Bacterio-clinical Characteristics of Pathogens Isolated from Febrile Children in Lagos, Nigeria

Febrile illness is a broad clinical term, generally considered to be caused by pathogens andcharacterized by fever.There are myriad of infectious agents that trigger fever. While acute febrileillness cases in Africa are often attributed to malaria or viral infections,bacterial, fungal, and otherparasitic causes exist. A total of 660 venous Blood and mid-stream urine samples were collectedfrom study participants with acute fever ≥ 37.5oC from May to November, 2024 and analyzed atNigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos.The participants were recruited from PrimaryHealth Centres (PHCs) in the 3 senatorial district of Lagos covering Alimosho, Surulere andIkorodu LGA. Bacterial isolates were identified using Microbacttmgnb 24E test system.Sociodemographic and metadata of participants were also assessed. Pathogenic bacteria weredetected in 9.6 % (63 of 660) and characterized into bacteremia with urinary tract infections (UTIs)( 65% :41 of 63), bacteremia (27% ), UTIs ( 8%). The highest number of participants havingbacteremia with UTI were from Ikorodu ( 56% :23 of 41), Alimosho ( 27% ), and Surulere (17%).The commonest pathogen found in all sites was Escherichia coli (35%:22 of 63). Species ofAcinetobacter spp, Klebsiella spp, Citrobacter spp, Enterobacter spp, Stenotrophoma spp andAveryella spp were also isolated. Participants primary source of drinking water was borehole(77%). Low haemoglobin level ( < 10g/dl) was found in 66% of all the participants and in 79% ofparticipants with pathogens. Diagnosing children with febrile illness of bacterial etiology unveileda diversity of other causes of fever in under-5 children.