Bacterial isolates of blood cultures in patients with suspected septicaemia in Ilorin, Nigeria
Samuel, S.O.; Fadeyi, A.; Akanbi, A.A.; Ameen, N.B.; Nwabuisi, C.; Onile, B.A.
African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences 35(2): 137-141
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0309-3913 PMID: 17209308 Document Number: 603139
Periodic bacteriologic surveillance of blood cultures is a necessity. To determine currently prevalent bacterial pathogens of blood cultures in patients with suspected septicaemia in Ilorin. Nigeria. Three thousand and fifty-seven patients from all age and sex groups with clinical suspicion of septicaemia underwent bacteriologic screening of their blood specimen over a 13 month period starting from January. 2003. Twenty point three percent were positive for bacterial growth. An incidence of 41.7 per 1000 admissions was recorded which was a statistically significant (p< 0.05) marginal increase when compared with the previous incidence of 37.9 per 1000 admissions from this centre. Majority of the isolates were gram negative (51.61%) though the single predominant isolate was Staphylococcus aureus (35.85%). Other isolates included Escherichia coli (32.48%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (11.74%), Proteus spp (0.32%), coagulase negative Staphylococcus (1.61%), Salmonella typhi (0.48%). beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (0.48%) and Acinetobacter spp (0.32%). No anaerobe was isolated. Most isolates were sensitive to fluoroquinolones (ofloxacin, perfloxacin and ciprofloxacin) and third generation cephalosporins (ceftriaxone and ceftazidime) except Acinetobacter that was 100% resistant to both groups of antibiotics. Gram positive isolates were resistant to the second generation cephalosporin, cefuroxime. We hereby recommend the use of combination of a third generation cephalosporin and fluoroquinolones where not contraindicated, in the empiric treatment of septicaemia before sensitivity results are available.