International Journal of Medicine and Medical Science Research  Vol. 2(5), pp. 053-057, September 2014 ISSN 2331-1819 ©2014 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Carriage rates of Haemophilus influenzae in Nasopharyngeal aspirates of pre-school children in Enugu State, Nigeria

Bryan O. Ogeneh¹, Uchenna V. Okolie²*, Veronica N. Emenuga³ and Nkemdilim C. Umezinne³

¹Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.

²Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology,

College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria. 

³Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: ucheokolie2003@yahoo.com. Tel: + 234 803 6741302.

Accepted 11 December, 2013

Abstract

This study involved the investigation of carriage rates of Haemophilus influenzae in nasopharyngeal aspirates of pre-school children in Enugu State, Nigeria. Throat and nasal swabs were obtained from 158 children who were aged 6 months to 6 years. The children comprised those in nursery schools (A), those in their homes (B), and those who attended day-care centers (C). H. influenzae was identified after isolation in culture by satelitism and biochemical tests. Of the samples studied, the organism was isolated in 50 giving an average carriage rate of 31.7%. Descriptive statistics was used for general description of study participants and to evaluate the distribution. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 15.0 software. Mean carriage rate of 30.60% was obtained from children in nursery schools, 41.08% from those at home and 22.64% from those attending day care centers. The highest carriage rate was obtained from children who were in their homes and had never attended nursery schools or day-care centers. In each of the 3 groups of children with the exception of those at home, children aged 1 year had the highest isolation rate. It can be concluded from this work that the carriage rate of H. influenzae is significant in pre-school children in Enugu State, Nigeria.

Key words: Haemophilus influenzae, carriage rate, nasopharyngeal aspirates.