Prevalence, identification and antifungal susceptibility of dermatophytes causing Tinea capitis in a Locality of North Central Nigeria

Background: Tinea capitis impacts negatively on the health of children, consequently affecting their education. Its prevalence is unknown in many African communities. Tinea capitis is faced with therapeutic challenges as resistance to all classes of antifungal agents continues to emerge. This study determined the prevalence, identified dermatophytes of Tinea capitis in Okelele community in North Central Nigeria; and evaluated the susceptibility of isolates to selected antifungal drugs.Materials and Methods: Three hundred and one pupils from seven primary schools in the locality who gave assent and those with parental consent were recruited into the study. Scalp scrapings and hairs were collected from participants and subjected to microscopy and culture. Isolates identified by colonial morphology and micromorphology were subjected to disk diffusion antifungal susceptibility testing.Results: Two hundred and twenty-eight of the participants had mycologically proven Tinea capitis giving a prevalence of 75.7%. The dermatophytes identified were T. rubrum (68.0%), M. ferrugineum (22.0%), T. mentagrophytes (8.0%) and T. verrucosum (2.0%). Resistance observed with these isolates was as low as 21.2% to as high as 100% while sensitivity ranged from 78.8% to 100%. Only large family size significantly influenced the occurrence of T. capitis among the risk factors.Conclusion: Prevalence of Tinea capitis from this study is high. T. rubrum being anthropophilic and the predominant dermatophyte identified corroborates large family size as an important risk factor. Antifungal resistance as a cause of therapeutic failure was demonstrated by some isolates in this study. &nbsp

PREVALENCE IDENTIFICATION AND ANTIFUNGAL SUSCEPTIBILITY OF DERMATOPHYTES CAUSING TINEA CAPITIS IN A LOCALITY IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

Background: Tinea capitis impacts negatively on the health of children, consequently affecting their education. Its prevalence is unknown in many African communities. Tinea capitis is faced with therapeutic challenges as resistance to all classes of antifungal agents continues to emerge. This study determined the prevalence, identified dermatophytes of tinea capitis in Okelele community in North Central Nigeria and evaluated the susceptibility of isolates to selected antifungal drugs. Materials and Methods: Three hundred and one pupils from seven primary schools in the locality who gave assent and those with parental consent were recruited into the study. Scalp scrapings and hairs were collected from participants and subjected to microscopy and culture. Isolates identified by colonial morphology and micromorphology were subjected to disk diffusion antifungal susceptibility testing. Results: Two hundred and twenty-eight of the participants had mycologically proven tinea capitis giving a prevalence of 75.7%. The dermatophytes identified were T. rubrum (68.0%), M. ferrugineum (22.0%), T. mentagrophytes (8.0%) and T. verrucosum (2.0%). Resistance observed with these isolates was as low as 21.2% to as high as 100% while sensitivity ranged from 78.8% to 100%. Only large family size significantly influenced the occurrence of tinea capitis among the risk factors. Conclusion: The prevalence of tinea capitis from this study is high. T. rubrum being anthropophilic and the predominant dermatophyte identified corroborates large family size as an important risk factor. Antifungal resistance as a cause of therapeutic failure was demonstrated by some isolates in this study

Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Antenatal Patients in Ilorin, Nigeria

 Objective: To determine the prevalence of asymptomaticbacteriuria, bacteriology and sensitivity pattern in Ilorin using thegold standard of urine culture.Methods: A prospective study was carried out from 1st Julyto 31st October 2007, at the University of Ilorin TeachingHospital (UITH) on 125 consenting asymptomatic pregnantwomen. A structured proforma was used to collect informationfrom the women and a midstream urine specimen collected forbacteriological culture.Results: Of the 125 pregnant women, 50 had bacteriuria on urineculture giving a prevalence of 40�20The mean age of the womenwas 28.5 years with a standard deviation of 4.95. The age rangedbetween 14 and 40 years. Staphylococcus aureus was the commonestpathogen isolated (72� followed by Proteus spp (14� Most ofthe organisms showed good sensitivity to Nitrofurantoin andgentamicin.Conclusion: The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in Ilorinis high and routine urine culture is advocated for all pregnantwomen at booking

Pattern of sexually transmitted infections in human immunodeficiency virus positive women attending antenatal clinics in north-central Nigeria

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are prevalent during pregnancy and may have adverse sequalae in both mother and fetus. Interactions between these infections and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) synergize and may cause adverse pregnancy outcomes and reverse the gains of prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV. Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of candidiasis, trichomoniasis, gonococcal infection, syphilis, and bacterial vaginosis in HIV pregnant women and compare with HIV negative controls. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted during the period from April to December 2010 at the Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and three Primary Health Centers in Ilorin. A total of 160 HIV positive pregnant women attending antenatal clinics were recruited, along with the same number of HIV negative matched controls. A structured proforma was used to collect information from patients, vaginal examination was performed and samples were taken from the endocervix and the posterior vaginal fornix with swab sticks. Results: STIs were recovered from 142 women, giving overall prevalence of 44.4%. HIV infected women had a higher prevalence (60%) compared to uninfected (28.8%). The most prevalent STI was vaginal candidiasis (29.1%), followed by bacterial vaginosis (9.7%), and trichomoniasis (5.6%). The prevalence of candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, and trichomoniasis was higher among HIV positive pregnant women compared to HIV negative controls (P < 0.05). No woman had syphilis or gonorrhea. Conclusion: The prevalence of candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis was higher in HIV infected pregnant women compared to uninfected. Routine screening of HIV infected pregnant women for these organisms is advocated

Prevalence, intensity and complications of Microsporidium spores amongst HIV-positive hospital patients in Ilorin, Nigeria

Background: Microsporidiasis, which is of great concern for immunocompromised patients, is poorly studied in developing countries. Objectives: A study was carried out amongst HIV-positive hospital patients and HIV-negative hospital controls in Ilorin, Nigeria, between January 2009 and July 2010 to determine the prevalence and intensity of Microsporidium spores and the complications associated with their presence. Method: Stool samples from 750 HIV-positive patients and 375 HIV-negative patients were studied using the Chromotrope-2R staining technique. Determination of CD4+ count was performed on the Partec Cyflow SL-3 CD4/8 instrument. Intensity of spores was determined by counting the total number of the spores in a 10 μl stained smear of stool. Images were captured with Phenix Microimage Analysis Software and data obtained were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Results: The prevalence of Microsporidium isolates amongst the HIV-positive hospital patients was significantly higher (42.4%) than amongst the HIV-negative controls (19.2%)(p < 0.05). The intensity of microsporidial spores amongst HIV-positive hospital patients was also significantly higher than amongst the controls (p < 0.05). However, the difference in the intensity of spores amongst HIV-positive patients who were on antiretroviral therapy(n = 411) and those who were not (n = 339) was not significant (p = 0.236). Microsporidiasis in HIV infection infection was common amongst patients with with low CD4+ counts, diarrhoea, body rashes and cough. Conclusion: Both the prevalence and intensity of Microsporidiasis are high amongst HIV-positive hospital patients; campaigns to promote awareness, prevention and control are required. Laboratory testing for microsporidia in HIV patients should be performed routinely so as to identify the organism for prompt medical attention