Prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae Among Children aged 5-15 from Some Selected Hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria
Author(s): Namla Djadjiti, Onyemata E Kelechi, Onyinye F Nwagbara and Senol Dane*
Abstract
Introduction: Enterobacteriaceae can be plants and animals’ disease-causing pathogens, which promote in human, the most common bacterial infections such as gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, meningitis, septicaemia, and pneumonia. This research work was done to evaluate the prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae amongst children of 5-15 years old in Abuja.
Methods: This was a retrospective study using the microbiological datasheet results of patients between January 2018 and April 2019 from selected hospitals and primary health care centres in Abuja, Nigeria. Eight hundred and twenty (820) datasheet results were collected and only two hundred and twenty-eight (228) were positive results.
Results: Out of the 228, 130 (57.02%) revealed the presence of enterobacterial species and the remains were results of other microorganisms such as protozoa and other bacteria types. E. coli (47.69%) was the most dominant species, followed by Salmonella (24.62%), Klebsiella (15.38%) while Citrobacter species was less prevalent (1.54%). Most of these pathogens were found in urine samples (70.18%). Moreover, children of 12 years old were the most infected (15.38%) but 5 years old, kids were less infected (5.38%). Then most of the pathogens were found in female children (66.67%). The frequency of female children infected with these bacteria was about twice the one of male children.
Discussion: It can be stated that E. coli was the most prominent species, the biggest positivity was found in urine samples. Also, 12 years old and female gender was more sensitive and affected with enterobacterial infections.
Conclusion: The Federal Ministry of Health should collaborate with the various health facilities. It should monitor and evaluate the health services delivered by these facilities in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, improve the teaching hospitals, other medical agencies, and collaborate with development partners and the private sector in improving its health facilities in general. Children should always wash their hands properly with potable water and soap before and after each meal and after using the toilets, as well as after playing.