Prevalence of Arcobacter, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella species in Retail Raw Chicken, Pork, Beef and Goat meat in Osogbo, Nigeria

Three hundred (300) samples of fresh raw chicken, beef, goat and pork meat were screened for Arcobacter species by selective cultural procedures and for Escherichia coli, Salmonella species and Staphylococcus aureus enriched in peptone water and then streaked onto appropriate bacteriological agar. From the 300 samples analysed, S. aureus {138 (46%)} was the most frequently isolated organism, followed by E. coli {78 (26%)}, Arcobacter spp. {57(19%)} and Salmonella spp {6(2%)}. In this study, varying level of resistance of Escherichia coli 66(84.6%), Salmonella 6(100%) and Arcobacter 57(100%) to amoxicillin was observed. The susceptibility pattern indicates that the bacterial isolates exhibited a varying level of resistance to two or more antimicrobial agents with maximum resistance to amoxicillin. The detection of these organisms in meat may constitute a serious public health concern. Hence, there is a need for the implementation of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point System monitoring of critical contamination points used in meat production to ensure food safety in Nigeria. Keywords: Abattoir-hygiene, Antibiotic resistance, Foodborne-pathogens, Nigeri

A study of microbial analysis of fresh fruits and vegetables, in Sagamu markets South-West, Nigeria

Raw and minimally processed fruits and vegetables are essential parts of diets of people around the world. However, these food items have consistently served as vehicles for human diseases worldwide. This study was aimed at determining the microbiological quality of fresh fruits and vegetables sold at Sagamu markets, Ogun state, Nigeria. Twenty different samples of fruits and vegetables were randomly purchased from ten various vendors in Shagamu market, Ogun State, Nigeria. Aerobic plate counts, total coliform counts, yeast, mold counts and antimicrobial susceptibility study using were determined using standard microbiological methods. In Fruits, the isolation rate of Bacillus specie was predominant (44.1%), followed by Klebsiella species (44.0%) while in vegetables, the prevalent rates of 38.3% and 14.4% were respectively recorded by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas species. Malassezia species and Aspergillus species were the only fungal isolates obtained from the fruits and vegetables. Aspergillus species were predominant in vegetables, with a frequency of 13.3% while both Malassezia and Aspergillus species were observed almost at the same frequently of 24.1% and 24.4% in fruits respectively. This study showed that fruits and vegetable were contaminated with potential food borne pathogens with varying degree of antibiotic resistance thus suggesting that they could act as a vehicle for the dissemination of antibiotic resistant organisms as well as serve as a reservoir of food borne pathogens of public health significance.Keywords: Micro flora, fresh fruits and vegetables, antibiotics resistanc

Comparative effects of washing solution and the survival of Staphylococcus aureus on tomatoes

Various types of fruits and vegetables are often eaten raw or consumed after minimum processing in which this has been connected to an increase in outbreaks of fresh produce associated with food borne diseases in the recent times. In order to determine the micro-flora, survival of Staphylococcus aureus on ripe and unripe tomatoes and to also asses the efficiency of some washing solutions, 100 tomatoes, both ripe and unripe were randomly bought from different selling points in Sagamu Markets, Ogun State Nigeria. Surface swabs of the tomatoes were cultured on both nutrient broth, and selenite F broth. The sample from nutrient broth was then sub cultured on Blood Agar, Mannitol Salt Agar, and MacConkey Agar, (MSA), Potato Dextrose Agar (SDA), while the one on Selenite F Broth was cultured on Salmonella Shigella Agar (SSA). Density of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 after pre-inoculation on ripe and unripe tomatoes, and after the application of washing solutions on tomatoes, was determined by surface spread count. The prevalence of any of the isolated micro-flora could not be significantly linked with either ripe or unripe tomatoes (0>0.05).Mean residual counts (log CFU/g) of bacteria was significantly higher in ripe tomatoes (3.52 ±2.40) than unripe tomatoes (2.30 ±1.96) after pre inoculation with Staphylococcus aureus (t =2.75, P< 0.05). Among the washing solution, hypochlorite was observed to be twice more efficient than hydrogen peroxide and thrice efficient than saline solution. In conclusion, Staphylococcal colonization of tomatoes skin is significantly reduced in unripe tomatoes. And also, hypochlorite solutions are better than hydrogen peroxide and saline in Staphylococcal decontamination from tomatoes.Key words: washing solution, Staphylococcus aureus, tomatoe

Timing of antenatal care for adolescent and adult pregnant women in south-eastern Tanzania

Early and frequent antenatal care attendance during pregnancy is important to identify and mitigate risk factors in pregnancy and to encourage women to have a skilled attendant at childbirth. However, many pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa start antenatal care attendance late, particularly adolescent pregnant women. Therefore they do not fully benefit from its preventive and curative services. This study assesses the timing of adult and adolescent pregnant women's first antenatal care visit and identifies factors influencing early and late attendance.\ud The study was conducted in the Ulanga and Kilombero rural Demographic Surveillance area in south-eastern Tanzania in 2008. Qualitative exploratory studies informed the design of a structured questionnaire. A total of 440 women who attended antenatal care participated in exit interviews. Socio-demographic, social, perception- and service related factors were analysed for associations with timing of antenatal care initiation using regression analysis. The majority of pregnant women initiated antenatal care attendance with an average of 5 gestational months. Belonging to the Sukuma ethnic group compared to other ethnic groups such as the Pogoro, Mhehe, Mgindo and others, perceived poor quality of care, late recognition of pregnancy and not being supported by the husband or partner were identified as factors associated with a later antenatal care enrolment (p < 0.05). Primiparity and previous experience of a miscarriage or stillbirth were associated with an earlier antenatal care attendance (p < 0.05). Adolescent pregnant women started antenatal care no later than adult pregnant women despite being more likely to be single. Factors including poor quality of care, lack of awareness about the health benefit of antenatal care, late recognition of pregnancy, and social and economic factors may influence timing of antenatal care. Community-based interventions are needed that involve men, and need to be combined with interventions that target improving the quality, content and outreach of antenatal care services to enhance early antenatal care enrolment among pregnant women

The use of antenatal and postnatal care: perspectives and experiences of women and health care providers in rural southern Tanzania

BACKGROUND\ud \ud Although antenatal care coverage in Tanzania is high, worrying gaps exist in terms of its quality and ability to prevent, diagnose or treat complications. Moreover, much less is known about the utilisation of postnatal care, by which we mean the care of mother and baby that begins one hour after the delivery until six weeks after childbirth. We describe the perspectives and experiences of women and health care providers on the use of antenatal and postnatal services.\ud \ud METHODS\ud \ud From March 2007 to January 2008, we conducted in-depth interviews with health care providers and village based informants in 8 villages of Lindi Rural and Tandahimba districts in southern Tanzania. Eight focus group discussions were also conducted with women who had babies younger than one year and pregnant women. The discussion guide included information about timing of antenatal and postnatal services, perceptions of the rationale and importance of antenatal and postnatal care, barriers to utilisation and suggestions for improvement.\ud \ud RESULTS\ud \ud Women were generally positive about both antenatal and postnatal care. Among common reasons mentioned for late initiation of antenatal care was to avoid having to make several visits to the clinic. Other concerns included fear of encountering wild animals on the way to the clinic as well as lack of money. Fear of caesarean section was reported as a factor hindering intrapartum care-seeking from hospitals. Despite the perceived benefits of postnatal care for children, there was a total lack of postnatal care for the mothers. Shortages of staff, equipment and supplies were common complaints in the community.\ud \ud CONCLUSION\ud \ud Efforts to improve antenatal and postnatal care should focus on addressing geographical and economic access while striving to make services more culturally sensitive. Antenatal and postnatal care can offer important opportunities for linking the health system and the community by encouraging women to deliver with a skilled attendant. Addressing staff shortages through expanding training opportunities and incentives to health care providers and developing postnatal care guidelines are key steps to improve maternal and newborn health

Acute haemolytic anaemia associated with ComovitR: A short report

Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine Vol.10(2) 2000: 160-16