A retrospective study of antibiotic resistance patterns of bacterial pathogens isolated from patients in two Lebanese hospitals for two consecutive years (2018 and 2019)

1Sakr, S., 2Abboud, M., 3Tawbeh, K., 1Hamam, B., and *1Sheet, I.

1Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese International University, Lebanon

2Haroun Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon

3Department of Mathematics and Physics, School of Arts and Sciences,
Lebanese International University, Lebanon
*Correspondence to: imtithal.sheet@liu.edu.lb

Abstract:
Background: Misuse of antibiotics is the leading factor promoting emergence of bacterial resistance, a situation that has become a serious public health challenge. Among the leading bacteria that have developed resistance to antibiotics are Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which have caused infections in patients, resulting in considerable mortality. The objective of this retrospective study was to assess antibiotic resistance rates of bacterial pathogens isolated from clinical specimens in two Lebanese hospitals between the years 2018 and 2019.

Methodology: Bacteria isolated from routine clinical specimens collected from hospitalized patients in two hospitals, Haroun and Bekaa, in Lebanon for 2018 and 2019, were analyzed. Bacteria isolation and identification were carried out at the laboratory of each hospital using conventional microbiological methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testings (AST) of each bacterial isolate to antibiotics were performed by the disc diffusion test and interpreted using EUCAST, CLSI or WHO/AST guidelines. Comparisons of the mean resistance rates of each isolate to individual antibiotics by year of isolation were done using the Z-test and p< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Continue reading “A retrospective study of antibiotic resistance patterns of bacterial pathogens isolated from patients in two Lebanese hospitals for two consecutive years (2018 and 2019)”

July 1, 2021July 1, 2021

Bioinformatic analysis of multi-drug resistant class 1 integron-coded protein of Citrobacter freundii

Popoola, O. D., and *Thomas, B. T.

Department of Microbiology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria

*Correspondence to: benthoa2013@gmail.com; +2348064011412; ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0675-5749

Abstract:

Background: The understanding of the secondary structure of the class 1 integron coded protein is necessary to decipher potential drug target and also to infer evolutionary ancestry at the proteomic level. This study was therefore aimed at determining the secondary structure of class 1 integron-coded protein and also to provide information on their evolutionary ancestry.

Methodology: Five different sequences of Citrobacter freundii with the following accession numbers; KP902625.1, KP902624.1, KP902623.1, KP901093.1 and KP902609.1 were obtained using nucleotide BLAST (http://blast. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi) and subjected to evolutionary analysis, pairwise distance calculation, secondary structure and neutrality test using MEGA explorer, Kimura 2 parameter, SOPMA tool and Tajima’s test respectively. Continue reading “Bioinformatic analysis of multi-drug resistant class 1 integron-coded protein of Citrobacter freundii”

July 1, 2021July 1, 2021

Antibacterial activity and time kill kinetics of Amlodipine, Thioridazine and Promethazine against pathogenic clinical bacterial isolates

*1Akinjogunla, O. J., 2Umo, A. N., 3Alozie, M. F., 2Oshosanya, G. O., and 1Saturday, G. I.

1Department of Microbiology, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

2Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

3Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
*Correspondence to: papajyde2000@yahoo.com

Abstract:
Background: The emergence of multi-drug resistant bacterial strains worldwide has necessitated the scientific search for novel, potent, and affordable antimicrobial agents including medicinal plants and non-antibiotic drugs for therapy of infectious diseases. The objective of this study is to assess in vitro antibacterial activities and time kill kinetics of some non-antibiotic drugs against pathogenic clinical bacterial isolates.

Methodology: In vitro antibacterial activities including minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and time kill kinetics of Amlodipine (AML), Thioridazine (THI) and Promethazine (PRO) against Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS), Streptococcus spp, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates were determined using disc diffusion, broth microdilution and plate count techniques.

Results: The mean growth inhibition zones by the disc diffusion assay of AML, THI and PRO against the isolates were ≤15.1±1.0 mm with MIC and MBC values ranging from 12.5 to 50μg/ml and 25 to 100μg/ml respectively. The time-kill assay revealed bactericidal effect of AML, THI and PRO on Gram positive bacteria evidenced by mean log reductions in viable bacterial cell counts ranging from 0.13 Log10 to 2.41 Log10 CFU/ml for S. aureus, 0.88 Log10 to 2.08 Log10 CFU/ml for Streptococcus spp, and 0.26 Log10 to 2.34 Log10 CFU/ml for CoNS after ≤30hrs post inoculation at 1xMIC. The range of log reduction in viable cell counts of Gram-negative bacteria exposed to AML, THI and PRO were E. coli (0.11 to 3.23 Log10 CFU/ml), P. aeruginosa (0.52 to 2.56 Log10 CFU/ml), K. pneumoniae (0.85 to 3.0 Log10 CFU/ml) and Enterobacter spp (0.38 to 2.08 Log10 CFU/ml) after ≤30 hrs post inoculation at 1x MIC.

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate in vitro antibacterial efficacies and time kill kinetics of AML, THI and PRO against pathogenic clinical bacterial isolates, which indicate that these non-antibiotic drugs may be useful therapeutic alternatives in the bid to reduce the burden of infectious diseases associated with antibiotic resistant pathogens.

Keywords: Amlodipine, Thioridazine, Promethazine, Time-Kill, Kinetics, MIC, MBC, bacteria

Received April 8, 2020; Revised July 12, 2020; Accepted July 13, 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=”http://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

Activité antibactérienne et cinétique de destruction du temps de l’amlodipine, de la thioridazine et de la prométhazine contre les isolats bactériens cliniques pathogènes

*1Akinjogunla, O. J., 2Umo, A. N., 3Alozie, M. F., 2Oshosanya, G. O., et 1Saturday, G. I.

1Département de microbiologie, Université d’Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigéria

2Département de microbiologie médicale et de parasitologie, Faculté des sciences cliniques, Université d’Uyo, Uyo, État d’Akwa Ibom, Nigéria

3Département de microbiologie et biotechnologie pharmaceutiques, Faculté de pharmacie, Université d’Uyo, Uyo, État d’Akwa Ibom, Nigéria *Correspondance à: papajyde2000@yahoo.com

Abstrait:

Contexte: L’émergence de souches bactériennes multirésistantes dans le monde a rendu nécessaire la recherche scientifique d’agents antimicrobiens nouveaux, puissants et abordables, notamment des plantes médicinales et des médicaments non antibiotiques pour le traitement des maladies infectieuses. L’objectif de cette étude est d’évaluer les activités antibactériennes in vitro et la cinétique de destruction temporelle de certains médicaments non antibiotiques contre les isolats bactériens cliniques pathogènes.

Méthodologie: activités antibactériennes in vitro, y compris la concentration minimale inhibitrice (CMI), la concentration bactéricide minimale (MBC) et la cinétique de destruction du temps de l’amlodipine (AML), de la thioridazine (THI) et de la prométhazine (PRO) contre Staphylococcus aureus, les staphylocoques à coagulase négative (CoNS), Streptococcus spp, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp, Klebsiella pneumoniae et Pseudomonas aeruginosa ont été déterminés en utilisant des techniques de diffusion sur disque, de microdilution en bouillon et de numération sur plaque.

Résultats: Les zones moyennes d’inhibition de la croissance par le test de diffusion de disque d’AML, THI et PRO contre les isolats étaient ≤15,1±1,0mm avec des valeurs MIC et MBC allant de 12,5 à 50μg/ml et de 25 à 100μg/ml respectivement. Le dosage temporel a révélé un effet bactéricide de la LMA, du THI et du PRO sur les bactéries Gram positives, mis en évidence par des réductions logarithmiques moyennes du nombre de cellules bactériennes viables allant de 0,13 Log10 à 2,41 Log10 CFU/ml pour S. aureus, 0,88 Log10 à 2,08 Log10 CFU/ml pour Streptococcus spp et 0,26 Log10 à 2,34 Log10 CFU/ml pour CoNS après ≤ 30 heures après l’inoculation à 1 x MIC. La plage de réduction logarithmique du nombre de cellules viables de bactéries à Gram négatif exposées à la LMA, au THI et au PRO était E. coli (0,11 à 3,23 Log10 CFU/ml), P. aeruginosa (0,52 à 2,56 Log10 CFU/ml), K. pneumoniae (0,85 à 3,0 Log10 CFU/ml) et Enterobacter spp (0,38 à 2,08 Log10 CFU/ml) après ≤ 30 heures après l’inoculation à 1 x MIC.

Conclusion: Ces résultats démontrent une efficacité antibactérienne in vitro et une cinétique de destruction du temps des LMA, THI et PRO contre les isolats bactériens cliniques pathogènes, ce qui indique que ces médicaments non antibiotiques peuvent être des alternatives thérapeutiques utiles dans le but de réduire le fardeau des maladies infectieuses associées aux antibiotiques pathogènes résistants.

Mots-clés: Amlodipine, Thioridazine, Prométhazine, Time-Kill, Cinétique, MIC, MBC, bactéries

Download full journal in PDF format below

Antibacterial activity and time kill kinetics of Amlodipine, Thioridazine and Promethazine against pathogenic clinical bacterial isolates

July 1, 2021

Differences in haematological parameters and haemoglobin phenotypes in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects with Plasmodium falciparum infection in parts of Kaduna metropolis, Nigeria

¹Dikwa, K. B.,

²Maikaje, D. B., 1Yahaya, U. A., and

³Suleiman, A. B.

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria

²Department of Microbiology, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria

³Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
*Correspondence to: kbdikwa@nda.edu.ng

Abstract

Background: Plasmodium falciparum is the leading cause of malaria morbidity and mortality in Nigeria with varied symptoms and haematological consequences. The objective of this study is to assess the differences in haematological parameters and haemoglobin phenotypes in symptomatic P. falciparum infected and apparently healthy asymptomatic individuals in parts of Kaduna metropolis.

Methodology: A total of 1000 subjects; 500 symptomatic and 500 apparently healthy subjects asymptomatic for malaria, were recruited from selected hospitals and National Blood Bank in Kaduna metropolis. Blood samples were collected for thick and thin film microscopy to determine malaria parasitaemia and parasite species identification respectively. Haematological parameters were determined using automated blood analyser (KX-21N, Sysmex, Japan) and haemoglobin phenotypes by alkaline cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Continue reading “Differences in haematological parameters and haemoglobin phenotypes in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects with Plasmodium falciparum infection in parts of Kaduna metropolis, Nigeria”

July 1, 2021July 1, 2021

Evidence of virological failure in patients on second-line anti-retroviral therapy in Southwestern Nigeria: an indication for HIV drug resistance testing

*Usman, S. O., Ajayi, O. M., Ebiekura, O., Egbonrelu, N., Ebhojie, G., and Ariyo, A.O
APIN Public Health Initiatives, Abuja, Nigeria

*Correspondence to: senatorhopsy@yahoo.com

Abstract:
Background: In sub-Saharan Africa where genotypic anti-retroviral (ARV) drug resistance testing is rarely performed and poor adherence is blamed for the inability to achieve viral suppression and treatment failure, programmatic approaches to preventing and handling these are essential. This study was aimed at assessing the virological outcomes among HIV patients receiving second-line anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in Southwestern Nigeria.

Methodology: This was a 5-year observational retrospective study of randomly selected people living with HIV (PLWHIV) who have been switched to second-line ART for at least six months before the commencement of the study in multiple comprehensive ART sites across the three levels of care, in Ondo and Ekiti States, Southwestern Nigeria, from January 2015 to December 2019. Quantitative viral load analysis was done using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.0.

Results: A total of 249 (71 males and 178 females) subjects eligible for the study were recruited using simple random sampling technique. The mean age (± SD) of the subjects was 44.21 ± 11.45 years. The mean number of years the patients have been on ART regimen was 7.92 ± 2.68 years. The mean number of years the patients were on first line ART regimen before being switched to second line was 4.27 ± 2.63 years. Patients with viral load <1000 RNA copies/ml (suppressed viral load) were 216 (86.7%) out of which 113 (45.4%) had viral load <20 RNA copies/ml while 33 (13.3%) had viral load >1000 RNA copies/ml (unsuppressed viral load or virological failure).

Conclusion: About 13% of the patients on second line ART had unsuppressed viral load of more than 1000 RNA copies/ml indicating virological failure. Thus, critical factors such as poor adherence to ART and drug resistance chiefly contributing to virological failure have to be routinely checked.

Keywords: suppression, ART, resistance, virological, failure, Nigeria

Received Apr 26, 2021; Revised Jun 9, 2021; Accepted Jun 13, 2021

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

Preuve d’échec virologique chez les patients sous traitement antirétroviral de deuxième intention dans le sud-ouest du Nigeria: une indication pour le test de résistance aux médicaments contre le VIH

*Usman, S.O., Ajayi, O.M., Ebiekura, O., Egbonrelu, N., Ebhojie, G., et Ariyo, A.O.
Initiatives de santé publique de l’APIN, Abuja, Nigéria

*Correspondance à: senatorhopsy@yahoo.com

Abstrait:
Contexte: En Afrique subsaharienne, où les tests génotypiques de résistance aux antirétroviraux (ARV) sont rarement effectués et où une mauvaise observance est imputée à l’incapacité d’obtenir la suppression virale et l’échec du traitement, des approches programmatiques pour les prévenir et les gérer sont essentielles. Cette étude visait à évaluer les résultats virologiques chez les patients VIH recevant un traitement antirétroviral (TAR) de deuxième intention dans le sud-ouest du Nigeria.

Méthodologie: Il s’agissait d’une étude rétrospective d’observation de 5 ans portant sur des personnes vivant avec le VIH (PVVIH) sélectionnées au hasard et passées à un TAR de deuxième intention pendant au moins six mois avant le début de l’étude dans plusieurs sites de TAR complets aux trois niveaux. de soins, dans les États d’Ondo et d’Ekiti, dans le sud-ouest du Nigéria, de janvier 2015 à décembre 2019. L’analyse quantitative de la charge virale a été effectuée à l’aide d’un test de réaction en chaîne par polymérase (PCR). Les données ont été analysées à l’aide du logiciel Paquet statistique pour les sciences sociales (SPSS) version 24.0.

Résultats: Un total de 249 (71 hommes et 178 femmes) sujets éligibles à l’étude ont été recrutés à l’aide d’une technique d’échantillonnage aléatoire simple. L’âge moyen (± ET) des sujets était de 44,21±11,45 ans. Le nombre moyen d’années pendant lesquelles les patients ont été sous traitement antirétroviral était de 7,92±2,68 ans. Le nombre moyen d’années pendant lesquelles les patients étaient sous traitement antirétroviral de première ligne avant de passer en deuxième ligne était de 4,27 ± 2,63 ans. Les patients avec une charge virale <1000 copies d’ARN/ml (charge virale supprimée) étaient 216 (86,7%) dont 113 (45,4%) avaient une charge virale <20 copies d’ARN/ml tandis que 33 (13,3%) avaient une charge virale >1000 ARN copies/ml (charge virale non supprimée ou échec virologique).

Conclusion: Environ 13 % des patients sous TAR de deuxième ligne avaient une charge virale non supprimée de plus de 1000 copies d’ARN/ml indiquant un échec virologique. Ainsi, les facteurs critiques tels qu’une mauvaise adhésion au TARV et la résistance aux médicaments contribuant principalement à l’échec virologique doivent être systématiquement vérifiés.

Mots clés: suppression, TAR, résistance, virologique, échec, Nigeria.

Download full journal in PDF format below

Evidence of virological failure in patients on second-line anti-retroviral therapy in Southwestern Nigeria: an indication for HIV drug resistance testing

July 1, 2021July 1, 2021

Non-enteric adenovirus among children with gastroenteritis in Warri, Southern Nigeria

Correspondence

^*1,2Osazuwa, F., ²Johnson, W., and ²Grobler, H. S.¹MDS Molecular Services, Sub-Saharan African Office, Jabi, Abuja, Nigeria ²MDS Molecular Services, Johannesburg, South Africa

*Correspondence to: favourdesires@gmail.com; +2348100792725

Received Feb 17, 2021; Revised Apr 17, 2021; Accepted Apr 18, 2021

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=”http://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

Adénovirus non entérique chez les enfants atteints de gastroentérite à Warri, dans le sud du Nigéria

*^1,2Osazuwa, F., ²Johnson, W., et ²Grobler, H. S. ¹MDS Molecular Services, Bureau de l’Afrique subsaharienne, Jabi, Abuja, Nigéria ²MDS Molecular Services, Johannesburg, Afrique du Sud *Correspondance à: favourdesires@gmail.com; +2348100792725

Download full journal in PDF format below

Non-enteric adenovirus among children with gastroenteritis in Warri, Southern Nigeria

July 1, 2021July 1, 2021

Antimicrobial Stewardship Implementation in Nigerian Hospitals: Gaps and Challenges

^*1Iregbu, K. C., ¹Nwajiobi-Princewill, P. I., ¹Medugu, N., ²Umeokonkwo, C. D., ³Uwaezuoke, N. S., ⁴Peter, Y. J., ⁵Nwafia, I. N., ⁶Elikwu, C., ⁷Shettima, S. A., ⁸Suleiman, M. R., ⁹Awopeju, A. T. O., ¹⁰Udoh, U., ¹¹Adedosu, N., ¹²Mohammed, Y.,¹³Oshun, P., ¹⁴Ekuma, A., ¹⁵Manga, M. M., ¹⁶Osaigbovo, I. I., ¹⁷Ejembi, C. J., ¹⁸Akujobi, C. N., ¹⁹Samuel, S. O., ²⁰Taiwo, S. S., and ¹³Oduyebo, O. O.

¹National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria; ²Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki; ³Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, Nigeria; ⁴University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada; ⁵University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu; ⁶Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan-Remo, Nigeria; ⁷Federal Medical Centre, Yola; ⁸Federal Medical Centre, Katsina; ⁹University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt; ¹⁰University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar; ¹¹Federal Medical Centre, Owo; ¹²Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto; ¹³Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos; ¹⁴University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo; ¹⁵Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe; ¹⁶University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin-City; ¹⁷Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria; ¹⁸Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi; ¹⁹Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua; ²⁰Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

*Correspondence to: keniregbu@yahoo.co.uk

Corrigendum to: Iregbu et al. Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2021; 22 (1): 60-66. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajcem.v22i1.8

In the published article, there was an error in the initial of the author, “Mohammed A”, instead of “Mohammed Y”. This error has been corrected as appropriate. Continue reading “Antimicrobial Stewardship Implementation in Nigerian Hospitals: Gaps and Challenges”

March 27, 2021March 27, 2021

Applying lessons learnt from Ebola for effective COVID-19 response in Africa

^*1Aiyenuro, A. E., ²Onyeani, C. O., and ²Uche, N. C.

¹Team Lead and Research Analyst, Research4Knowledge, Lagos, Nigeria

¹Network officer, Loving Gaze IO, SHOPS Plus Tuberculosis USAID Project

²Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

³Quality Assurance Officer, Loving Gaze IO, SHOPS Plus Tuberculosis USAID Project

*Correspondence to: aiyenuroademola@gmail.com; +2348138642956

Abstract:

The Ebola virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission via direct contact with blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials contaminated with these fluids. In December 2019, a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2) emerged in Wuhan, China, attracting the notice of regional authorities and rapidly drawing global attention. In less than 4 months, COVID-19 spread through almost all countries and regions. The COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc on the world economy, in addition to creating the current global public health crisis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 28,616 cases of Ebola were detected, and 11,310 people died during the outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. As of 17^thDecember 2020, COVID-19 has killed 1,658,062 people, and positive cases have topped 74 million globally. Africa has suffered several outbreaks of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD); learning from the past is a good way to prepare for the future. We hope to highlight some of the lessons learnt from Africa’s response to previous epidemics that can help in the fight against the ravaging coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading “Applying lessons learnt from Ebola for effective COVID-19 response in Africa”

March 27, 2021March 27, 2021

Neglect of common infectious disease outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic: an impending crisis in Nigeria?

Soyemi, T.

Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

Correspondence to: sogbengasoyemi16@gmail.com; +2348128388296

Abstract:

Infectious diseases are major challenges of healthcare system in Nigeria. The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID19) pandemic has disrupted many systems including healthcare at all levels by creating disparities in the treatment, prevention, resource allocation and control of diseases in Nigeria. Premised on the foundation of circulating news and fact-checking platforms, this paper provides empirical evidence on varying perceptions on COVID-19 pandemic and apparent neglect of other infectious diseases while giving a critical analysis and comparison between them. Continue reading “Neglect of common infectious disease outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic: an impending crisis in Nigeria?”

March 27, 2021March 27, 2021

A review of COVID-19 vaccines strategies and anti-vaxxers theories

^*1Adesokan, A., and ²Obeid, M. A.

¹PreciseMed, Glasgow, United Kingdom

²Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University Irbid, Jordan

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

Abstract:

In what is a global record time of getting the COVID-19 vaccines available within 11 months, the world has equally been faced with several myths and conspiracy theories dissuading the public from accepting vaccination as an important measure in the response to the pandemic. We reviewed the leading conspiracy theories and balanced these with the scientific basis of viral transmission and replication and the broad role of vaccination in tackling this challenge. We briefly examined the design of the leading vaccines, and provided recommendations for worldwide COVID-19 distribution, acceptance and use. Continue reading “A review of COVID-19 vaccines strategies and anti-vaxxers theories”