ABSTRACT
Background:Sickle cell anaemia is a haemoglobinopathy characterized by the presence of sickle haemoglobin. Sickling can occur in these patients with sluggish flow of blood which accentuates the sickling phenomenon and susceptibility to infection. Notable among such infections are those caused by bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae; Salmonella; Staphylococcus and Haemophilus influenzae. Aims: To ascertain the incidence of bacteria isolates among sickle cell individuals and to determine the antibiotics sensitivity pattern of such organism isolated.Methods: Thirty five (35) blood samples were randomly collected from sickle cell anaemia patients attending the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Central Hospital; Benin City. Fifteen (15) blood samples comprising seven (7) with Hb-genotype AA and eight (8) Hb-genotype AS served as controls. Verbal informed consent was gotten from them. Cultural method was used in isolating microorganisms present in the blood samples.Results: There was strong association between genotype and bacterial isolates with genotype SS being more infected. A significant weak association exists between gender and bacterial isolate among sicklers. Age; tribe and occupation did not have any association with bacterial isolate among the studied population. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant isolate (66.7); while ciprofloxacin and perfloxacin were the most active drugs against the isolates.Conclusion: From our study; 25.7of sickle cell anaemia patients had bacterial infection with a higher rate in females and Staphylococcus aureus being the most incriminated organism