Etiology and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of bacterial conjunctivitis in children at Princess Rahmah Hospital in Jordan

bacterial conjunctivitis, chiefly affecting young children, is generally caused by different pathogens. Therefore, this study aims to investigate microorganisms causing bacterial conjunctivitis in children and to assess their sensitivity to various groups of antimicrobial. A retrospective study was conducted on positive cultures taken from 39 children aged below 15 years, who attended as outpatient or inpatient at Princess Rahmah Hospital between January and December/ 2008. The obtained data were analyzed and the results were tabulated. A total of 39 isolates were recovered from cultures obtained from children patients. The male and female isolates ratio was [1.6: 1.0]. The most frequent pathogen found was S. aureus [56.4%], followed by Klebsielia spp. [18.0%], Streptococcus spp. [12.8%], Pseudomonas spp [5.1%], E. coli [5.1%] and Moraxella was found in only one culture [2.6%]. Ciprofloxacin had the highest susceptibility rate [90.4%] for all the tested isolates, followed by cefotaxime [72.7%] and vancomycin [71.4%]. Whereas, cefixime showed the lowest susceptibility rate [0.0%] for all the tested isolates. S. aureus was the main isolate of conjunctivitis in children, which almost all isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime, and vancomycin. Overall cefixime resistance rate was 100%. This information should be considered when empirical therapy is recommended or prescribed for children with bacterial conjunctivitis

Antimicrobial resistant pattern of staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from pediatric patients in Jordan

Development of resistance to antimicrobial agents by staphylococci is a major public health problem. Therefore, a retrospective study was conducted to determine the rate of resistance to antibiotics by S. aureus strains isolated from pediatric patients. A total of 472 different clinical specimens of pediatric patients were investigated. A high resistance of 96.7%, to aztreonam followed by 95.2% to imipenem, and 85.8% to cephalexin by Staphylococcus aureus strains was recorded. Low resistance rate was also recorded for vancomycin [1.4%] followed by cephalothin [9%],clindamycin [153%],tobramycin [15.7%],amikacin [18.1%] and ciprofloxacin [18.6%]. Aztreonam, imipenem, and most of [beta-lactam antibiotics were found to be ineffective at in vitro inhibition of the S. aureus of pediatric origin. S. aureus infections could be effectively treated with vancomycin, cephalothin, clindamycin, tobramycin, amikacin and ciprofloxacin. The high resistance rate to most of beta-lactam antibiotics studied could be attributed to their prevailing usage and abuse in the area of study

Etiology and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of otitis media in children at Princess Rhamah Hospital in Jordan

Otitis media is one of the most common infections in children. Recently it was noticed that there is a marked increase in relapse of otitis media in children. Therefore, this study conducted to investigate microorganisms causing otitis media in children and to assess their sensitivity to various groups of antimicrobial. A retrospective study was conducted on positive cultures taken from 173 children aged below 15 years, who attended as outpatient or inpatient at Princess Rahmah Hospital between January and December/ 2008. The obtained data were analyzed and the results were tabulated. A total of 173 isolates were recovered from cultures obtained from children patients. The male and female isolates ratio was [1.24:1.0]. The most frequent pathogen found was S. aureus [68.2%], followed by Streptococcus spp. [12.1%], H. influenzae [9.3%], Psudomonas spp [6.9%] and Klebsiella spp. [3.9%]. The susceptibility rate of S. aureus was recorded the highest [95.9%] for vancomycin, and the lowest susceptibility rate [31.8%] was recorded for oxacillin. S. aureus was the main isolate of otitis media in children, which almost all isolates were susceptible to cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin and vancomycin. Overall oxacillin resistance was near 67%. This information should be considered when empirical therapy is recommended or prescribed for children with otitis media