Burden and spectrum of bacterial infections among sickle cell disease children living in Cameroon

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough sickle cell disease (SCD) children are highly susceptible to bacterial infections (BIs), there is a dreadful lack of data related to the burden and spectrum of BIs in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the highest affected region with SCD. This study aimed to determine the burden and spectrum of BIs among SCD children hospitalized in a pediatric reference hospital in Cameroon, a SSA country.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of records of children hospitalized from November 2012 to August 2015 in the SCD unit of the Mother and Child Centre of the Chantal Biya Foundation, Cameroon. We enrolled all known SCD children aged 15 years or less, hospitalized for a suspicion of BI and who presented a positive culture of a body specimen.ResultsA total of 987 SCD children were hospitalized during the study period. Cultures were positive for 96 patients (9.7%) among whom 60.4% males. Ages ranged from 6 to 192 months with a median of 53 (Interquartile range (IQR) 21–101) months. For children no more covered by the Expanded Programme on Immunization, only 13 (18.8%) had received the Pneumo 23® and Meningo A&C® antigens, and 12 (17.4%), the Typhim vi® and the Haemophilus influenzae type b antigens; 58 children (84.1%) had received no vaccine. The specimen yielding positive cultures were: blood (70.7%), urine (13.1%), pus (9.1%), synovial fluid (4.1%), cerebrospinal fluid (2.0%), and bone fragment (1.0%). The different types of infection included: urinary tract infections (13.5%), myositis (8.3%), arthritis (6.3%), osteomyelitis (4.2%), and meningitis (2.1%); the site of infection was unidentified in 65.6% of cases. The main bacteria included: Salmonella sp. (28.1%), Staphylococcus sp. (18.8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (17.7%), Escherichia coli (10.4%), Enterobacter sp. (5.2%), Acinetobacter sp. (4.2%), Streptococcus sp. (4.2%) and Serratia sp. (4.2%).ConclusionThis retrospective analysis revealed 9.7% cases of BIs, mainly caused by Salmonella sp. (28.1%), Staphylococcus sp. (18.8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (17.7%), and Escherichia coli (10.4%).

Study of Common Infections Among Children With Sickle Cell Anaemiain Saudi Arabia

“…In this study the incidence of VOC was 30% and it was significantly lower with positive microbial infection (p-value0.016); these findings was lower than the (83.3%) reported in a similar study conducted to detect Burden and spectrum of bacterial infections among sickle cell disease children living in Cameroon [27].…”

“…A dose of 62.5 mg twice daily is used for infants less than 1 year, 125 mg twice daily for those aged 1-5 years, and 250 mg twice daily in those aged above 5 years [26]. [27].Immunizations in children with SCD should include all regular vaccines, with the addition of the flu vaccine yearly after six months of age; pneumococcal vaccine at two and five years of age; and, possibly, meningococcal vaccine [28].…”

Study of Common Infections among Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia In Saudi Arabia

“…In this, the incidence of VOC was 30% and it was significantly lower with positive microbial infection (p-value0.016); these findings were lower than a similar study (83.3%) conducted to detect Burden and spectrum of bacterial infections among sickle cell disease children living in Cameroon [27].…”

Characterization and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Septicaemia-Causing Pathogens Isolated From Febrile Children With Sickle Cell Disease in Kano, Nigeria.

“…The pattern of bacterial species isolated from blood of SCD children in this study is also similar to results of the retrospective analysis carried out by Yanda et al . 24 in Cameroon. However, the predominance of Klebsiella sp., S. aureus, and Salmonella sp.…”

“…Least susceptibility (21.5%) of isolates from SCD patients to co-trimoxazole was earlier reported by. 24 …”