Prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae Isolated from Childhood Diarrhoea in Mukuru Slums, Nairobi - Kenya

Abstract

Diarrhoea in young children continues to be a major public health concern in developing countries, including Kenya. Poor sanitation among other factors can predispose a child to diarrhoea. Therefore, the present study sought to determine the prevalence of enterobacteriaceae isolated from childhood diarrhoea in Mukuru Slums, Nairobi. It employed a cross-sectional design targeting children below 5 years of age. Stool specimens were obtained aseptically and cultured on MacConkey agar and Salmonella-Shigella agar. Biochemical tests were used to identify the isolated bacteria to genus and species using biochemical characterization scheme and the Analytic Profile Index 20E. Drugs sensitivity Antimicrobial susceptibility tests (AST) were done using standard techniques. Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 was included as a control strain. Analysis of gender verses diarrhoea revealed that there was no statistical significant association between the gender (male and female) and area of residence in relation to diarrhoea in this study (p = 0.146 > 0.05). There was no statistical significant difference between the participant’s characteristics and their area of residence (p= 0.144). Age of the participants had significant association with the prevalence of diarrhoea (p=0.00). The E. coli bacteria showed the highest percentage of enteric pathogens isolated (35.2%) from female children at Mukuru kwa Njenga and 29.4% from male children, Salmonella spp being second (4.9%) from female at Mukruru kwa Reuben and the least was Shigella sonnei (3.2%) from female children at Sinai. Emphasis should therefore be placed on primary preventive measures such as ensuring good sewage management and safe supply of drinking water in the study area and Kenya at large especially in the slums.