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Factors affecting the parasitic contamination of edible locally produced dry season leafy vegetables cultivated in south east Enugu, Nigeria

U.O. Chijioke, N Onyemelukwe, S.J. Ogboi

 

Abstract

Background/Aim: Outbreaks of human infections associated with consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables have occurred with increased frequency during the past decade. This study evaluated parasitic contamination of locally produced dry season vegetables cultivated in Enugu metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Materials/Method: Vegetables, water and soil samples selected from vegetable farms were investigated. A total of 160 vegetable samples, 15 soil samples and 15 water samples were investigated. The samples were washed separately in saline and the resulting solution was subjected to standard sedimentation and flotation techniques. Physiochemical analysis of soil and water samples was done using the standard DREM technique. Furthermore, the water samples were investigated for C. parvum using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique.

Results: Parasitic contamination of the different vegetables were Teifeairia occidentalis 242 (18.1%), Amaranthus hybridus 193 (15.1%), Cucurbita maxima 192 (15.0%), Solanum species 191 (14.9%), Ocimum grattisimum 136 (10.6%), Solanun nigrum 114 (8.9%), Gongronema latifolium 101 (7.9%), Talinum triangulare 73 (5.7%) and Murraya koenigii 39 (3.0%).The parasites identified included; Ascaris lumbricoides,Taenia spp, Fasciola hepatica, Schistosoma spp, Trichuris spp, Enterobius vermicularis, Toxocara.spp, Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba spp and Cryptosporidium parvum. Entamoeba species was the highest contaminating parasite 529 (41.3%) while Schistosoma haematobium was the least,14 (1.1%). Physiochemical analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between parasite load in water and total suspended solutes (TSS) (r = 0.59, p = 0.021) and turbidity ( r = 0.55, p = 0.032) and also a strong positive correlation between parasite load in the soil and organic matter (OM), (r = 0.71, p = 0.003) and silt (r = 0.63, p = 0.011).

Conclusion: These vegetables should be considered as potential sources of parasitic infections, especially when they are not properly cooked (the type called ‘Half Done’) or consumed raw like the local salad (abacha) because of the high risk of parasitic infections such as giardiasis, amoebiasis, enterobiasis, cyptosporidiosis, ascariasis, etc. Public enlightenment is necessary to enhance the adoption of effective food safety approaches by agronomic practices of vegetable farmers which will in turn reduce foodborne illnesses.

Keywords: Parasite, contamination, vegetables, Enugu

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Factors affecting the parasitic contamination of edible locally produced dry season leafy vegetables cultivated in south east Enugu, Nigeria

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Bacterial contamination of white coats and hands of healthcare workers at mansoura university children’s hospital, Mansoura-Egypt

N. S Gouda, A. M. Sultan, H. Eldegla, W.A Seliem

 

Abstract

Background: Transmission of hospital acquired infections (HAIs) may be associated with contamination of healthcare workers’ (HCWs) hands and white coats.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of HCWs’ white coats in transmitting HAIs and to determine the association between bacterial contamination of HCWs’ hands and white coats.
Methods: A total of 154 HCWs were enrolled in the study; different samples were taken from their hands and white coats. Samples were processed and both microbiological and biochemical characterization of the isolates were done using standard microbiological protocols.
Results: Up to 65.6% of hands and 61% of coats of HCWs were contaminated by microorganisms. Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly isolated organisms from both hands and coats of HCWs (29.2%, 27.3% respectively) followed by MRSA (22.1%, 24.7% respectively).
Conclusions: The risk for contamination of hands and coats of HCWs is high in different clinical settings. In order to reduce the rate of HAIs, a strict dress protocol should be set into play to prevent cross contamination between HCWs and patients.

Keywords: contamination, HCWs, coat, hand, Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA.

 

Contamination bacterienne de manteaux blancs et de mains de soins de sante a l’hopital pour enfants de l’universite mansoura, Mansoura-Egypte

Contexte: La transmission des infections

Objectif: Le but de cette étude était de déterminer l’étendue, le type et l’association entre la contamination bactérienne des mains des travailleurs de la santé et les blouses blanches.

Méthodes: Au total, 154 travailleurs de la santé ont été inclus dans l’étude; différents échantillons ont été pris de leurs mains et des manteaux blancs. Les échantillons ont été traités et la caractérisation microbiologique et biochimique des isolats a été effectuée en utilisant des protocoles microbiologiques standard.

Résultats: Jusqu’à 65,6% des mains et 61% des couches de TS ont été contaminées par des micro-organismes. Le Staphylococcus aureusétait le plus souvent isolé des deux mains et des deux sexes (29,2%, 27,3%), suivi par le SARM (22,1%, 24,7% respectivement).

Conclusions: Le risque de contamination des mains et des couches de TS est élevé dans différents contextes cliniques. Afin de réduire le taux d’IASS, un protocole vestimentaire strict devrait être mis en place pour prévenir la contamination croisée entre les travailleurs de la santé et les patients.

Mots clés: contamination, agents de santé, manteau, main, Staphylococcus aureus, SARM

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Bacterial contamination of white coats and hands of healthcare workers at mansoura university children’s hospital, Mansoura-Egypt

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Public health practices at meat pie retail points in Makurdi, Benue State and its potential effect on consumer’s health

G.A. Obande, E.U. Umeh, E.T. Azua, C. Aleruchi, P. Adikwu

 

Abstract

Observance of public health best practices at point of sales by meat pie retailers in Makurdi, Benue State was evaluated by studying three (3) retail sources namely eateries, supermarkets and street hawkers. Observations were carried out ninety (90) times between March to July 2013. The neatness of the vendor, sales  environment, and state of the product storage containers were assessed.  Microbiological analysis revealed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp, Enterobacter spp, Proteus spp, Pseudomonas spp, Citrobacter spp, Edwardsiella spp, Bacillus spp, Klebsiella spp and Shigella spp. There was a positive relationship between multiple bacterial contamination and the constituents of the meat pie fillings. A total of 64 (35.6%) fillings had between 3 – 7 bacterial contaminants, 57 (31.7%) had at least 2 bacterial contaminants, 58 (32.2%) had at least 1 contaminant while only 1 (0.6%) was without any bacterial contaminant. Only 5(5.6 %) of the vendors and 10(11.1%) of the sales environment were very neat, while 23(25.6%) and 22(24.4%) of the storage containers were observed to be partially accessible to air/dust and insects respectively. None of the vendors (90:100%) used hand gloves, none (90:100%) used an apron, 89 (98.9%) used no cutlery and 89 (98%) had uncovered hair while serving the product. The paper submits that the health of consumers is endangered by this negligence. Hence, the need for regulatory authorities to create awareness on, as well as enforce the observance of established point of sales practices for the sake of the public health.

Keywords: Public, health, meat pie, fillings, negligence, contamination.

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Public health practices at meat pie retail points in Makurdi, Benue State and its potential effect on consumer’s health

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Microbial status of smoked fish, scombia scombia sold in Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria

JN Dike-Ndudim, RC Egbuobi, EN Onyeneke, HI Uduji, MA Nwagbaraocha, IA Ogamaka, HM Okorie, LN Egbuobi, AU Opara

 

Abstract

As one of the common sources of protein available to man, fish is highly consumed due to its lower cholesterol content and price. So it forms a rich protein source for both poor and rich. As a part of checkmating the public health risks associated with this general dependence of the population on fish, the microbiological assessment of smoked fish, Scombia, scombia sold in Owerri was embarked on with the aim of ascertaining the microbial quality, the presence and prevalence of microorganisms of public health importance. A total of one hundred and eight (108) samples were collected from the smoking Factory, Open Market and Hawkers. These were analyzed microbiologically for viable heterotrophic bacteria and fungi count on Nutrient and Potato dextrose agar respectively, using pour plate method and coliform count in MacConkey broth by multiple tube method (MPN). The mean value results from the analysis revealed high microbial contamination in all the samples. The resultant data were analyzed statistically using randomized block design of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 95% level of confidence and the difference were separated using the least significance difference (LSD). The mean results of viable  heterotrophic bacteria and fungi count showed no significance difference for the collection sites; but the coliform mean results for the three sites showed marked variation at 95% level (P>0.05). Identified bacteria, include: Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Bacillus sp., Klebsiella sp., whereas fungi arePenicillium sp., Aspergilusl sp., Fusarium violaceum, Biospora sp., Candida sp, Botryodioplodia sp., Alternania sp. This high level of microbial contamination can be traceable to handlers, and environment to which this fish is exposed during smoking and selling exercises, and considering the danger it portends to human health, public health and  food safety authorities should intensify their monitoring efforts towards controlling such contamination.

Key words: Bacteria, Yeast, Mould, Smoked fish, Contamination.

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Microbial status of smoked fish, scombia scombia sold in Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria

 

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Urine culture contamination: a one-year retrospective study at the national hospital, Abuja

KC Iregbu, N Medugu, N Abdullahi, AI Aigbe, IF Modibbo, PI Nwajiobi-Princewill, SA Shettima

 

Abstract

Background: Urine culture contamination is a significant cause of delay in treatment of patients being investigated for urinary tract
infection. Though contamination is not completely avoidable, several measures have been proven to decrease contamination rates.
There are few studies detailing urine contamination rates in laboratories in Nigeria.
Aim: To determine the frequency and factors associated with urine culture contamination in samples submitted to the Medical
Microbiology Laboratory in National Hospital Abuja (NHA).
Method: Retrospective study of urine culture contamination in which data from Medical Microbiology Laboratory from January 1 to
December 31 2012 at National Hospital Abuja were reviewed. Patients’ age, gender, location and urine culture result were assessed.
Contamination rates for different genders, age groups and departments were assessed and results presented in simple averages and
percentages.
Results: Overall contamination rate was 13.1%. Females had a contamination rate of 16.9%, which was significantly higher than the
contamination rate of 6.8% in males. The Gynaecology and Antenatal clinics had the highest contamination rates amongst departments
with 22.5% and 21.3% respectively. Lowest contamination rates were in Emergency Paediatric Unit (EPU) and intensive Care Unit (ICU)
with rates of 5.9%and 9.5% respectively. The female gender was found to be the most significant predictor of higher contamination rate.
Conclusion: Contamination rate of urine cultures in this study is unacceptably high. Appropriate interventions need to be instituted to
reduce the current urine culture contamination rate in National Hospital Abuja.

Key Words: Urine, Contamination, National Hospital, Abuja.

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Urine culture contamination a one-year retrospective study at the national hospital, abuja