Pandemic swine influenza virus: Preparedness planning

The novel H1N1 influenza virus that emerged in humans in Mexico in early 2009 and transmitted efficiently in the human population with global spread was declared a pandemic strain. The introduction of different avian and human influenza virus genes into swine influenza viruses often result in viruses of increased fitness for pigs that occasionally transmit to humans.The novel virus affecting humans is derived from a North American swine influenza virus that has acquired two gene segments (Neuraminidase and Matrix ) from the European swine lineages. This reassortant appears to have increased fitness in humans. The potential for increased virulence in humans and of further reassortment between the novel H1N1 influenza virus and oseltamivir resistant seasonal H1N1 or with highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza stresses the need for urgent pandemic planning.Keywords: Pandemic, swine, influenza, virus, preparedness

Are Health Workers in Nigeria Prepared for the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Case Study of Selected Health Workers in Plateau State, Nigeria

Background: COVID-19 is a disease that has resulted in a worldwide pandemic. Health workers have been identified to be at a higher risk compared to the general population due to increased exposure primarily at the work place and having to deal with a novel disease whose epidemiology is still evolving. As health workers are vital to control efforts, their response will be influenced by what they know, their perception of the disease and their practices. This study therefore sought to assess the knowledge, perceptions and practices of health workers on COVID-19 in Plateau State, Nigeria. Method: It is a descriptive study that used a self-administered questionnaire to collect data on 105 health workers of Plateau State who were purposively selected. Data was collected on their knowledge, perceptions and practice of COVID-19 and analyzed using SPSS version 23 at a confidence interval of 95%. Results: Mean age of health workers was 42.5 ± 9.2 years.  Females made up 58% of the respondents, males were 42%.  Nurses made up 69% of the respondents.  More than 70% had worked for 10 – 29 years. Knowledge of COVID-19 was found to be inadequate in 57% of the health workers with social media being most frequent (69.5%) source of information. Most (86.6%) respondents had a good perception towards COVID-19 and 62.8% were willing to attend to a COVID-19 patient. There were consistent practices of hand hygiene and cough etiquette. Sixty percent had access to at least one form of personal protective equipment though 72.4% had never had training on putting on the full personal protective gear required for COVID-19. Conclusion: There is an urgent need for training of health care workers in Plateau State and provision of full personal protective gear to ensure their safety at work

The necessity of full sepsis screen in neonatal sepsis: Experience in a resource-limited setting

Background: Diagnostic tests that differentiate infected from noninfected neonates have the potential to make a significant impact on neonatal care. A full sepsis screen may be necessary to make a diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the necessity of routinely collecting blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from every neonate suspected of sepsis. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Nigeria. The Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) criteria for diagnosis of neonatal sepsis were used to select subjects into the study. Blood samples, CSF, and urine samples were collected from 165 neonates and processed by standard microbiologic methods. Results: A total of 68 isolates were recovered from 165 sets of blood culture samples representing 41.2% positive blood culture results. Only 3 (1.8%) organisms were isolated from 165 CSF samples. Five (3%) isolates were recovered from 165 urine samples. The three isolates from CSF were the same with blood isolates from the same neonates. Similarly, four of the five neonates with urine isolates also had blood isolates of the same organism. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that a properly collected blood culture sample is the most appropriate sample for recovering the causative organism in neonatal sepsis whereas other samples such as CSF and urine should be collected only when there are specific indications such as an obvious focus of infection in these sites. A full sepsis screen may not be necessary in most cases so as not to put the already sick neonate through unnecessary and sometimes harmful procedures

Dinger's ring (the opaque ring just below the surface of the semi-solid EMJH media in the tube) seen on the ninth day of culture.

<p>Dinger's ring (the opaque ring just below the surface of the semi-solid EMJH media in the tube) seen on the ninth day of culture.</p

Genetic sequence and evolutionary relationships of the isolate (NigEjiji01) in the <i>Leptospira</i> taxa.

<p>Bor. = <i>L. borgpetersenii</i>, Alex. = <i>L. alexanderi</i>, Wei. = <i>L. weilii</i>, San. = <i>L. santarosai</i>, Mey. = <i>L. meyeri</i>, Kir. = <i>L. kirschneri</i>, Nog. = <i>L. noguchii</i>, Int. = <i>L. interrogans</i>, Bif. = <i>L. biflexa</i>.</p