Malaria And Typhoid Fever Co-Infection: A Study Among Patients Presenting With Febrile Illnesses In The Ga West Municipal Hospital, Amasaman

ABSTRACT Introduction: Malaria and typhoid fever cause major health problems especially in low and middle income countries. People in endemic areas are at risk of developing both infections concomitantly. These study was conducted to provide an epidemiological data on co-infection of malaria and typhoid fever in Ga West Municipality Hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving one hundred and fifty seven (157) febrile patients attending Ga West Municipal Hospital, Amasaman from February to May, 2017. Blood samples were collected for blood culture, Widal test, and blood film preparation for microscopy. Data were analyzed using Stata version 13 statistical software. Results: The study population involved 157 febrile patients aged between 2years to 37years who reported to the hospital with fever (temperature 37.6 0C to 42 0C). A total of 82 (52.2%) of the study participants were females. The median age of all the patients was 6years (IQR=3-11/years). Out of the 157 febrile patients, 57/157(36.31%) had malaria, 23/157 (14.64%) had typhoid fever using Widal test and 10/157 (6.37) by blood culture. Comparing patients with only malaria, the geometric mean parasite density was 174485 (45782-665000) for those with co-infection (pvalue=0.009). Malaria for male 31/57(54.4%) and typhoid 6/10(60%). With age ≤10; malaria 42/57 (73.7%) and typhoid 8/10 (80%). The co-infection of malaria and typhoid fever using Widal test and blood culture was 5.73% and 1.91% respectively. The isolates exhibited high resistance ranging from 60% - 100% against ampicillin, tetracycline, co-trimozazole, gentamicin, cefuroxime, chloramphenicol, and meropenem. The sensitivity also ranged from 66.7% - 100% against cefotaxime, ceftrizone, ciprofloxacin and amikacin. No isolate of Salmonella typhi were susceptible to gentamicin, xi cefuroxime and co-trimoxazole. Other species of Salmonella were also not susceptible to tetracycline, ampicillin, co-trimoxazole and cefuroxime. All of the Salmonella isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and amikacin. Conclusion: These result of malaria and typhoid fever co-infection for blood culture and Widal test is 1.9% and 5.73%. All of the Salmonella isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and amikacin.