Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among food handlers and restaurant workers in Ekpoma Edo State, Nigeria

Food handlers have been recognized to play a major role in the transmission of food borne diseases; contributing significantly to the global incidence and burden of the diseases. This study therefore, assesses the nasal carriage of staphylococcus aureus among food handlers and restaurant workers in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. A total of 100 nasal swab samples were collected and analyzed for Staphylococcus aureus using standard methods. The results showed that the prevalence of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among food handlers and restaurant workers in Ekpoma was 60%. The males had the highest prevalence of 58%, while the females had a prevalence rate of 42%. Those within age 26-30 had the highest prevalence of 67%, followed by those within the age group of ≤25 (17%) and 31-35(17%). Antibiotic sensitivity results showed that Gentamycin, Levofloxacin, Septrin, Rocephin and Ciprofloxacin had 100% sensitivity pattern, while Pefloxacin and Ampiclox exhibited 75% and 25% sensitivity patterns respectively. Ampicillin however, showed no sensitivity (0%). It is our opinion that concerted efforts need to be made to educate food handlers and restaurant workers on the importance of personal hygiene and the use of protective gadgets like nose masks while handling food products; since they serve as potential sources of staphylococcal food poisoning.Keywords: Food Handlers, Food borne diseases, Staphylococcus aureus, Nasal Carriage, Restaurant

Evaluation of antiplasmodial effects of the ethanolic leaf extract of Salacia lehmbachii on Plasmodium berghei infected mice

Salacia lehmbachii leaves are used in Nigerian traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria and other diseases. The ethanolic extract was tested for its activities against suppressive, prophylactic and established infections in Plasmodium berghei infected albino mice at dose levels of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg; while chloroquine (10 mg/kg) was used as positive control. The extract exhibited significant dose-related antiplasmodial activities on parasites with the used-dose levels, showing significant mean survival time. The results, therefore, co-relate with claims by traditional users for the treatment of malaria and other feverish conditions; and could serve as source of potential new antimalarial  agents. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.55610

Computerised software systems in replacement maintenance information management : a South African case study

Abstract: Computerised software systems have undeniably continued to gain recognition in the implementation of reliable maintenance policies in today’s Industries. While significant investigations corroborating the importance of management technology in developed economies abound, this study examines the level of the technology’s success in a typical manufacturing firm in South Africa. Using an analytical research approach, useful maintenance indices were established from the dataset stored in the maintenance information management system of a case example manufacturing firm, designated ‘X-Company’ in this research for the sake of confidentiality. The result shows that, as applied currently to the replacement maintenance of the case example system, the technology requires optimisation. Maintenance policies that can improve the poor correlation between the current status on the one hand, and the established trends in the maintenance engineering literature and practice on the other, are recommended

A proposed framework for assessing lean readiness in South African healthcare institutions

Abstract: Recent healthcare literature has upheld lean as a methodology for improving operational efficiency and quality of care. However, the uncertainty of implementing lean successfully is still of concern as implementation failures have been recorded. Insufficient preparedness and lack of readiness assessment among other factors have been highlighted as a reason for failure. This paper develops an instrument for assessing the capabilities, quality management practices, and general preparedness of healthcare institutions for a lean implementation journey. The study identifies, through a comprehensive review of lean healthcare literature and the South African healthcare quality improvement literature to find current best quality management practices, and resource requirements needed to create a healthcare system that is supportive of lean. Application of this framework may provide an opportunity for hospital managers to benchmark with emerging lean success stories within the same operating context for organizational learning

Biological and practical considerations regarding circadian rhythm and mental health relationships among nurses working night shifts: a narrative review and recommendations

Background: Sleep is a vital physiological process regulated by the circadian clock and homeostatic mechanisms. Shift work is necessary to ensure continuity of healthcare provision. Worldwide, nurses work night shifts on a rotational or permanent basis. Objective: To analyse the impact of circadian rhythm disruption due to night shift work on the mental wellbeing of nurses. Methods: The literature search was conducted using PubMed and Scopus electronic databases. Selection criteria include studies published in English between 1997 and 2021 that examined the impact of night-shift work on the mental health of nurses. Results: The searches generated a total of 22 records on the PubMed database, and 9 records on the Scopus database, and a total of 31 studies. 29 papers were identified after removal of duplicates. However, 29 articles were screened based on the review of titles and abstracts. 19 articles were identified for full-test review. Seven papers were included in this review. Conclusions: Disrupted circadian rhythms and poor sleep quality and quantity have been identified as two of the most significant elements in the long-term effects of night-shift work on nurses' mental health. Strategies and policies to promote workplace health may reduce the occurrence of mental health disorders among night-shift nurses, whether the shifts are rotational or permanent. Nursing supervisors and hospital administrators should consider developing new guidelines to minimize the negative impact of night shift rotations on mental health and the quality of life among nurses

Improving supply chain performance in the South African healthcare service : a literature based perspective

Abstract: Supply chain performance management plays an imperative role in keeping healthcare organizations sustainable and competitive by handling the storage and efficient distribution of resources in the value chain. Managing the complexity of healthcare demands and the application of improved technologies requires best practice supply chain models. The South African healthcare industry experiences unsatisfactory capacity limitations where there are extreme deficiencies of beds, equipment, facilities and trained healthcare professionals. This study highlights supply chain management strategies that can enhance efficient healthcare accessibility and delivery in South Africa using literature data. The results show that advanced healthcare delivery approaches such as ambulance divert and predictive analytics stand a good chance of improving supply chain management in the country

Analgesic Activity of Aqueous Extract of the roots of Fagara zanthoxyloides (Linn)

Fagara zanthoxyloides (Fagaraeceae) is a shrub with prickled branches and grows freely in the coastal regions. Ethnomedical information indicates that the shrub is used for the treatment of rheumatism, syphilitic sores, diarrhoea, stomach ache, toothache, and other ailments. The analgesic effects of the aqueous root extract of Fagara zanthoxyloides was studied using animal models. Results showed that the aqueous extracts of Fagara zanthoxyloides demonstrated potent and significant analgesic activity in vivo against drug induced abdominal constricitions and against both phases of thermal pain, comparable to some analgesic drugs. It is suggested that the analgesic effects appear to be due to its alkalodial phytoconstituent.Key words: analgesia, antinociceptive, Fagara zanthoxyloide

Anatomical variations in Ileo sigmoid knot: our experience at Iyi-Ewu hospital (a surburban hospital near Onitsha, Anambra State) Nigeria - case report

No Abstract. Journal of Experimental and Clinical Anatomy Vol. 4(2) 2005: 20-2

Evaluation of the efficacy of cardiovascular supplement in reducing coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in Enugu, Nigeria

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of mortality which equals an average of 1 death every 33 seconds as confirmed by statistics from United States National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS). Sixty healthy subjects within the age range 40 to 75 years (mean, 54. 7+ 3.3), M: F ratio given as 1.4:1 were selected by stratified random sampling for the study. The supplement (Plakman TM) was administrated and the lipid profile at pre and post-treatment determined using standardized laboratory protocol. Data obtained were statistically analyzed and presented in tabular form. Results revealed a statistically significant increase (p ƒ¬0.05) in mean serum HDL cholesterol in the post-treatment relative to pre-treatment level. Conversely, there was a statistically significant decrease in the total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol post-treatment. However, there was no statistically significant change (p. ƒ®0.05) in the VLDL and triglyceride fractions respectively in both sexes. A statistically significant difference (p. ƒ¬0.05) was also reported in the summary estimates involving the ratios TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C respectively in both sexes. Thus, the cardiovascular supplement (Plakman TM) could be exploited in significantly lowering the risk of CHD in the study population Keywords: Cardiovascular supplement, Coronary heart disease, Lipoprotein fraction

Mass Deworming of School-Aged Children: A Pharmacological Review

Health is the 4th point in the cardinal political program of the present administration and the effectiveness of mass deworming exercise based in schools has been advocated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the best education and intervention program for helminthiasis. It is thus, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and costs little per child. Helminthic infection is a global phenomenon affecting over two billion people. In regions of rural poverty in the tropics where prevalence is greatest, simultaneous infection with more than one type of helminth is common. The focus of the global health research has been on the 3 major tropical diseases that is malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis; hence little attention was paid to the morbidity and mortality of some tropical diseases like helminthasis which poses a greater risk to our children, as it makes cognitive ability low and the individual very vulnerable to other infection, as well as causing periodic episodes of anemia. This program, if well implemented will be of immense help in achieving the health component of the millennium development goals.Key words: Deworming Chemotherapy Epidemiology Helminthiasis