and gentamicin provides adequate antibiotic cover for severely malnourished children in The Gambia.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/825123
spellingShingle Uduak A. Okomo
Danlami Garba
Augustin E. Fombah
Ousman Secka
Usman N. A. Ikumapayi
Jacob. J. Udo
Martin O. C. Ota
Bacterial Isolates and Antibiotic Sensitivity among Gambian Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition
International Journal of Pediatrics
title Bacterial Isolates and Antibiotic Sensitivity among Gambian Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition
title_full Bacterial Isolates and Antibiotic Sensitivity among Gambian Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition
title_fullStr Bacterial Isolates and Antibiotic Sensitivity among Gambian Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition
title_full_unstemmed Bacterial Isolates and Antibiotic Sensitivity among Gambian Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition
title_short Bacterial Isolates and Antibiotic Sensitivity among Gambian Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition
title_sort bacterial isolates and antibiotic sensitivity among gambian children with severe acute malnutrition
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/825123
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