Prevalence of potential respiratory disease bacteria in children in Ethiopia. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the pathogens and use of antibiotics among the children

Abstract

Dc,pcrrtn7cwt of CIinir.crl Mic'r(Jhio/OgJ' , Kurolinsku Instiiuic, mid Ktrrolinskri Hospitul, Stockholni , Sii~i&n, Dc~purtmmt o / Pucdiutrrc.s und Child Hculth', mid Dr,ptrrtniiw t of Conrmirniiy Houltli', Fur,ultj, of Mdic,ine, mid Dcprrtnrcvit of' Medicul Mic,rohiolo,fy uttd Purusito1o,yy4, Tikur Anhrssu Ho.spitu1. Addis Ahuhrr UniiwsitJr Adch Ahuhu. Eihiopiu, Dopurttmv~t of Intrrtruriontrl Hcwlrli Cure'. Kuro/insku Institute, Stockhofni, Sicwkcvz, Diyxrrtnirnt o / Mrdictrl M i c w h i o l o g~~, (Jnircvsity of Gijtdx)rg, C;iitc'hor-g, S i c w k c w , L)c,purtnicwt of Epi~/cwiology und Hrulrh C'urc Rr.cc~crrch7, Umcu Unii.ivsity, Unied, Swrclen Ringertz S, Muhe L, Krantz I, Hathaway A, Shamebo D, Freij L, Wall S, Kronvall G. Prevalence of potential respiratory disease bacteria in children in Ethiopia. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the pathogcns and use of antibiotics among the children. Acta Pzdiatr 1993;82:843-8. Stockholm. ISSNAcute respiratory infections are primary causes of morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries. This project was designed to investigatc antimicrobial susceptibility of respiratory tract pathogcns isolated from childrcn in rural and city areas, and to contribute to the rational choice of antibiotics for respiratory tract infections in children in Ethiopia. Nasopharynx and throat cultures were taken from all children under five years of age in three study areas representing different levels of contact with health care and accessibility to modern drugs, such as antibiotics. In-all, 1126 children were cultured. Huemophilus influenzur and Streptococcus pneumonicie yere both found in 85-90% of the children, and beta-haemolytic streptococci group A in 12%. The level of antimicrobial resistance was low. None of the 954 strains of H . irzfiuenzue were beta-lactaniase produccrs. Pneumococci were susceptible to penicillin. The use of antibiotics was also low; 11 of 1 126 children had antibiotics on the day of culture or the day before. The choice of antibiotics was not limitcd by resistance, and emphasis could be put on low cost, minimizing adverse drug rcactions and ccological impact. 0 Anrihiotic. uscrgc~, rintirnicrohid suswptihility, rcJspiratorji truc't in ftUions S Ringerti, Department of' c'linicul Microhioklgl., Kurolimkci Hospital, S-104 01 Stockholm, Skt.e&n 0803-9253