ASYMPTOMATIC BACTERIURIA IN PREGNANCY IN OSOGBO WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO STAPHYLOCOCCUS SAPROPHYTICUS

Asymptomatic bacteriuria is a common clinical entity in pregnancy but the prevalence due to S. saprophyticus, an established uro-pathogen in sexually active women, remained largely unknown in Nigeria. The prevalence of asymptomatic significant bacteriuria due to S. saprophyticus was therefore determined among 431 pregnant women in a tertiary health institution, Southwestern Nigeria. Clean catch specimens of mid stream, early morning voided urine, collected on two occasions with an interval of four weeks, were subjected to microbial analysis and quantitative culture. All cultures with significant growth (≥105 CFU/ml) were characterized and S. saprophyticus identified using conventional biochemical scheme. A total of 862 duplicate urine samples were analyzed; 19.5% were positive for the same bacteria on two consecutive samples, giving a prevalence rate of 19.5% for asymptomatic bacteriuria. S. saprophyticus was recovered from consecutive urine of 2.6% of the women, 54.5% of whom had significant pyuria. The isolates were all susceptible to vancomycin, gentamicin and fluoroquinolones, but 18.2% were methicillin resistant strains. From the result of this study, all pregnant women should be routinely screened for S. saprophyticus urinary carriage

Prevalence of Tinea Capitis among Children in Osogbo, Nigeria, and the Associated Risk Factors

Tinea capitis is a fungi infection of the scalp that disproportionately affects children in rural and underserved communities in Nigeria. A case-control study was conducted to identify the causative agents and factors that predispose school pupils to tinea capitis in two selected government-owned public primary schools in Osogbo, Southwestern Nigeria. A total of 230 participants were included in the study: 115 cases and 115 controls. Head scrapings were collected from pupils with suspected T. capitis lesions, viewed under Potassium Hydroxide smear microscopy and cultured in Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar (SDA) for characteristic fungal elements. A total of 105 (91%) samples were successfully cultured, of which 56% (59/105) were from male pupils. Tricophyton rubrum (34%), Tricophyton mentagrophyte (31%) and Microsporum canis (18%) were the most prevalent organisms. Other dermatophytes obtained include Microsporum nanuum (3%), Epidermophyton floccusum (6%), Tricophyton verucosum (1%), and Microsporum gypseum (8%). Pupils between the ages of 4 and 7 years had the highest distribution (67%) followed by those between the ages of 8 and 11 years (39%). Playing with animals, the sharing of combs and not bathing with soap were significantly associated with tinea capitis infection (P < 0.05) in each case. This study showed a high prevalence of tinea capitis caused by the identified dermatophytes in the area