Incidence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of salmonella species in children attending some hospitals in kano metropolis, kano state –Nigeria

Abstract

A study was carried out to investigate the incidence of Salmonella species among 300 children using stool samples from six hospitals in the metropolitan Kano. The organisms were investigated using cultural, serological biochemical characterization and sensitivity to some antimicrobial agents. The incidence of the bacteria was found to be highest among children of 20-24 months age and least in 5-9 months age group. Out of the total samples positive for Salmonella, 24 were from males and 17 from females. The species of Salmonellae isolated comprised of Salmonella typhimurium which was the most predominant followed by Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi. As at the time of the study, there was significance difference between males and females in the incidence at P≥0.05. Among the antimicrobials used ciprofloxacin was found to be more effective than the others.