CURRENT INCIDENCE OF RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

The rapid rise in cases of Respiratory Tract Infection (RTI) is a growing public health concern in Nigeria particularly Abia State. Interventions are often hampered by lack of accurate localized data which informs policy directions and limits effectiveness. This study aims to quantify prevalence, identify demographic patterns, and elucidate environmental and socioeconomic determinants of RTI. It seeks to inform targeted interventions for effective public health results. The current incidence of RTI in Abia State, Nigeria was studied within five primary healthcare centers located in Aba South, Aba North, Osisioma, Umuahia South, and Umuahia North local government areas that serve as referral centers to others within the State. Using microbiology standard methods of sputum and throat swab collection, sample collection was done aseptically. The samples were inoculated into blood agar, MacConkey agar, and chocolate agar and incubated at 37°C for 24-48 hours. After which the bacterial colonies were isolated for further identification using microscopic and biochemical tests for pathogen detection. The study findsStaphylococcus aureus 80 (32%)as the highest cause of RTI in Abia State, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae 57 (22.8%),Streptococcus pneumoniae 47 (18.8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 28 (11.2%), Escherichia coli 23 (9.2%), and Proteus mirabilis 15 (6.0%).