Nasopharyngeal Carriage and Antibiogram of Pneumococcal and Other Bacterial Pathogens from Children with Sickle Cell Disease in Tanzania

Ritah F Mutagonda,1,2 George Bwire,3 Raphael Zozimus Sangeda,2,3 Manase Kilonzi,1 Hamu Mlyuka,1 Joyce Ndunguru,2,4 Agnes Jonathan,2,4 Julie Makani,2,4 Irene Kida Minja,2,5 Paschal Ruggajo,2,6 Emmanuel Balandya,2,7 Appolinary AR Kamuhabwa1 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es salaam, Tanzania; 2Sickle Cell Programme, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es salaam, Tanzania; 3Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es salaam, Tanzania; 4Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es salaam, Tanzania; 5Department of Restorative Dentistry, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es salaam, Tanzania; 6Department of Internal Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es salaam, Tanzania; 7Department of Physiology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es salaam, TanzaniaCorrespondence: Ritah F Mutagonda, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O BOX 65013, Dar es salaam, Tanzania, Tel +255 713 816481, Email mutagonda@muhas.ac.tz; rittdavisrida@yahoo.comBackground: Bacterial infections contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients, particularly children under five years of age. In Tanzania, prophylaxis against pneumococcal infection among children with SCD advocates the use of both oral penicillin V (PV) and pneumococcal vaccines (PNV). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate nasopharyngeal carriage and antibiogram of Streptococcal pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in children with SCD in Tanzania.Methods: This cross-sectional study was undertaken at the two Sickle Pan-African Research Consortium (SPARCO) study sites in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. The study was conducted fo