Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic helminths among school-aged children from two selected primary schools in Mubi-north L.G.A., Adamawa State, Nigeria.

Infections involving parasitic helminths constitute a major health challenge especially as it affects children from rural and sub-urban communities of developing countries. It is also reported to be an influential cause of morbidity in children of school age who harbour the peak burden and the damaging effect of the worm invasion. Objectives: This was a cross-sectional institutional-based study aimed at investigating the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic helminths from two selected primary schools in Mubi-North LGA, Adamawa State. Methodology: Faecal samples were collected from 150 pupils of Staff Primary School, Federal Polytechnic Mubi, and Mubi I Primary School Lokuwa and were examined for eggs/larvae of intestinal helminths using direct smear and formal ether concentration methods. Results: The results showed an overall prevalence of 22.0% consisting of four species of helminthic parasites which includes Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale, Taenia solium, and Schistosoma mansoni. Staff Primary School had the highest occurrence of S. mansoni (5.3%), while Mubi I Primary School had the highest occurrence of A. duodenale (10.7%), A. lumbricoides(8.0%), and T. solium (5.3%). On the overall, Ancylostoma duodenale (10.0%) was the most predominant parasite, while the least was T. solium (3.3%). The result of the odd ratio and chi-square (OR=1.263, CI=0.582-2.742, P=0.554) showed that pupils in Mubi I Primary School are 1.263 times more likely to be infected with gastrointestinal helminths than pupils of Staff Primary School, Federal Polytechnic Mubi, but with no statistical difference. The relationship between gender and infection with gastrointestinal helminthic parasites (OR =1.017, 95% CI = 0.456-2.269, P=0.967) showed that females stand a higher chance of being infected with gastrointestinal helminths than their male counterparts, but the difference is not significant. The highest prevalence of A. lumbricoides and S. mansoni was observed among males, while the highest prevalence of Ancylostoma duodenale and T. Solium was observed among females. The age group 8-10 years had the highest prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites, but with no statistical difference from other age brackets (P=0.514). Conclusion: Despite low prevalence, there is, the need for urgent development of high-quality preventive and control measures that is compliant with the endemic or highly prevalent communities

Phenotypic detection of Extended-spectrum â-lactamases (ESBLs) among Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Background: Extended-Spectrum â-Lactamases (ESBLs) are group of enzymes produced by bacterial species which enable them to withstand the effect of cephalosporin antibiotics. They are mostly reported among Enterobacteriaceae and other Gram-negative bacteria especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Method: One hundred clinical samples comprising of urine, high vaginal swab (HVS), sputum, stool, semen and wound swab were analysed for bacterial growth. Bacterial species isolated were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing and phenotypic extended-spectrum â-lactamase production (ESBL).Result: Only 62(62.0%) of the clinical samples yielded bacterial growth which belonged to eight (8) genera. Escherichia coli (35.5%) was the most predominant, followed by P. aeruginosa (16.1%), while the least was P. mirabilis (1.6%). Extended-spectrum â-lactamases (ESBLs) was observed in 27/62 isolates, an overall prevalence of 43.5% with a predominance of E. coli (40.7%), followed by P. aeruginosa (22.2%). Although the number of non-ESBL isolates (35) was more than that of ESBL isolates (27%) but with no statistical difference (P=0.703). The antimicrobial susceptibility profile of all the isolates showed that 61(98.4%) and 56(90.3%) of the isolates were resistant to the â-lactam antibiotics, ceftriaxone and cefpodoxime respectively and were variable to other antibiotics. All the ESBL producers were found resistant (100%) to ceftriaxone and cefpodoxime (all cephalosporins). Also, all ESBL producing P. mirabilis, K. pneumoniae and P. agglomerans were found resistant (100%) not only to cephalosporins antibiotics, but also to other classes of antibiotics. However, resistance to all fluoroquinolones (sparfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, perfloxacin and ofloxacin) and gentamycin was moderately low especially among ESBL producing E. coli and P. aeruginosa, while ESBL producing K. pneumoniae was susceptible to the afore mentioned antibiotics.Conclusion: The finding of this study is worrisome considering the fact that most of the ESBLs strains exhibit MDR phenotype. This constitutes a threat to therapy not only in the hospital environment but also in the community. Keywords: Phenotypic, ESBLs, Enterobacteriaceae, Mub

Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and plasmid-mediated antibacterial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci

Background: Staphylococcal infections constitute problems to health care institutions. Its resistance to antibiotic has been associated with resistant plasmids (R-plasmid) that have the ability to mediate the production of drug inactivated  enzymes such as â-lactamase.Method: Forty five Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and 15 Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) were isolated from clinical samples and isolates subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing, plasmid curing and plasmid DNA isolation.Result: The highest percentages isolates were recovered from urine samples and the least from high vagina swab and wound swab for S. aureus and CoNS respectively. The antibiogram showed that majority of S. aureus (95.6%) was resistant to cefuroxime and ceftazidime, while CoNS (93.3%) were more resistance to cefuroxime and gentamycin. (p=0.17). 24.4% S. aureus and 20% CoNS were resistant to more than 5 antibiotics with multiple antibiotic resistances (MAR) index of 0.33 to 0.89 for S. aureus and 0.56 to 0.78 for CoNS. Most of the S. aureus and CoNS were cured of their resistant markers showing that their R-markers may have been borne on plasmid. However, resistance to ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone for CoNS may have been borne on chromosome as all the resistant markers were not cured. The percentage of S. aureus and CoNS cured of their R-plasmid were similar (p=0.25). Plasmids ranging from 2.03kbp to 23.13kbp were harboured by both S. aureus and CoNS.Conclusion: There is widespread antimicrobial resistance patterns and diverse plasmid profile of S. aureus and CoNS in this study. This data will be a useful baseline for further epidemiological investigations.Keywords: Plasmid, Staphylococcus, susceptibility, antimicrobials, resistance, curin