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

AMELIORATING ACTION OF CNIDOSCOLUS ACONITIFOLIUS ON TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE-INDUCED BENIGN PROSTATE HYPERPLASIA RATS

Unhealthy lifestyle, high cost of living, non-balance feeding habit and poor exercise are among the major contributory factors to high incidence of benign prostate hyperplasia especially among men of 40 years and above. Improvement of biochemical parameters in testosterone propionate-induced benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) rats by Cnidoscolus aconitifolius was studied. The 28days study was done using 30 male albino rats grouped into six with 5 rats each. The extraction and characterization of the leaves were done using standard methods. Enzyme assays and other biochemical parameters were determined using spectrophotometric techniques. The results obtained revealed that the administration of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius significantly reduced the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Inflammatory marker levels when compared with the BPH (negative) control group whose values were elevated. The histopathology assays of the treated groups showed little healing in the prostate as compared to the negative control group. The results suggest that Cnidoscolus aconitifolius possesses anti-BPH potentials and may be encouraged for management of BPH

Molecular Simulation of the Interaction of Diclofenac with Halogen (F, Cl, Br)- Encapsulated Ga12As12 Nanoclusters

Diclofenac is one of the most frequently consumed over-the-counter anti-inflammatory agents globally, and several reports have confirmed its global ubiquity in several environmental compartments. Therefore, the need to develop more efficient monitoring/sensing devices with high detection limits is still needed. Herein, quantum mechanical simulations using density functional theory (DFT) computations have been utilized to evaluate the nanosensing efficacy and probe the applicability of Ga12As12 nanostructure and its engineered derivatives (halogen encapsulation F, Br, Cl) as efficient adsorbent/sensor materials for diclofenac. Based on the DFT computations, it was observed that diclofenac preferred to interact with the adsorbent material by assuming a flat orientation on the surface while interacting via its hydrogen atoms with the As atoms at the corner of the GaAs cage forming a polar covalent As–H bond. The adsorption energies were observed to be in the range of −17.26 to −24.79 kcal/mol and therefore suggested favorable adsorption with the surface. Nonetheless, considerable deformation was observed for the Br-encapsulated derivative, and therefore, its adsorption energy was observed to be positive. Additionally, encapsulation of the GaAs nanoclusters with halogens (F and Cl) enhanced the sensing attributes by causing a decrease in the energy gap of the nanocluster. And therefore, this suggests the feasibility of the studied materials as potentiometric sensor materials. These findings could offer some implications for the potential application of GaAs and their halogen-encapsulated derivatives for electronic technological applications

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