Seroprevalence and clinical correlates of human immunodeficiency virus infection among women with infertility in northwestern Nigeria

Background: Infertility is a major cause of social and psychological problems among couples, especially in our environment where child bearing is regarded as one of the major reasons for marriage. Studies have shown that fertility among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‑infected women may actually be reduced posing social and psychological disturbance among a group of people that are already burdened with disease.Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and clinical correlates of HIV infection among women with infertility attending a gynecology clinic in northwestern Nigeria.Materials and Methods: It was a cross‑sectional descriptive study comprising of women attending the gynecology clinic due to infertility that satisfied the inclusion criteria. The sample size was 250. Ethical clearance was obtained from the health research and ethics committee of the study setting. Clients were recruited consecutively as they presented to the infertility clinic from May 2015 to January 2016 and tested for HIV infection. HIV testing was done in the Department of Medical Microbiology after collecting 5 ml of blood from the clients using sterile syringes. Investigations to determine the cause of infertility were also conducted. Obtained data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 20.0.Results: A total of 250 clients were recruited for the study. The age range of respondents was‑ 17 – 47 years with a mean age of 30.3 years. Hausa was the predominant ethnic group in all respondents (61%). Most of the respondents had secondary education (39%). Only 4% had postgraduate education. Out of the 250 respondents, 21 (8.4%) were found to be positive for HIV infection. Chi‑square test showed an association between tuboperitoneal infertility and HIV infection.Conclusion: The prevalence of HIV infection in women with infertility attending our clinic was high and an association was seen between HIV infection and tuboperitoneal infertility.Keywords: Clinical correlates; human immunodeficiency virus infection; infertilit

Respiratory syncytial virus infection among children younger than 2 years admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit with extended severe acute respiratory infection in ten Gavi-eligible countries: the RSV GOLD—ICU Network study

Background Patient-level data on life-threatening respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in children in low-income and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) are scarce, and this scarcity might limit demand for RSV interventions in LMICs who rely on support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. We aimed to describe the characteristics of RSV-positive children younger than 2 years who were admitted to paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) with extended severe acute respiratory infection (eSARI) in Gavi-eligible countries. Methods The RSV GOLD—ICU Network study is a 2-year prospective, multicountry, observational study of children younger than 2 years admitted to a PICU with eSARI. The study was conducted at 12 referral hospitals in Bolivia, Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, Haiti, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania. For comparison with a high-income country, patients were also included from two referral hospitals in the Netherlands. Children were eligible for inclusion if they were aged between 4 days and 2 years, admitted to a PICU, and met the WHO eSARI definition. RSV infection was confirmed within 72 h of PICU admission via a molecular point-of-care test at LMIC study sites and via a PCR test at the Dutch study sites. Clinical data were extracted from admission charts of patients; underlying conditions that were identified at admission were classified as comorbidities. Socioeconomic and demographic data were collected via a written, structured, parental questionnaire. Findings Between April 28, 2021, and Sept 30, 2023, we included 2118 children who were admitted to a PICU with eSARI in the ten participating countries. 614 (29·0%; range 23·0–38·2) of 2118 children tested positive for RSV and 608 were included in descriptive analyses as six medical files were lost at one study site and data could not be retrieved. Among all 608 children infected with RSV, 379 (62%) were male and 229 (38%) were female. Median age at testing was 3·0 months (IQR 1·3–7·7). 30 (5%) of 608 children died from RSV infection. RSV fatality occurred at seven of ten participating LMIC study sites and was highest in Tanzania (seven [27%] of 26 children). Median age at testing of children who died with RSV infection was 1·8 months (IQR 1·1–4·2).Interpretation To our knowledge, this is the first prospective, multicountry study reporting data from children admitted to a PICU with life-threatening RSV infection in Gavi-eligible countries. As there is no access to intensive care for most children in LMICs, RSV prevention is urgently needed

Microbial Decolourization of an Anthraquinone Dye C.I. Reactive Blue 19 Using Bacillus cereus

Aims: This work aimed at using B. cereus strain to decolourize a textile dye and also to study the influence of various environmental parameters on the decolourization processes. Study Design: Decolourization efficiency of B. cereus. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria and Department of Textile Science and Technology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, between March 2011 and September 2011. Methodology: The B. cereus strain used was isolated from contaminated food by using a selective media (Mannitol egg yolk polymyxin agar) and then culturing and storing on nutrient agar slants at –20ºC after biochemical tests were done to identify the isolate. All the microbial batch experiments were carried out at ambient conditions in 250ml Erlenmeyer flasks. Nutrient broth was autoclaved at 121ºC at 15psi for 15min and nutrient agar plates were also used in the isolation of the B. cereus strain. Effects of various parameters, including initial dye concentration (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0g/l), glucose concentration (50, 100, 200 and 500mg/l), pH (4.0, 7.0 and 10.0) and temperature (20, 27 and 40ºC), on dye decolourization were investigated. Decolourization extent was determined by measuring the absorbance of the culture supernatant at 591nm using a Unicam UV9100-visible spectrophotometer. Decolourization extent was calculated using a standard equation as specified by Giwa et al., 2011. Results: The bacteria culture exhibited 95% decolourization ability within 72 hours. The optimum dye decolourizing activity of the culture was observed at pH 7.0 and incubation temperature of 27ºC. Maximum dye decolourizing efficiency was observed at 200 mg/l concentration of RB19. The dye solution showed high peak at the wavelength of 591nm. Conclusion: The results thus obtained have characterized and identified the dye degrading ability of the B. cereus. The presence of a co-substrate (glucose) is an essential condition for attaining maximum decolourization efficiency. Reactive blue 19 was completely and rapidly decolourized by B. cereus after 3days of incubation with different effects on the dye as seen in the result

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