Incidence of Proteus species in wound infections and their sensitivity pattern in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital

Proteus species are frequently recovered from infected wounds. They contaminate wounds and thus cause infections. This study was carried out at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) to determine the involvement of Proteus species as one of the major causative organisms in wound infections. The study also determined the sensitivity pattern of the Proteus isolates. This was a prospective and cross-sectional study. Wound swabs and aspirates from various parts of the body and consisting of accidental, pathological and post-operative wounds were collected from patients who attended the clinics at the UBTH and examined by standard bacteriological methods. All isolates were tested for sensitivity against ciprofloxacin 5 µg, gentamycin 10 µg, streptomycin 10 µg, ofloxacin 5 mg/µg, chloramohenicol 10 µg, erythromycin 10 µg and tetracycline 10 µg. Of the 400 wound samples from various parts of the body 390 (97.5%) yielded growths and produced 560 isolates. Ten samples (2.5%) yielded no growths. Proteus species accounted for 150 (26.8%) of the isolates. Proteus mirabilis was the Proteus species most commonly isolated, 97 (17.3%), Proteus vulgaris 40 (7.1%), Proteus rettgeri 8 (1.40%), and Proteus morgagni 5 (0.9%). All the isolates were sensitive to ciprofoxacin, ofloxacin and gentamycin while all were resistant to tetracycline and erythromycin. Knowledge of the microbial flora of an environment and the sensitivity pattern are important tools in the management of wound infections especially those caused by Proteus species, and are also useful in formulating rational antibiotic policy

A five year study on the susceptibility of isolates from various parts of the body

In Nigeria, like most developing countries, there is little or complete lack of antibiotic prescribing policy. This results in a situation where antimicrobial agents are bought and consumed indiscriminately, thus leading to drug abuse. The ugly consequence is the development of resistance by microorganisms to these antimicrobial agents. This study seeks to determine the antibiogram of common isolates from swabs and aspirates in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, in thelast half a decade. The design was prospective and cross sectional. Patients attending the University of Benin Teaching Hospital clinics were used for the study. The various antimicrobial agents used in thisstudy were amoxicillin clavulanate 30 ìg, cefuroxime 30 ìg, ceftazidime 5 ìg, ofloxacin 5 ìg gentamicin 10 ìg, amoxicillin 25 ìg, erythromycin 5 ìg, cloxacillin 5 ìg, cotrimoxazole 5 ìg, tetracycline 10 ìg, andchloramphenicol 30 ìg. Cultures were prepared using standard methods and incubated aerobically and anaerobically at 37°C for 48 h. Identification was by morphological characteristics and biochemicaltests. The various isolates for the five-year period were Staphylococcus aureus 1000, Klebsiella pneumoniae 340, Proteus mirabilis 38 Escherichia coli 295, Pseudomonas aeroginosa 240, Alcaligenesfaecalis 200, Enterobacter aerogenes 175, Acinetobacter baumannii 150, Proteus vulgaris 110, Providencia stuartii 101, Streptococcus pneumoniae 16, Citrobacter freundii 51. The isolates variedwidely in their susceptibility pattern. Almost all the isolates were about 100% resistant to cloxacillin, tetracycline and cotrimoxazole. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no difference in thesusceptibility pattern of the isolates in the five years. However there was significant difference in the efficacy of the various antimicrobial agents and the number of isolates. This study achieved its aim ofdetermining the microbial flora and their sensitivity pattern at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in the last half a decade. The increasing rate of drug resistance demonstrated by the isolatesparticularly to cheap and frequently used antimicrobial agents raises serious concern

Torsed Intraabdominal Testis: A Rarely Considered Diagnosis

Cryptorchidism, or maldescended testis, is a common problem encountered in pediatric age groups. Despite more than 100 years of research, many aspects of cryptorchidism are not well defined and remain controversial. However, cryptorchidism clearly has deleterious effects on the testis over time.1–

Co-Occurrence of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus in the Nostrils Of Apparently Healthy University Students: A Case Study

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Candida and Staphylococcus spp. in the nasal cavity of apparently healthy university students. Eighty-six (86) nasal samples from apparently healthy undergraduate students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma were screened with Mannitol agar and Sabrourand’s dextrose agar for S. aureus and Candida albicans respectively. After the incubation period, the microorganisms were isolated and identified through biochemical tests. The data obtained were statistically analysed using SPSS (version 17). Results showed that 74.42% of the apparently healthy students were positive for nostril microbiota. Specifically, 46.51% and 9.30% were positive for S. aureus and C. albicans respectively. Worrisome is the co-occurrence of S. aureus and C. albicans in 18.61% of the sampled apparently healthy students. The result of this study highlights the fact that S. aureus and C. albicans are usually part of the normal flora and may pose no threat in healthy persons. However, co-occurrence of these organisms may otherwise compromise the immune function of individuals.Keywords: Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Student

Influence of polar solvents on the enhancement of light-ends in heavy crude oil distillation

Crude oil ‘micelle’ can be dispersed into fuels, oil and resin/asphalthene components using some hydrocarbon solvents. This can be adapted towards influencing/enhancing its product slates during the processing of crude oils. This research was carried out to investigate the effect of polar solvents (ethanol and acetone) in the enhancement of the light-ends in the True Boiling Point (TBP) distillation of Venezuela heavy crude oil. The oil was procured from Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, Nigeria Ltd, Kaduna, Nigeria. Different concentrations of ethanol with crude oil blends were prepared using 2.5 wt.%, 5 wt.%, 7.5 wt.%, and 10 wt.%. Their spectro photometric analysis was carried out to determine their micelle diameter. The graphs of the micelle diameter of the blends against the various concentrations of the ethanol were plotted from which the minimum and maximum obtained, were 26.322×10-9m and 28.312×10-9m corresponding to 2.5 wt.% and 5 wt.% ethanol concentrations respectively. The same procedure was also repeated for acetone and the values for the minimum and maximum were 24.31×10-9m and 31.798×10-9m respectively. These concentrations were blended with 400g of the oil and their TBP distillations were carried out. From the data generated, 2.5% and 5% ethanol were respectively found to enhance the light ends recovery by 6.133% and 9.008% for fractions between IBP-360oC for ethanol and 9.500% and 11.693 % for 5% and 2.5% acetone concentration. The authors are of the opinion that this work can be adapted to enhance light ends recovery in the atmospheric/vacuum distillation units (ADU/VDU) of the Crude Oil Refineries.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v35i4.2

A five-year review of burn injuries in Irrua

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The management of burns remains a challenge in developing countries. Few data exist to document the extent of the problem. This study provides data from a suburban setting by documenting the epidemiology of burn injury and ascertaining outcome of management. This will help in planning strategies for prevention of burns and reducing severity of complications.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 72 patients admitted for burns between January 1st, 2002 and December 31st, 2006 at the Irrua specialist teaching hospital were studied retrospectively. Sources of information were the case notes and operation registers. Data extracted included demographics as well as treatment methods and outcome</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results revealed male to female ratio of 2.1:1. Over 50% of the injuries occurred at home. There was a seasonal variation with over 40% of injuries occurring between November and January. The commonest etiologic agent was flame burn from kerosene explosion. There were 7 deaths in the series.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Burns are preventable. We recommend adequate supply of unadulterated petroleum products and establishment of burn centers.</p

Parenteral nutrition service: An overview and case for it in the University of Benin teaching hospital

Total Parenteral Nutrition has been available in developed countries for the past three decades and has proved to be very valuable as one of the most important therapeutic tools in the history of Medicine. Amongst the great advances in Medicine in the last century it is the only one that this hospital and most tertiary hospitals in Nigeria do not routinely benefit from its service to patients who need it. In this overview, the pathogenesis of malnutrition in surgical patients, body nutrients, the indications for parenteral nutrition, the nutrient solutions and composition and their administration are discussed. It is established that as the expert personnel and facilities to give total parenteral nutrition to patients are available, the service should be routinely given to patients to reduce morbidity and mortality in surgical patients with malnutrition

Perforated Duodenal Ulcer Presenting As Acute Appendicitis

Background: Acute appendicitis has a lot of differential diagnoses. However, when there is perforated duodenal ulcer with the contents tracking into the right iliac fossa, it is often extremely difficult to distinguish this condition from acute appendicitis. Aims of study: To evaluate the diagnostic dilemma encountered in attempting to differentiate between perforated duodenal ulcer (with gastric contents tracking into the right iliac fossa) and acute appendicitis. Patients and methods: The case files over a 5 year period of patients who were initially diagnosed as acute appendicitis, but found at operation to have perforated duodenal ulcer were reviewed. Results: There were 5 patients (3 males and 2 females) who were diagnosed to have appendicitis but at operation they were found to have perforated duodenal ulcer. The age range was between 33 and 82 years with a mean of 64.5years. Only two patients had a history of recurrent epigastric pain prior to presentation. Conclusion: It is often difficult to distinguish perforated duodenal ulcer when the contents track into the right iliac fossa from acute appendicitis. Sahel Medical Journal Vol. 11 (2) 2008: pp. 52-5

Age At Menarche Of School Girls In Urban Benin City

Age at menarche is a well recognized risk factor for breast cancer. This study is to determine what the age at menarche is for girls in urban Benin City in this first decade of the new millennium. A structured questionnaire to obtain the date of birth, date of menarche, height in centimeters, weight in kilograms, level of education and occupation of both parents were self administered to respondents in a secondary grammar school in urban Benin City. Data were analyzed using standard deviation and one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). There were a total of 422 respondents ofwhich 357 had attained menarche. Age range at menarche was 9 – 17 years with a mean of 13.16 ±STD 1.22 with a 95% Confidence interval of 13.03 – 13.28 years. Girls from upper social class attained menarche 12 months earlier than those of social class 5. The current age at menarche for the urban Benin City school girls is 13.16 years. With a confidence interval of 13.03 – 13.28 years, it can be regarded that those who saw their period for the first at ages 9, 10 and11 years have attained early menarche and thus have one risk factor for breast cancer.Key Words: Age, Menarche, Urban Benin City

Induced Abortion And Risk For Breast Cancer: Observed Relationship In Benin City, Nigeria

Background: The incidence of breast cancer worldwide is increasing. The established risk factors for breast cancer are being used to counsel and enlighten the public to prevent the disease but the incidence is still on the rise. Aims of Study: To search for new risk factors for breast cancer, specifically to determine the relationship of induced abortions and breast cancer. Patients and Methods: Biodata, risk factors, parity and abortion profile of all 145 female breast cancer patients seen in over a three year period were entered into a data sheet and analyzed by simple proportions and percentages. Results: Breast cancer patients who had procured induced abortion were diagnosed with the disease nearly a decade and half earlier than in breast cancer patients who never had induced abortion. Conclusion: Induced abortion, in the presence of same risk factors for breast cancer, caused the disease to be induced at a much earlier age than in the patients who did not procure abortion. We, therefore, advocate that induced abortion be discouraged. Women who must have an abortion should be counseled on increased risk of breast cancer as part of the informed consent for termination of pregnancy. Keywords: Induced abortion, Risk, Breast CancerSahel Medical Journal Vol. 11 (4) 2008: pp. 131-13