Prevalence of septicaemia and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of bacterial isolates at the University Teaching Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Bloodstream infections are important causes of mortality and morbidity. Rapid empiric antibiotic therapy is often needed. Knowledge of epidemiological data of common pathogens and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern is needed for rapid therapy. This study was aimed at determining the common causes of septicaemia and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern from the University Teaching Hospital, Yaoundé. Blood samples were collected and cultured aerobically. Isolates were identified using bacteriological and biochemical methods and antibiotic sensitivity was done using the Kirby- Bauer disc diffusion method. Results showed that of the 396 patients examined 112 (28.3%) had septicaemia. Children below the age of 15 years constituted the greatest percentage of infected subjects (63.4%) followed by patients aged between 16-30 years (10.7%) (P < 0.05). The highest incidence of septicaemia were from medicine (8.95‰), followed by paediatrics (7.04‰), surgery (6.46 ‰), out-patients (5.79‰), neonatology (5.12‰), obstetrics and gynaecology (5.05‰) and emergency (2.05‰) wards. The overall incidence of septicaemia was 5.79 per 1000 admissions. Gram-positive bacteria were encountered more often than gram negative bacteria (56.2% versus 43.8%,

Co-infections of malaria and soil-transmitted helminths in localities with different levels of urbanisation in the Mount Cameroon region

Malaria co-exists with intestinal helminths and they have different effects on infected individuals. A total of 235 and 208 children from Ekona and Great Soppo respectively of both sexes aged 4–14 years were enrolled into a cross-sectional study. Capillary blood was collected for detection and determination of malaria parasitaemia as well as PCV. Stool samples were collected for quantitative determination of helminth ova by Kato-Katz technique. The prevalence of malaria and helminths was higher in Ekona than Great Soppo. In Great Soppo, Trichuris was the most prevalent helminth than Great Soppo and an association was found between these co-infections. More children were co-infected in Ekona and co-infecting species were Ascaris and Plasmodium falciparum. The prevalence of malaria and intestinal helminths as well as co-infection was lower in Great Soppo than in Ekona, probably due to increased urbanization in Great Soppo than Ekona

The Burden Of Malaria And Malnutrition Among Children Less Than 14 Years Of Age In A Rural Village Of Cameroon

Malaria and malnutrition are a major health burden in developing countries with infants and children being the most vulnerable groups. The extent of the burden of malaria and malnutrition was investigated in 339 children ≤14years residing in the village of Muea located in the South West Province of Cameroon. Malaria parasitaemia was determined microscopically from Giemsa stained thick blood films. Nutritional status was determined using age and the anthropometric parameters of weight and height. Height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ) and weight-forheight (WHZ) Z scores were computed based on the National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS)/World Health Organisation growth reference curves. Anaemia was assessed by measuring haemoglobin (Hb) concentration while plasma iron levels were determined by spectrophotometric assays. The prevalence of malaria in the study population was 96.2% (326/339) with a majority (68.4%) having asymptomatic disease. The geometric mean parasite density (GMPD) was 744.37 ± 89396.11 (parasitaemia range 40-153190 parasites/µL blood). The mean Hb concentration was 9.29 ± 1.8g/dL (range 4-14.1g/dL) and anaemia (Hb<11g/dL) was diagnosed in 81.4% of the children, a majority of whom had microcytic anaemia. A negative correlation was observed between parasite density and haemoglobin concentration (r = -0.14). The mean plasma iron level was 53.64 ± 32.87µL/dl (range 1.8-159) with 58.7% (199/339) of the children diagnosed as iron deficient (plasma iron concentrations <50µg/dL). A negative correlation was observed between plasma iron values and malaria parasitaemia (r = -0.031). The prevalence of malnutrition was 58.1% (197/339). Of the 197 malnourished children, 23.6% were wasted (< -2 SD weight-for-height Z- score), 26.5% underweight (< - 2 SD weight-for-age Z score) and 49.9% stunted (< - 2 SD height-for-age Z score). There was a negative correlation between nutritional status and malaria parasitaemia (r =-0.034). The findings from this study are strongly suggestive that falciparum malaria and malnutrition exist in children residing in Muea and constitute a major health problem which needs to be immediately addressed to reduce morbidity and mortality