Multi-Drug Resistant Salmonella typhi among Out-Patients in Hospitals within Ilorin, Nigeria and their Susceptibility to Cymbopogon Citratus

Abstract

The indiscriminate use of drugs, medication and non-adherence are one of the factors that has led to the emergence of multi-drug resistant Salmonella typhi. This study was conducted to assess the incidence of typhoid fever among out-patients in some selected Specialist Hospitals in Ilorin Metropolis and to determine the susceptibility of the causative agent to antibiotics and plant extract of Cymbopogon citratus. A cross-sectional survey was completed over a five-month surveillance period in these four locations namely: The Children Specialist Hospital Centre Igboro; Cottage Hospital; Adewole Specialist Hospital Alagbado; and Civil Service Hospital with a total of about 400 blood samples from out-patients across ages. Antibiogram profiling of the isolates to standard gram-negative antibiotics and antibacterial activity of Cymbopogon citratus extracts were determined using disc diffusion method. A total of Eight (8) Salmonella typhi isolates were recovered collectively from the patients. All the isolates were multi-drug resistant with a notable resistance to chloramphenicol, ampicillin and co-trimoxazole. Molecular confirmation of the isolates showed DNA size of 500 base pairs. The ethanolic extract of Cymbopogon citratus was more potent with MIC of 12.5mg/ml and MBC 25mg/ml while the phytochemical screening of the plants revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, steroids and glycosides. The promising outcome of the plant extract against Salmonella typhi posits its possible application in treatment against the infectious agent.