PREVALENCE AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ENTEROCOCCAL INFECTIONS IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA
Ekundayo A. O., *Ezeah G. A. C., Akpe R. A., Odo O. F., Ugwu M. C., Ike O. C., Amadi N. C. and Okuku C. N.
ABSTRACT
Enterococcus sp. considered a normal commensal of the intestine of man and other animals, is fast emerging as a pathogen, causing serious and life threatening nosocomial infections. A two year progressive study of this organism was carried out between July, 2012 and June, 2014 in Enugu metropolis and its environs in Eastern Nigeria. A total of one thousand and eight clinical samples of urine, blood, sputum, stool, aspirates and swabs such as high vaginal, urethral, ear, nasal, anal and wound samples and forty non-clinical samples of urine, urethral and high vaginal swabs were examined. Isolation and identification were based on standard procedures and biochemical tests. Nine organisms were isolated in this study: E. coli 152(24.1%), Streptococcus sp. 95(15%), Enterococcus sp. 68(10.8%), Staph aureus 64(10.1%), Pseudomonas sp. 63(10.0%), Proteus sp. 63 (10.0%), Klebsiella sp. 50(7.9%), Candida sp. 45(7.1%) and coagulase negative staph 32(5.1%). The prevalence of Enterococcus sp was 10.8% and was the third most common cause of infection; the first and second being E. coli and Streptococcus sp. respectively. Three species of Enterococcus were identified; E. faecium 39(57.4%), E. faecalis 25(36.8%) and E. avium 4(5.9%). It was observed that the incidence of Enterococcus sp was high and showed multiple drug resistance; it is therefore advised that more attention should be given to this organism if nosocomial infections and outbreaks are to be contained.
Keywords: Enterococci, infection, prevelance, isolation and identification.
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