Mineral base oil recovery from waste lubricant grease

Lubricants play an important role in the running of automotive and related machines. They prevent wear and tear of machines through the provision of a protective film between two moving parts. With time, the performance of grease is reduced creating a problem of waste lubricant grease. This research investigated the recovery of mineral base oil from waste lubricating grease obtained from the mining industry. A base was used to flocculate the impurities and temperature was applied to degrade the waste grease. A solvent was further used to separate and purify the sludge mixture generated. The investigation achieved recovery of base oil from the waste oil sourced from a mine. Other parameters which were determined included Calorific value, viscosity and water content. Recovery of valuable base oil indicated the prospects of volume reduction of waste grease at storage facilities and possibilities of blending with other oils to enhance their fuel capacities.Keywords: Base oil, Lubricant Grease, Recover

Awareness and Use of Pre-Exposure and Post Exposure Prophylaxes as Occupational Health and Safety Measure for Clinical Students at Copperbelt University Medical School in Zambia

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP.) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) are additional preventative methods incorporated in a comprehensive HIV/AIDS preventative package in the Zambian health system. Despite PrEP and PEP being offered as a choice to people who are at sustained risk of HIV infection, most clinical students in sub-Saharan African medical schools continue to be disproportionately at risk of acquiring HIV during their clinical training. To avert this occupational health risk among clinical students, it is critical that awareness, access and use of these HIV preventive strategies, in Zambia and other sub-Saharan African countries be enhanced. This study therefore, examined awareness and use of PrEP and PEP among Copperbelt University Medical students in Zambia. A cross sectional survey was conducted among 203 medical students in their clinical years of study. The respondents were selected using stratified simple random sampling at two tertiary level public hospitals in the Copperbelt province of Zambia. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Study found that 21.2% of the clinical students were exposed to HIV during their hospital practice and majority of these students were 3rd year students (24.5%), followed by the 2nd year students (23.5%) and the least proportion was 1styears (17.4%). Among those who were exposed, 76.7% reported the exposure while 23.3% did not report the exposure. The second years (20.6%) are shown to have reported most of the exposures compared to all the other classes. The majority of students (83.3%) were knowledgeable about PrEP and PEP. Sex (p value= 0.046) was the only factor that was significantly associated with knowledge of PrEP and PEP. There was no factor significantly association with utilization of PrEP and PEP, even participants’ knowledge of PrEP and PEP did not influence utilization of PrEP and PEP services (p value=0.741). Therefore, reducing barriers to access and use of PrEP and PEP among clinical students is an important intervention in the process of training medical personnel in Zambia and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa

Seroprevalence of parvovirus B19 in blood donors: the risks and challenges of blood transfusion in Zambia in the era of HIV/AIDS at the Kitwe Central Hospital, blood bank

Background: Human Parvovirus (B19V) is a small, single-stranded, non-enveloped DNA virus which is pathogenic to humans causing a wide array of clinical complications which include erythema infectiosum, aplastic crisis and hydrops foetalis. It is generally harmless in healthy individuals but may be life threatening in immunocompromised individuals such as patients with sickle cell disease, cancer, HIV and pregnant women. It has been shown to be transmissible by blood transfusion but donor screening for the virus is not yet mandatory in most sub-Saharan African countries including Zambia. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study undertaken at the Kitwe Central Hospital, blood bank and Tropical Diseases Research Centre at Ndola Central Hospital. A total of 192 blood samples were screened for Ig M antibodies against parvovirus B19 by ELISA. Objectives: The general objective of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of parvovirus B19 infections among healthy blood donors at the Kitwe Central Hospital blood bank. Specific Objectives were to detect parvovirus B19 Ig M antibodies in donor blood using serology and to analyse the age and sex distribution of parvovirus among blood donors.Results: The prevalence of parvovirus B19 Ig M in this study was 15.6%. The majority of the positive cases were in the age group 15-22 years (17.8%) but there was no statistical significance between occurrence of parvovirus and age ( p value=0.703). Prevalence in males was higher than in females that is 16.4% and 13.8%, respectively. The relationship between gender and parvovirus B19 occurrence was however not significant either (p value=0.516)Conclusion: This study showed a 15.6% prevalence rate of acute Parvovirus B19 infections in blood donors at the Kitwe Central Hospital, blood bank. Studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate these results.Keywords: Parvovirus B19 in blood donors, blood transfusion, Zambia, HIV/AIDS, Kitwe Central Hospital, blood bank

World Health Organization AWaRe framework for antibiotic stewardship: Where are we now and where do we need to go? An expert viewpoint

The AWaRe classification categorizes antibiotics and is a tool for antimicrobial stewardship. To combat antimicrobial resistance, prescribers must adhere to the AWaRe framework, which promotes the rational use of antibiotics. Therefore, increasing political will, dedicating resources, building capacity, and improving awareness and sensitization campaigns may promote adherence to the framework

Self-medication among medical students at the Copperbelt University, Zambia: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Self-medication is a common practice and cause for concern globally. There is a paucity of information regarding students' self‑medication in Zambia. Therefore, this study aimed at determining the self‑medication practices among the medical students at Copperbelt University. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 334 students. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, entered in excel, cleaned, and exported to SPSS version 21 for statistical analysis. Univariate analysis using Chi-Square or Fishers Exact test was performed. Independent predictors of self-medication practices were determined using logistic regression. Adjusted Odds ratios (AOR) and their 95% confidence intervals are reported. RESULTS: A total of 334 medical students, with slightly more females (50.3%, n = 168), participated in the study. Of these 61.1% (n = 204) reported self-medicating. Reasons for self-medicating were the presence of long queues at health facilities and lack of time to visit the hospital. Only the year of study was independently associated with self-medicating with those in their 4th year of study being more likely to self-medicate [AOR:3.43, 95% CI: 1.52-7.73]. CONCLUSION: Students should be educated on the consequences of self-medication practices especially the rational use of antibiotics

Mumps outbreak in an unimmunized population – Luanshya District, Copperbelt Province, Zambia, 2015

Introduction: mumps is a vaccine-preventable viral disease that may cause deafness, orchitis, encephalitis or death. However, mumps vaccine is not included in Zambia’s Expanded Program for Immunization. In January 2015, Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response data revealed an increase in reported mumps cases in Luanshya District. We investigated to confirm the etiology and generate epidemiological data on mumps in Zambia. Methods: we conducted active case finding, examined possible case-patients, and administered a standard questionnaire. A suspected mumps case was defined as acute onset of salivary gland swelling in a Luanshya resident during January - June 2015. Eight case-patients provided serum samples to test for mumps-specific immunoglobulin IgM, and buccal swabs to test for mumps viral RNA by RT-PCR, and genotyping of mumps virus at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Results: from January – June 2015, a total of 283 mumps cases were reported in Luanshya, peaking in April (71 cases) and clustering (81%) in two townships. Of 72 suspected case-patients interviewed, 81% were aged < 15 years (29%, 1 - 4 years) and 61% were female. Common clinical characteristics were buccal tenderness (29%) and fever > 37.5ºC (29%). Mumps virus genotype D was confirmed in five case-patients who tested positive by RT-PCR; six case-patients were sero-positive for anti-mumps IgM antibodies (total seven lab-confirmed cases). Conclusion: our findings represent the first reported epidemiologic description of mumps in Zambia. While the epidemiology is consistent with prior descriptions of mumps in unimmunized populations and no serious complications arose, this report provides data to inform policy discussions regarding mumps vaccination in Zambia

Seroprevalence of parvovirus B19 in blood donors: the risks and challenges of blood transfusion in Zambia in the era of HIV/AIDS at the Kitwe Central Hospital, blood bank

Background: Human Parvovirus (B19V) is a small, single-stranded, non-enveloped DNA virus which is pathogenic to humans causing a wide array of clinical complications which include erythema infectiosum, aplastic crisis and hydrops foetalis. It is generally harmless in healthy individuals but may be life threatening in immunocompromised individuals such as patients with sickle cell disease, cancer, HIV and pregnant women. It has been shown to be transmissible by blood transfusion but donor screening for the virus is not yet mandatory in most sub-Saharan African countries including Zambia. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study undertaken at the Kitwe Central Hospital, blood bank and Tropical Diseases Research Centre at Ndola Central Hospital. A total of 192 blood samples were screened for Ig M antibodies against parvovirus B19 by ELISA. Objectives: The general objective of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of parvovirus B19 infections among healthy blood donors at the Kitwe Central Hospital blood bank. Specific Objectives were to detect parvovirus B19 Ig M antibodies in donor blood using serology and to analyse the age and sex distribution of parvovirus among blood donors. Results: The prevalence of parvovirus B19 Ig M in this study was 15.6%. The majority of the positive cases were in the age group 15-22 years (17.8%) but there was no statistical significance between occurrence of parvovirus and age ( p value=0.703). Prevalence in males was higher than in females that is 16.4% and 13.8%, respectively. The relationship between gender and parvovirus B19 occurrence was however not significant either (p value=0.516) Conclusion: This study showed a 15.6% prevalence rate of acute Parvovirus B19 infections in blood donors at the Kitwe Central Hospital, blood bank. Studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate these results

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Poultry Farmers on Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Kitwe, Zambia: Implications on Antimicrobial Stewardship

The inappropriate antimicrobial usage (AMU) in chicken production has led to an increase in the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In Zambia, there is little information documented regarding the knowledge, attitude, and practices of poultry farmers on AMU and AMR. Therefore, this study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding AMU and AMR among poultry farmers in Kitwe, Zambia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 106 poultry farmers from November to December 2021 using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Results: Overall, of the 106 participants, 90.6% knew what antimicrobials were, but only 29.2% were aware of AMR. The study showed that 46.2% of the participants had low knowledge, 71.7% had negative attitudes, and 61.3% had poor practices regarding AMR. The prevalence of antibiotic use in poultry production was 83%. The most used antimicrobials were tetracycline (84%) and gentamicin (35.2%). The commonly reported reason for the use of antimicrobials was for the treatment (93.2%) and prevention (89.8%) of diseases. Further, 76.9% of the administered antimicrobials were usually done without veterinarian consultation or prescription. Conclusion: The study shows that there was high AMU in poultry farms in Kitwe. However, there was low knowledge, negative attitude, and poor practices towards AMU and AMR. Therefore, there is a need for educational and sensitisation programmes regarding AMU and AMR among poultry farmers in Kitwe, Zambia. Alongside this, antimicrobial stewardship and surveillance systems should be strengthened in the livestock production sector. This will ensure food safety and public health

Knowledge and practices toward COVID-19 among healthcare students: A cross-sectional study at the University of Zambia

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the disruption of physical classes for university students globally, as large gatherings fuelled the transmission of the virus. In the efforts to mitigate its transmission and return to normality, prevention measures, including vaccination, have been encouraged. Therefore, it is critical to understand the knowledge and practices of students regarding COVID-19. This study assessed the knowledge and practices toward COVID-19 among healthcare students at the University of Zambia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was carried out from August 2021 to October 2021 among 478 healthcare students (pharmacy, physiotherapy, nursing, biomedical, medicine, and radiography). We used a previously validated questionnaire to measure knowledge and practice. The predictors of knowledge and practices were assessed using logistic regression with robust estimation of standard errors. Statistical analysis was conducted using Stata/BE version 17.0. RESULTS: Of the 478 respondents, 243 (50.8%) were females. A larger proportion, 175 (36.6%) were in Pharmacy training, and 156 (32.6%) were in their fifth year of study. The overall mean knowledge score of the participants was 87.9 (SD = 16.1), being higher at 89.6 (SD = 14.3) among medical students and the lowest at 86.7 (SD = 17.1) among Pharmacy students, although this was statistically non-significant (p = 0.488). The overall mean practice score was 60.0 (SD = 24.7), being significantly higher at 63.5 (23.4) among nursing, physiotherapy and environmental students compared to other students (p = 0.048). In multivariable analysis, the participant training program was non-significantly associated with knowledge and practice toward COVID-19. However, increased age (AOR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01-1.117) and residing in urban areas (AOR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.07-3.01) than in rural areas were associated with higher odds of good practice toward COVID-19. CONCLUSION: The healthcare students generally showed good knowledge levels and poor practices toward COVID-19. Further, there was no evidence of a difference in knowledge of COVID-19 among healthcare students. These findings suggest the need for implementation strategies to be centered on improving the practices of students toward COVID-19

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards Antibiotic Use and Antimicrobial Resistance among Pharmacy Students at the University of Zambia: Implications for Antimicrobial Stewardship Programmes.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health problem affecting healthcare systems. There is little information on undergraduate pharmacy students' knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding antibiotic use (AMU) and AMR in Zambia. This study assessed knowledge, attitude, and practices on AMU and AMR among undergraduate pharmacy students at the University of Zambia. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among172 randomly selected participants using a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. Results: Of the 172 total participants, 55.2% (n = 95) were male. Most participants were between 21 and 25 years old (n=110, 64 %). Most of the pharmacy students had good knowledge (n=155, 90% average score), positive attitude (n=145, 84% average score) but suboptimal practices (n=110, 64% average score) about AMU and AMR. Despite these good scores, the prevalence of self-medication using antibiotics was 41% (n=70).Conclusion: Undergraduate pharmacy students had good knowledge, and a positive attitude, but suboptimal practices towards AMU and AMR. A low-average practice score is of great concern and requires urgent attention. There is a need to improve the details of the undergraduate pharmacy curriculum regarding AMU, AMR and antimicrobial stewardship programmes