Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection among patients attending infertility and sexually transmitted diseases clinic (STD) in Kano, North Western Nigeria.

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the world with severe complications. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and possible risk factors of C. trachomatis in Kano. There is dearth of information on this subject in this locality.Method: Urine samples, Endocervical swabs and Urethral swab were collected from consecutive patients attending the Infertility and STD clinics in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) between June and December 2012, after administering a questionnaire by the attending physician and also obtaining an informed consent.Samples were analyzed using Diaspot Chlamydia kit, a rapid immunoassay test for the detection of genital chlamydial antigen in urinogenital samples.Results: A total of 125 consecutive samples were collected, comprising 69 females and 56 males aged between 14 – 55 years. Twelve samples tested positive for C. trachomatis antigen giving a prevalence rate of 9.6%. The age group prevalence were as follows 25 – 29 yrs (17.1%), 20 – 24 (16.7%), 15 – 19 (12.5%), 30 – 34 (11.1%) and > 49 years (9.0%). Married patients were associated with higher infection rate than single (8.3%), and divorced patients (33.3%). A higher percentage of the patients (95.2%) were not aware of the existence of C. trachomatis infection and its complications. Previous STD exposure was associated with increased risk of Chlamydia infection.Conclusion: C. trachomatis infection if unchecked will continue to pose a threat to reproductive life with its established complications. Since asymptomatic cases are common in the population regular screening should be encouraged for every adult especially before commencement of marital life.Key words: Chlamydia trachomatis, Prevalence, risk factors, Infertility, STD, Kano

Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Extended Spectrum Betalactamase (ESBL) Producers and other Bacterial Pathogens in Kano, Nigeria

Purpose: To evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of various bacterial pathogens including extended spectrum betalactamase (ESBL) producers in Kano, Nigeria.Method: A total of 604 consecutive clinical samples obtained from Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano between January and July 2010 were analyzed for bacterial pathogens using standard microbiological techniques for the isolation and identification of pathogens. Antibiotics susceptibility tests including, ESBL screening and confirmation, were carried out by disc diffusion technique using Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) criteria.Results: Ten different types of bacteria genera were observed from nine different clinical samples. E. coli was the most frequently isolated bacteria (30.5 %) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (21.3 %). ESBL producers showed high-level resistance against the quinolones, aminoglycoside and cotrimoxazole but were sensitive to carbapenems and levofloxaccin. Non-ESBL organisms showed increased resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanate, ceftazidime, cotrimoxazole, tetracycline and amoxycillin. The prevalence of ESBL producers was 12.8 %. E. coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed ESBL production of 17.3, 14.9 and 10.0 %, respectively.Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that regular surveys should be carried out in this locality to provide baseline data that would always be of clinical relevance in the treatment of patients and to detect the emergence of multiple antibiotic resistance strains.Keywords: Antibiotic Susceptibility, Multiple antibiotic Resistance, Extended Spectrum Betalactamase, Bacterial Pathogen