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Using longitudinal antibiotic point prevalence survey (PPS) to drive antimicrobial stewardship programmes in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

*1Nwajiobi-Princewill, P., 1Medugu, N., 1Gobel, M., 1Aigbe, A., 2Versporten, A.,  2Pauwels, I., 2Goossens, H., and 1Iregbu, K. C.

 1Department of Medical Microbiology, National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria 2Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

*Correspondence to: princewill101@yahoo.com

 

Abstract:

Background: Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) provides a means of tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Unfortunately, in Nigeria, like in some other low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs), AMS practice has been lacklustre due to poor institutional support amongst other factors. Efforts were made to address this situation by engaging with the management of National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria, using antibiotic prescription information obtained through repeated point prevalence survey.  Continue reading “Using longitudinal antibiotic point prevalence survey (PPS) to drive antimicrobial stewardship programmes in a Nigerian tertiary hospital”

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Implementation of biosafety in infection control: a 10-year review

*Uwandu, M. O., Ige, F. A., Okwuraiwe, A. P., Onwuamah, C. K.,and Audu, R. A.

Centre for Human Virology and Genomics, Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria

*Correspondence to: uwandumabel@yahoo.com; +2348033467717

Abstract: 

Biosafety is an important issue globally, as a line of defence that protects health personnel, public and the environment from exposure to hazardous agents. Most developing nations have weak health systems and consequently weak biosafety. Engaging in an external quality program such as an accreditation process will help build capacity and competence in all areas. The Centre for Human Virology and Genomics (CHVG) laboratory of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Nigeria started its biosafety program in compliance to international standards stipulated by ISO 15189:2012, in its journey towards laboratory accreditation. Accreditation is widely used to attest for laboratory competence. In the quest for laboratory accreditation, several processes were implemented to ensure compliance, one of which was biosafety. Simple remedial actions and policies that have worked in other climes were applied over a 10-year period in the CHVG laboratory. A significant drop in nonconforming incidences and laboratory accidents was seen while biosafety audits showed improvement in safety practices.

Keywords: Biosafety, Infection control, audit Continue reading “Implementation of biosafety in infection control: a 10-year review”

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Effects of rinsing on Staphylococcus aureus load in frozen meats and fish obtained from open markets in Benin City, Nigeria

Ogofure, A. G., and *Igbinosa, E. O.

Applied Microbial Processes & Environmental Health Research Group (AMPEHREG), Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Private Mail Bag 1154, Benin City 300283, Nigeria

*Correspondence to: etinosa.igbinosa@uniben.edu

Abstract:

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a ubiquitous bacterium present in the environment and one of the leading causes of superficial and deep infections. In the food industry, it is acclaimed to be globally responsible for several food-borne diseases. This study was designed to isolate methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and determine the effect of rinsing on MRSA load in frozen meat and fish obtained from open market in Benin City. Continue reading “Effects of rinsing on Staphylococcus aureus load in frozen meats and fish obtained from open markets in Benin City, Nigeria”

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Improved Cryptosporidium case findings using immunofluorescent microscopy on concentrated stool

Cox, D., and *Robberts, F. J. L.

Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, 1 Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925, South Africa *Correspondence to: lrobberts@gmail.com; +27 645256360; //orcid.org/0000-0003-4397-4852

Abstract:
Background: Diarrhoea is a major cause of morbidity in Cape Town, South Africa, and mortality is attributed to a failure to recognize the severity of the condition. Cryptosporidium and Giardia are increasingly recognized as important causes of diarrhoea in Africa however, suboptimal diagnostic techniques may lead to underappreciation of their significance. Our objectives are to compare the diagnostic yield of direct immunofluorescent antigen (DFA) microscopy on concentrated stool samples for Cryptosporidium and Giardia, with the current approach of wet mount microscopy for Giardia and auramine fluorescent stain for Cryptosporidium on unconcentrated stool. Continue reading “Improved Cryptosporidium case findings using immunofluorescent microscopy on concentrated stool”

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Non-tuberculous mycobacteria isolated from patients with suspected tuberculosis in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

*1,2Ouassa, T., 1N’Guessan-Kacou, M. S., and 2Kouakou, K. A.

1Centre for Diagnosis and Research on AIDS and other Infectious Diseases (CeDReS), University Hospital of Treichville, Abidjan

2Department of Bacteriology-Virology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan

*Correspondence to: timothee.ouassa@cedres.org; timouassa@yahoo.fr; 0022521258459; 0022502500078

Abstract:

Background: Apart from tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBc) species, there are many other mycobacterial infections due to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). These are rarely identified in many low resource settings in Africa because of the lack of accurate identification methods. The aim of the study is to identify NTM species involved in respiratory infections in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Continue reading “Non-tuberculous mycobacteria isolated from patients with suspected tuberculosis in Abidjan, Ivory Coast”

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Doctors do not use the medical microbiology laboratory when infectious diseases are suspected

1Lawson, S., and *2Omunakwe, H. E.

Departments of 1Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, and *2Haematology and Blood Transfusion, River State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

*Correspondence to: hannahomunakwe@gmail.com

Received Nov 16, 2020; Revised Dec 25, 2020; Accepted Dec 26, 2020

Copyright 2021 AJCEM Open Access. This article is licensed and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attrition 4.0 International License <a rel=”license” href=”//creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/”, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided credit is given to the original author(s) and the source.

Editor-in-Chief: Prof. S. S. Taiwo

Les médecins n’utilisent pas le laboratoire de microbiologie médicale en cas de suspicion de maladies infectieuses

1Lawson, S., et*2Omunakwe, H. E.
Départements de 1Microbiologie Médicale et Parasitologie, et *2Hématologie et Transfusion Sanguine, Hôpital Universitaire de River State, Port Harcourt, Nigéria

*Correspondance à: hannahomunakwe@gmail.com

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Doctors do not use the medical microbiology laboratory when infectious diseases are suspected

 

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Africa’s COVID-19 story: cheap innovation technology and climate protective effect to her rescue?

*Adesokan, A., and MacLean, M.

PreciseMed 272 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JR Scotland

*Correspondence to: dapoadesokan@gmail.com; Ade@precisemed.co.uk

Abstract:
As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the globe, causing tens of thousands of deaths in most Western countries with economies round the world in turmoil, Africa has so far been largely spared the kind of impact that has thrown the United States, South America and Europe into crisis. Most African countries remain seriously unprepared to handle the pandemic of the nature the Western world is dealing with; Africa, from Mali to Ethiopia to Libya and down to South Africa, have insufficient ventilators or intensive care beds to cope with COVID-19 should it strike with ferocity as it is doing in the Western world. As COVID-19 reaches the shores of Africa, despite poor health facilities, poor living conditions and inadequate availability of clean water across the continent, Africans are still putting up a fight taking COVID-19 head on with use of cheap technology, and help from the continent’s protective climate. However, Africa cannot afford to be complacent. African countries must continue to adopt strict social distancing measures, educate their people on the importance of intake of regular vitamin D, good exercising habit, good sleep pattern, adequate hand hygiene measures, as well as strictly enforcing the “test, trace and isolate“ model to the letter for the continent to take on the fight head on and wage a proper war against COVID-19. Continue reading “Africa’s COVID-19 story: cheap innovation technology and climate protective effect to her rescue?”

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Use of dexamethasone in the management of respiratory tract infections

*1Adegboro, B., 2Abayomi, S. A., 1Imran, J., and 3Sanni, E. O.

1Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria

2Department of Medical Microbiology, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria

3Department of Haematology, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria *Correspondence to: boazadegboro@gmail.com

Abstract:

Dexamethasone is a potent synthetic member of the glucocorticoid class of corticosteroid drugs that has been useful for the management of some pathological disorders because it affects a protean number of signaling pathways. It is used as adjunct therapy in the management of sepsis, arthritis, cardiac transplant, blood, hormone/immune system disorders, allergic reaction, skin, eye conditions, cancer and other pathologic disorders and as a mainstay of therapy in autoimmune hepatitis. With the advent of COVID-19, there have been investigations of its use as anti-inflammatory agent in severely ill patients. This present review elucidates the various studies on the use of dexamethasone in the management of severe respiratory tract infections, with the ultimate aim of reducing mortality amongst severely ill patients, including COVID-19. Continue reading “Use of dexamethasone in the management of respiratory tract infections”

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Enterovirus and Parechovirus meningitis in children: a review of the epidemiology, diagnostic challenges, and significance of on-site CSF virology tests in tropical paediatric patients’ care

1,2Kabuga, A. I., 1Nejati, A., and *1,3Shahmahmoodi, S.
1Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Bayero University, PMB 3011 Kano, Kano State, Nigeria 3Food Microbiology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran *Correspondence to: shahmahmoodi@tums.ac.ir; +989121909972

Abstract:

Enteroviruses and Parechoviruses are increasingly recognized as the cause of aseptic meningitis, especially in the paediatric age group. However, because of indistinguishable clinical features with bacterial meningitis, many clinicians cannot make a clear distinction in disease presentation, and a large number of cases go undiagnosed. Although polymerase chain reaction is the current standard diagnostic approach, it takes many hours or days to get a result and these tests are not available at primary and secondary levels of care in many resource-poor countries. Furthermore, diagnosis is often difficult in children due to nonspecific cellular and biochemical cerebrospinal fluid findings. Some affected children may develop neurologic or/and systemic complications, resulting in prolonged hospital admission, increasing the risk of avoidable deaths, and healthcare expenditures. This review focuses on epidemiology, presentation, and diagnosis of Enterovirus and Parechovirus meningitis, highlighting the challenges in diagnosis and the potential roles of on-site CSF virology tests in improving the quality of paediatric patient’s care. The information provided should help early case detection, thereby ensuring avoidance of unnecessary antibiotics, minimal complications, a short period of hospital stays, and a reduction in healthcare-associated costs. Continue reading “Enterovirus and Parechovirus meningitis in children: a review of the epidemiology, diagnostic challenges, and significance of on-site CSF virology tests in tropical paediatric patients’ care”

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Demographic attributes of COVID-19 patients in an Infectious Disease Center of Nigeria

*1Arinola, G. O., 2Fashina, O. A., 3Oluyomi Ishola, O. C., 2Akinbola, O. I., 4Akinbile, S. A., 4Eegunjobi, A. O., 5Bello, M. D., 1Edem, F. V., 1Rahamon, S. K., 6Famuyiwa, O. I., 7Olaoti, A. J., 8Olaniyan, O. A., 5Oke, A. C., 10Fowotade, A., 11Abimbola, O., 5Johnson, J. O., 5Fagbemi, O. S., 9Salami, F., and 5,12Alonge, T. O.

1Department of Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan

2Department of Medical Microbiology, University College Hospital, lbadan

3National Blood Transfusion Service, Total Garden, Ibadan

4Central Diagnostic Centre, Total Garden, lbadan

5lnfectious Disease Centre, Olodo, lbadan

6Department of Chemical Pathology, University College Hospital, lbadan

7General Hospital, lgboho

8Department of Chemical Pathology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso

9Oyo State Ministry of Health, Ibadan

10Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ibadan

11Department of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan

12Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan

*Correspondence to: drarinolaog64@yahoo.com; +234 80-23451520; ORCID number: 0000-0001-7901-1498

Abstract:
Background: As part of our contribution to the growing pool of knowledge on the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study describes the demographic features of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized at Infectious Disease Center (IDC), Olodo, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Continue reading “Demographic attributes of COVID-19 patients in an Infectious Disease Center of Nigeria”