The Prevalence of Fungal Infections in Six Communities in Akwa Ibom State Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND Invasive fungal infections haveemerged worldwide as the causeof opportunistic infections. Hospital-acquired fungal infection has also risen over the past decade since untreated fungal infections render patients to life-threatening conditions.Thisstudy aimed at determiningthe prevalence of fungi infection in six communities in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS An experimental-based cross-sectional study design was used to collect randomsamplesof 2991 from children aged 5-16yearsand 2240samplesfrom adults (20-80years andabove)between May 2018 and October 2018.The samples were collected from theskin scales, crust, nail pieces and hairof individuals living insix communities namely: Essien udim, Abak, Ikot ekpene, Uyo, Nsit Ubium, Eket and Oron.The sample size of 5234 was determined using a single-stage cluster sampling technique. The samples collected were subjected to direct microscopy examination and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar and incubated at room temperature (25 –37oC) for 3-5 days.Fungal isolated were preliminarily identified by cultural methods, purified and further confirmed by genotypic methods. RESULTS Results obtained showed that out of the 5234 individuals examined (children and adults),3010(57.5%)were found to be mycologically positive lesions while 2224(42.5%)were mycologically suggestive lesions.The present study reveals that theprevalent rate of fungal infection was934 (31.3%) out of the total number of individuals sampled.This corresponds to individuals between the age of 10-13 years in all three Local Government Areas(LGAs). Data obtained from the study were tested using the Chi-Square test of independence to determine if mycologicallypositive lesions in all three LGAs were independent of the age group and it gave a p-value of 0.47 at a 5% level of significance. This showed that the prevalence rates across various age groups were independent of the study locations. Thestudy also reveals that fungal infections were predominant in individuals between the ageranges of5 –13 years and those beyond 80 years. Individuals between the ages of 40-49yearshad the lowest prevalence rateof 63(2.1%)across all three LGA.Since all three LGAs were thickly denseareas of the threesenatorial districts of Akwa Ibom State, they showed a high level of prevalenceof fungi infection for individualsbetween ages 5 –13 years. Nine fungal species which include Rhizopus oryzae,Aspergillus tamaril, Tricholoma matsutake, Kodamaea ohmeri, Aspergillus awamori,Aspergillus fumigatus,Aspergillus nomius,Aspergillus awamoriand Aspergillus nomius were identified by genotypic methods. CONCLUSION The study revealed that fungal infections are predominant in highly populated areas and vary from one location to the other. The infections were more among age groups of children between the ages of 5-13. Aspergillus spp. was the most predominant fungi identified in the present study. There is a need for further studies on the prevalence of fungal infection that would include more geographical regions compared to the present study.