Abstract:
Infectious microbial diseases constitute a major cause of death in many parts of the world,
particularly in developing countries. Salmonella has been identified as an important food and
water-borne pathogen. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Salmonella
among outpatients of Bashy health center and determine associated risk factors that contributed
to the observed prevalence. For this research, a community based cross-sectional study design
method was used. Accordingly, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through
direct observation; interview, questionnaire and practical work in the laboratory (detection of
Salmonella from patients’ sample and to determine in-vitro antimicrobial activities of extracts of
selected medicinal plants) were used. A total of 108 outpatients seeking medication at Bashy
Health Center during the study period were recruited for the study. Status of antimicrobial
resistance of Salmonella isolates were evaluated using gallery of ten antibiotics including:
Ampicillin (10μg), Streptomycin (10μg), Tetracycline (30μg), Gentamycin (10μg), Erythromycin
(5μg), Chlorampenicol (30μg), Ciprofloxacin (5μg), Kanmycin (30μg), Amikacin (30μg) and
Nalidixic acid (30μg). Antimicrobial activity of the crude extracts of Ocimium lamiifolium leaves
was evaluated by disk diffusion method where activities measured in terms of diameter of zones
of inhibition (mm). The result showed different annual frequencies of typhoid fever, the highest
being 29.5% and the lowest being 11.9%. The highest cases of typhoid fever (40.7%) were
recorded in patients aged between 11 to 20 years old. Poor personal and environmental
sanitation and low level of awareness towards typhoid fever were among the major associated
risk factors for infection with Salmonella. The above associated risk factors had not significant
difference between the two sexes (p>0.05). Resistance rates were 53.85 for Tetracycline and
streptomycin, 38.5% for Ampicillin while all isolated strains were 100% susceptible to
Erythromycin and Chlorampenicol. The maximum number of antibiotics resisted by Salmonella
was six. The high percent of resistance to the 3 antibiotics studied could be attributed to their
prevailing usage in the area under study. The studies revealed that antibacterial activity of the
crude extracts from Ocimum lamiifolium was variable when extracted by different solvents;
however, it possesses good anti-Salmonella activity.
