Biomedical subjects

C L Obi

Publications and source records attributed to C L Obi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Prevalence of Campylobacter species, Helicobacter pylori and Arcobacter species in stool samples from the Venda region, Limpopo, South Africa: studies using molecular diagnostic methods.

OBJECTIVES: This study determined the prevalence of Campylobacter spp., Helicobacter pylori and Arcobacter spp. in stool samples from Venda in relation to diarrhea, intestinal inflammation and HIV status using specific molecular methods. METHODS: Stool samples were collected from hospital patients (255) and primary school children (67). Genomic DNA was extracted from the stools and molecular methods including PCR, PCR followed by restriction analysis and multiplex PCR were used to test for the different organisms. The lactoferrin content of the stools was determined using commercial kits from TechLab (Blacksburg, VA, USA). RESULTS: The prevalence of the different organisms was 50.6% for H. pylori, 10.2% for C. jejuni, 6.2% for A. butzleri, 6.5% for C. coli, 3.1% for C. concisus, 2.8% for A. cryaerophilus and 1.9% for A. skirrowii. Of all the organisms, only C. jejuni was significantly associated with diarrhea (84.8%) (chi2=21.025, P<0.001) and elevated levels of lactoferrin (78.8%) (chi2=16.919, P<0.005) and was an important pathogen associated with diarrhea among HIV positive individuals (22.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Campylobacter infections are common causes of gastroenteritis in Venda. Non-C. jejuni/coli Campylobacters such as C. concisus as well as A. butzleri and H. pylori may be involved in gastrointestinal diseases in the region but further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Cryptosporidium species: preliminary descriptions of the prevalence and genotype distribution among school children and hospital patients in the Venda region, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

In the present study, the prevalence and species distribution of Cryptosporidium among school children and hospital patients in the Venda region of South Africa was determined. Real time PCR (qPCR) was used for initial screening to detect positive samples while a nested PCR followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to determine the species genotype. From a total of 244 stool samples tested, 44 (18%) had Cryptosporidium with no significant difference (chi(2)=0.04; P=0.841) between samples collected from patients attending hospitals 36/197 (18%) and the samples from primary schools 8/47 (17%). The age groups most affected were those from 2 to 5 years old (28.6%) and 50 to 59 years old (50.0%). Cryptosporidium was detected in 4 (12.5%) of the 31 HIV positive individuals. Fifty-seven percent of the Cryptosporidium positive samples were diarrheic and 26 (59.1%) had elevated lactoferrin content. C. hominis (82%) was more common than C. parvum (18%). This study has demonstrated the high prevalence of Cryptosporidium infections in the Venda region and its implications in causing diarrhea and inflammation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Scope of potential bacterial agents of diarrhoea and microbial assessment of quality of river water sources in rural Venda communities in South Africa.

The microbial quality of several, usually untreated, surface domestic water sources, used by rural communities in the Venda Region of South Africa, was assessed to gauge their fitness for human consumption and to highlight the possible impact of waterborne diseases. The water sources studied were six points on the Levubu River and the rivers Mutale, Ngwedi, Tshinane, Makonde, Mutshindudi and Mudaswali. Total and faecal coliform, heterotrophic bacteria, enterococci and coliphage counts were used as indicators/surrogates to estimate the degree of bacterial and viral contamination respectively by standard methods. The presence of potential bacterial agents of diarrhoea such as Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Plesiomonas, Aeromonas and Vibrio was also determined. Results showed that the ranges of counts with regard to all the water sources investigated were 2.9 x 10(2) - 6.3 x 10(4) CFU/100 mL for faecal coliforms, 6.0 x 10(2) - 3.7 x 10(4) CFU/100 mL for total coliforms, 1.8 x 10(2) - 1.3 x 10(6) CFU/mL for heterotrophic plate count, 1.0 x 10(1) - 3.7 x 10(4) CFU/100 mL for enterococci and 0-13 PFU/100 mL for coliphages. These values are far higher than the acceptable maximum limits prescribed for South Africa by the Dept of Water & Forestry and the Water Research Commission - 0 CFU/100 mL, 5 CFU/100 mL, 1.0 x 10(2) CFU/mL, 0 CFU/100 mL and 1 PFU/100 mL for faecal coliforms, total coliforms, heterotrophic bacteria, enterococci and coliphages respectively. Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio cholerae, Campylobacter, Aeromonas and Plesiomonas were isolated from several of the water sources investigated. The use of these water sources for drinking and domestic purposes poses a serious threat to the health and well being of the users and calls for urgent government intervention.

Bacteria↗

PubMed1999

In-vitro disk diffusion sensitivity of meropenem against bacterial pathogens in Harare.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the in-vitro sensitivity of meropenem with imipenem and other antibiotics against clinically significant bacteria. DESIGN: A longitudinal survey. SETTING: Department of Medical Microbiology, in a tertiary care university hospital. SUBJECTS: Specimens obtained from patients attending various clinics at tertiary care and teaching hospital in Harare. Those submitted to the Public Health Bacteriology Laboratory were analysed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of resistance or susceptibility of the various bacteria to the antibiotics employed in the study. RESULTS: There was excellent in-vitro bacterial activity of meropenem against virtually all clinically significant Gram positive and Gram negative isolates when compared with other antibiotics such as imipenem, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, penicillin, ampicillin, fusidic acid, tetracyclines, erythromycin and clindamycin (p < 0.5). All isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacteriaceae, Neisseria meningitidis were susceptible to meropenem. Meropenem showed 99% overall in-vitro sensitivity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. About 80% of staphylococci were resistant to penicillin whereas at least 20-25% of S. aureus, coagulase negative staphylococci, S. pyogenes showed resistance to ampicillin, erythromycin, gentamicin, tetracycline and clindamycin. CONCLUSION: Meropenem is not included in the list of routinely tested antibiotics in our laboratory, a major tertiary laboratory in the country. As a result of the ultra-broad spectrum of activity, we recommend its inclusion in our routine antibiotic sensitivity testing and observe that there is a great potential for meropenem in the treatment of infections caused by several genera of bacteria in our environment.

Drug Resistance, Microbial↗

PubMed1999

Symptomatic HIV-infection in infants according to serostatus of mothers during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the pattern of symptomatic HIV infections, HIV seropositivity and mother to child transmission (MTCT) rate during a two-year follow up period at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months according to mothers serostatus during pregnancy. DESIGN: A longitudinal cohort study with socio-economic, medical, and demographic history of all participating pregnant women from recruitment; and of the child at birth recorded separately on pre-constructed questionnaire. The medical condition of each infant was recorded at the periodic follow-ups. SETTING: The maternal and paediatric wards of the Harare Central Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe. SUBJECTS: Three hundred and eighty six HIV-seropositive and 372 HIV-seronegative Zimbabwean pregnant women attending maternal and paediatric wards of Harare Central Hospital. INTERVENTIONS: About 10 ml of umbilical (venous) blood was collected at birth, centrifuged after clotting and stored frozen until HIV tests were carried out. Also capillary blood for filter paper storage was taken at six and 16 months and venous blood at one and two years of age for HIV serology, using ELISA. HIV serostatus was confirmed using Western Blot (WB) technique. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The HIV-serostatus of participating pregnant women and of infants at birth, patterns of symptomatic HIV infections and HIV seropositivity among infants and the number of deaths during a two year follow up at periodic intervals. RESULTS: A total of 108 infant deaths occurred within the follow up period. Significantly more deaths (82 versus 25, p < 0.0001; excluding one infant whose HIV serostatus was not determined), parotitis, palpable neck and groin lymph nodes occurred among infants born to HIV positive than those born to HIV negative mothers. Palpable axillary lymph nodes were significantly more common at 12, 18, and 24 months of follow up in infants born to HIV positive women. The maternal HIV serostatus during pregnancy and of infants at all periodic follow ups showed no association with persistent diarrhoea, fever and cough. However prolonged fever became significantly associated at 24 months. CONCLUSION: Mother to child transmission (MTCT) rate based on the HIV-serostatus of 272 infants; 17.4% in utero and 11.1% via breast milk respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that an infant presenting with faltering growth (Odds Ratio [OR] = 5.597), palpable neck (OR = 5.919) and axillary lymph nodes (OR = 4.197) was likely to be HIV positive at 24 months.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Distributional patterns of bacterial diarrhoeagenic agents and antibiograms of isolates from diarrhoeaic and non-diarrhoeaic patients in urban and rural areas of Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of bacteria that could cause diarrhoea in stool specimens of individuals with and without diarrhoea in both urban and rural areas of Nigeria. To ascertain the antibiotic susceptibilities of the bacterial diarrhoeagenic agents isolated. To document the predominant signs and symptoms associated with the various bacterial agents of diarrhoea. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Patients/individuals attending government and private clinics in Lagos, Edo and Cross-River States of Nigeria. SUBJECTS: A total of 1,200 stool samples were collected from patients with diarrhoea. Another total of 1,200 stool specimens were obtained from controls. RESULTS: For diarrhoea cases in urban areas Campylobacter spp. were more predominant (28%) and were followed by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) (28%) whereas in rural areas, EPEC were the most commonly isolated bacteria (18%), closely followed by Salmonella spp. (16%). Controls had a similar distribution pattern. Higher rates of isolation of these enteric bacteria were recorded among diarrhoea cases than in controls (p < 0.05). Diarrhoea due to Vibrio, Yersinia, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas and EPEC was mainly watery whereas it mainly consisted of blood/mucus for Shigella and Salmonella. All were associated with abdominal pain and fever. Results presented also indicate that over 80% of Shigella species, Salmonella, EPEC and P. shigelloides were susceptible to nalidixic acid and nitrofurantoin. Virtually all the enteropathogens were resistant to commonly used antibiotics such ampicillin, erythromycin, tetracyclines and streptomycin. CONCLUSION: Results show that distributional patterns of bacterial agents of diarrhoea may vary in urban and rural areas and have revealed the effectiveness of nalidixic acid, gentamicin and nitrofurantoin, in that order, against these enteropathogens.

Bacterial Infections↗

PubMed1998

In-vitro activity of piperacillin and tazobactam combination against clinically significant bacteria.

The in-vitro activity of piperacillin/tazobactum which is not among the routinely tested antibiotic at the Public Health Bacteriology Laboratory, Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe was evaluated for its activity against bacterial pathogens using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Piperacillin/tazobactum showed superior in-vitro activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria when compared with routinely tested antibiotics such as gentamicin, erythromycin, tetracycline, penicillin, chloramphenicol, fusidic acid and clindamycin and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Ciprofloxacin showed in-vitro activity comparable to that of tazobactam/piperacillin. Specifically, 96% of gram positive isolates (comprising Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative staphylococci and Streptococcus pneumoniae were sensitive to piperacillin/tazobactam. For gram negative organisms, 98% of Haemophilus influenzae Shigella spp, Klebsiella spp were also sensitive to the combination. The broad spectrum of activity of piperacillin/tazobactam shows that the potential of the drug combination for the treatment of infections caused by diverse microorganisms should not be underestimated. We recommend its inclusion in routine antibiotic sensitivity testing in our hospital.

Drug Evaluation, Preclinical↗

PubMed1997

Subtypes of HIV-1 and the impact of dual infections of HIV-1 and measles virus on micronutrient levels of pregnant women in Harare, Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVE: To determine subtypes of HIV-1, simultaneous prevalence of HIV-1 and measles virus antibodies and their impact on micronutrient levels of pregnant women in Harare, Zimbabwe. DESIGN: Cross sectional. SETTING: Budiriro and Edith Opperman Antenatal Clinics Harare; Departments of Medical Microbiology, Medical Laboratory Technology and Institute of Food, Nutrition and Family Sciences, University of Zimbabwe. SUBJECTS: Pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Harare, Zimbabwe. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: HIV-1 subtypes, measles virus seropositivities and levels of micronutrients among the pregnant women. RESULTS: Results showed that 101 (22.7%) out of a total of 444 pregnant women screened were HIV-1 positive. A separate group of 238 (inclusive of the 444) were screened for measles antibody and 118 (49.5%) were positive, whereas 41 (17.2%) were HIV-1 positive. Thirty five (29.7%) were seropositive for both HIV-1 and measles virus (simultaneous infection). HIV-1 subtypes revealed subtype C (70.4%) as the predominant subtype. HIV-1 subtypes B, A and D accounted for 40.8%, 39.8% and 22.4% respectively whereas HIV-1 subtypes E and F were not detected. Dual infections showed that 37.7%, 36.7%, 7.1% and 4.4% harboured subtypes A and C; B and C; A and D and B and D respectively. Multiple infections with subtypes A, B, C and D (5.1%) were also recorded whereas 9.2% were non-reactive. Results on micronutrients portrayed that HIV-1 positive pregnant women had significantly lower zinc than the control but co-infection with measles virus did not cause further decrease. Infection by either HIV-1 or measles virus increased serum copper (p < 0.05) but co-infection by the two viruses reduced the copper level significantly (p < 0.05). HIV-1 seropositivity did not affect serum magnesium level but was lower (p < 0.05) in women positive for both HIV-1 and measles virus. CONCLUSION: This is a single report on HIV-1 infection, HIV-1 subtypes, simultaneous prevalence of HIV-1 and measles virus antibodies and their impact on micronutrient levels of pregnant women in Harare, Zimbabwe. The study is of nutritional, clinico-epidemiologic importance.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

HIV infection and HIV-1 clades among pregnant women in Harare, Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVE: To determine HIV-1 seropositivity and HIV-1 clades/subtypes among pregnant women attending different clinics in Harare, Zimbabwe. DESIGN: A prospective study. SUBJECTS: 206 pregnant women attending Edith Opperman and Budiriro clinics in Harare. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency distribution of the various HIV-1 clades and rate of HIV-1 seropositivity. RESULTS: Results obtained showed that out of the 206 pregnant women screened, 60 (29.1%) were HIV-1 seropositive. The most predominant clade was HIV-1 clade C (66.6%) whereas HIV-1 clades A and B accounted for 48.3% and 33.3% of HIV-1 clades respectively. Results also revealed dual infections with clades A and C (45%), A and D (10%), B and C (30%) and multiple infections with A, B, C and D (6.6%) whereas two (3.3%) were non-reactive. CONCLUSION: Finally, the data on HIV-1 clades are of immense immunological, molecular and epidemiological importance in Harare, Zimbabwe and should serve as base line data for future investigations in the country.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Enteric bacterial pathogens in stools of residents of urban and rural regions in Nigeria: a comparison of patients with and without diarrhoea and controls without diarrhoea.

A total of 2,400 stool samples comprising 1,200 from patients with diarrhoea (600 each from urban and rural area) and 1,200 similarly divided controls were obtained from school children and clinic attendants of government and private clinics around three designated study centres of Edo, Lagos and Cross River states, Nigeria. These were screened for the prevalence of bacteria that could cause diarrhoea. Diarrhoea cases in urban areas had a high prevalence rate for Campylobacter spp. (28%), followed by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (22%), Salmonella spp. (17%), Shigella spp. (14%), Aeromonas spp. (5%), and Yersinia enterocolitica (4%), whereas in rural areas E. coli was the most frequently encountered pathogen (18%), followed by Salmonella spp. (16%), Aeromonas spp. (15%), Shigella spp. (9%), Campylobacter spp. (8%), and Plesiomonas shigelloides (8%). A similar distribution but with lower rates was noted for controls in both urban and rural areas, however, no P. shigelloides was isolated. Results highlight a possible difference between the prevalence of enteric bacteria in rural and urban areas and reveals the strong association of Aeromonas and Plesiomonas species with cases of diarrhoea in Nigeria.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Anti-Plesiomonas shigelloides agglutinating and complement-fixing antibody titres in normal individuals and diarrhoeal patients in Edo State, Nigeria.

One hundred patients with diarrhoea and 50 asymptomatic individuals attending various hospitals in Edo State, Nigeria, were screened for serum complement-fixing and agglutinating antibodies to Plesiomonas shigelloides using the complement-fixation and agglutination tests. Seventy (70%) of the 100 patients and 20 (40%) of the 50 asymptomatic individuals had detectable complement-fixing antibodies at titres ranging from 1:32 to 1:128 and 1:8 to 1:32 respectively. Results suggest that cases of diarrhoea in this environment may be due to P. shigelloides, but the demonstration of antibodies in asymptomatic individuals show that they also have serum antibodies against P. shigelloides. The exclusive use of antibody responses in the diagnosis of P. shigelloides infections should, therefore, be interpreted with caution.

Agglutination Tests↗

PubMed1996

Measles virus haemagglutination-inhibition antibodies among pregnant and non-pregnant women in the vaccine era in Harare, Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of measles virus haemagglutination-inhibitive antibodies among pregnant and non-pregnant women born before 1963 (pre-vaccine era) and those born after 1963 (vaccine era) in Harare. DESIGN: Prospective study of serum samples collected from pregnant and non-pregnant women born during the pre-vaccine era and vaccine era in Harare. SETTING: A laboratory based study at the Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Zimbabwe using serum samples of women from different communities in Harare. SUBJECTS: 546 pregnant and non-pregnant women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age, pregnant or not pregnant and the use of measles virus haemagglutination-inhibition antibody tests to determine prevalence rates or levels of antibodies to the measles virus. RESULTS: The results showed that 158 (28.9pc) out of a total of 546 pregnant and non-pregnant women screened were positive for measles virus haemagglutination-inhibition antibodies (MVHIA) at titers ranging from 1:10 to 1:80.39.8pc and 18pc of pregnant women born before 1963 and after 1963 were respectively positive whereas 49pc and 27.3pc of non-pregnant women born before 1963 and after 1963 were also positive for MVHIA respectively. The mean age of women born before 1963 was 38 + 2 years (range 34 to 60 years, median 42 years) while those born after 1963 had a mean age of 22 + 2 years (range 10 to 28 years; median 23 years). Higher antibody titers (1:40 and 1:80) were most commonly observed in both pregnant and non-pregnant women born during the pre-vaccine era than those born during the vaccine era and the difference was of statistical significance (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Finally results suggest that immunity acquired by exposure to wild measles virus (pre-vaccine era or natural immunity) is higher than immunity acquired following immunisation (vaccine era) and this may affect the duration of maternally derived immunity by children of mothers born during the different eras. Consequently, while we expect that this finding will be of value in immunisation schedules, we suggest a titer of 1:40 and above as the likely screening titer for routine identification of protected women in Zimbabwe.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Scope of urinary pathogens isolated in the Public Health Bacteriology Laboratory, Harare: antibiotic susceptibility patterns of isolates and incidence of haemolytic bacteria.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the scope of urinary pathogens isolated in the Public Health Bacteriology Laboratory, their antibiotic susceptibility patterns and the incidence of haemolytic bacteria in Harare. DESIGN: Prospective study. Patients of different age groups attending various clinics in Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare, between October 1995 and April 1996 were enrolled for the study. SETTING: A laboratory based study at the Bacteriology Unit, Public Health Laboratories, Harare. SUBJECTS: 1,760 urine specimens obtained from male and female patients suspected of having UTI. RESULTS: Out of a total number of 1,760 urine specimens screened only 473 (26.9pc) were positive for UTI pathogens. Four hundred and nineteen (88.5pc) and 46 (9.7pc) of the 473 positive UTI pathogens were Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria respectively. Eight (1.7pc) of the positive isolates were Candida spp. The commonest pathogen isolated was Escherichia coli (40.5pc), followed by Klebsiella spp. (22.1pc) and Proteus spp. (7.2pc). Of the positive isolates 184 (38.9pc) and seven (1.5pc) were beta- and alpha-haemolytic respectively. Of E. coli isolates 72pc were beta-haemolytic. Sex distribution showed that 53pc and 47pc of the UTI pathogens were isolated from males and females respectively. E. coli was more predominant in females (51.3pc). Antibiotic susceptibility patterns revealed that 100pc of strains of E. coli, Proteus spp., Serratia spp., Salmonella spp., Morganella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) were sensitive to Ciprofloxacin. Urinary isolates were markedly resistant to Tetracycline, Carbenicillin, Cotrimoxazole, Ampicillin and Nitrofurantoin. Fusidic acid and Clindamycin were active against staphylococcal species. CONCLUSION: We conclude that E. coli is the commonest UTI pathogen and that 72pc of strains were beta-haemolytic. We suggest the use of Ciprofloxacin as the drug of choice for the treatment of UTI caused by both Gram positive and Gram negative UTI pathogens. Nitrofurantoin and Gentamycin are in addition recommended for E. coli while Fusidic acid and Clindamycin may be useful for staphylococcal species.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Antibiograms and plasmids of Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase negative staphylococci isolated from different clinical sources.

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the antibiotic resistance patterns and plasmids of Staphyl coccus aureus and coagulae negative staphylococci isolated from different clinical specimens in Lagos, Nigeria. DESIGN: Prospective study involving the screening of specimens of blood, urine, skin and soft tissue infections, vagina, urethra, eye, ear, nose, pleural fluid and seminal fluid obtained from patients attending the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Providence Hospital Diagnostic Laboratories, Lagos, Nigeria. SETTING: A laboratory based study conducted in the Microbiology Unit, University of Lagos and the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) Lagos, Nigeria. The patients were from different communities in Lagos. SUBJECTS: A total of 200 patients that were positive for the presence of S. aureus and coagulase negative staphylococci (CONS) were employed in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of isolation of S. aureus and coagulase negative staphylococci (CONS) from the different clinical specimens determination of their resistance profile using standard techniques for the isolation of both organisms and the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method for antibiotic testing. RESULTS: All the S. aureus and CONS isolates were sensitive to novobiocin and ofloxacin. Ninety eight (80 pc) of S. aureus isolates were resistant to tetracycline (Tet), 73 (60 pc) to Streptomycin (Str), and 49 (40 pc) to Chloramphenicol (Chl). All the S. aureus isolates were resistant to Penicillin (P) and only two (2 pc) and four (three pc) were resistant to Cefuroxime (Cxm) and Ceftriasone (Cro) in that order. Twenty six (21 pc) of S. aureus isolates were resistant to Methicillin. For CONS, 92 pc were resistant to Penicillin, 47 (60 pc) to streptomycin and 40 (51 pc) to tetracycline. Nineteen (24 pc) were resistant to Methicillin. Further antibiotic sensitivity results revealed the following patterns: 87 (71 pc) and 29 (36 pc) of S. aureus and CONS respectively showed P RTet"R, pattern of resistance. The resistance pattern PREryRGmRCazRCxmR was shown by only one (17 pc) of S. aureus and none (Opc) of CONS. Only 59% and four pc of S. aureus and CONS isolates showed resistance pattern ChlREryR, CazR respectively. Results of plasmid profiles showed that 48 (96 pc) of 50 S. aureus and 26 (87 pc) of 30 CONS isolates harboured one or more plasmids of molecular sizes ranging from 1.0 Kb to 19.5 Kb. Nine (19 pc) of 48 S. aureus and three (12 pc) of CONS isolates showed plasmid identity. CONCLUSION: We assert that although isolates of S. aureus and CONS showed multiple antibiotic resistance which could be plasmid mediated, only about five pc of both organisms showed resistance pattern ChlREryRCazRTetRCxmRSxtRGmR and EryRGmRCazRCxmR and this is of chemotherapeutic importance. Both organisms, were highly sensitive to Ceftriazone, Ceforoxime and Gentamicin. The high levels of resistance of many antibiotics may be attributable to indiscriminate use or antibiotic abuse in the community.

Coagulase↗

PubMed1996

Aerobic bacteria isolated from blood cultures of patients and their antibiotic susceptibilities in Harare, Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the extent of involvement of different types of gram positive and gram negative bacteria and incidence of monomicrobial and polymicrobial cases in patients with bacteremia but without a record of the underlying clinical conditions of the patients. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of isolates were also determined to guide clinicians in the management of such bacteremic cases especially where routine sensitivity testing is not performed. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: The study comprised patients attending different clinics in Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare. SUBJECTS: A total of 817 blood cultures from patients, comprising 469 and 348 males and females respectively. There were no records of the underlying clinical conditions of the patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence rates of organisms and their antibiograms using standard techniques and Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. RESULTS: Results obtained revealed that only 303(37.1%) of the 817 total samples screened were positive for either monomicrobial or polymicrobial bacteremia. Two hundred and eighteen (71.9%) and 85 of positive cultures were Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria respectively. Coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) strains were the predominant organisms isolated (42.9%). Other organisms isolated were Staphylococcus aureus (11.6%), Escherichia coli (6.9%), Salmonella spp. (8.3%), Klebsiella spp. (5.3%), whereas Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, Enterobacter and Micrococcus species each accounted for less than 4%. Antibiogram patterns showed multiple resistance of S. aureus and CNS to Penicillin, Erythromycin and Methicillin. All isolates of S. pyogenes (10), S. pneumoniae (18) and Micrococcus spp (10). were susceptible to penicillin. Ciprofloxacin, Clindamycin, Fusidic acid and Gentamycin were highly active against gram positive organisms except that Gentamycin was inactive against S. pneumoniae. Ceforoxime, Erythromycin and Ceftriazone also showed good activities against Gram positive organisms. All (10) isolates of P. aeruginosa were susceptible to Polymyxin B, Carbenicillin and Ciprofloxacin. Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin and Gentamycin were highly active against all Gram negative bacteria. CONCLUSION: For infections due to both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, Ciprofloxacin and Gentamycin would be appropriate for therapy whereas Fusidic acid and Clindamycin may, in addition, be recommended for Gram positive organisms. It is also concluded that a prevalence rate of 37.1% of bacteremic cases existed in the sampled population and that monomicrobial cases were more predominant.

Bacteremia↗

PubMed1995

Bacterial agents causing chronic suppurative otitis media.

Ear swabs from 350 patients with chronic otitis media attending different orthorhinolaryngological clinics at different hospitals and health centres in Benin City and Ekpoma in Edo State were screened for the presence of bacterial agents of chronic otitis media. Results revealed the presence of 19 different species indicating polymicrobial infections. Species isolated comprised Staphylococcus aureus (33.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.3%), Proteus mirabilis (17%), Alcaligenes faecalis (6.2%) and Klebsiella aerogenes (4.3%). Others included Escherichia coli (3.3%), Proteus rettgeri (2.8%), and Staphylococcus epidermidis (2.2%), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Acinetobacter spp, Proteus morgani, Haemophilus influenzae, Providencia spp, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus faecalis, non-haemolytic streptococci and Diphotheroids, each accounted for less than 2% of isolates. The study also showed a higher prevalence of chronic otitis media among males (55.7%) than females (44.3%). Cases of chronic otitis media were highest among the age groups (0-5 years) with a prevalence rate of 50% and least among the 6-10 year age group with a prevalence rate of 14.9%. Antibiogram of isolates revealed marked sensitivities (over 90% of the isolates) to ciproxin, tarivid, rocephin and fortum whereas over 70% were resistant to penicillin and ampicillin. Results have indicated that Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis are leading bacterial agents of otitis media and highlights the high risk involved in the use of penicillin, ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, cloxacillin and septrin in the management of chronic otitis media in our locality.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Antibiogram of bacterial isolates from cases of otitis media and lower respiratory tract infections.

A total of one hundred and two cases of otitis media were screened for the isolation of bacterial flora of ears. Out of this, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae accounting for 41.2%, 25.5% and 13.3% respectively were isolated. A further two hundred and four sputum samples from cases of lower respiratory tract infections were screened. Moraxella catarrhalis, S. aureus, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae constituting 20.9%, 37%, 30% and 21% were isolated in that order. Thirty-one point seven percent of the Moraxella catarrhalis isolates were beta-lactamase positive. Beta-lactamase M. catarrhalis were resistant to penicillin and ampicillin while the non-beta-lactamase producers were sensitive to these antimicrobial agents. However, both beta-lactamase producers and non-producers were resistant to trimethoprim but sensitive to erythromycin, tetracycline and amoxycillin. Staphylococcus aureus, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae was also sensitive to penicillin while S. pneumoniae was also sensitive to erythromycin and H. influenzae to chloramphenicol.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Aeromonas and Plesiomonas species as bacterial agents of diarrhoea in urban and rural areas of Nigeria: antibiogram of isolates.

Two thousand four hundred stool samples comprising 1 200 each from diarrhoeal and non-diarrhoeal (control) cases with 600 of each category from urban and rural areas were screened for the prevalence of Aeromonas and Plesiomonas species in the different groups. Thirty (5 pc) and (14,8 pc) of Aeromonas species and 14 (2,3 pc) and 46 (7,7 pc) of Plesiomonas shigelloides were isolated from urban and rural areas respectively for diarrhoea cases. Only eight (1,3 pc) and 18 (3 pc) of Aeromonas spp. from urban and rural areas respectively and none of P. shigelloides were isolated from controls. Both organisms were more commonly associated with females than males. This may be attributable to the fact that both organisms are environmental water bacteria and in rural areas, because females engage more in domestic activities than males have more frequent contacts with the water sources such as rivers, streams, ponds. Most rural areas lack piped water supply. Diarrhoea due to both organisms was associated with fever and vomiting: mainly watery but mucoid and bloody stools were also noted. Antiobiogram of isolates showed over 70 pc resistance to ampicillin and streptomycin in both rural and urban areas whereas over 90 pc of both organisms were sensitive to nalidixic acid and gentamycin in urban and rural areas. Antibiogram of isolates was independent of age, sex and area of residence. Finally, for cases of infections due to Aeromonas spp. and P. shigelloides, the use of gentamycin, nalidixic acid and nitrofurantoin would be appropriate in both urban and rural areas.

Adolescent↗