title: Bacterial isolates in blood cultures of children with suspected septicaemia in Kano: a two-year study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Septicaemia is a common condition in children with a resultant high morbidity and mortality. The gold standard for diagnosis of septicaemia is the isolation of bacterial agents from blood cultures. The study was done to determine the common aetiology of septicaemia in children and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern in Kano, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study with a review of blood culture reports of paediatric patients aged 0-15 years, suspected of septicaemia, from October 2006 to October 2008 in the Medical Microbiology department of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano. Kano. Nigeria was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of a total of 3840 blood culture samples, only 18.2% (n=700) was culture positive. Gram-negative and gram - positive bacteria constituted 69.3% (n=2661) and 30.7% (n=1179) respectively. The most prevalent bacterial isolates were Escherichia coli with 44.3% (n=310/700) and Staphylococcus aureus 30.7% (n=215/700). Escherichia coli were sensitive to ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and clavulinate - amoxyl.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The commonest bacterial isolate from blood culture of children with suspected septicaemia in Kano is Escherichia coli. The most sensitive and preferable among the tested antibiotics is ceftriaxone. Rational use of antibiotics with regular antibiotic susceptibility surveillance studies is recommended to maintain high antibiotic therapeutic profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Markudi. samnwa2000@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Nwadioha
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kashibu
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Alao
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aliyu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents