Isolation and Characterization of Bacteria Pathogens in Blood and Stool Samples among Patients Presenting with Typhoid Fever Symptoms in Alupe, Busia County
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Date
2014-03-05
Authors
Mureithi, Maryanne Wanjiru
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Abstract
Typhoid fever is a waterborne and food borne disease caused by Salmonella
enterica serotype Typhi (S. Typhi). Studies have established that some patients
presenting with typhoid-like symptoms are usually inflicted by other bacteria
pathogens, which mayor may not be transmitted by fecal oral route. It is
common belief that typhoid fever cases are high in Alupe and continue to cause
significant morbidity among the people of Alupe, Busia County. The study
focused on isolation and characterization of the bacteria pathogens in blood and
stool among patients presenting with typhoid fever symptoms at two health
facilities located in Alupe, Busia County. A total of one hundred and fifty
patients were recruited and thereafter their blood and stool samples collected.
Subsequently, laboratory analysis at KEMRI-CIPDCR was done to isolate and
characterize bacteria pathogens as well as their antibiotic susceptibility profiles
done. One hundred and forty nine blood cultures and 140 stool cultures were
performed. Bacterial pathogens were detected in 11 positive cultures with both
gram-positive (27.3%) and gram-negative bacteria (72.7%) obtained. Bacteria
isolated from blood cultures included Staphylococcus aureus (50%), Proteus
mirabilis (16.67%) and Escherichia coli (33.33%). Those from stool cultures
included Escherichia coli (80%) and Shigella dysentriae (20%). Using Widal
test, 73 (50%) samples tested positive for typhoid but there was no S. Typhi
isolated from both blood and stool cultures. All the isolates showed moderate
to high resistance to ampicillin-cloxacillin, tetracycline and cefuroxime. The
high susceptibility of the isolates to gentamicin, chloramphenicol and
ciprofloxacin is a welcome relief to increasing widespread multi-drug
resistance. In Alupe, a malaria endemic region, S. Typhi is not the main cause
of invasive bacteremia in patients presenting with signs and symptoms of
typhoid fever. There is need for improved diagnostic methods; patients
presenting with typhoid fever symptoms should also be screened for other
bacteria pathogens in addition to Salmonella to enhance proper treatment and
overall control of multi-drug resistance due to misdiagnosis and improper
prescription of antibiotics.
Description
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2013. RC 195 .K4M8