[1]Oyeleye, A. E., 1Afeez, B. O., 1Ayanbeku, T. S., and *2Ubesie, A. C.
1Department of Paediatrics, Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria 2Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu State, Nigeria
*Correspondence to: agozie.ubesie@unn.edu.ng
Abstract:
Background: Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) is a life-threatening illness associated with high morbidity and mortality as well as debilitating consequences among survivors. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of bacterial isolates and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of ABM among children presenting with fever and convulsion at the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Nigeria.
Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of children who presented with fever and convulsion at the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Nigeria. The study participants were consecutively enrolled between December 2022 and November 2023. Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC) of the hospital, and informed consent from caregivers of the children was obtained. Demographic and clinical data of the participants were collected using a proforma. Samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were obtained by lumbar puncture for chemistry, microscopy and culture, while blood samples were obtained by venipuncture for random blood glucose. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 23. Associations between variables were determined using Chi-square (χ2) or Fisher Exact test and p<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Of the total 110 children aged 1 month – 14 years recruited, 69 (62.7%) were males, giving a male to female ratio of 1:0.6, and 60 (54.5%) were between age 1-5 years. Seven (6.4%) participants had acute bacterial meningitis (ABM), 5 (71.4%) of which were caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Age and vaccination status were significantly associated with ABM, with significantly higher prevalence of ABM in children 1 month-1 year old (20.8%) compared to children 1-<5 years old (1.7%), children 5-<10 years old (5.0%) and children 10-14 years old (0%) (p=0.011), and significantly higher prevalence in unvaccinated children (24.9%) compared to vaccinated children (1.2%) (p=0.000). All the S. pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to cefotaxime and rifampicin, while 80.0% were susceptible to ceftriaxone, penicillin, meropenem, clindamycin and vancomycin.
Conclusion: The prevalent cause of post-neonatal ABM in Bida from this current study is S. pneumoniae, which are sensitive to most commonly available antibiotics in this environment, especially the third generation cephalosporins.
Keywords: Acute bacterial meningitis, children, prevalence, antibiotics, susceptibility
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