International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences

ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 2 Number 10 (2013) pp. 524-533

Infection rate of E. coli O157:H7 among diarrhoeic patients in Southwest Nigeria

A.A Ademokoya1*, T.T Adebolu2 and A.O Ogundare2

1Department of Microbiology, AdekunleAjasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria 2Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria *Corresponding author

ABSTRACT

The infection rate of E. coli O157:H7 was carried out among diarrhoeic patients in Southwest, Nigeria in this study. Stool samples were collected from one thousand and eight hundred diarrhoeic patients and subjected to standard microbiological techniques for the identification of the organism. From this investigation, 78 (4.3%) out of the people sampled were positive for the organism and this organism was found to be more frequent in females (4.5%) than males (4.2%). In respect to age group, the age group 61-70 years showed the highest occurrence rate (8.3%) while the lowest (2.7%) was found within the age group 21-30 years. Furthermore, the highest occurrence (8.3%) was found among Youth Corpers while the lowest (0.0%) was found among the commercial motorcycle riders and drivers. However on the type of water the people drink, the highest occurrence (4.5%) was found among those using well water, while the lowest (3.8%) was found among those using sachet water. In respect of toilet facilities being used by those sampled, the highest occurrence (5.8%) was found among those people using dunghill as toilet while the lowest occurrence (4.1%) was found among those using pit toilet. Based on ethnicity, the highest occurrence (7.4%) was found among Hausas while the lowest (3.7%) was found among the Igbos. In respect to the States where the patients reside, the highest occurrence (5.4%) was seen in people living in Lagos State while Ondo State had the lowest occurrence of (3.3%). This study has been able to show that 4.3% of diarrhoeic cases in South west, Nigeria are caused by E. coli O157:H7 and that many factors affect its distribution patterns. It is therefore suggested that efforts should be geared at coming up with control measures to prevent the infection from attaining epidemiological status.

Keywords

E. coli O157:H7; diarrhoea; epidemiologic al statistics; Southwest Nigeria.