Lung Health in Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: Addressing the Need for Cleaner Air

Air pollution is increasingly recognized as a global health emergency with its impacts being wide ranging, more so for low- and middle-income countries where both indoor and outdoor pollution levels are high. In Africa, more than 80% of children live in households which use unclean sources of energy. The effects of both indoor and outdoor pollution on lung health on children who are the most vulnerable to their effects range from acute lower respiratory tract infections to long-term chronic health effects. We reviewed the literature on the effects of air pollution in children in Sub-Saharan Africa from prenatal exposure, infancy and school-going children. Data from Sub-Saharan Africa on quantification of exposures both indoor and outdoor mainly utilizes modelling or self-reporting. Exposures to biomass not only increases the risk of acute respiratory tract infections in young children but also increases the risk of carriage of pathogenic bacteria in the upper respiratory tract. Although there is limited evidence of association between asthma and pollution in African children, airway hyper-responsiveness and lower lung function has been demonstrated in children with higher risk of exposure. Interventions at a policy level to both quantify the exposure levels at a population level are urgently needed to address the possible interventions to limit exposure and improve lung health in children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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Antibiotic Susceptibility Profiling of Gram-Negative Bacteria Causing Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Hyderabad, Sindh

Journal of Life and Bio Sciences Research ◽

10.38094/jlbsr112 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 12-15

Author(s):

Ghulam Maka ◽

Samreen Shah ◽

Shaista Bano ◽

Sarfraz Ali Tunio

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Tract ◽

Antibiotic Susceptibility ◽

Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Isolation And Identification ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Upper Respiratory ◽

Tract Infections

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are important clinical problems and among the commonest infectious diseases throughout the world. Several factors including gender, age and season have been shown to influence the prevalence rates of RTIs. The current study aimed to isolate and identify bacteria causing of upper respiratory tract (URT) infections and to determine the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the isolated bacteria. A total of 201 sputum and swab samples were collected from patients from August 2015 to March 2016 and investigated for Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. The antibiotic sensitivity of isolated bacteria was performed using Kirby Bauer Disc diffusion method. Isolation and identification of the bacteria were carried out using conventional methods including microscopic, cultural and biochemical testing. Out of 201 samples, 29.85% (n=60) yielded bacterial growth in which 20.9% (n=42) belonged to male while 8.96% (n=18) were from female patients. Among the isolates, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent bacteria accounting 48.33% (n=29), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae 45% (n=27) and E. coli 6.67% (n=04). The data of antibiotic susceptibility profiling demonstrated that Cefoperazone sulbactam, Meropenem, Piperacillin Tazobactam and Amikacin were highly effective against all isolated bacteria. However, Ampicillin, Cephradine, Ofloxacin and Co-trimoxazole were found the least effective antibiotics against all isolated bacteria. In summary, an increasing trend in the resistance against antibiotics which are more frequently prescribed, such as Cephradine, Ampicillin and Co-trimoxazole was observed. Therefore, a continuous surveillance of antibiotic resistance trends of pathogens is needed to ensure appropriate recommendations for the treatment of the URTIs.

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