Bacterial isolates from cerebrospinal fluids and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns in Gondar University Teaching Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract
Background: Bacterial meningitis remains a common disease worldwide. Its most frequent causes are Nessieria
meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae. Information on the relative frequency of the
isolation and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of these pathogens is scarce in Ethiopia.
Objectives: To identify bacterial pathogens that cause meningitis and to assess the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of
the isolates from the cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) of acute bacterial meningitis cases/specimens.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of 390 cerebrospinal fluid specimens submitted for culture and antibiotic
susceptibility patterns to the bacteriology laboratory of Gondar University Teaching Hospital was conducted between
September 2002 and August 2003.
Results: Bacterial pathogens were isolated from 22 patients showing an isolation rate of 5.6%. The most commonly
isolated bacteria were Neisseria meningitidis 10(45.5%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae 7(31.8%). Among gram
positive organisms S. pneumoniae showed a high level of drug resistance against chloramphenicol 4(57%), tetracycline
3 (43%), co-trimoxazole 3(43%), ampicillin 3(43%), and gentamicin 1(14%). Among gram negative bacteria, N.
meningitidis was found to be resistant to co-trimoxazole 5(50%), chloramphenicol 3(30%), gentamicin 3(30%) and
ampicillin 2(20%). The single isolate from Proteus species was found to be resistant to co-trimoxazole and
tetracycline. E. coli was found to be resistant to all antibiotics except for gentamicin and ciprofloxacin. Multiple drug
resistance was observed in 50% of the isolates. No organism was found to be resistant to ciprofloxacin.
Conclusions: The isolation rate of bacterial pathogens from cerebrospinal fluids was found to be low. However, the
frequency of single as well as multiple drug resistance was very high among the bacterial isolates. Ciprofloxacin may
be used for the empirical treatment of bacterial meningitis when culture and sensitivity report is not available for adult
patients. [Ethiop.J.Health Dev. 2005; 19(2):160-164]