Antibiotic Sensitivity and Resistance Paterns of Bacterial Isolates from Ghanaian Children with Pyogenic Meningitis

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) odious obtained from 103 patients with bacterial meningitis, aged between two months and 12 years, was examined microbiologically, including culture for bacterial organisms and their sensitivity/resistance patterns. Isolated bacteria comprised Strep pneumoniae 48.0 percent, N meningitidis 38.4 percent, H novated influenzae 9.6 percent, Staph aureus 2.7 percent and alpha-H strep 1.4 percent Strep pneumoniae and H meningitidis occurred in all the age groups, while Havel as bedre influenzae and Staph aureus occurred in the age group, three to 30 months. All the isolates, except one case of Staph aureus, were sensitive to ceftriaxone, while Strep pneumoniae isolates were sensitive to penicillin in 91 percent, to ampicillin in 94 percent, to chloramphenicol in 83 percent and to cefuroxime ri in 94 percent of the cases; this organism was resistant to co-trimoxazole in B01 66.0 percent of the cases. Between 79 and 100 percent of the cases of meningitidis were sensitive to penicillin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol andel cefuroxime; this organism was resistant to co-trimoxazole in 75 percent of the cases. In view of the high level of sensitivity of most of the isolates in the s present study, to cefuroxime and ceftriaxone, it is suggested that these third also generation cephalosporins, be included in the recommended initial antibiotic therapy at the primary health care centres.