Surveillance of invasive infections in children and adults admitted to QECH, Blantyre, 1996 - 2002

Abstract

This is a report of blood and CSF isolates from the adult medical and paediatric wards of QECH, Blantyre, cultured and identified at the Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories during 1996-2002. The commonest causes of adult and childhood bacteraemia were non-typhoidal Salmonella (35% of all blood isolates for adults and children) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (14% and 13% respectively). Cryptococcus neoformans was the commonest isolate from CSF of adults with meningitis (67%) but was very rare in children. S.pneumoniae was the commonest cause of bacterial meningitis in children and adults (38% and 28% of all CSF isolates respectively). Haemophilus influenzae type b was also a common cause of meningitis in children (27%). Data of in vitro antibiotic sensitivity are also reported. A major concern is the recent marked rise of chloramphenicol resistance among Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium to over 80% resistance.


[Malawi Med J, Vol.15(2) 2003: 52-55]