Impact of malaria on inflammatory proteins, haematological and biochemical indices in pregnancy

A.K. Digban, T.O Digban, A.O. Adelabu, M. V. Ndukwea

 

Abstract

Malaria morbidity and mortality has remained a major health burden in the developing countries especially in tropical Africa. Thus malaria association in pregnancy and its associated complication remains a major health problem to the expectant mothers. In this study a total of five hundred and fifty (550) blood specimens were obtained from both pregnant and non-pregnant mothers with and without malaria parasitaemiawho consented to the study. Selected biochemical and haematological parameters were assessed using conventional methods. The result showed that the malaria parasite species isolated was plasmodium falcipariumwhich accounted for about 80% of the total population; the age group of 26-35years had the highest malaria density for those classified as low (53.7%), average (55.7%) and high (70.4%). This accounted for 60.7% of the total malaria parasite density. Further analysis of the malaria parasite density on pregnancy according to their trimester showed that women on their second trimester of pregnancy had the highest percentage of malaria parasite density of 55.7% and this was statistically significant (P>0.05). The result also show that pregnancy with malaria parasitaemia had the highest mean ± standard deviation of 20.37± 15.55 while those grouped as having ‘malaria parasitaemia without pregnancy’ had the lowest (6.09± 3.76) level of C- reactive protein (CRP). This was also statistically significant (P<0.01). Conclusively, the findings recorded in this study have now shown that malaria parasite infections during pregnancy have a significant impact on both the biochemical and haematological indices and the prevalent species of the parasite is plasmodium faciparium.

Keywordsplasmodium faciparium, pregnancy, malaria parasitaemia, morbidity, mortality.

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Impact of malaria on inflammatory proteins, haematological and biochemical indices in pregnancy

Global trend of Methicillin-resistant Staphlococcus aureus and emerging challenges for control

O Azeez-Akande

 

Abstract

Background: Following its first recognition in early 1960s, the increasing incidence of nosocomial and community-acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections has become a global problem. The emergence of multiple-drug resistant MRSA strains and dissemination of epidemic antibiotic clones including presence of wide spectrum of virulence and predisposing risk factors complicate diagnosis, chemotherapy and control causing significant morbidity and mortality. Detection of MRSA strains in domestic animals and protozoan has widened the epidemiologic characters of the organism and may influence infection control policies. Objectives: To review the emergence and epidemiologic spread of resistant strains of MRSA, molecular/genetic basis of resistance in the organism and challenges facing control strategies worldwide. It also aims to suggest intervention strategies so as to checkmate the spread of MRSA infections.
Methods: By reviewing local and international literatures on MRSA infections coupled with practical experience in the field of this endeavour. Result/Conclusion: MRSA has shown increasing endemic and epidemic spread in the last four decades causing serious medical and socio-economic difficulties. Routine and regular surveillance (uncommon in poor-resourced developing areas of especially sub-Saharan Africa), good hospital practices and personal hygiene, public enlightenment, development of effective therapeutic agents and rational administration of antibiotics based on reliable test results will limit the spread of MRSA infections.

Key words: MRSA, incidence, morbidity, mortality, surveillance, control.

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Global trend of Methicillin-resistant Staphlococcus aureus and emerging challenges for control