Resistance to antibiotics in urinopathogenic bacteria isolated in patients attending Kenyatta University Health Clinic, Nairobi

Objective: To determine the aetiological bacterial agents of urinary tract infections, within communities in Kenyatta University, and current resistance levels to commonly available therapeutic agents.Design: Cross-sectional survey research design.Setting: Kenyatta University Health Services Clinic, Nairobi.Subjects: Outpatients with symptoms of urinary tract infection within the six monthsstudy duration were observed.Results: Females were particularly prone to have confirmed cases of UTI. Escherichia coli were the principle aetiological agent accounting for 61.7% of the isolates. Other bacterial agents were Enterobacter agglomerans (18.7%), Citrobacter diversus (4%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (3.3%), Proteus spp. (2.1%), Pseudomonas spp. (0.1%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (9.3%), and Streptococcus feacalis (0.7%). Over 60% of the Gram negative bacterial isolates were resistant to cotrimoxazole and ampicillin, 39% resistant to augmentin and 25% were resistant to nalidixic acid. The ceftazidime was the most efficacious antimicrobial with an Escherichia coli resistance level of 2.2% (P=0.05). Resistance to nitrofuraintoin, gentamicin, cefuroxime, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin was demonstrated in less than 15% of the bacterial isolates.Conclusion: The cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, nitrofurantoin and gentamicin have good efficacy against the uropathogenic bacteria and may be good therapeutic choices when culture results are unavailable. High resistance levels exist against cotrimoxazole,ampicillin, augmentin, and nalidixic acid. These later antibiotics should therefore be used against the uropathogenic bacteria with cautio

In vitro activity of selected medicinal plant extracts against pathogenic bacteria and HIV/AIDS related Mycobacterium spp.

Methanolic extracts of six medicinal plants, Entada abyssinica (stem bark), Terminalia spinosa (young branches), Harrisonia abyssinica (roots), Ximenia caffra (roots), Azadirachta indica (stem bark) and Spilanthes mauritiana (roots) were tested against 35 strains of bacteria from four genera (Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Salmonella and Mycobacteria). The minimum inhibitory concentration reached by 50% (MIC50) and 90% (MBC90) were between 1–8 mg/ml and 1–>8 mg/ml. H. abyssinica extracts had low activity on salmonella spp. (>8 mg/ml) but were quite active against the other arganisms (0.25–2 mg/ml). S. mauritiana was barely active since most values were >8 mg/ml. Mycobacteria spp. such as M. avium, M. chelonae and M. intracellulare were inhibited at between 90–100% by H. abyssinica, E. abyssinica, T. spinosa, X. caffra and A. indica. It is concluded that carefully guided extraction and characterization of these plant compounds may yield useful antibiotic principles. Journal of Tropical Microbiology Vol.1(1) 2002: 29-3

The kill kinetics of Ximenia caffra sond. (Olacaceae) extracts against selected bacteria and fungi

Bacteria are tested against antibiotics because of the resistance these bacteria show against known anti-microbial agents. Similar tests are done on plant extracts and isolated plant compounds. In this study, crude extracts of Ximenia caffra sond. (Ol acaceae) which were previously determined to have strong antibacterial activity were tested for the rate of killing bacteria in given time (kill kinetics). They were tested against strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Inoculated strains were tested against serial dilutions at time intervals of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 h. Results obtained showed that X. caffra killed all S. aureus strains at 4mg/ml after 2h. Both 2mg/ml and 1mg/ml concentrations killed the same organism in 6 h. In comparison, the population of E. coli was reduced by a concentration of 8mg/ml from 2.03 ×106cfu/ml to 2.0 × 103cfu/ml in 24 h. C. albicans was killed by 8 mg/ml in 24 h. There was no effect on P. aeruginosa at all levels of the concentrations tested. It is concluded that the killing by X. caffra extracts is both time and concentration dependent and is cell wall related. Keywords : kill kinetics, Mueller Hinton Agar (MHA), Ximenia caffra, Minimum Inhibitory concentration (MIC), Killing curves, Minimum bactericidal Concentration (MBC). Journal of Tropical Microbiology Vol.3 2004: 88-9

Antibiotic resistant Salmonella and Escherichia coli isolated from indiginous Gallus domesticus in Nairobi, Kenya

Objective: To characterise and investigate antimicrobial resistance of Esherichia coli and salmonella strains isolated from indigenous Gallus gallus in a leading slaughterhouse/market outlet in Nairobi-Kenya.Design: A repeated cross sectional study and based on random sampling was used.Setting: The study was carried out in a leading market outlet in Nairobi, Kenya.Results: A hundred and four indigenous chicken rectal swabs were analysed, of which 67.3% were contaminated with Escherichia coli and 12.5% with Salmonella typhimurium. Seventy Escherichia coli isolates showed resistance phenotypes to one, two or more antibiotics. The most common antimicrobial resistance pattern was the single resistance to Tet (21.43%), followed by Amp Cot Tet (14%), Aug Amp Cot Tet (4.29%), Aug Amp Cot Tet Kan Chl (2.86%), Amp Cot Tet Chl, Cot Tet (2.86%) and Crx Amp Cot Tet Chl, Crx Amp Cot Chi, Amp Cot, Aug Amp, (1.43%) respectively. The highest rate of resistance was against Tet (55.7%), followed by Cot (40%). Third in line of resistance was Amp 32.86%, followed by Aug (11.43%), low or moderate resistance was against Chl (8.57%), Kan (4.29%), and Crx (2.86%) (

Microorganisms associated with sub-clinical Mastitis in the Kenyan Camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Over a period of 11 months, 435 milk samples were collected from 92 lactating female camels on a ranch in Northern Kenya that was traditionally managed. The samples were examined bacteriologically to determine the causative agents of camel mastitis in Kenya. 145 samples (33.3%) yielded no growth. The most prevalent pathogen was group D (non-enterococci) streptococci, which was 30.0% of the total isolates. The other dominant organisms were coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CNS)(20.1%), as follows: Staphylococcus aureus (16.0%), Streptococcus agalactiae (1.5%) and Streptococcus dysgalactiae (3.6%). Although Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus dysgalactiae appear low in prevalence, they were associated with subclinical mastitis. However, Streptococcus agalactiae and S. aureus were ranked as infectious pathogens while the group D streptococci, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, CNS, coliforms and Micrococci were ranked as environmental pathogens. J. Trop. Microbiol Vol.2 2003: 11-1

Efficacy Of Selected Plant Extracts Against Bean Rust Disease (Uromyces appendiculatus) On French Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

In vivo evaluation of the efficacy of selected plant extracts; Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) derivatives (Neem oil, Neem cake powder and Neem leaf powder) and leaf extracts of pawpaw (Carica papaya L), Tephrosia vogelii, stinging Nettle (Urtica massaica L), Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and commercial fungicide: Kocide DF, against bean rust was conducted. The synergistic effect of known concentrations of their combinations was also evaluated. French bean variety Army that is susceptible to bean rust (Uromyces appendiculatus) was used in evaluation. Results revealed significantly (P= 0.05) high inhibitory effect on rust severity, incidence and uredospores germination by nettle, tobacco and pawpaw as single treatments and combinations of nettle, Neem oil and nettle, neem oil and pawpaw. These treatments and Kocide DF also recorded significantly (P= 0.05) high pod yields and high percentages of unblemished pods, with the exception of tobacco treatments that had high phyto-toxic effects to the plant. However, Kocide DF, nettle, neem leaf powder and all combinations had significantly (P = 0.05) high effects on plant vigour. These studies propose the inclusion of nettle, pawpaw and neem oil extracts and their combinations as natural controls of bean rust and the need for bioassay – guided research to identify new and more potent compounds in these plants.Key words: Bean rust, Natural control, Plant extracts, synergistic effect, treatments, Kocide DF

Microorganisms associated with sub-Clinical mastitis and their impact on milk production in camels (Camelus Dromedarius) in semi-arid lands of Northern Kenya

Camels are adapted to the arid and semi arid lands (ASAL), but their full milking potential is affected by udder infection especially sub-clinical mastitis. The purpose of this study was to identify the most common pathogens responsible for sub-clinical mastitis in camels kept under ranch conditions in Northern Kenya. A total of 435 camel milk samples were collected over a period of 11 months and examined for mastitis causing microorganisms. Mastitis causing bacteria were isolated from 66.7% of the samples. The most prevalent groups were group D streptococci (30%), coagulase negative staphylococcus (CNS) (20.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (16%), Streptococcus dysgalactiae (3.6%) and Streptococcus agalactiae (1.5%). Other isolates were Coliforms and Micrococci. Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus agalactiae had a greater association with sub-clinical mastitis than the other pathogens. Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus were ranked as infectious pathogens while group D streptococci, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, CNS, Coliforms and Micrococci were ranked as environmental pathogens. The mean milk yield from quarters infected with infectious streptococcal pathogens was 1.58L per milking, which was lower than that from quarters infected with environmental streptococci (2.63L). Sub-clinical mastitis in camels has adverse implications and needs to be addressed in order to maximize camel production in the ASAL. Keywords: camels, sub-clinical mastitis, milk yield, ASAL, microorganismsInternational Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vol. 6 2005: 182-18