title: Microbiology of smegma in boys in Kano, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study is to document the common bacteria found in the smegma in the subpreputial space of asymptomatic boys in our environment, their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, and to determine if they differ from those commonly isolated from children with established urinary tract infections in our sub-region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 2009 and January 2010, smegma swabs were collected from asymptomatic boys who presented for circumcision in our institution. This was done using aseptic techniques in the theatre, following retraction of the prepuce. The swabs were immediately sent to our microbiology laboratory for microscopy, culture, and sensitivity tests. Bacteria were isolated, identified, and confirmed by standard bacteriological techniques, and antimicrobial sensitivity pattern was determined using the disc diffusion method. A total of 52 boys, with an age range of 7 d to 11 y (median 138.7d), were recruited into the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 50 bacterial isolates were made. There were 29 gram-positive bacteria (58%) and 21 gram-negative ones (42%). A single isolate was found in 34 boys (65.4%), eight had a mixed isolate (15.4%), while no bacteria was isolated in 10 boys (19.2%). The most commonly isolated gram-negative bacteria was Escherichia coli (90.5%), while the commonly isolated gram-positive bacteria were Staphylococcus epidermidis (44.8%) and Staphylococcus aureus (41.4%). Most of the bacterial isolates were multi-drug-resistant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smegma in the preputial space of children may be colonized by drug-resistant organisms, the antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of which must be determined for an effective treatment of any infection arising in the region.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Bayero University Kano and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. loftyjohnc@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Lofty-John Chukwuemeka
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Anyanwu
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kashibu
authors.forename: Chinagozi Precious
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Edwin
authors.forename: Aminu Mohammad
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mohammad
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002944:Circumcision, Male; D052816:Foreskin / Q000382:microbiology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012902:Smegma / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000302:isolation & purification