10 research outputs found
Evaluation of microbiological hazards in 11 barbershops in a university setting.
There is a growing concern that barbershops could serve as a potential source of bacterial, fungal or
even viral infections and little is known about microbiological hazards of barbershops in the university
environment in Nigeria. This study evaluated microbiological hazards of barbershops in a university
setting in Nigeria. To determine the types of microorganisms prevalent in barbershops, combs, brush,
clippers and apron used in barbershops were sampled with a moistened sterile cotton swabs. All the
samples collected were transported to the laboratory without delay for culture and treated according to
standard method. A variety of selective and differential microbial media were used for presumptive
identification of contaminating microorganisms which were authenticated by Gram staining,
microscopic examination and biochemical tests. Five bacterial and five fungal species were isolated
from swab samples. The bacterial isolates included Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus aureus,
Enterococcus sp., Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterobacterium sp. The five fungal isolates were
identified as Aspergillus sp., Trichophyton sp., Penicillum sp., Rhizopus sp., and Mucor sp. The results
of our study clearly indicate that much effort has to be put in educating clients of barbershops and
service providers about hazards inherent in barbering practice and the importance of putting preventive
measures in pla
A new method for evaluating the effects of insecticidal proteins expressed by transgenic plants on ectoparasitoid of target pest
Effect of stove intervention on household air pollution and the respiratory health of women and children in rural Nigeria
Efficient one-pot biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Entada spiralis stem powder extraction
The feasibility of epidemiological research on prostate cancer in African men in Ibadan, Nigeria
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Fecal Contamination and Inadequate Treatment of Packaged Water
<div><p>Background</p><p>Packaged water products provide an increasingly important source of water for consumption. However, recent studies raise concerns over their safety.</p><p>Objectives</p><p>To assess the microbial safety of packaged water, examine differences between regions, country incomes, packaged water types, and compare packaged water with other water sources.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis. Articles published in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Turkish, with no date restrictions were identified from online databases and two previous reviews. Studies published before April 2014 that assessed packaged water for the presence of <i>Escherichia coli</i>, thermotolerant or total coliforms were included provided they tested at least ten samples or brands.</p><p>Results</p><p>A total of 170 studies were included in the review. The majority of studies did not detect fecal indicator bacteria in packaged water (78/141). Compared to packaged water from upper-middle and high-income countries, packaged water from low and lower-middle-income countries was 4.6 (95% CI: 2.6–8.1) and 13.6 (95% CI: 6.9–26.7) times more likely to contain fecal indicator bacteria and total coliforms, respectively. Compared to all other packaged water types, water from small bottles was less likely to be contaminated with fecal indicator bacteria (OR = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.17–0.58) and total coliforms (OR = 0.10, 95%CI: 0.05, 0.22). Packaged water was less likely to contain fecal indicator bacteria (OR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.20, 0.62) compared to other water sources used for consumption.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Policymakers and regulators should recognize the potential benefits of packaged water in providing safer water for consumption at and away from home, especially for those who are otherwise unlikely to gain access to a reliable, safe water supply in the near future. To improve the quality of packaged water products they should be integrated into regulatory and monitoring frameworks.</p></div