Isolation of pathogenic bacteria from fomites in the operating rooms of a specialist hospital in Kano, North-western Nigeria

Background: Nosocomial infection constitute over 25% of infection rates in the hospital setting causing significant morbidity and mortality especially in developing countries. The aim of this study is to establish the possible presence of known bacteria pathogens on fomites in the operating theatre and evaluate their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Methods: Various items in the operating theatre rooms such as forceps,scissors, floor, walls, suction tube, sink, theatre bed covers etc. were screened for the presence of bacterial and fungal pathogens from MurtalaMohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano between Jan – Aug 2009. One thousand eight hundred (1,800) samples were processed. Bacterial and fungal isolates were identified by standard microbiological procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out by disc diffusion method.Results: A total of eight bacteria genera and four fungal species were observed. The following bacterial pathogens were isolated; Escherichia coli(10.0%), Proteus Mirabilis (8.33%), Proteus vulgaris (6.70%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.3%), Staphylococcus aureus (0.83%), Streptococcus spp. (18.3%), E. faecalis (3.33%), Coagulase negative staph (28.3%) and Salmonella choleraesius (0.83%). Ofloxacin and ceftriaxone showed encouraging results against the isolates.Conclusion: Fomites should be regarded as a possible source of nosocomial infection since bacteria from them can be carried from the hands of theatre personnel to the patient undergoing surgery or through redispersed bacteria from surfaces during surgery.Key words: Bacterial Pathogens, fomite, operating room, antibiotic susceptibilit

Numerical simulation of the dynamic response in pulse-loaded fibre-metal-laminated plates

This article presents a three-dimensional constitutive model to replicate the dynamic response of blastloaded fibre–metal laminates made of 2024-0 aluminium alloy and woven composite (glass fibre–reinforced polypropylene). Simulation of the dynamic response is challenging when extreme localised loads are of concern and requires reliable material constitutive models as well as accurate modelling techniques. It is well known that back layers in a fibre–metal laminate provide structural support for front layers; thus, proper modelling of constituent failure and degradation is essential to understanding structural damage and failure. The improved developed model to analyse damage initiation, progression and failure of the composite is implemented in finite element code ABAQUS, and a good correlation is observed with experimental results for displacements of the back and front faces as presented by other researchers. The model was also able to predict accurately the tearing impulses. Finally, the concepts of the ‘efficiency of the charge’ and ‘effectiveness of the target’ are proposed in the context of localised blast loading on a structure. Dimensionless parameters are introduced to quantify these parameters

The Effects of Public Health Spending on Maternal Mortality in Nigeria

This study attempts to examine the effects of public health spending on maternal mortality in Nigeria. It is informed by the escalating nature of maternal mortality outcomes in Nigeria. A panel data regression analysis was employed from the years 2003 to 2015 from selected 25 States in Nigeria. The study adopted instrumental variables strategy as a solution for possible endogeneity for its econometric analysis. After controlling for other relevant covariates like female per capita income, female literacy rate, and urbanization, we realized that public health expenditure is a vital factor in reducing incidences of maternal mortality in Nigeria. Keywords: Maternal Mortality, Public Health Spending, Nigeria, Health Expenditure JEL CODES: JEL-G, H,

Effect of Crude Oil Contamination on the Compressive Strength of Concrete

This paper investigates the influence of crude oil contamination on the compressive strength of concrete. Concrete produced in regions where crude oil is exploited can have significant changes in its properties as a result of crude oil contamination of its constituents. Various cubes of concrete with varying degrees of crude oil contamination were processed in the laboratory to determine the effect of contamination on the mechanical properties of concrete. Contamination in concrete was achieved by adding crude oil to the aggregate constituent of the test concrete. It was observed that the presence of crude oil in concrete hinders the bond formation between constituent materials and brings about segregation. Consequently, the presence of crude oil in concrete resulted to variations in workability of the concrete-the higher the percentages of crude oil in the fine aggregate, the higher the workability. Also, lower compressive strengths were observed in contaminated concrete cubes when compared with the controlled cubes. This revealed clearly that crude oil is a compressive strength inhibitor in the production of concrete. The higher the percentages of crude oil in the fine aggregate, the lower the compressive strength obtained. It can be inferred that the optimum crude oil contamination for the achievement of normal compressive strength is as low as 0.3%.http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v34i2.

Marine Water Effect on Compressive Strength of Concrete: A Case Study of Escravos Area of Nigerian Delta

This paper examines the effect of seawater found the Excravos area of the Nigerian delta in concrete production. It is well-known that the use of seawater for mixing concrete does not appreciably reduce the strength and other properties of concrete but may lead to corrosion of reinforcement in some certain cases. Seawater obtained from Excravos area of the Niger Delta was analysed and the compressive strength of concrete produced and cured with it was obtained from the laboratory. Concrete cubes cast and cured with seawater were observed to have a higher strength at 28 days i.e. about 115% when compared with concrete cast with fresh water. Increase in concentration of seawater used in preparation of cement paste lowers the setting time: initial and final setting time. It is subsequently recommended that the use of seawater for concrete casting and curing should not be rejected or turned down. However, in the case of reinforced concrete, it is recommended that reinforcement be prevented from corrosion by using stainless steels where available and corrosion inhibitors. However, long-term effect of seawater concentration on properties of concrete such as creep and durability were not investigated in this work.http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v34i2.

Bacteriology of Post Caesarean Wound Infection in a Specialist Hospital in Kano, North Western Nigeria

Post caesarean wound infection is a common cause of maternal morbidity and mortality especially in developing countries where strict adherence to infection control procedures is low. The aim of the present study is to establish the spectrum of microbes causing post caesarean wound infection and antibiotic sensitivity pattern in our locality. Specimens collected were processed and antibiotic sensitivity pattern determined by disc diffusion method. Out of 1,230 patients in this study, 246(20%) were infected. Of which 206 (83.7%) yielded growth. E. coli 65(28.8%) was the most frequently isolated pathogen followed by Proteus mirabilis (23.0%) and Staphylococcus aureus (19.0%) Bacterial pathogens were resistant to commonly used antibiotics such as cotrimoxazole, tetracycline, cefuroxime and cloxacillin, while cephalosporin and fluoroquinolones were highly effective against the isolates. Emergency caesarean section received the risk of post caesarean wound infection. The cephalosporin especially ceftriaxone will be useful as prophylactic antibiotic when combined with metronidazole and administered just before surgery is commenced.Key words: Post caesarean wound infection, bacterial isolates, antibiotic sensitivity patter

A Case for Adoption of Industry-Wide Application of Solar Disinfection of Packaged Drinking Water Before Distribution in Nigeria

The study makes a case for adoption of an industry-wide application of solar disinfection (SODIS) in the disinfection of packaged water at the production stage. To do this, 60 samples, comprising 12 brands of bottled water and 18 brands of sachet-packaged water were randomly purchased from street vendors in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria and investigated. One sample was hidden from sunlight while the other sample was exposed to a day of sunlight before the two samples were subjected to microbial analysis for the determination of total coliform (TC) using the method of multiple-tube fermentation technique (MPN). Results show that 63% of packaged water vended in Nsukka is not fit for consumption. The risk of contamination is about 44% higher in sachet water when compared with bottled water (relative risk = 1.44). Exposing packaged water to a day of sunlight reduces the risk of consuming contaminated water by about 97% (relative risk reduction value = 0.97). Advocacy of industry-wide application of SODIS may hold the key to ending widespread contamination of packaged water and the resulting life-threatening illnesses that have decimated the population of developing countries

Assessment of programme quality of community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) in Maiha Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Background: Community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) programme was initiated to increase the number of children to be treated of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) without being admitted to the health facility and to reduce cost. Objective: The study assessed the programme quality (facility quality and performance indicators) of CMAM in Maiha Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa State. Methods: The five Out-patient therapeutic (OTP) centers in Maiha LGA were assessed in the month of August, 2018. Self- administered OTP observational checklists based on the national guidelines of CMAM evaluation checklists were used to elicit information from the officers in - charge of each OTP center. Variables observed for facility quality included facility layout and flow of activities, protocol adherence, reporting and documentation and Stock of drugs / essentials. Records from CMAM registers of each center were used to evaluate their performance indicators (admission list, cure rates, death rates, default rates and non-recovery rates). Simple percentages were used to assess their level of performance quality which was compared with the National standards. Sphere standards of nutrition programming were used to assess the performance indicators. Results: Results showed that all the centers scored from 77.27 – 90.91% on facility layout and flow of activities. On protocol adherence, all the centers scored from 41.67 – 54.17%, while reporting and documentation revealed 50 -80% across the facilities. Stock of drugs and essentials in all the facilities recorded 33.33 – 66.67%. Overall performance of the centers lies from 59.68 to 69.35%.There is significant difference between the performance of Jamtari center and all other centers. Total facility scores lie between 59.58 and 69.35%. The performance indicators revealed that admission lists of the centers were from 243 to 520 patients; cure rate of 85.50 -96 .92%; death rate of 0.19– 2.04 % and default rate of 2.69 – 4.53% across the centers. Conclusion: Minimum sphere standards of nutrition programming were achieved in all the centers. However out of stock of Ready to - use- therapeutic foods a core component of CMAM in some of the health facilities demands that government should include RUTF in the essential drugs lists of the state to increase the quality of CMAM programme in the affected communities

Effects of temperature and pH on the oxygen consumption Rate of sudanonautes (Convexonautes aubryi) floweri (de man) (crustacea: decapoda)

The oxygen consumption rate of a freshwatersub-terrestrial crab, Sudanonautes floweri in relation to different temperatures and pHwas investigated. The average temperatureand pH of the crab\'s peaty stream habitat were 29.50C and 7.5 respectively. The lethal temperatures at pH 7.0 recorded for the species were 14.50C and 34.50C respectively. The oxygen consumption rate (Q) within the temperature range of 210C – 310C increased with temperature but decreased in the zones of temperature stress (≤ 160C and ≥ 310C). There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between weight specific oxygen consumption (QW-1) of the male and female crabs. The oxygen consumption rate was positively correlated with the body weight of the crabs (r = 1.0); but was inversely related to the unit weight of the crab per hour (r = -0.95). The average oxygen consumption of the animal at 30 0C and pH 7.0 was 53.1 μg O2 g-1 h-1. Keywords: Temperature, pH, Oxygen consumption, Sudanonautes floweri Animal Research International Vol. 1 (1) 2004: pp. 16-2

Performances of the Industrial, Oil and Gas and the Insurance Sectors in Nigeria – A Correlational Analysis

This paper comparatively examines the performances of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas, Insurance and the Industrial Sectors using their Market Capitalization for a period of 2009-2015 sourced from the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Augmented Dickey-Fuller Test was used to ensure the stationarity of the distribution by means of differencing, ANOVA for the analysis of variances while Pearson Correlation was employed to empirically establish the direction and strength of relationships between sectors’ performances. Findings showed that the industrial sector’s market capitalization consistently reduces as that of the oil and gas sector increases, given a significant strong negative correlation coefficient of -0.738 for the relationship between them. As trend analysis also showed that the performances of the oil and gas sector has been declining since the latter years under review (2014/2015), the paper recommended economic diversification through development of other sectors, particularly the industrial sector. Keywords: Oil and Gas Sector, Insurance Sector, Industrial Sector, and  Market Capitalization JEL CLASSIFICATION: G10, G15,  G19,.