Evaluation of antibacterial and phytochemical properties of methanolic leaf and root bark extracts of Newbouldia leavis Seeman ex Bureau (Bignoniaceae)

Methanol fraction of Newbouldia leavis root bark and leaf extract were analyzed in-vitro for their antibacterial and phytochemical activities. Spot test and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to determine the phytoconstituents of the extracts. The plant extracts were tested against three multi-resistant bacteria isolated from infected wound. The antibacterial activity of the plant extracts was evaluated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli using agar well diffusion method. Broth dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bacteriocidal concentration (MBC). The extracts showed the presence of alkaloid, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, cardio-active glycosides, terpenoids, phenols and steroids. The GC-MS analysis showed the presence of 17 compounds in the leaf extract and 16 compounds in root bark extract. The two extracts have 7 compounds in common. The results of the zone of inhibition test showed that the root extract at the concentration of 50 and 100 mg/mL inhibited the growth of E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus while the leaf extract inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus at the concentration of 25, 50 and 100 mg/mL and P. aeruginosa at 50 and 100 mg/mL. The MIC of the root bark extract against all the test bacteria was at 50 mg/mL while the MIC of leaf extract against E. coli and S. aureus was at 25 mg/mL and P. aeruginosa at 50 mg/mL. MBC of both extracts against the three test bacteria was at 100 mg/mL except root bark extract that has no MBC against P. aeruginosa. The study shows that methanol extract of the leaf and root-bark of Newbouldia leavis possess antibacterial activity and justified the traditional use of this plant in the treatment of wound and other bacterial infection.Keywords: Antibacterial, phytochemical, Newbouldia leavis, broth dilution, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometr

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries