Sensitivity pattern of bacterial isolates in childhood sepsis in clinical practice at Onitsha

To determine the commonest organism cultured from the blood of children suspected to have bacterial sepsis and their antibiogram sensitivity using the commonly used antibiotics in a private practice and see if there are differences from established data from other areas.

Children beyond neonatal age presenting to a children's specialist hospital in southeast Nigeria over a 2 year period with fever and other features of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) thought to be due to bacterial infection (but without focal point of infection) had their blood cultures done. A review of their case notes and an analysis of their blood culture and antibiogram sensitivity results was done.

Fourteen cases fitted the criteria and were analysed. Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest organism and of the profiled antibiogram the sensitivity pattern showed that ciproxin, gentamycin, chloramphenicol and erythromycin were the best.

Staphylococcus aureus is still a major cause of childhood bacterial sepsis. Gentamycin and erythromycin are safe and useful antibiotics in their treatment and are recommended.