Prevalence of shigellosis diarrhoea in a paediatrics population: hospital based survey in Bangui, Central African Republic.

Introduction: Shigellosis is still a major public health problem in sub-Saharan countries, especially among children.

Methodology: The prevalence of shigellosis in children presenting with diarrhoea in the Complexe Pédiatrique de Bangui, Central African Republic, was determined. Stools were analyzed in the bacteriology laboratory of the Institut Pasteur de Bangui, Central African Republic, where identification of Shigella species and analysis of antibiotics susceptibility were performed.

Distribution and antibiotic susceptibility of Shigella isolates in Bangui, Central African Republic.

We conducted a prospective study in four urban health care centres between January 2004 and November 2005 to determine the distribution and susceptibility patterns of Shigella strains causing invasive diarrhoea in Bangui, Central African Republic. Of the 155 Shigella isolated, Shigella flexneri (51%) and Shigella dysenteriae (30%) were the most common and the most resistant to usual antibiotics, including amoxicillin, sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim and chloramphenicol. Though multi-drug resistance was common, no strains were resistant to quinolone and fluoroquinolones.