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Empirical antibiotherapy as a potential driver of antibiotic resistance: observations from a point prevalence survey of antibiotic consumption and resistance in Gombe, Nigeria

*1Manga, M. M., 1Ibrahim, M., 2Hassan, U. M., 2Joseph, R. H., 2Muhammad, A. S.,  3Danimo, M. A., 4Ganiyu, O., 5Versporten, A., and 6Oduyebo, O. O.

1Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Gombe State University/ Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Nigeria

2Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Nigeria                 

3Department of Community Medicine, Gombe State University/Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Nigeria

4Department of Medicine, Gombe State University/Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Nigeria

5Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

6Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Lagos/Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

*Correspondence to: drmmanga@gmail.com

Abstract:

Background: Empirical use of antibiotics is a standard practice in the treatment of infections worldwide. However, its over utilization without subsequent culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing could be a major driver of resistance. Over reliance on empirical antibiotherapy is common in most developing countries where antibiotic policies and availability or utilization of clinical microbiology laboratory are suboptimal. A standardized approach to point prevalence survey (PPS) on antimicrobial use (AMU) in hospitals was employed to assess the antimicrobial prescribing practices in Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe (FTHG), Nigeria.

Methodology: A PPS was conducted in April 2019 at FTHG by recruiting all in-patients present in the hospital on the day of survey. Data obtained from patients’ records included details of the type and indication for antibiotherapy. A customized online application developed by the University of Antwerp (www.global–pps.be) was used for data-entry, validation, analysis and reporting.      Continue reading “Empirical antibiotherapy as a potential driver of antibiotic resistance: observations from a point prevalence survey of antibiotic consumption and resistance in Gombe, Nigeria”

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Antibiogram of Pseudomonas species: an important tool to combat antibiotic resistance for patient safety in Gombe, Nigeria

   1Manga, M. M., *1Ibrahim, M., 2Isaac, E. W., 3Hassan, M. D., 3Muhammad, G.,  3Hassan, U. M., and 4Yunusa-Kaltungo, Z.

1Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Gombe State University/ Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Nigeria

2Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Gombe State University/  Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Nigeria

3Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Nigeria

4Plastic Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Nigeria

*Correspondence to: mohgembu@yahoo.com; +2348060232264

Abstract:

Background: Pseudomonas species are responsible for different healthcare-associated infections and are inherently resistant to many commonly used antibiotics. Hospital antibiograms are either absent or not regularly available in most healthcare facilities in Nigeria. The objective of this study is to present the antibiogram of Pseudomonas isolates in Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe (FTHG) in order to guide antibiotic prescription for better patient safety in the hospital.    Continue reading “Antibiogram of Pseudomonas species: an important tool to combat antibiotic resistance for patient safety in Gombe, Nigeria”

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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; https://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=”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

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”