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Prevalence of enteric infections among hospitalized patients in two referral hospitals in Ghana
- Source :
- BMC Research Notes, Vol 10, Iss 1, Pp 1-7 (2017)
- Publication Year :
- 2017
- Publisher :
- BMC, 2017.
-
Abstract
- Abstract Background Diarrhea is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Africa and Ghana in particular, it is estimated to contribute directly to 19 and 25% of pediatric mortality among children under 5 years, respectively. Methods Surveillance for hospitalized acute diarrheal illness was initiated in November 2010 through October 2012 in a referral hospital in southern Ghana, and a teaching hospital in northern Ghana. Consenting hospitalized patients who met a standardized case definition for acute diarrheal illness provided demographic and epidemiologic data. Stool samples were collected and tested by culture for bacteria and by enzyme immunoassays for a panel of viruses and parasites. Results A total of 429 patients were enrolled; 216 (50.3%) were under 5 years, and 221 (51.5%) were females. Stool samples were received from 153 patients. Culture isolates included Shigella sp., Salmonella spp., Plesiomonas sp. and Vibrio cholerae. Of 147 samples tested for viruses, 41 (27.9%) were positive for rotaviruses, 11 (7.5%) for astroviruses, 10 (6.8%) for noroviruses, and 8 (5.4%) for adenoviruses. Of 116 samples tested for parasitic infections; 4 (3.4%) were positive for Cryptosporidium sp. and 3 (2.6%) for Giardia lamblia. Of the enrolled patients, 78.8% had taken antibiotics prior to sample collection. Conclusions Diarrheal pathogens were identified across all ages, however, predominantly (81%) in the children under 5 years of age. This study also detected high antibiotic use which has the potential of increasing antibiotic resistance. The most common enteric pathogen detected (49.4%) was rotavirus.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17560500
- Volume :
- 10
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- BMC Research Notes
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.3bd17034faa4bf79356ae2e06fe97b1
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-017-2621-x