In a study on neonatal bacteraemia among the high-risk neonates admitted into our neonatal unit at Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesha, the incidence of bacteraemia in babies born in the hospital was 17/1000 live births and 71.6/1000 total admissions into the unit. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for about 58.1% of bacteria isolated and Staphylococcus aureus for 62% of the isolated Gram-positive bacteria. Among the commonly used antibiotics, gentamicin is the most favoured by the sensitivity test. S. aureus appeared more sensitive to erythromycin than to cloxacillin or ampicillin. The present policy of using the combination of gentamicin and cloxacillin and/or ampicillin is adequate for most agents encountered and therefore should continue. It is suggested that proper antenatal care, adequate supervision of delivery, better neonatal care and provision of better laboratory facilities will help to reduce the incidence of neonatal bacterial infection, improve the management of neonatal infection and reduce the morbidity and mortality from bacterial infection.

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SUMMARYA total of 495 diarrhoea and non-diarrhoea patients whose ages ranged between 5 and 39 years were examined for the presence of Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella and Shigella species. About 12 % of the specimens from diarrhoea patients were positive for Campylobacter jejuni compared with 6 % and 10 % for Salmonella and Shigella species. In contrast 2 %, 0 % and 1 % of the samples from non-diarrhoea patients were positive for Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella and Shigella species respectively.Most (62 %0) of the Campylobacter jejuni from diarrhoea patients were isolated from children under the age of 10 years. This compared with 26 % and 37 % for Salmonella and Shigella species in this age group. The frequency of isolation of Campylobacter jejuni in diarrhoea patients was highest during the dry months of the year. This study demonstrates the importance of Campylobacter jejuni as a major bacterial cause of diarrhoea in this part of the world.

892 nasal swabs were collected from 50 pharmacy students (25 male and 25 female) over a period of 15 months. 323 (36.2%) contained Staphylococcus aureus and analysis of the results showed that 19 (38%) of the subjects were true nasal carriers of S. aureus, 23 (46%) were non-carriers, and the other 8 (16%) were sporadic non-carriers. 84% of the 162 isolates tested were resistant to penicillin and 58% were resistant to tetracycline.

Among the 446 high risk neonates studied for significant bacteriuria and pyuria in the neonatal wards of the Obafemi Awolowo University teaching hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, 7.6% and 5.8% were positive for significant bacteriuria and pyuria respectively, while none of the 81 infants in the control group were positive. Males and females were similarly affected and there was no seasonal variation in the prevalence of pyuria or bacteriuria. It is noteworthy that 25 (96%) of the 26 pyuria neonates also had bacteriuria emphazising the significance of pyuria as a possible screening method for urinary tract infections in neonates. The clinical problems in the neonates studied included prematurity, low birthweight, neonatal jaundice, fever, CNS symptoms, ophthalmia neonatorum, prolonged rupture of the membranes (PROM), respiratory distress, septic cord/skin, diarrhoea, vomiting and feeding problems. Only prematurity and low birthweight were significantly associated with bacteriuria in the neonates studied. The organisms encountered in this study were Escherichia coli (58.4%), Klebsiella species (35.3%) and Proteus species (5.9%). Of the bacterial isolates, 67% were sensitive to Ampicillin and 97% to Gentamycin. The combination of these antibiotics was effective in all cases in the present study. The study has highlighted the need for routine urine culture in our high risk neonates.