A cross sectional study to assess the incidence and antibiotic sensitivity patterns of Salmonella isolates in septicaemic children who were presented at the children's emergency unit and children out-patient clinic, University College Hospital, Ibadan was undertaken. A total of 442 samples from children (6 months and 11 years) with the history of fever were investigated, using blood culture method. The frequency of 151 bacteria isolated, were as follows:
Staphylococcus aureus
50 (33.1%),
Escherichia coli
29 (19.2%),
Salmonella typhi
19 (12.6%),
Staphylococcus albus
14(9.3%), Klebsiella species 12(7.9%),
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
10(6.6%),
Enterococcus faecalis
9(5.9%),
Salmonella paratyphi
6(3.9%) and Haemophilus species 2(1.3%). Septicaemia due to Salmonella species showed the highest among children aged 5-11years bracket (56%), followed by 1- 5 years group (36%); while those within 0-1 year group showed the lowest frequency of (8%). In the antibiotic sensitivity patterns of
Salmonella typhi and
Salmonella paratyphi, only Ceftriaxone showed 100% sensitivity in-vitro. While Gentamicin, Ofloxacin, Cefrazidime; Augmentin, Pefloxacin, Chloramphenicol, Amoxycillin, Cotrimoxazole showed varied sensitivity/resistance in descending order. These findings suggest an increasing resistance to the antibiotics commonly used for salmonellosis and the rate at which bacteria become resistant to antimicrobial agents is of public health concern. This calls for routine bacteriological culture and sensitivity test in the management of bacterial infections. Furthermore, the provision of adequate health care, wholesome water for drinking and domestic use by governments cannot be overemphasized.
