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Qualitative evaluation of the antimicrobial efficacy of UV sterilization chambers employed by barbershops in Benin City, Nigeria

*1Adebiyi, K. S., 1Emeka-Ifebi, A., 2Ogbonnaya., M. J., and 1Isiekwene, A. C.

1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
2Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Abakaliki, Nigeria

*Correspondence to: adebiyisalem@gmail.com; +2348138084808

Abstract:
Background: Barbershops where men and boys’ hair are cut or shaved, have been implicated in the transmission of pathogens. With this growing concern, barbers are now acquiring and employing UV sterilization chambers to re-assure customers of the safety of their instrument. This study investigated the qualitative efficacy of the UV sterilization chambers employed by selected barbers in Benin City, Nigeria.

Methods: Swab samples of instruments (clippers, combs and brushes) were collected from 30 barbershops randomly selected from 6 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benin City before and after exposure to UV sterilization chambers employed by each barbershop. Standard microbiology techniques were employed to culture and identify the microbial (bacteria and fungi) isolates.

Results: A total of 15 genera of microorganisms (8 bacteria and 7 fungi) were identified. Three bacterial genera (Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp.) and 5 fungi genera (Aspergillus sp., Mucor sp., Rhizopus sp., Trichophyton sp. and Penicillium sp) were isolated from sampled instruments at the barbershops in all 6 LGAs. Evaluation of efficacy of the UV sterilization chambers showed that all microbial isolates survived exposure time of 1 min. Antimicrobial efficacy of the UV chamber increases with longer duration (time) of exposure and decreases with the age of UV chambers, with chamber of 5-6 years old being least efficacious.

Conclusion: This study confirms the presence of myriads of microorganisms including pathogenic strains on instruments used in barbershops within Benin City. It is recommended that exposure of 60 mins is the ideal duration for UV sterilization chambers used in barbershops and barbers in Benin City should endeavor to replace their UV chambers after continual use for a period of 3 years.

Keywords: microbes, antimicrobial efficacy, UV sterilization, barbershop, Benin City

Received March 1, 2020; Revised April 25, 2020; Accepted April 27, 2020 Copyright 2020 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.

Évaluation qualitative de l’efficacité antimicrobienne des chambres de stérilisation UV utilisées par les salons de coiffure à Benin City, Nigéria

*1Adebiyi, K. S., 1Emeka-Ifebi, A., 2Ogbonnaya., M. J., et 1Isiekwene, A. C. Continue reading “Qualitative evaluation of the antimicrobial efficacy of UV sterilization chambers employed by barbershops in Benin City, Nigeria”

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Co-infection of Parvovirus B19 and Plasmodium falciparum among Sickle Cell Disease Patients in Benin City, Nigeria

1 Moses-Otutu, I. M., 2 Okojie, R. O., 1* Akinbo, F. O., and 2 Eghafona, N. O.

1 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
2 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.
*Correspondence to: fgbengang@yahoo.com

Abstract:

Background: Infections by parasites, bacteria, viruses such as human parvovirus B19 amongst others, have been widely reported as contributing to high prevalence of anaemia in many populations. This study was conducted to determine the co-infection of Plasmodium falciparum and human parvovirus B19 among sickle cell disease (SCD) patients in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Methodology: A total of 400 participants consisting 300 SCD patients (134 males, 166 females) and 100 (38 males, 62 females) apparently healthy subjects with haemoglobin AA (which served as control) who were contacted in homes, schools and offices, were enrolled for the study. The age of the participants ranged from 1 to 54 years. Venous blood was collected for detection of P. falciparum using Giemsa stain while parvovirus B19 was detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Full blood count was estimated using Sysmex KX-21N haematology auto-analyzer. Results: An overall prevalence of parvovirus B19 and P. falciparum co-infection observed among SCD patients in this study was 3.0% while single infection was 14.0% for P. falciparum and 26.7% for parvovirus B19. Religion was associated with 0 to 22 fold increased risk of acquiring co-infection of P. falciparum and parvovirus B19. Gender was significantly associated with P. falciparum infection (p=0.0291) while tribal extraction, platelet index and seasonal variation were significantly associated with single parvovirus B19 or co-infection of P. falciparum and parvovirus B19 (p<0.05). Conclusion: The provision of strict regulatory policy concerning the screening of whole blood or pooled plasma before the use of blood products and transfusion of SCD patients is advocated.

Keywords: parvovirus B19, Benin City, P. falciparum, sickle cell disease

Received September 24, 2018; Revised May 14, 2019; Accepted May 15, 2019
Copyright 2019 AJCEM Open Access. This article is licensed and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attrition 4.0 International License (//creativecommmons.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.

Co-infection par le parvovirus B19 et Plasmodium falciparum chez des patients atteints de drépanocytose à Benin City, au Nigéria

1 Moses-Otutu, I. M., 2 Okojie, R. O., 1* Akinbo, F. O., and 2 Eghafona, N. O.

1 Département des sciences de laboratoire médical, École des sciences médicales de base, Université du Bénin, Benin City, Nigéria

2 Département de microbiologie, faculté des sciences de la vie, Université du Bénin, Benin City, Nigéria

*Correspondance à: fgbengang@yahoo.com

Abstrait:

Contexte: Il a été largement rapporté que les infections par des parasites, des bactéries, des virus tels que le parvovirus humain B19, contribuent à la prévalence élevée de l’anémie dans de nombreuses populations. Cette étude visait à déterminer la co-infection de Plasmodium falciparum et du parvovirus humain B19 chez des patients atteints de drépanocytose à Benin City, dans l’État d’Edo, au Nigéria.
Méthodologie: Un total de 400 participants comprenant 300 patients atteints de MCA (134 hommes, 166 femmes) et 100 (38 hommes et 62 femmes) des sujets apparemment en bonne santé avec l’hémoglobine AA (qui servait de contrôle) qui ont été contactés à la maison, dans les écoles et au bureau inscrit à l’étude. L’âge des participants allait de 1 à 54 ans. Le sang veineux a été recueilli pour la détection de P. falciparum à l’aide de la coloration de Giemsa, tandis que le parvovirus B19 a été détecté par un test d’immunosorbant lié à une enzyme (ELISA). La numération globulaire totale a été estimée à l’aide de l’auto-analyseur d’hématologie Sysmex KX-21N.
Résultats: La prévalence globale de la co-infection au parvovirus B19 et à P. falciparum observée chez les patients atteints de MCs dans cette étude était de 3,0%, tandis que l’infection simple était de 14,0% pour P. falciparum et de 26,7% pour le parvovirus B19. La religion était associée à un risque accru de contracter la co-infection à P. falciparum et au parvovirus B19 de 0 à 22 fois plus élevé. Le sexe était significativement associé à l’infection à P. falciparum (p = 0,0291), tandis que l’extraction tribale, l’indice plaquettaire et la variation saisonnière étaient significativement associés à un parvovirus simple B19 ou à une co-infection à P. falciparum et au parvovirus B19 (p <0,05) Conclusion: La mise en place d’une politique réglementaire stricte concernant le dépistage du sang total ou du plasma réuni avant l’utilisation du produit sanguin et la transfusion de patients atteints de MCS est recommandée.

Mots-clés: parvovirus B19, Benin City, Plasmodium falciparum, drépanocytose

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Co-infection of Parvovirus B19 and Plasmodium falciparum among Sickle Cell Disease Patients in Benin City, Nigeria

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Trichomonas vaginalis infection among adolescent girls in some secondary schools in Benin city, Edo state, Nigeria

F. O Akinbo, I. S. Oronsaye

 

Abstract

Trichomonasvaginalisis the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease (STD) and one of the neglected parasitic infections. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of T. vaginalisinfection among adolescent girls in some secondary schools in Edo State, Nigeria. A total of 272 girls were recruited in this study. The participants’ age ranged from 13 to 18 years. Two high vagina swab specimens were collected from each participant. The specimens were analyzed using wet mount examination and culture methods. A prevalence of 9.2% of T. vaginalis was observed among adolescent girls in this study. Level of education of parents, occupation of mothers, sexual relationship and clinical manifestation of participants significantly affected the prevalence of T. vaginalisinfection among adolescent girls attending secondary school. Culture method detected more cases of T. vaginalis infection than the wet mount technique. The use of culture method in routine diagnosis of T. vaginalisinfection is advocated as this will reduce cases of infertility resulting from undetected and untreated infection as well as the risk of HIV transmission and acquisition.

Key words: Adolescent girls,Benin City, Trichomonas vaginalis

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Trichomonas vaginalis infection among adolescent girls in some secondary schools in Benin city, Edo state, Nigeria

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Candida Species Amongst Pregnant Women In Benin City, Nigeria: Effect Of Predisposing Factors

FE Oviasogie, FI Okungbowa

 

Abstract

Genital samples from pregnant women were examined to determine the Candida species present and how some predisposing factors would affect the frequency of isolation of species. A total of 147 women (87 volunteer asymptomatic pregnant women and 60 asymptomatic nonpregnant women) were examined. High Vaginal Swabs (HVS) were collected in pairs while demographic data (age of individual, age of pregnancy, occupation and use of contraceptive pill) on each subject were obtained alongside. Samples were cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar plates and incubated for 72 hours at 37°C. Results revealed five Candida species (C.albicans, C.glabrata, C.tropicalis, C.stellatoidea, C.parapsilosis) with 61.5, 17.9, 7.7, 5.1, 2.6 % frequency of isolation respectively, as against 73.7, 7.7, 1.4, 11.3, and 0.0% for control. Women in the second trimester of pregnancy had the highest occurrence (68.8%) while the age groups 24- 30 and 31-37 years had the highest occurrence in the control (46.2%) and in the pregnant ones (51.7%) respectively. Traders had 68.8%, and full-time housewives, 26.7% occurrence. More women who used contraceptives had Candida (58.3%) as against non contraceptive users (35.3%). The results support literature reports that there are high rates of colonization of the vagina of pregnant women by Candida. They also give credence to earlier reports that the factors determined here affect the frequency of isolation of Candida species from the vagina.

Keywords: Candida, pregnancy, women, genital specimens, Benin City

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 10 (2) 2009: pp. 92-98

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Detection of chlamydia antigen in cervical specimens from antenatal clinic attendees in Benin City, Nigeria

JO Isibor, D Ugbomoiko, GO Nwobu, AO Ekundayo, IB Enweani, GRA Okogun

 

Abstract

Four hundred consenting antenatal clinic attendees were serologically screened for evidence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Infection with this organism is underreported in many countries including Nigeria. In the antenatal clinic setting in most developing countries, antigen detection has found widespread application in diagnosis due to lesser demands of cost, expertise, and time required to obtain results. In this study, chlamydia antigens were serologically detected using an immunochromatographic method (Hexagon Chlamydia Rapid Test Kit manufactured and described by Human Gesellschaft fur Biochemica und Diagnostcal MbH-Germany). Overall, 40 (13.3%) of the 300 women screened had chlamydia antigens in their endocervical specimens while 100 women (control subjects) were negative for chlamydial antigens. There seems to be an association between chlamydial infection and vaginal discharge, abortion and infertility. We highly recommend the necessity to include chlamydia screening tests in antenatal health care in Nigeria to prevent unpleasant sequelae.

Keywords: chlamydial antigens, endocervical specimen, antenatal women, Benin City, Nigeria

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 6 (3) 2005: 208-211