Posted on

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON SPECIFIC AND EARLY DETECTION OF PULMONARY MYCOBACTERIA COMPLEX USING SMEAR AND CULTURE METHOD AND SEROLOGICAL PATHOZYME EIA KITS

CA Enwuru, EO Idigbe, NV Ezeobi, CT Oparaugo, U Udensi Kalu, JI Onyewuche, J Ibiam

 

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of smear and culture methods with rapid serological EIA myco kits manufactured by Omega diagnostics, for the early detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) complex. Sera from various categories of smear and culture results were compared with the result of 38KDa, 16KDa and purified protein for IgA, IgM and IgG antibodies with sensitivity of 4%, 24% and 76%, respectively and with specificity of100% for IgG in Smear and Culture Positive (S+)C+)) category. The sensitivity of the test improved to a level of 80% for IgG + IgA without affecting the specificity. A combination of IgG + IgA and IgM further improved the sensitivity to 88% but reduced the specificity to 91%. Amongst the S–)C+) and S–)C–) 64% and 14.7% were positive for IgG respectively. The predictive value of the kit using S+)C+) subject was 96%. For all culture positivity (n=78), there was 2.6%, 33.3% and 71.8% sensitivity for IgA, IgM and IgG respectively. IgA +IgG and IgA + IgM + IgG combination gave 74.4% and 84.6% sensitivity respectively with the same level of specificity. Fifty-five percent of culture positive subjects were found to be MTB complex positive by routine biochemical tests, while 40% through PATHOZYME TB COMPLEX PLUS kit (high positive (H+)) values). When high positivity is combined with low positivity of the same kit (H+) + L+)), 65% of the isolates were found to be MTB complex. Our study showed 88% sensitivity and 91% specificity for combined IgA + IgM + IgG antibodies recorded for MTB (S+)C+) group) and 85% sensitivity and 91% specificity for all culture positives. Our study has demonstrated that the myco kits and TB complex plus kit produced by Omega Diagnostics are a good tool for specific, early and rapid identification of active tuberculosis for both diagnostic and epidemiological purposes.

Key Words: Tuberculosis, diagnosis, comparative, specificity, sensitivity, culture and serological technique.

Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2004; 5(2): 182 – 188.

Posted on

METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (MRSA) ISOLATES IN ILORIN, NIGERIA

SS Taiwo, BA Onile, AA Akanbi II

 

Abstract

Nosocomial infections caused by methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus often pose therapeutic dilemma to the clinicians because of the multi resistant nature of these strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Outbreaks of both nosocomial and community acquired infections are also frequent and difficult to control. This study determined the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, between January and December 2001. The methicillin disc diffusion method for the detection of methicillin resistance and the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion for antibiotic susceptibility tests, were used. The MRSA prevalence rate was 34.7% (51/147) of all Staphylococcus aureus isolates. Forty-five isolates were associated with infections and 6 were colonizing strains. Thirty-six (70.6%) were hospital (nosocomial) acquired while 15 (29.4%) were community-acquired. Forty-eight patients have received antibiotics previously including 30 who had received multiple antibiotics. Skin and soft tissues were sites of infections in 36 cases and surgical, emergency and intensive care units accounted for 31 isolates. All MRSA isolates were resistant to more than two antibiotics but remained largely susceptible to third generation cephalosporins, macrolides and quinolones and all were sensitive to vancomycin. We recommend the use of third generation cephalosporins and quinolones where indicated, in the treatment of serious MRSA infections in this environment. Control of the spread of MRSA in this hospital must include reinforcement of appropriate use of antibiotics, hand washing and laboratory surveillance for MRSA, particularly in the surgical wards and intensive care units, in order to identify sources of outbreaks.

Key Words: Methicillin-resistant, Staphylococcus aureus, Ilorin.

Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2004; 5(2): 189 – 197.

Posted on

ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN AND MULTIPLE ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE INDEX OF PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA URINE ISOLATES FROM A UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL

BO Olayinka, OS Olonitola, AT Olayinka, EA Agada

 

Abstract

Urine samples submitted to the Medical Microbiology diagnostic laboratory of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, were routinely screened for Pseudomonas aeruginosa over a three-month period with 13/150 (8.67%) of the pathogenic bacteria isolated positively identified. All the isolates were resistant to the cheap, commonly available antibiotics; rifampicin, ampicillin/cloxacillin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol and ampicillin but were uniformly susceptible to ciprofloxacin. The high prevalence of multidrug resistance indicates a serious need for broad-based, local antimicrobial resistance surveillance for continuous tracking of antibiotic resistance trends among all clinically relevant isolates and introduction of effective interventions to reduce multidrug resistance in such pathogens.

Key Words: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, antibiotic susceptibility, multiple antibiotic resistance, urinary tract infection

Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2004; 5(2): 198 – 202.

Posted on

MEASLES IN ILORIN: AN EPIDEMIC IN THE MIDDLE OF ERADICATION PLANS

SK Ernest

 

Abstract

Forty-one cases of measles were seen within 3 months period in Emergency Paediatric Unit (EPU) of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) as against a recent report from the same center, which reported 52 cases over a 12 months period. More of the patients in this series needed hospitalization. Males were more affected, 17.1% were infants while 12.2% were older than 10 years. Coliforms were isolated from 40% of the positive blood cultures. Pneumonia was the leading complication and sultamycillin was the commonly used antibiotics. The mean duration of hospital stay was 6.3 days (SD=2.9) and case fatality was 14.6%. This pattern in the middle belt region of Nigeria represents an epidemic. This occurring at a time when a global eradication is being planned and anticipated, calls for a re-appraisal of the dynamics and logistics of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI)

Key Words: Measles; Epidemics; Global Eradication.

Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2004; 5(2): 203 – 207.

Posted on

AWARENESS AND COMPLIANCE OF ANTITETANUS IMMUNZATION AMONG ADULT FEMALES IN A TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN NIGERIA

JO Bamidele, SH Umoh

 

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the awareness level and the compliance to anti-tetanus immunization among adult females in an urban community in South West of Nigeria. The rationale for the study was informed by the fact that high incidence of tetanus infections and deaths are still being reported from our clinics regularly. A total of 394 female workers and students of LAUTECH University and its Teaching Hospital participated in the cross-sectional survey. They were selected using the stratified sampling procedure. A pre-tested structure but open-ended questionnaire was administered on the respondents. The result of the analysis showed a high level of awareness (69. 8%) of anti-tetanus immunization among the respondents and a high significance association was found between the level of awareness and respondent’s profession (X= 7. 65; p < 0. 0011). Majority of the respondents (56.1%) took their last dose of anti-tetanus immunization during their last pregnancies. More than one third (37.2%) of the 148 respondents who ever gate birth took only one dose or none during their last pregnancy, thus putting into question the immunological status of those mothers and the children they gave birth to then. It was concluded that despite the high level of awareness among the respondents, compliance was quite low. It is recommended that government should provide logistic supports to make immunization programme accessible on a sustainable basis to everybody in the country. Activities should be put in place that will promote behavioural change in women so that they can go for anti-tetanus immunization.

Key Words: Antitetanus immunization, adult females; awareness; Compliance.

Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2004; 5(2): 208 – 216.

Posted on

SEROEPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF PREVALENCE OF MALARIA IN VILLAGE SOLANA, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

MM Mya, RK Saxena, A Roy

 

Abstract

The roles of causative factors responsible for prevalence of malaria in the village of Solana, India, were studied. Mosquitoes and larvae density in and around the area were measured by process of random sampling and counting their numbers under microscopy. Malaria in population of the village was diagnosed by standard ELISA method and malaria antibody capturing level were measured against three Plasmodium falciparumantigens. The effect of insecticides for the control of malaria was also evaluated. Results of study showed that more than two third of village human populations (75%) were suffering from malaria, with 67.14% being children below 14 years of age. Similarly vectors identification study showed Anopheles culicifacies and Anopheles stephensi as the main source for infection transmission. Sporozoite positive rate estimated in Anopheles culicifacies was found to be 1.26%. Both vectors were resistant to DDT and Malathion insecticides. Antibody capturing by three different Plasmodium falciparum antigens study showed that glycophospholipid antigen (GPL) was able to capture and detect highest amount of malarial antibody followed by sonicated Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) antigen and ring infected erythrocyte surface antigen (RESA) i.e. 0.69±0.22, 0.60±0.22 and 0.59±0.23 respectively. Age specific antibody levels was found to gradually increase from lowest to highest age groups i.e. 0.29– 1.18 for GPL, 0.25-0.94 for RESA and 0.25-0.97 for Pf. The study showed that infants and children are highly prone to malaria attacks than the adult population, which may be as a result of low level of Plasmodium antibody in their circulation.

Key Words: Solana village, endemicity, malaria incidence, antibodies, ELISA, insecticides.

African Journal Of Clinical And Experimental Microbiology Jan 2004 Vol.5 No.1 2-14

Posted on

ORAL PROTOZOA IN A NIGERIA POPULATION

UC Ozumba, N Ozumba, EM Ndiokwelu

 

Abstract

A study aimed at establishing the occurrence of oral protozoa in a Nigeria population was carried out over a 6-month period, January 1998 to June 1998. A total of 203 dental patients attending the dental clinics of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu were involved. Scrapings of plaque were taken from the buccal surfaces of T16 and T36 (near the gingival margins) and placed on individual glass microscope slides. To each was added a drop of saline, which was mixed with the plaque and covered with a coverslip and then examined immediately. Thirty-three (16.30%) of the patients harboured protozoa in their mouths. Of these, 10 (4.9%) had Trichomonas tenax, while the majority 23 (11.3%) had Entamoeba gingivalis. No patient had both species of protozoa in their mouths. The associations of age, sex, teeth cleaning and other dental parameters with prevalence of protozoa were recorded. Our findings suggest that poor oral hygiene, calculus, old age and loss of attachment of periodontal fibers, are factors, which favour the proliferation of Entamoeba gingivalis.

African Journal Of Clinical And Experimental Microbiology Jan 2004 Vol.5 No.1 15-19

Posted on

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF URINARY SCHISTOSOMIASIS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

O Ariyo, LK Olofintoye, RA Adeleke, O Famurewa

 

Abstract

The prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection was investigated among primary school pupils in Ekiti State by questionnaire survey in 601 schools between 1997 and 1998. A total of 9,551 (24.4%) were positive by the survey. 3483 (22.4%) of the girls and 6,069 (25.7%) of the boys were infected. The prevalence of this infection between girls and boys shows a significant difference (x215 = 59.5; p<0.05). Ekiti South West local government had the highest prevalence of S. haematobium infection of 69.0% while Ikole local government had the lowest prevalence of infection of 2.0%. Out of 1,049 pupils with clinical and laboratory examination, 280 (50.9%) of the 550 boys and 184 (36.9%) of the 499 girls were infected. Chi-square analysis shows a significant difference of S. haematobium infection between the girls and boys (X211 = 86.2; p<0.05). Chi square analysis also showed that questionnaire survey could be used to predict the laboratory epidemiological data (X21= 3.84; p<0.05).

Key Words: Schistosomiasis, Epidemiology, Infection, Bulinus globosus

African Journal Of Clinical And Experimental Microbiology Jan 2004 Vol.5 No.1 20-29

Download full journal in PDF below

Posted on

STUDIES ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF SOME IONS IN THE HEART OF RATS INFECTED WITH TRYPANOSOMA BRUCEI BRUCEI

OT Adedosu, OA Olowe, AS Adekunle, CO Olaiya

 

Abstract

Behaviour of Sodium [Na+], Potassium [K+] and Phosphorous [PO43-] ions was studied in the heart of albino rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei and the parasitaemia level monitored. Post infection shows a significant rise [p < 0.05] in Na+, K+, and Ca2+ ions concentration with a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the phosphorous ions concentration as the disease progresses. At high parasitaemia level, there is a slight increase in Na+ and PO43– ions while K+ concentration remains constant and Ca2+ ions concentration was significantly reduced (p < 0.05). The reasons and mechanism responsible for these are unknown although their increased concentrations in tissues generally have been shown to be as a result of damage to cells and tissues during infection.

Key Words: Trypanosoma brucei brucei, Parasitaemia level, Concentration of ions.

African Journal Of Clinical And Experimental Microbiology Jan 2004 Vol.5 No.1 30-39

Posted on

KALA-AZAR IN A NIGERIAN: REPORT OF A CASE WITH A FATAL OUTCOME

AK Salami, PO Oluboyo, BA Onile, EA Odedina

 

Abstract

A case of visceral leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) in a 60-year-old Nigerian female is presented. The clinical findings were fever, weight loss, lympadenopathy, hepatomegaly, and self-healing cutaneous ulcers. Laboratory findings included severe anaemia, lymphocytosis and amastigotes in the blood smear. The patient died before she could be commenced on the pentavalent antimonial specific for the disease.

African Journal Of Clinical And Experimental Microbiology Jan 2004 Vol.5 No.1 40-45