Clinical profile and outcome of serpiginous choroiditis in a Uveitis Clinic in India

Objective: To report the clinical profi le and outcome of treatment in patients with serpiginous choroiditis.Materials and Methods: A retrospective non-comparative case series was conducted over a period of 1 month. Seventeen eyes of 11 patients that were diagnosed as serpiginous choroiditis were included in the study. Laterality, clinical presentation, presence of any systemic abnormality, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), lens status, intraocular pressure, findings on funduscopic examination, type of serpiginous choroiditis and treatment modality offered were recorded. Information obtained was entered into SPSS 17.0 data base and analyzed.Results: There was a male preponderance (3:1). Age at presentation ranged from 14 to 51 years with a mean age of 30 years (±9.95 SD). Eight subjects (64.7%) had bilateral involvement at presentation. Mean visual acuity (VA) improved to 0.34 (±0.45 SD) after treatment from 0.49 at presentation. Vision improved or maintained in 15 eyes, whereas it deteriorated in two eyes due to foveal involvement and choroidal neovascular membrane, respectively.Conclusion: Patients with serpiginous choroidits can achieve a signifi cant visual improvement following successful treatment with steroids and immunosuppressive treatment.Keywords: Serpiginous choroiditis, visual impairment, visual improvemen

Nigerian neonatologists perception and experience with retinopathy of prematurity

Background: Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is an avoidable condition that affects premature infants exposed to oxygen stresses at or soon after birth. In low- and middle-income countries, like Nigeria, neonatal mortality rates are high and very few infants live to develop ROP. With recent better care, ROP is now being diagnosed. Objective: This study aimed to characterize what Nigerian neonatologists understand about ROP. Methods: At a joint meeting of Nigerian pediatric ophthalmologists and neonatologists in Kebbi State held 26-29 July 2018, questionnaires collected attendees’ perspective and experience with ROP including causes, risk factors and experiences. Results: Fifty-one neonatologists out of 71 returned a completed questionnaire (response rate: 71.8%). The male:female ratio was 1:1.8, and approximately 40% were aged 41-50 years (n=20, 39.22%). Only 3 (6.39%) had experience managing infants below 500g that survived. A majority managed babies with a mean weight of 913g ± 300.37 and age of 27.87 weeks ±2.37. Most had no access to oxygen monitors (n=39,78%). Most had 10 babies to one monitor and used average settings of 90- 95%. One third had seen a case of ROP (n=15,29.41%). Only 5.88% (n=3) were unaware of uncontrolled oxygen use as a risk factor. Only 4 (8.89%) had a functional screening team. None were aware of local screening guidelines. Conclusions: Regular educational programs, collaborative clinical presentations and webinars about ROP targeted at the neonatologists and parents, including establishment of screening programs across country will likely help reduce the burden of ROP blindness in Nigeria

Contribution of corneal blindness to visual disability among street blind beggars in a local government area of a state in Northern Nigeria

Aim: To determine the contribution of corneal blindness to visual disability among Blind Street Beggars (bsb) with a view to draw the implications to blindness prevention programme in Sokoto North Local government area (LGA) . Materials and Methods: The cross sectional study was conducted in Sokoto North Local LGA in Sokoto State. The study was conducted over a period of six weeks between May and June, 2009. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethical Committee of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. The list of blind persons in these areas was obtained from the traditional head of the blind (Sarkin Makafi) who assisted in mobilizing the subjects. Blind subjects who consented were included in the study. Data obtained were entered and analyzed in form of frequency tables using Epi-info 2000 statistical software package . Results: A total of 202 of the registered persons were found to be blind on ophthalmic examination and were therefore included in the analysis. There were 107 (53%) males and 95 (47%) females with a mean age of 49 years. One hundred and sixty four (81.2%) blind beggars became blind during childhood period while 38 subjects (18.8%) became blind during adulthood. Trachoma corneal opacity was responsible for 12.8% of the blindness while other corneal opacity accounted for 60.8%. Conclusion: Majority of the subjects had preventable blindness. We recommend a comprehensive eye care programme with a strong emphasis on health education and prompt treatment of these causes as a means of reducing the population of street blind beggars in Sokoto North LGA

Vision screening to detect refractive errors in three selected secondary schools in Birnin Kebbi, North West, Nigeria

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of uncorrected refractive error among students in three selected secondary schools in Birnin Kebbi metropolis as many children with poor vision due to refractive error remain undiagnosed and perform poorly in schools. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted over a period of 2 months (May-June 2014). A total of 614 students were included from three randomly chosen secondary schools in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria. Subjects were selected using random sampling technique from the list of students available through the help of their class teachers. Visual acuity (VA) was measured with a Snellen chart, while students with subnormal vision (VA ≤ 6/9) were examined using pinhole, and subsequently referred for detailed eye examination and retinoscopy evaluation. Results: The age range was from 11 to 20 years comprising 50.8% (n = 312) males and 48.2% (n = 302) females. Refractive error in either eye was present in 30 (4.8%) children. Of these, myopia was diagnosed in 18 (60%) children, and then hyperopia in 7 (23.3%), and astigmatism in 5 (16.7%) subjects. Spectacle coverage was low as only three pupils were found to be using glasses with lack of awareness and lack of access to eye care services as major barriers. Conclusions: Uncorrected refractive error is found among secondary schools students in Birnin Kebbi, and there is a need for the establishment of regular and effective school vision screening program to detect and refer patients for treatment

Traumatic Enucleation and Bilateral Colles’ Fracture in a 70 Year Old Farmer

Purpose: To report a case of traumatic enucleation and Colles’ fracture in a 70-year-old male farmer following a fall from a height. Design: A case report. Findings: Enucleated right eye and bilateral Colles’ fracture. Practical implications: The attending health care personnel should do a complete assessment of a patient with a history of fall from a height to avoid missing important bodily injuries. Fall from height is a cause of avoidable blindness. Originality: Rare original case of traumatic enucleation after a fall

Beta-Lactam Resistance Profile of E. Coli Isolated from Urinary Tract Infection Patients in Selected Hospitals within Gusau Metropolis

The emergence of antibiotic resistance, particularly beta-lactam resistance, poses a significant challenge in the management of urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli). This study aimed to investigate the beta-lactam resistance profile of E. coli isolated from UTI patients in selected hospitals within the Gusau metropolis. A total of 92 urine samples were collected from UTI patients attending selected hospitals in Gusau metropolis. Isolation and identification of E. coli were conducted using standard microbiological techniques. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the disc diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Furthermore, phenotypic confirmation of beta-lactam resistance was carried out using double disc synergy testing (DDST).  Out of 92 urine samples obtained from patients with UTIs, E. coli was identified in 19 samples (20.7%), out of the 19 E. coli isolates, ESBL production was detected in 9 (47.36%) based on the results of the DDST, and among the E. coli isolates tested, 12 (63.16%) exhibited resistance to beta-lactam (Ceftriaxone), while 5 (26.31%) showed intermediate susceptibility, and 2 (10.53%) were susceptible to this antibiotic. Results revealed a concerning prevalence of beta-lactam resistance among E. coli isolates, highlighting the urgent need for effective antimicrobial stewardship and infection control measures in the region