Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology

Observation of malaria and concomitant bacterial infections in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

International Conference on Medical Parasitology and Zoology

October 17-19, 2016 Houston, USA

Ajero Chigbo M U1, Emeakaroha M C and Ukaga C N

Imo State University, Nigeria
Federal University of Technology, Nigeria

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Bacteriol Parasitol

Abstract:

Malaria predisposes pregnant women to concurrent bacterial infection, often resulting in a substantially worse outcome. This study investigated the occurrence of malaria and concomitant bacterial infections among pregnant women attending clinics in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria between July, 2012 and April, 2014. It also assessed the influence of education and control measure on the occurrence of the diseases using structured questionnaires. Blood samples from pregnant women were collected and assessed using standard procedures for malaria parasitemia, the bacteria growth and their antibiotic profile. Of 900 patients recruited for the study, malaria infection was 44.7% and bacteremia, 22.7%. Malaria and bacteremia co-infection was 10.6%. Observation of the results shows significant decrease in malaria infection, bacteria and their co-infection (p<0.05) with increase in gravidity status and age of the subjects. Intensity of parasitemia unlike bacterial load had significant relationship with gravidity status with most infection in the primigravida. The most prevalent organism was Pseudomonas species (40.9%) followed by Salmonella species (32.34%) and the least were Escherichia coli (21.11%). The antibiotic profile indicated that bacteria isolated from bacterial and concomitant bacterial infections had different and varying degree of resistance to commonly administered drugs with hundred percent bacterial resistance recorded in some cases. The study revealed that educational status of the subjects as well as control measures practiced influenced the prevalence of malaria and bacteria co-infection (p<0.05). The findings highlighted the need for informed combined therapy of antimalaria drugs with antibiotics for malaria treatment and use of preventive measures to control malaria during pregnancy.

Biography :

Ajero Chigbo M U has completed his PhD in Medical Parasitology from Imo State University, Nigeria. He is an Associate Professor and has published 60 papers in peer reviewed journals and is a Member of Editorial Board of two reputable journals in Nigeria.

Email: medoajero@yahoo.com