Health and safety conditions of building maintenance sites in Nigeria: Evaluating the post occupancy contaminations of timber buildings by microorganisms

This research assessed the safety of the environmental conditions of timber buildings as maintenance sites from cultivable microorganisms under various climatic conditions in Nigeria. Several site illnesses leading to poor work and reduced productivity on construction sites have been attributed to unidentified microorganisms or their metabolites. To identify the microorganisms, bulk samples were collected on timber buildings classified as maintenance sites over the country and then identify the microorganisms available using the cultivation technique. Eight hundred and fifty nutrient and Sabouraud dextrose agar dishes were prepared. The nutrient agar dishes were incubated for 24 h at 35°C whereas those of Sabouraud dextrose agar were incubated for 72 h at 30°C. Biochemical tests were used to classify the bacteria while fungi were identified via visual and microscopic observations. The sites were highly contaminated with Enterobacter agglomerons, Serratia liquefaciens, Enterobacter hafniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and other species of Enterobacter, Serratia, Klebsiela, Bacillus, and Micrococcus. And among fungi species were; Penicilium, Mucor, Geotrichum, Alternaria, Trichoderma, Rhizopus, Paecilomyces, Gliocladium, Aspergillus, Syncephalastrum, Acrosporium, Mycelia sterilia, Cladosporium, Trichothecium, Chrysonilia and Saccharomyces. Sixty four percent of construction workers experienced symptoms of sick building syndrome while on maintenance site. The most contaminated region is the rain forest

Determination of aflatoxin contamination in cassava flour sold in selected markets in Zaria, Kaduna state; Nigeria

Cassava (Manihot esculenta ) is a major staple food crop across tropical  sub-Saharan Africa. Poor drying during processing or storage, especially during the rainy season, often results in contamination by fungi such as Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium. Aflatoxins are among the mycotoxins which are secondary metabolites produced by some strains of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus which are a major health concern to man and livestock because of their acute and chronic health effects. The aim of this study was to determine aflatoxin contamination and to quantify the aflatoxin levels in cassava flour. A total of 36 samples of Cassava flour were collected in three (3) major markets in Zaria, these are: Samaru, Sabon Gari and Zaria City Markets to determine and quantify aflatoxins using enzyme linked immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The results obtained showed that 22 out of 36 were contaminated with total aflatoxins at the range of 2.0μg/kg to 7.5μg/kg. This study indicated that there is low aflatoxin concentration in the Cassava and suggested that the cassava flour is safe and good for human consumption.Key words: Cassava, Aflatoxin, Fungi, Marke

An approach to effective disinfection of salon items [clippers, combs and scissors]

Antibacterial susceptibility patterns of some bacteria isolated from selected barbing salons in parts of Northern Nigeria was studied for the purpose of developing a disinfectant system suitable for use in salons. The K-values for selected cells ranged from 0.0072 to 0.0399 (benzalkonium chloride), and from 0.0062 to 0.1338 (propylene glycol) as against a range of 0.0147 to 0.1343 when the two chemicals were combined. The observed D-value range of 64.5 to 99 (benzalkonium chloride), 31.5 to 105 (Propylene glycol) and 21 to 24 (admixture of the two chemicals) were exploited in the development of “SALONSEFE” – a salon disinfectant that was able to eliminate 105 cfu/ ml (of the most resistant bacterial isolated in these studies) completely in 60 seconds. Keywords: salonsafe, antibacterial, disinfectant, salon, K-value, D-value The East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 7(3) 2004: 47-5

Sensitivity of extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing enterobacteriacea to Acalypha maccafeana extracts

Powdered leaves of Acalypha maccafeana (L.) “Red Acalypha” was extracted with ethanol and fractionated with Petroleum ether, Chloroform and n-butanol using maceration technique. The extract and fractions were tested for antimicrobial activity against confirmed extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) producing enterobacteriaceae isolates of Escherichia coli, Citrobacter species, Enterobacter species, Klebsiella species, Proteus species and Salmonella species using disc diffusion method and microbroth dilution technique. The extract and fractions were further subjected to screening for phytochemical constituents. Sensitivity test results showed that ethanol extract, petroleum ether and residue fractions of red Acalypha were active against the isolates tested. The results of phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, reducing sugars, steroids and tannins in both extract and fractions with flavonoids only present in ethanol extract and residue fractions of the plant. Keywords: Sensitivity, β-lactamase, Enterobacteriaceae, Acalypha maccafean

Resistance patterns of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to some quinolones Isolated in Kano, Nigeria.

Two hundred (200) strains of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were isolated from clinical samples collected from patients in Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital and Infectious Diseases Hospital, Kano. The confirmed isolates were tested for resistance to quinolones by the agar disk diffusion susceptibility test and the agar dilution minimum inhibitory concentration test. A resistance prevalence rate of 27% and 38% were seen in S. aureus and P. aeruginosa respectively. Eighteen S. aureus isolates were resistant to only one quinolone, while 9 had multiple resistances. 25 P. aeruginosa isolates were resistant to one quinolone, while 13 had multiple resistances. Nine resistance patterns were observed in all the isolates with S. aureus isolates having 8 while P. aeruginosa had 7. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the resistances observed in S. aureus and P. aeruginosa isolated from the male or female atients except in the case of 2 S. aureus isolates that were resistant to sparfloxacin. Quinolones could still be relied upon as effective antibiotics in treating S. aureus and P. aeruginosa infections. The need to emphasize enforcement of antibiotic use policies in developing countries is further justified by these findings. Keywords: Resistance, Quionolones, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, Kano, Nigeri

Isolation of bacteria associated with diarrhoea among children attending some hospitals in Kano metropolis, Kano state, Nigeria

Bacteriological investigations of Diarrhoeal diseases were carried out among 300 children who were between the ages of 0 – 24 months using stool samples from five different hospitals in the metropolitan Kano. The organisms were isolated and identified using cultural, serological biochemical test. Sensitivity testing of the isolates to some antimicrobial agents was carried out. Out of those number only a total of 122(40.7%) of children were found to have Diarrhoea associated with bacteria in which 34(27.9%) and 88(72.1%) were from breast-fed and bottle-fed children respectively. The Bacteria isolated were Escherichia coli which were the most predominant, followed by Salmonella species and then Shigella species. As at the time of the study, there was significance difference between breast-fed and bottle-fed in the incidence at P> 0.05. Among the antimicrobials used cotrimoxazole was found to be more effective than the others. Also, most of the children tested were found to have a common illness of diarrhoea followed by dysentery, abdominal pain and fever/vomiting

Investigation on the bioeffects of ethanol extracts of leaf and stem of Momordica charantia on clinical straing of Escherichia coli and Staphlococcus aureas

The bio-effects of the ethanol extracts from the leaf and stem of Momordica charantia were studied with the view to ascertain the medical usefulness ascribed to the plant by the locals. The plant parts, stem and leaf, revealed remarkable activity against Escherichia coli and Staphlococcus aureas. The leaves extracts showed activity at a concentration as low as 10mg/ml against E. coli and 15mg/ml against S. aureus. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) ranges from 10- 15mg/ml while Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) from 30-45mg/ml. The activity of these extracts compared favourably with those of standard antibiotics, Tetracyclines (0.33mg) and Ampicillin (10μg), used in this study. The phytochemical analysis of the extracts showed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides and steroids. The presence of these chemicals in the extracts may have been responsible for the activity possessed by the plant extracts. Keywords: Bioeffects, Ethanol extracts, Clinical strains, Momordica charanti

Serological Characterization and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Clinical Isolates of Salmonella from Patients Attending General Hospital, Funtua, Nigeria

Serological characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of clinical isolates of Salmonella were carried out for a period of 8-months to study the most frequently encountered serovars in salmonellosis and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Two hundred and forty samples from both stool and blood specimens were collected from out patients attending General Hospital, Funtua, Katsina state of Nigeria. The samples were collected from patients diagnosed by clinicians of having either pyrexia, gastroenteritis or both. Samples were cultured, isolates identified and antibiotic susceptibility test was performed using standard procedures. The total number of 29(12.1%) of the 240 samples collected were identified as Salmonella strains. Out of the 29 isolates, 19(65.5%) were responsible for typhoidal salmonellosis while 10(34.5%) were responsible for non-typhoidal salmonellosis. Of the 29 cases of salmonellosis, 24(82.8%) were from children and 5(17.2.7%) from adults. However, the age of the patients have no significant relationship in both the typhoidal and non-typhoidal diseases, with their p values= 0.109, 0.784 > 0.05 respectively. S. typhi 16(55.2%) was the most frequently encountered, followed by S. enteritidis 7(24.1%) and 3(10.3%) each for S. paratyphi A and S. typhimurium. Of the total isolates, 26(89.7%) were found to be resistant to Ampicillin, 6(20.7%) resistant to Cefotaxime, 24(82.8%) resistant to Chloramphenicol, 9(31%) resistant to Co-trimoxazole and 2(6.9%) resistant to Nalidixic acid. However, resistance to Ofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin by the isolates were not observed. There was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in antimicrobial resistance patterns exhibited among typhoidal and non-typhoidal Salmonellae. Therefore, Fluoroquinolones are recommended as the drug of choice for both typhoidal and non-typhoidal salmonellosis, although, caution should be taken by the clinicians in prescribing them in order to avoid resistance to these drugs

Evaluation of phytochemical and antibacterial properties of Terminalia avicennioides crude extract against selected bacteria from diarrhoeic patients

Phytochemical screening of aqueous and ethanol crude extracts of the different plant parts of Terminalia avicennioides was carried out using standard chemical evaluation methods. The antibacterial effects of aqueous and ethanol crude extracts of Terminalia avicennioides against E.coli and S.typhimurium clinical and reference isolates from diarrhoeic patients were also evaluated using agar-well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of aqueous and ethanol crude extracts were evaluated by broth dilution techniques. The result revealed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids saponins, triterpens and glycosides. All bacteria were found to be susceptible to the extracts which were indicated by the various zones of inhibition. The activity of extracts was concentration dependent. The reference strains were less susceptible to all extracts at low concentrations of 12.5mg/ml, but highly susceptible to extracts at varied concentrations of 25, 50 and 100mg/ml. However, all test bacteria were more susceptible to the ethanol extracts compared to the aqueous extracts with mean zones of inhibition ranging between 0.68 + 2.54 mm to 22.08 + 1.75 mm on E. coli clinical isolates, 0.0 + 0.0 mm to 20.00+0.mm on E. coli reference isolate, 3.08 + 6.0 mm to 21.50 + 0.00 mm on S. typhimurium clinical isolates and 0.00 + 0.mm to 20.00 + 0.0 mm on S. typhimurium reference isolate. The ethanol crude extracts exhibited lower MICs (12.5 to 25mg/ml) and MBCs (25 to 50mg/ml) values indicating higher efficacy of ethanol extracts, with the leaf extract demonstrating the highest activity against all the bacterial isolates. The important bioactive compounds present in the plant may be responsible for the observed antibacterial activity of the plant and hence its potential use as an antibacterial agent.Keywords: Phytochemical, Antibacterial effect, Terminalia avicennioides, diarrhoeaic patients

Antibiotic susceptibilities of Salmonella species prevalent among children of 0-5 years with diarrhea in Katsina state, Nigeria

This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of Salmonella species among children having diarrhea in Katsina State, Nigeria. A total of 220 diarrhea stool samples of children aged five years and below (0-5 years) were collected and screened for Salmonella species using culture technique. Presumptively positive isolates were further screened biochemically and serologically, using MicrogenTM Enterobactericeae ID kit and MicrogenTM Salmonella rapid confirmatory latex agglutination test kit. Antibiotic susceptibility of confirmed isolates was carried out and resistance patterns of the isolates determined. The highest incidence was observed in children of 13-24 months of age and the least in children of 0-12 months of age. There was a higher prevalence in male than female children. All the isolates screened were resistant to Ampicillin and Amoxicillin and of these, 90.9% were resistant to Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and 45.5% were resistant to Nalidixic acid. However, 100% were sensitive to Gentamicin, 90.9% were sensitive to Ciprofloxacin and Cefotaxime and 9.09% showed reduced susceptibility to Ciprofloxacin. Both the occurrence of Salmonella in children and their resistance to multiple antibiotics as observed are of public health significance. The vein of this study underscores the importance of routine monitoring of the incidence of Salmonella and continued health education of caregivers.Keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Prevalence of Salmonella; Childhood diarrhea; Katsina State; Antibiotics susceptibility of Salmonell