Editorial – University Staff and Student Protection from COVID-19: Strategic Measures for Teaching and Learning in Resource-limited Setting

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Isolation and Identification of Bacterial Species from the Human Gallbladders Bile of Sudanese Patients

Background: Gallbladder infections are one of the most important problems that affect Sudanese patients.Objectives: To isolate bacterial species from infected human gallbladder's bile in Sudanese patients admitted for cholecystectomy due to calcoulus or acalcoulus cholecystitis.Materials and Methods: A total of 100 bile specimens from 100 patients (88 females and 12 males), were examined in this study. Bile specimens were collected from three different operating theatres including IbnSena Hospital, Sudan Private Clinic and Omdurman Teaching Hospital.Results: Six bacterial species were recognized in bile specimens, four of them are gramnegative and two are gram- positive species. In the present study, bacteria were isolated from 40 specimens out of the 100 bile specimens cultured with an overall incidence of 40%. It was noted that all positive bacterial bile cultures correlated with the presence of gallstones except three Salmonellae which were isolated from bile of acalculus gallbladders. The most prevalent bacteria isolated were E.coli which was isolated from 24 specimens out of the 100 bile specimens. On the other hand, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas spp. were less frequently isolated from bile specimens showing frequencies of 4 (4%) for each.Conclusion: The finding of this study indicated that Escherichia coli were the most prevalent bacteria which isolated from human bile. As well as, the study revealed that certain bacterial species such as Salmonellae possess characters which allow them to cause cholecystitis without need to gallstones formation.Key words: Gallbladder Bile, Bacterial isolates, Bile specimens, Cholecystectomy; Bacterial cholecystitis, Acalculus gallbladders

Immunization knowledge and practice among Malaysian parents: a questionnaire development and pilot-testing

BACKGROUND: Parents are the main decision makers for their children vaccinations. This fact makes parents’ immunization knowledge and practices as predictor factors for immunization uptake and timeliness. The aim of this pilot study was to develop a reliable and valid instrument in Malaysian language to measure immunization knowledge and practice (KP) of Malaysian parents. METHODS: A cross-sectional prospective pilot survey was conducted among 88 Malaysian parents who attended public health facilities that provide vaccinations. Translated immunization KP questionnaires (Bahasa Melayu version) were used. Descriptive statistics were applied, face and content validity were assessed, and internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity were determined. RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the knowledge scores was 7.36 ± 2.29 and for practice scores was 7.13 ± 2.20. Good internal consistency was found for knowledge and practice items (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.757 and 0.743 respectively); the test-retest reliability value was 0.740 (p = 0.014). A panel of three specialist pharmacists who are experts in this field judged the face and content validity of the final questionnaire. Parents with up-to-date immunized children had significantly better knowledge and practice scores than parents who did not (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001 respectively), suggesting a good construct validity. A significant difference was found in knowledge and practice scores among parents’ age (p = 0.006 and p = 0.029 respectively) and place of living (p = 0.037 and p = 0.043). The parents’ knowledge level was positively associated with their practice toward immunization (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient 0.310, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The pilot study concluded that the Bahasa Melayu version of the immunization KP questionnaire has good reliability and validity for measuring the knowledge and practices of Malaysian parents and therefore this version can be used in future research

Outcome of cholelithiasis in Sudanese children with Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) after 13 years follow-up

BACKGROUND: SCA causes chronic haemolysis which is a risk factor for cholelithiasis. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and outcome of children with SCA complicated with gallstones treated at the sickle cell clinic at the children emergency hospital Khartoum state. METHODS: 261 patients age 4 months to 16 years were studied. AUS examination was carried out. The 30 patients in whom gall stones were detected followed prospectively from June 1996 to September 2009 when a second AUS examination was obtained. RESULTS: Gall stones occurred in 30 patients of whom four were lost to follow up in the first year. The overall prevalence of cholelithiasis was 11.5% and it increased with age. The youngest patient with cholelithiasis was 2 1/2 years old. Haematological variables, bilirubin and sex did not identify a subgroup of patients at higher risk for gallstones. All the patients were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. One patient developed symptoms 3years after the diagnosis and he was submitted to surgery. The 25 remaining asymptomatic patients were followed up for 13 years and none of them presented complications related to cholelithiasis during this period. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of cholelithiasis in Sudanese children and adolescents with SCA was significant. The large majority patients remained asymptomatic over a long period

Detection of H. Pylori by Different Conventional Staining Methods and Immunohistochemistry in Sudanese Patients with Chronic Gastritis

Abstract Background: H.pylori is a major cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer, i