PREVALENCE OF Plasmodium AND Salmonella CO- INFECTION AMONG FEBRILE PATIENTS ATTENDING OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT OF LIRA REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL IN NORTHERN UGANDA: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Malaria and Typhoid fever remain diseases of major public health importance globally and are endemic in most tropical countries. In this study, we sought to establish the prevalence of Plasmodium and Salmonella co-infection among febrile out-patients at Lira Regional Referral Hospital (RRH).

Methods: A cross sectional study design. Febrile adult (≥ 18 years) patients were randomly recruited from April-to-July 2015. Data was collected using interviewer administered questionnaire and laboratory investigations. Malaria diagnosis was by the thin film method while typhoid fever was diagnosed by culturing blood samples to Salmonella typhi. Data were analyzed using SPSS ver 19.0 at 5% error margin.

Results: Of the 279 blood samples screened, 52 (18.6%) had Plasmodium parasites. Plasmodium falciparum was present in 43 samples (15.4%) while 9 (3.2%) had Plasmodium vivax. Of the 52 blood samples screened for typhoid using blood culture, 19 (6.8%) were positive for Salmonella typhi infection. A total of 5 patients (1.8%) had both Plasmodium and Salmonella co-infection. The five cases of Plasmodium and Salmonella typhi co-infection were female (3), used borehole drinking water (3), did not boil drinking water (4), resided in the village (3), and had no hand washing facility at home (3).

Conclusion: Co-infection with Plasmodium and Salmonella occurs among febrile patients in Lira RRH in northern Uganda.