The effectiveness of alcohol-based gel for hand sanitising in infection control

This article aims to evaluate the evidence relating to the effectiveness of alcohol-based gel in infection control in healthcare settings with particular reference to renal nursing, as this has become pertinent due to the increasing reliance on evidence-based practice. There is a need to implement better infection control strategies and education, to reinforce knowledge among the public, healthcare workers and those at high risk of infection not only in renal nursing, but in other areas of practice. Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) put patients’ safety at risk, increase morbidity, mortality, extend the length of hospital admission and increase the cost to the National Health Service (NHS). There is evidence that the prevalence of HCAIs in England can be minimised through the use of different infection control measures. For example, alcohol-based gel has been found to be associated with minimising the spread of gastrointestinal infections not only in hospital settings, but also in child care centres. In addition, the UK national guidelines recommend regular hand washing (implementing the right technique) when hands are visibly dirty and hand disinfection with alcohol-based gel when hands are not visibly dirty. This should be before, in between and after different healthcare activities are performed

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND PROTEOLYTIC POTENTIALS OF FUNGAL FLORA OF SOILS STRESSED BY TANNERY WASTES IN JOS, NIGERIA

The physico-chemical parameters and proteolytic potentials of fungal population in soils stressed by tannery wastes were investigated. The fungal species were isolated using hair baiting technique. Sabouraud Dextose Agar (SDA) medium was used for the isolation work. The pH, percentage moisture/organic matter contents and elemental analysis of the soil samples were assessed. The assessment of the soils polluted with tannery wastes was compared with that of the control sample collected from soils devoid of tannery activities. The results of the physico-chemical parameters of the soil samples showed the pH values of the soils to be 7.32, 7.53 and 6.46 for soils collected from Naraguta tannery (SNG), Dodo Street tannery (SDS) and College of Forestry, Jos (SCF control) respectively. The percentage moisture content values recorded for the soil samples from the two tanneries were higher than that of the control soil. The nitrogen level of the soil samples ranged from 0.010-0.19% while phosphorus ranged from 1.4-24mg/kg. The sodium levels were between 1.0-2.0mg/kg while the calcium levels ranged from 900-5080mg/kg. Twenty-one fungi species belonging to 12 genera were isolated from the experimental soil samples. Three of the genera including Cunninghamella elegans, Mucor haemalis and Rhizopus sp belong to the class phycomycetes. Others belong to the class hyphomycetes. Aspergillus niger had the highest number of isolation as well as highest frequencies of occurrence. Nine fungal species produced zones of clearance on the skim milk casein agar medium used for the assay of proteolytic activity indicating their potentials as keratin degraders

Thirty-five years (1986–2021) of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria: bibliometric and scoping analysis

Background Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an acquired defect of the cellular immunity associated with the infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The disease has reached pandemic proportion and has been considered a public health concern. This study is aimed at analyzing the trend of HIV/AIDS research in Nigeria. Method We used the PUBMED database to a conduct bibliometric analysis of HIV/AIDS-related research in Nigeria from 1986 to 2021 employing “HIV”, “AIDS”, “acquired immunodeficiency syndrome”, “Human immunodeficiency virus”, and “Nigeria” as search description. The most common bibliometric indicators were applied for the selected publications. Result The number of scientific research articles retrieved for HIV/AIDS-related research in Nigeria was 2796. Original research was the predominant article type. Articles authored by 4 authors consisted majority of the papers. The University of Ibadan was found to be the most productive institution. Institutions in the United States dominated external production with the University of Maryland at the top. The most utilized journal was PLoS ONE. While Iliyasu Z. was the most productive principal author, Crowel TA. was the overall most productive author with the highest collaborative strength. The keyword analysis using overlay visualization showed a gradual shift from disease characteristics to diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Trend in HIV/AIDS research in Nigeria is increasing yet evolving. Four articles were retracted while two had an expression of concern. Conclusion The growth of scientific literature in HIV/AIDS-related research in Nigeria was found to be high and increasing. However, the hotspot analysis still shows more unexplored grey areas in future

PROTOCOL: Water, sanitation and hygiene for reducing childhood mortality in low‐ and middle‐income countries

Respiratory tract infections and diarrhoea are the two biggest killers of children in low income contexts. They are closely related to access to, and use of improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). However, there is no high quality systematic review that quantifies the effect of WASH improvements on childhood mortality. Existing systematic reviews of WASH improvements measure effects on morbidity, under the (often implicit) assumption that morbidity is closely correlated with mortality. This is at least partly because the impact evaluations on which they are based are only designed to detect changes in morbidity with statistical precision, whereas mortality is a relatively rare outcome. The proposed review will address this evidence synthesis gap, using the greater statistical power of meta-analysis to pool findings across studies

Determinants of Patronage of Traditional Bone Setters in the Middle Belt of Nigeria

Background: Traditional bone setting is a practice that is common in our environment. This is a community based survey of opinions concerning orthodox and traditional fracture management in four states of the middle belt of Nigeria. We set out to ascertain the factors influencing preference of treatment of fractures among populations in the middle belt of Nigeria. Methodology: A community based questionnaire survey of randomly selected adults regarding preference of choice of treatment between orthodox and traditional fracture management. Results: One hundred and eighty-six questionnaires were found analyzable with a male to female ratio of 2:1. There was a preponderance of preference for orthodox fracture management (70.4%). Decisions were mainly collegiate, outside the influence of the individual; only 9.9% decided to attend traditional bone setters on their own. Conclusion: Reasons adduced for preference of traditional bone setters were incongruous and inconsistent. A fixated cultural outlook was recognized as being the motivating factor for patronage of traditional bone setters. Need for enlightenment campaign of the public against patronage of traditional bone setters is emphasized. A gradual phasing out of traditional bone setting with a road map towards making orthodox fracture management available to all is advocated. Keywords: Traditional bone setting, orthodox fracture management, preference of treatment, fixated cultural outlook. Nigerian Journal of Medicine Vol. 17 (3) 2008: pp. 356-35

STUDIES ON DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS IN PATIENTS AT JOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, NIGERIA

An epidemiologcal and microbiological studies of diabetic foot ulcers were carried out in our hospital, with a view to reducing the amputation and mortality rate associated with the disease. Wound swabs from 38 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) foot ulcer patients were investigated using culture methods for both strict aerobes and anaerobes. The bacterial isolates were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility tests using the disc diffusion method. Baseline biochemical and haematological analysis were also carried out. The prevalence of the disease was stratified in relation to some clinical and laboratory parameters, gender, age, educational and occupational status of the patients. The prevalence of the disease was 24.7%, with amputation and mortality rates of 18.4% and 15.8% respectively. Only 13% had DM for less than 1 year, while 53% for more than 10 years. 28.9% have regular shoe-wearing habits. Duration of healing ranged from 2 weeks to 24 weeks (mean = 2.7months). 31% of the patients with marked periosteal reaction had lower extremity amputation or died before amputation could be done. Staphylococus aureus (31%), Proteus spp (16%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10%), Klebsiella spp (6%), Peptococcus spp (6%), Bacteroides fragilis (3%), Streptococcus pyogenes (3%), Escherichia coli (3%), Candida albicans (3%), Streptococcus viridans (1%), Flavobacterium spp (1.5%) and Bacteroides melaninogenicus (1%) were isolated. Most of the bacteria isolates were sensitive to pefloxacin. Our results demonstrate a very high rate of diabetic foot ulcer with the corresponding high rate of amputation and mortality. A multi-disciplinary approach to the management of DM foot ulcers is advocated. Efforts should be made to carry out cultures of samples from refractory ulcers to rule out yeast colonization, which if not treated will delay wound healing. Key words: Diabetic foot ulcers, Microbial and antimicrobial surveillance, Refractory ulcers. (Af J Clinical & Exp Microbiology: 2003 4(2): 52-61

A 5-year Prospective study on Chest Trauma in Children

Chest trauma is an important cause of mortality in children worldwide. In this study we present our experience with childhood chest trauma within a five years period. This was a 5-year prospective study of consecutive patients with chest trauma. Data entered into a pre-planned proforma included demographic information, type of injury, mechanism of injury, associated injuries, type of treatment given, outcome of management and duration of hospital stay. There were 36 children aged between 2 and 16 years (mean age: of= 10.5 ± 6.2 years). There were 24 males and 12 females (m:f 2:1). Twenty seven (75%) of the 36 patients had blunt trauma while nine (25%) had penetrating chest injury. Road traffic accident was responsible for chest trauma in 26 (72.2%) children, but 6 (16.7%) other children were victims of civil unrest while 4 (11.1%) fell from heights. Haemo-pneumothorax was common in 10 (27.8%) patients. Twenty five out of the 36 (69.4%) patients had associated injuries, 10 (40%) were head injuries, followed closely by abdominal injury in 8 (32%). Chest trauma in children is common in our environment. Majority of the children suffered blunt trauma following road traffic accidents. Prompt recognition and treatment of affected children is needful for a successful outcome. Keywords: Chest trauma,Children,RoadTrafficAccident.African Journal of Paediatric Surgery Vol. 4 (1) 2007: pp. 26-2

Bacteriology of Osteomyelitis at Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

This bacteriological study of osteomyelitis in our hospital was done with a view to reducing the morbidity rates associated with this disease. Clinical specimens were collected from 60 clinically diagnosed patients. The wound swabs and pus samples were inoculated onto blood agar, chocolate agar and MacConkey agar plates, while blood cultures were set up using Brain heart infusion and Thioglycollate broths. Direct Gram-stained smears were examined microscopically. The bacterial isolates were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility tests using the disc diffusion method. The prevalence of the culture-positive osteomyelitis was 70%, with the 11 – 20 year age group having the highest prevalence of 42.9%. There was no significant difference in the prevalence in relation to gender. All the blood cultures remained sterile after 7 days incubation. Overall, 76.2% of the positive cultures were from wound swabs, followed by pus samples with 23.8%. Among the isolates, Staphylococcus aureus recorded the highest prevalence of 73.8%, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa with 11.9%. Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp. and Escherichia coli recorded 7.1%, 4.8% and 2.4% respectively. Most of the isolates showed multiple resistance to the commonly prescribed antibiotics, except for ofloxacin that recorded 100% activity against all the isolates. Our results showed a very high rate of culture-positive osteomyelitis. Efforts should be made to start the treatment early based on culture-guided antibiotic therapy. In the absence of culture facilities, ofloxacin could be used for the empiric treatment of osteomyelitis in our community. Keywords: Osteomyelitis, Bacteriology, Antibiotics, resistance Journal of Medical Laboratory Science Vol. 13 (2) 2004: pp. 19-2

Comparative analysis of urethral catheterization versus suprapubic cytostomy in management of neurogenic bladder in spinal injured patients

No Abstract Nigerian Journal of Medicine Vol. 16 (4) 2007: pp. 318-32