ARTICLES

A study of 65 children (29males and 36females) and aged between four weeks and 15years with significant bacteriuria was undertaking over a six month period to determine the effects of instruction received about the methods of urine collection and storage on the prevalence of urinary tract infection. The commonest clinical presentation was fever (64.6%). Only 22(35.4%) of the patients had specific symptoms suggestive of urinary tract infections. The instructions about urine collection were given to 48(73.8%) care givers. This instruction was given by the attending doctors (84%). Despite the explanation, 15(23.1%) of the patients collected the urine samples wrongly and 44(67.7%) stored the samples for longer than one hour. Significant bacteriuria was more prevalent in 74.2% of patients who submitted their urine samples more than one hour after collection. Communication skill is important and should be emphasized in the trainings of health workers in procedure on the patients.

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Effect Of Instructions About The Method Of Urine Collection And Storage On The Isolation Rate Of Urinary Bacteria In Children

Background: Nosocomial infection caused by methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) presents with management difficulties in infected patients due to their resistance to a number of other frontline antibiotics and constitutes
significant epidemiological problems. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of methicillin resistant S. aureus and antibiotic sensitivity pattern in clinical isolates in Kano. There is dearth of  information on
this subject in Kano.
Method: One hundred and eighty five (185) S. aureus isolates from various clinical specimens obtained over a 12-month period in the Microbiology Department of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) were subjected to methicillin susceptibility testing, while including susceptibility testing to other antibiotics by the disc diffusion methods.
Result: Out of 185 S. aureus isolates tested, 53(28.6%) were found to be methicillin resistant. While 38(62%) isolates were obtained from in-patients, 15(28%) were from out-patients. Surgical wound infection had the highest prevalence of 32(60%) isolates. Antibiotics sensitivity results of methicillin susceptible staphylococcus aureus MSSA) and MRSA with the third generation cephalosporins and the quinilones were encouraging. All
MRSA isolates were sensitive to vancomycin.
Conclusion: A prevalence of 28.6% MRSA in this environment calls for urgent intervention strategies due to its possible rapid spread and therapeutic problem.

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Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern in Kano, Nigeria

Proliferation of different brands of antibiotics including ampiclox (a notable penicillinase inactivator) was considered a relevant factor in the antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus. Consequently the antibiogram and susceptibility of 20 clinical strains and a control strain (NCTC 6571) of Staphylococcus aureus to 10 different brands of ampiclox were determined by disk diffusion and tube broth dilution methods. The control strain was
found sensitive to ampicilin, augmentinR and cloxacillin in the antibiogram, and to all the l0 brands of ampiclox, with the MIC’s of either 0.125 or 0.25μg/mI among the clinical strains. This result, compared with the MIC’s obtained in the range of 0.125μg/ml to > 60μg/mI, varying among the brands of ampiclox against the 20 clinical strains, indicates contrasting inhibitory activity among the different brands but reflective of the worrisome level of resistance to antibiotics by Staph. aureus. However, this resistance to most of the brands of ampic1ox could not be associated with brand variation having found the control strain sensitive to all the brands of ampiclox.

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Brands Of Ampiclox Against Clinical Strains Of Staphylococcus aureus

Cough formulations were observed to contain some chemical substances that have been associated with antimicrobial property, namely: menthol, honey, citric acid and volatile oils. A prolonged use of such formulations by patients was therefore considered a health risk on the normal bacterial flora. Nine cough formulations denoted by letter codes along with simple syrup B.P., absolute alcohol and sterile distilled water as controls, were investigated for relative antimicrobial activity on some normal flora bacteria by the agar-cup diffusion method. The respective individual single brands of cough formulation with the exception of one brand exhibited inhibitory activity against 5 – 1 2 bacterial isolates including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp, Streptococcus faecalis, Strep. pneumoniae, Strep. viridians, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Simple Syrup B.P. and sterile distilled water did not exhibit any antibacterial activity while the absolute alcohol exerted activity only on Staph aureus. The antimicrobial activity recorded for the cough formulations could cause a depletion of the normal bacterial flora following a prolonged use of the formulations tested, hence, the attendant health risk of depressed natural immune system of the body, normally associated with such bacteria.

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Prolonged Use Of Cough Formulations And The Health Risk From Their Antimicrobial Activity On Some Normal Bacterial Flora

Reports of large scale mortality of day-old-chicks were received at the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria in 2007 to 2008. We investigated the cause of death using several virological and bacteriological techniques, isolated the pathogenic agents and carried out sensitivity tests. Our investigation revealed that Escherichia coli and Salmonella organisms were isolated in the outbreaks. A pattern of antibiotic resistance that seems to be increasing was also found. Considering the role of chickens and its products in the human food chain in Nigeria; and the close interaction between poultry and man, these resistant organisms may pose dangers to humans through the food chain or zoonotic infection and precipitate a similar pattern of resistance in man. We advocated for informed use of antibiotics in the food animals, especially poultry.

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Antibiotic Resistant Salmonella And Escherichia Coli Isolated From Day-Old Chicks Vom Nigeria

Background: Benue state has been considered among the ‘hot zones’ for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria with a prevalence rate of 9.3 among adults aged 15 to 45 years. Yet, there is paucity of information on the socio-demographic factors associated with this level of prevalence. We hereby report the prevalence and socio-demographic factors associated with HIV among adults in Abwa-Mbagene, Benue state, Nigeria.

Methods: Adults in Abwa-Mbagene community who accepted to participate between 9th and 24th of August 2007 were recruited. After counselling, screening was done using ‘Determine HIV’ kit.

Results: 153 subjects (74 males and 79 females) were recruited. Their age ranges from 15 to 60 years (Mean: 26.2years). Fourty-two (27.5%) consisting of 12 (16.2%) males and 30 (38%) females were positive for HIV (male to female ratio, 2:5). The prevalence of HIV was higher among the divorcees (50%); those whose level of education was primary school (41.3%) and below and; farmers (60%). Majority (96%) knows AIDS exists, 85% are informed on mode and prevention of HIV transmission. Cases of AIDS deaths, unprotected casual sex, blood transfusion with unscreened blood and polygamy are common in the community. The single most important cultural factors in HIV transmission identified is indulgence in night parties, which increased the rate of unprotected casual sex.
Conclusion: This community represents a high HIV/AIDS prevalence spot in Benue State, Nigeria. There is therefore the need for the establishment of HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT), Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT), save blood and antiretroviral treatment services in the community. Vocational centers to engage single women and improve their financial state will boost preventive strategies. Finally, partnership with community leaders towards discouraging night parties will reduce the prevalence of HIV in the community

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Socio-Demographic Characteristics Of Adults Screened For Hiv Aids In A Rural Community In Benue State Nigeria

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics constitutes a major cause of failure in the treatment of bacterial infections. The genetic exchange of plasmids containing antibiotic resistant determinants between bacteria is believed to play a critical role in the evolution of antibiotics resistant bacteria and this has been shown in S. aureus. This study was therefore carried out to investigate the nature of plasmids that determine antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from man and animal. Thirty multiply drug resistant S. aureus isolates from a total of 147 apparently healthy humans and dogs, as well as from clinical cases were determined by antibiotic susceptibility test using the standard disc agar diffusion method. Plasmid isolation was carried out by the alkaline lysis method of Birnboim and Dolly. Electrophoresis as well as the transformation experiment was done.
The result showed that no particular sensitivity pattern or plasmid profile  can be ascribed to either human or animal sources of isolates. Two isolates from a domestic dog and its owner (human) were observed to have identical plasmid profile and almost the same antibiogram. 23.130 kbp and 25.119 kbp plasmids that were responsible for amoxycilin resistance were transferred. In conclusion, the genetic basis of antibiotic resistance by S. aureus in our locality was found to be partly plasmid mediated. Plasmid analysis, in conjunction with the antibiogram is valuable in differentiating multiple resistant S. aureus.
Furthermore, domestic pet animals were found to be reservoirs and potential risk factors in the transfer of multiply antibiotic resistant S. aureus and their R-plasmids to antibiotic susceptible S. aureus and other bacteria.

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Nigeria is presently suffering from another Lassa fever epidemic. This was confirmed in the statement of the Minister of Health of the Federation in which he said, “There has been an upsurge in the reported cases of Lassa fever since the beginning of this year, especially in the Federal Capital Territory and its environs. Within two weeks, 12 cases with five deaths due to the disease were recorded. 25 contacts are confirmed by laboratory
investigations to have been infected, including 4 health staff working in the National Hospital, Abuja.”1 Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever first described in 1969 in the town of Lassa in Borno state, Nigeria.2 It is
endemic in West African countries, and causes 300,000 cases annually with 5000 deaths.3 Lassa fever epidemics occur in Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Central African Republic.4 Lassa virus, the agent of the disease is a member of the Arenaviridae family. The virus is pleomorphic with single-stranded and bisegmented RNA genome.3 Its primary host is Natal Multimammate Mouse (Mastomys natalensis). Transmission to man occurs via exposure to the rat excrement through respiratory or gastrointestinal tracts5, exposure of broken skin or mucus membrane to infected material, direct contact, sexually and transplacentally. The prevalence of antibodies to the virus is 8-22%9 in Sierra Leone, 4-55% in Guinea,12 and 21% in Nigeria.13 The
disease is mild or asymptomatic in 80% of infected people, but 20% have a severe multisystemic disease. Clinical features are difficult to differentiate from that of other viral haemorrhagic fevers  and common febrile illness such as Malaria, Typhoid fever and so on. Definitive diagnosis is by viral isolation, Antigen and Antibody detection and Reverse
Transcriptase PCR. Treatment is with Ribavirin, an antiviral agent. No vaccine is currently available. Prevention is by keeping rats away from homes.

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This is a prospective study of 297 Consecutive High Vaginal Swab (HVS) specimen from patients with vaginal symptoms at the laboratory of Butare University Teaching Hospital, South Province, Rwanda. The aim of the
study was to evaluate the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and the role of some micro-organisms and laboratory indices associated with it. The age range was 16-57 years with a mean of 30.8 years. The overall prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was 17.8% and the highest percentage of 52.8 % (28) found in the age group of 21-30 years compared with the lowest percentage of 1.9% (1) in the age group less than 20 years. Almost half of patients with trichomoniasis were found to have bacterial vaginosis (P<0.05). The demonstration Clue cells in wet mount was found in significantly higher numbers (90.5%) in women with bacterial vaginosis (P<0.001, positive predictive value 90.4%) while low sensitivity and positive predictive value were seen for vaginal discharge for detecting
infection with bacterial vaginosis ( p> 0.05, positive predictive value 26.0%). Bacterial vaginosis is common among women with vaginal symptoms in Rwanda as showed by gram stain examination. Further research into this pathology in other Rwandan women populations is needed.

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Prevalence Of Bacterial Vaginosis In Women With Vaginal Symptoms In South Province Rwanda

Background: The adoption of primary health care in Nigeria has led to the expansion of health care delivery frontiers especially at the rural level. At this level is the most critical health services delivery point, with an attendant increase in contact between primary health care providers and patients. There is however also a simultaneous increased exposure to occupational and related health risks and hazards.Methods: The objectives of this study were to assess the universal precaution profile of primary health care facilities and determine those factors that inform their prevailing safety status. Using a structured checklist, 23 representative primary health care facilities from the 23 local government areas in Sokoto State were randomly selected for the study, one from each of the local government areas.
Results: The facilities were found to have poor universal precaution profile that could guarantee effective control of infection transmission and safety of their personnel. The facilities’ mean score on measures and frameworks for ensuring the implementation of Universal Precautions was 53.12% ± 21.68% with only 56.52% scoring above 50%.
Conclusion: Safety protocol and facilities for ensuring safe environment were inadequate and poorly developed. None of the facilities had full complement of facilities or resources for ensuring safety of working environment and for personnel’s implementation of Universal Precautions. Policy for safety practice was poor, and post exposure intervention programmes for staff in event of accidental exposure grossly underdeveloped. Interventions to improve safety environment and creation of safe climate are essential to protect primary health care workers against occupational hazards.

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Profile Of Institutional Infrastructure For Implementing Universal Precautions In Primary Health Care Facilities In Sokoto State, Nigeria Implication For Occupational Safety