Effective biotherapy for bacterial diarrhea in children presenting to Sam Hospital, Sana'a city, Yemen

Abstract EN

Objectives: To identify the common bacterial causes of diarrhea and to assess the activity of the antibiotics which can be used in Yemeni children presenting to Sam Hospital, Sana'a City, Republic of Yemen.

Methods: This record- based study was done in the two-year period from January 1, 2002 until December 31, 2003.

There were 48,400 patients seen for different causes through that period; 9515 had some sort of diarrhea, and 104 of them were subjected to standard stool culture.

These patients had diarrhea plus one or more of the following symptoms and signs including a positive fecal leukocyte examination, bloody diarrhea, fever, malnutrition, and younger age (less than 6 months).

Data about age and sex were also collected.

Results: One hundred four patients (males 80 and females 24), with a median age of 8 months, were subjected to stool culture.

Bacterial pathogens were isolated from 46 (44.

2 %) patients.

Escherichia coli was found in 34 (73.

9 %), followed by Shigella species foundin 10 (21.7%) and Salmonella species found in2 (4.

3 %).

E.

coli and Shigella species were 100 % sensitive to cefatoxime and nalidixic acid.

E.

coli, Shigella species, and Salmonella species were 44.4%, 33.

3 % and 100% sensitive respectively to chloramphenicol.

E.

coli, Shigella species and Salmonella species were 8.

8 %, 0 %, and 0 % respectively sensitive to cotrimoxazole.

Conclusion: The majority of the patients were males, and the most common microorganisms isolated were Escherichia coli, then Shigella species.

Cefatoxime and nalidixic acid were highly active against both E.

coli and Shigella species.

The isolated bacteria were resistant to cotrimoxazole.