Retrospective Study Of Bacterial Isolates And Susceptibility Patterns From Paediatric CSF Samples At Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe

Between the years 2009 and 2014, one thousand two hundred and eighty five (1,285) CSF samples were collected at paediatric wards of federal teaching hospital Gombe. Using standard laboratory procedures the samples were processed for microscopy, culture and sensitivity of bacterial isolates at medical microbiology department of the same institution. The results were retrospectively analyzed. Generally, 54 (4.2%) bacterial pathogens were isolated from the patients in the years under study. Of the seven hundred and sixty seven (767) male samples processed 34 (4.4%) were culture positive while of the five hundred and eighteen (518) female samples processed, 20 (3.9%) were also culture positive. The highest number of positive samples was 29 (53.7%) from age group 0-2 years while the least positive sample was 1(1.9%) from age group 13-15years. Nine bacterial species were isolated, among which Neisseria meningitidis was the most frequent isolate with 31(57.4%) isolates. The least were Salmonella species and Citrobacter species with 1 (1.9%) isolate each. Using Oxoid sensitivity discs for the susceptibility testing, Gentamicin was the most effective drug as 6 of the 9 species isolated were excellently sensitive to it while the least was Cotrimoxazole where 8 of the isolated species were completely resistance to it. The results of this study therefore, re-establish the high vulnerability of children to bacterial meningitis, the importance of laboratory analysis of the CSF and recommends that Gentamicin and Augmentin should be included in syndromic treatment of CSM where laboratory investigations of CSF are not readily available.