Predisposing and bacteriological features of otitis media

Otitis media is an infectious condition that is more frequent in children. Its management is complex because the etiologies vary as the disease progresses. This study aimed to determine the predisposing factors and the bacterial etiology of otitis media. A total of 378 patients diagnosed with otitis media; comprised acute otitis media (29.4%), otitis media with effusion (32.3%) and chronic otitis media (38.4%). Bacteriological examination was done using aerobic and anaerobic culture methods. Children less than 5 years accounted for 46% of cases. Incidence was more in the rainy season (May-October). Unilateral infection which was more common (82%) was predominantly in the left ear (66.8%). Major predisposing factors to infection were age (19.8%), upper respiratory infection (14.8%), poor hygiene and unorthodox practices (14.8%), adenoid inflammation (8.5%) and trauma (6.1%). Streptococcus pneumoniae (38.1%), Moraxella catarrhalis (19.0%) and Staphylococcus aureus (16.7%) characterized AOM. A paradigm shift was observed in otitis media with effusion, with S. aureus (19.1%) and Bacteroides ureolyticus (14.9%) dominating the flora. Etiologies in chronic otitis media were largely mixed aerobic-anaerobic component of 68.3%; predominant flora being Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14.1%) and P. magnus (13.4%). The paradigm shift is instructive in deciding the line of antibiotic therapy to be instituted

Evaluation of crayfish chaff charcoal agar as a transport medium for anaerobes

A laboratory formulated crayfish chaff charcoal agar (CCCA) was evaluated both as transport and storage medium for anaerobic bacteria in parallel with Amies charcoal agar (ACA), cooked meat medium (CMM) and thioglycollate broth (TCB). The survival of anaerobes in swab obtained clinical specimens and viability of specific anaerobes in these media were assessed. Eight genera of anaerobes (Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Parvobacteroides, Porphyromonas, Prevotella, Clostridium, Peptoniphilus, Peptostreptococcus) were isolated from ACA, CMM and CCCA, 7 (Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Parvobacteroides, Prevotella, Clostridium, Peptoniphilus, Peptostreptococcus) from TCB transported specimens. Comparatively, the difference in isolation rate of anaerobes in aspirate (85%) and swab (75%) processed specimens was not significant (p < 0.05). Irrespective of storage temperature (-20°C or 30 + 2°C), positive anaerobic cultures from 7-day stored swab specimens in transport media were TCB 10, CCCA 14, ACA and CMM 18 each. Anaerobes recovery from CCCA and ACA were comparable (p < 0.05). Quantitatively, Bacteroides was recovered after 6 weeks of storage in CCCA with counts of 10 6.1 and 10 5.6 CFU/ml at -20°C and 30 + 2°C respectively. Similar pattern of recovery occurred with Prevotella, Clostridium and Peptoniphilus in CCCA, ACA and other transport media with no significant differences in viable counts (p < 0.05). The CCCA function is comparable with those of the other media and can be prepared and used in-house for transport of clinical specimens and short term storage of anaerob

Design and Fabrication of A Low-Cost Data Logger for Solar Energy Parameters

In this research, the design and fabrication of a single board data logger system is presented. An LM35 linear temperature transducer IC served as the temperature sensor device while a solar panel of dimension 6’x18’ coupled to a constant load driver circuit served as the solar irradiation variation sensor unit. At the heart of the low cost logger is a Single Board Computer based on an 8 bit MCU embedded platform.   Temperature readings and solar voltage variations data were logged successfully. Results indicate consistency with normal weather conditions. Logged data is then transferred to the personal computer for further analysis. Keywords: Data logger, temperature, solar voltage, microcontroller, single board computer

Occurrence of otitis media in children and assessment of treatment options

Background: Otitis media is a more frequent occurrence in children, and the disease may progress from an acute to chronic state if appropriate and timely intervention is not initiated. Methods: A total of 212 children aged 6 months to 10 years were examined and treated for otitis media, in a 13-month hospital-based study. Results: Acute otitis media was diagnosed in 130 (61.3 per cent) of the patients. There were 82 (38.7 per cent) chronic suppurative otitis media cases. The incidence of acute otitis media and chronic suppurative otitis media in the first year of life was 54.6 per cent and 45.1 per cent respectively. Chronic suppurative otitis media patients were assigned to one of three treatment groups. Recovery occurred in 70.4 per cent of amoxicillin-treated patients, in 88.9 per cent of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid treated patients and in 96.4 per cent of culture and antibiotic sensitivity test patients. Relapses were seen only in the amoxicillin (five cases) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (two cases) groups. Conclusion: The success rate in patients treated with antibiotics makes this option mandatory for an established diagnosis

Evaluation of two anaerobic systems for isolation of anaerobes

Many systems are available for the isolation of anaerobic bacteria from clinical specimens. The jar system is the oldest and more adapted while the pouches are not popular with many investigators. The anaerobic chambers are expensive to maintain and technically inflexible. This study evaluated the efficacy of the Oxoid anaerobic jar and the GENbag pouches as anaerobic incubation systems. Anaerobic cultures were set up for 145 middle ear exudates and incubation was in the anaerobic jar, GENbag or a combination of both. The effect of specimen transport system and time lapse before culturing on the performance of the anaerobic systems were evaluated. Ten genera of anaerobic bacteria were isolated with both systems (P>0.05). Peptostreptococcus and Prevotella were isolated more frequently in Oxoid jar than in GENbag (P<0.05) but both systems were not discriminatory for Clostridium, Propionibacterium and Veillonella. The use of GENbag as a backup to Oxoid jar increased isolation rate from 56.6% to 90.3% (P>0.05). Type of transport media or vehicle did not affect the recovery of anaerobes adversely as did delay in processing of specimen. A careful application of a number of variables may improve isolation of anaerobes from clinical specimens

Business Mentoring and Domestic Entrepreneurship in Nigeria’s Manufacturing Sub-sector: The place of Foreign Direct investment Inflows

Although there is a fairly extensive literature on the theory of foreign direct investment, not much of it is useful in providing insights into its effect on domestic entrepreneurship in Nigeria. This paper looks at the theoretical basis for business mentoring, examines the influence of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow on domestic entrepreneurship in Nigeria’s manufacturing sub-sector from 1973 to 2010 while employing OLS technique. Results identified a positive and highly significant effects of each of human capital and infrastructural development on activities on Nigeria’s manufacturing sub-sector while each of manufacturing FDI, market size and anti-FDI policies has a negative and highly significant effect on activities in Nigeria’s manufacturing sub-sector. This paper therefore recommends that policies on investment should be geared towards wooing foreign investors into the manufacturing sub-sector while giving the diversification of the country’s productive base a top priority. Keywords: Domestic entrepreneurship, Foreign Direct Investment, Spill-ove

Electoral Democracy and Political Entrepreneurship in Nigeria: Exploring the Social Media Option

The conduct of regular elections by authoritarian populist regimes has engendered the advent of elections without democracies and democracies without rights and peoples participation The unwillingness of the elites and the powerful who have taken hold of the political system to cede to the views of the people is increasingly making the government unresponsive The political system is fast turning into a playground for billionaires with very high propensity to exclude the people from the scheme of affairs Political parties are getting frozen by populist leaders who are using their positions to destroy free media undermine independent institutions and muzzle the opposition Individual and minority rights as well as popular will are no longer guaranteed Citizens are thus disillusioned with politics have grown restless angry disdainful and hostile to the resultant democrazy This paper therefore analyzed the collapsing party prowess in membership and candidate recruitments that have pushed politicians on self-worth electioneering political merchandising and entrepreneurship in their search for relevance It further examines the vertical linkages between political parties and electorates as complemented by horizontal connection between parties and private contributor

Occurrence of otitis media in children and assessment of treatment options

Abstract Background: Otitis media is a more frequent occurrence in children, and the disease may progress from an acute to chronic state if appropriate and timely intervention is not initiated. Methods: A total of 212 children aged 6 months to 10 years were examined and treated for otitis media, in a 13-month hospital-based study. Results: Acute otitis media was diagnosed in 130 (61.3 per cent) of the patients. There were 82 (38.7 per cent) chronic suppurative otitis media cases. The incidence of acute otitis media and chronic suppurative otitis media in the first year of life was 54.6 per cent and 45.1 per cent respectively. Chronic suppurative otitis media patients were assigned to one of three treatment groups. Recovery occurred in 70.4 per cent of amoxicillin-treated patients, in 88.9 per cent of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid treated patients and in 96.4 per cent of culture and antibiotic sensitivity test patients. Relapses were seen only in the amoxicillin (five cases) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (two cases) groups. Conclusion: The success rate in patients treated with antibiotics makes this option mandatory for an established diagnosis

Bacteriological And Clinical Evaluation Of Twelve Cases Of Post-Surgical Sepsis Of Odontogenic Tumors At A Referral Centre

Objective: To detennine the bacterial aetiology of sepsis occurring following surgery of odontogenic tumours and assess the effect of prompt and proper antibiotic usage. Desigu: A prospective study. Settiug: A tertiary referral centre in Lagos, Nigeria. . . Subjects: Twelve patients with odontogenic tumours that developed sepsis postoperatively. Eight of the patients were referred from private hospitals, the remaining were in-patients who sought for alternative medical attention following interruption of health care services at the referral cenlre. TutenJmtiou: Adequate review of patient's medical history, bacteriological investigations and antibiotic therapy. Mniu outcome measures: Bacteriological and clinic~! cure following antibiotic therapy based on susceptibility test results. Results: Two categories of patients were identified; those who completed the course of antibiotics prescribed post-surgery and patients who failed to conform to antibiotic prescription. Sepsis developed in the non-compliance group much earlier than in the group that complied (p<0.001). Infections were polybacterial with aerobes accounting for 77.4% (a-haemolytic streptococci 29.0%, Streptococcus pyogenes 16.1%, ~tapllylococcus aureus 16.1%, diphtheroids 9.7%, Klebsiella puemnouiae 6.5%) and anaerobes 22.6% (Porpltyromonas gingiva lis 9.7%, Peptostreptococcus spp. 6.5%, Prevotella melnninogenica 3.2%, Clostridium perfringeus 3.2%). Mixed aerobic and anaerobic aetiology occurred more in osteosarcoma and fibrosarcoma. Clostridium perfriugens was isolated from a case of osteosarcoma with necrotic tissues. The anaerobic bacteria were 100% sensitive to metronidazole, ciprolloxacin and augmentin, 65-85% sensitivity to ampicloxacillin, amoxicillin and erythromycin. Over 92% of the streptococci were sensitive to the P-Lactams contrast low susceptibility with S. aureus and K. pnemnoniae. Couclusion: Interruption of healthcare service was the sole factor identified in the development of sepsis as the patients could not be monitored to ensure compliance to prescriptio

Clinical Profile and Electrolyte Abnormalities in Hospitalized Under‑Five Children with Acute Gastroenteritis in a Tertiary Health Facility

Background: Electrolyte abnormalities constitute the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in younger children with acute gastroenteritis.The aim of the study was to determine the clinical profile and pattern of electrolyte abnormalities in under‑five children hospitalized for acutegastroenteritis from November 1, 2014, to January 31, 2015. Methodology: This was a cross‑sectional descriptive study among hospitalized under‑five children with acute diarrhea who were consecutively recruited from November 1, 2014, to January 31, 2015. Relevant clinical data were obtained, while the physical examination was done on all subjects. Serum electrolytes values were determined using the ion‑selective electrode system and compared with standard reference ranges. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 with the level of statistical significance set at P &lt; 0.05. Results: A total of 108 under‑five children were studied. The majority (101; 93.5%) were &lt;24 months of age, while 41 (38%) of low socioeconomic class background. Metabolic acidosis was the most common electrolyte abnormality followed by hyponatremia and hypokalemia occurring singly or in combination. The case fatality rate was 13 (12.0%). The electrolyte derangements associated with mortality were hypokalemia and acidosis: 11 (84.6%) each, 9 (69.2%) had hyperchloremia, while 6 (46.2%) were reported to have hyponatremia. Conclusion: Electrolyte derangements are common in under 5 years children with acute diarrhea with increased mortality in those with severe acute malnutrition. Proper health education is needed to ensure adequate nutrition and timely use of low‑osmolar oral rehydration solution as well as early referral of cases with persistent gastrointestinal losses in order to save lives. Keywords: Acute gastroenteritis, electrolyte abnormalities, under‑five childre