Mutant Prevention Concentrations of Some Aminoglycoside Antibiotics for Fecal Isolates of Escherichia coli under different Growth Temperatures

For optimal efficacy, an antibiotic must achieve and sustain at the site of infection, a concentration that can inhibit growth of the bacteria. However, a bacterial infection may contain subpopulations of mutant variants with reduced susceptibility to the antimicrobial agent. There is a great need to periodically evaluate the mutant prevention concentration (MPC) of antibiotic to provide a basis for altering dosing regimens such that the growth of resistant organisms could be curtailed. To evaluate the mutant prevention concentrations (MPCs) of streptomycin, gentamicin and amikacin for fecal Escherichia coli isolates under different growth temperatures and determine the extent of recovery of resistant mutants at such temperatures. Fifty (50) isolates of E. coli were isolated from stools of patients attending Nasarawa State University Keffi Health Centre in Keffi, Nigeria and identified using standard protocol. Antibiotic minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using macro-broth dilution method of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) with incubation for 24 h at 37°C and 41°C. MIC for 50% (MIC50) and 90% (MIC90) of isolates were then generated from the plot of cumulative frequency curve. MPCs were measured by spreading a series of agar plates containing known aminoglycoside concentrations with approximately 1010 CFU of E. coli culture and incubated for 48 h at 37°C and 41°C. The lowest aminoglycoside concentration that prevented the growth of resistant colonies was taken as the MPC. MPCs for 50% (MPC50) and 90% (MPC90) of isolates were then generated from the plot of cumulative frequency of the MPCs obtained. MPC/MIC ratios for 50% (MPC50/MIC50) and 90% (MPC90/MIC90) of isolates were also determined. Bacteria surviving (persisting) at MPC were isolated and quantified after 48 h. Statistical analyses of data were done by one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). For each of the drugs, MPC50 and MPC50/MIC50 were the same at both 37°C and 41°C. MPC50 values were: streptomycin (44.2 ?g/ml [?32.0 ?g/ml]); gentamicin (44.2 ?g/ml [?32.0 ?g/ml]); and amikacin (37.4 ?g/ml [?32.0 ?g/ml]); and MPC50/MIC50 ratios for each drug at both temperatures were ? 3. MPC90 and MPC90/MIC90 were the same for each drug at both 37°C and 41°C. MPC90 values were: streptomycin (253.2 ?g/ml [?256.0 ?g/ml]), gentamicin (209.0 ?g/ml [?256.0 ?g/ml]), and amikacin (128.0 ?g/ml); and MPC90/MIC90 ratios for each drug at both temperatures were ? 4. Mutant recoveries at the MPCs of the drugs for 50% of the isolates were significantly (P < 0.05) different both at 37°C (P = 0.0089) and 41°C (P = 0.0011). However, mutant recoveries at the MPCs of the drugs for 90% the isolates were insignificantly (P >0.05) different at 37°C (P = 0.0055) but significantly (P > 0.005) different at 41°C (P = 0.0080). Whether at normal body temperature or at a higher body temperature usually obtained during fever, E. coli selects and enrich for resistant mutants less easily against streptomycin than gentamicin or amikacin. The extent of recovery of mutants however, is higher at the higher temperature, justifying the common practice of administering high dosage of antimicrobial agent at high body temperature during therapy of bacterial disease. Keywords: Mutant Prevention Concentration, Escherichia coli, Aminoglycosid

Differential associated factors for inadequate receipt of components and non-use of antenatal care services among adolescent, young, and older women in Nigeria

Nigerian women continue to die in childbirth due to inadequate health services such as antenatal care (ANC). Among other factors, the inadequate receipt or non-use of ANC appears to be associated with the age of women, remoteness, and poor households. This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the factors associated with inadequate receipt of the components and non-use of ANC among pregnant adolescents, and young and older women in Nigeria. Data for this study were from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) and covered a weighted total of 21,911 eligible women. Survey multinomial logistic regression analyses that adjusted for cluster, and survey weights were conducted to examine factors associated with adolescent, young, and older women. Adolescent women reported a higher prevalence of inadequate receipts and non-use of ANC than young and older women. Increased odds of inadequate receipt of the components of ANC were associated with residence in the North–East region and rural areas for all three categories of women. For adolescent women, the increased odds of inadequate receipt of the components of ANC were associated with delivering a baby at home and a big problem with distance to health facilities. Limited education or no schooling was associated with the increased odds of receiving inadequate ANC among older women. Implementing interventions to improve maternal and child health care should focus on the factors associated with the increased odds of receipt of inadequate or non-use of ANC services among Nigerian adolescent women, particularly those living in rural areas in the North–East region

Uptake of Antenatal Care Among Pregnant Women in Plateau State Nigeria

Background-Antenatal care offers pregnant women promotive, preventive and curative services. Despite this, some pregnant women still donrsquot access ANC at all while others donrsquot have access to ANC by skilled health care professionals. This increases the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality. This study therefore aims to determine the predictors of ANC attendance among in Plateau State. Methodology-A community based cross sectional study,400 study participants across six communities in the three senatorial zones in Plateau State were selected. Focused Group Discussion was conducted among study participants. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23. Results- 90.8% of respondents booked their last pregnancy out of which 55.8% had more than four ANC visits. Only 52.9% of the women had ANC by skilled health care providers. 69.7% of women who did not book their pregnancy delivered at home. Educational status, marital status and marital setting were predictors of ANC attendance among the study population. Women who had formal education were 1.7 times more likely to attend ANC compared to those with non-formal or no education at all. (P-value lt0.001 CI 1.267-2.321). Also, women in monogamous settings were more likely to attend ANC compared to those in polygamous setting (P-value 0.015 CI 0.162-0.822). Conclusion-Many of the respondents did not have the required number of ANC visits.nbsp More targeted interventions should be implemented in order to ensure that women have access to skilled care during pregnancy as this will reduce the risk of complications in pregnancy and delivery

The prevalence of domestic violence among pregnant women in Nigeria: a systematic review.

To identify, appraise, and synthesize research evidence on the prevalence of domestic violence (DV) among pregnant women in Nigeria. We conducted a systematic review of all published studies between April 2004 and June 2016. Comprehensive searches were conducted on electronic databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, Global Health, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Directory of Open Access Journals, Google Scholar, and electronic libraries of the authors' institution. Identified articles were screened in two stages against the inclusion criteria with titles and abstract screened first followed by full-text screening. Selected articles were assessed using the "guidelines for evaluating prevalence studies," and findings were synthesized narratively. Among 19 studies that met the inclusion criteria, two articles were excluded due to low methodological quality and 17 articles were included in the review. The prevalence of DV during pregnancy in Nigeria ranged between 2.3% and 44.6% with lifetime prevalence rates ranging between 33.1% and 63.2%. Physical, sexual, psychological, and verbal abuses were the most frequent types of DV reported in this review. The most common perpetrators were husbands, as reported in 11 of the 17 studies. Pregnant women between the ages of 20 and 30 years were the most common victims of DV. Our review suggests high prevalence of DV in pregnancy among women in Nigeria and higher lifetime prevalence. However, determining an overall, synthesized accurate prevalence rate of DV within this population based on existing evidence presents a challenge. The findings have important implications for stakeholders such as planners, policy makers, maternity care providers, and researchers in public health and social policy at national, regional, and international levels toward combating the issue. OBJECTIVE METHOD RESULTS CONCLUSIO

Differences in perceived risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 during and after the lockdown in Sub-Saharan African countries

This study investigated risk perception of contracting and dying of SARS-CoV-2 in sub-Sahara Africa during and after the lockdown periods. Two online surveys were conducted one year apart, with participants 18 years and above living in sub-Sahara Africa or the diaspora. Each survey took four weeks. The first survey was taken from 18 April to 16 May 2020, i.e., during the lockdown. The second survey was taken from 14 April to 14 May 2021, i.e., after the lockdown. A cross-sectional study using adopted and modified questionnaires for both surveys were distributed through online platforms. Question about risks perception of contracting and dying of SARS-CoV-2 were asked. The Helsinki declaration was applied, and ethical approvals were obtained. Total responses for both surveys, i.e., both during and after the lockdown, was 4605. The mean age was similar in both surveys (18–28 years). The mean risk perception scores were higher after lockdown by 3.59%. Factors associated with risk perception of COVID-19 were survey period, age group, region of residence, and occupation. Non-health care workers had a lower risk perception of COVID-19. This first comparative study on the level of risk perception of Africans during and after the lockdown shows that one in every three and every four persons in sub-Sahara Africa felt at high risk of contracting COVID-19 and thought they could die from contracting the same, respectively

Analysis of perception, reasons, and motivations for COVID-19 vaccination in people with diabetes across Sub-Saharan Africa : a mixed-method approach

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with severe COVID-19 infection and complications. This study assesses COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in people with DM, and explores the reasons for not being vaccinated. This was a web-based cross-sectional survey using a mixed-method approach conducted in March–May 2021, corresponding to most sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries’ early vaccine rollout period. Participants were those aged ≥18 years with self-reported DM in 11 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Responses to comments on the reasons for vaccine hesitancy and facilitators for vaccine uptake were analyzed. Of the 73 participants with DM, 65.8% were males, older than 35 years (86.3%), had postsecondary education (90%), and a significant proportion were from South Africa (39.7%), Nigeria (28.8%) and Ghana (13.7%). At the time of this study, 64.4% experienced COVID-19 symptoms, 46.6% were tested for COVID-19, of which 19.2% tested positive. Few participants (6.8%) had received a COVID-19 vaccination, 65.8% were willing to take the vaccine when it becomes available in their country, while 26.0% either refused or remained hesitant towards taking the vaccine. The main identified reasons for not taking the vaccine were: advice from religious leaders; concerns about the safety, effects, and efficacy of the vaccines; mistrust of the pharmaceutical companies producing the vaccines and the process of production; the conspiracy theories around the vaccines; and the personal belief of the participants regarding vaccination. However, participants stated they would take the vaccine if they were more educated about it, received positive feedback from those vaccinated, were rewarded for taking the vaccine, or if vaccination became a condition for travel and employment. In conclusion, this study shows that the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine was very low in this high-risk group. Efforts to increase the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among people with diabetes are imperative, such as the provision of education and relevant information

International research collaboration during the pandemic: Team formation, challenges, strategies and achievements of the African Translational Research Group

This paper discusses multidisciplinary international research collaboration team formation during the COVID-19 pandemic, challenges faced, strategies adopted, achievements and dynamics in the implementation of research on Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), by the African Translational Research Group (ATReG). The paper also discusses the lessons learnt and future opportunities for global collaborative research. In-depth virtual interviews were conducted with consenting members of ATReG. Questions were designed to provide rich, deep, and insightful opinions, lived experiences and perspectives of ATReG group members on group formation, challenges, strategies and achievements. Interview data was transcribed and analysed thematically, and the results were presented with important quotations presented. The ATReG consisted of English (n = 13) and French (n = 1) speaking sub-Saharan African (SSA) researchers who specialise in public health, epidemiology, optometry, information technology, supply chain management, psychiatry, community health, general medical practice, nutrition and biostatistics. Most members of the group reported an informal but well-coordinated structure of the group. Formed during the pandemic, all group meetings were held online, and many members are yet to meet each other in person. The group collected data from Africans and published 10 peer reviewed journal articles on COVID-19 within two years. It presented in international conferences, engaged with the media and the public and was awarded a national competitive funding in Nigeria all of which which contributed to career progression and academic promotion of some members. There have been challenges in sustaining the research collaboration and maintaining productivity. Challenges include difficulties meeting deadlines and obtaining funding for research activities. However, these challenges have been addressed through a collaborative problem-solving approach. The study found the need for operational and methodological flexibility, centralised coordination, and established funding sources as being essential for long term sustainability and performance of the group. The ATReG’s objective of providing useful data on COVID-19 and generating useful knowledge about COVID-19 in SSA has been achieved. In such a multi-disciplinary international collaborative team relaiant on the online medium to operate, the experiences and challenges can be a model for learning for researchers intending to form international multidisciplinary collaborative groups. Nonetheless, there are still many important areas of research which ATReG will continue to pursue

Risky sexual behaviour and associated factors among female students of a Tertiary institution in North-Central Nigeria

Background: Human sexual behaviour is the way in which humans experience and express their sexuality. It could be risky and non-risky. Risky  sexual behaviours including early sexual debut, unprotected sexual intercourse, multiple sexual partners and having sex under the influence of  alcohol or drugs. Objective: This study assessed the sexual practices and factors associated with risky-sexual behaviour of the female students. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study involving 400 female students of the Plateau State Polytechnic. The subjects were selected from all  the departments using a two-stage sampling technique. A pretested semi-structured selfadministered questionnaire was used to obtain relevant  information from the subject. Analysis was done using IBMSPSS 22.0. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Sixty-four percent of the respondents had sexual debut at age 19-23 years. Fifty-two percent had sex with only one partner within the last  six months while respondent's sexual partners were mostly male. About 92% practiced vaginal sex, 6.2% oral sex and 2.3% anal sex. Less than one-quarter and 19.2% of the study participants used condom always and did negotiate for safer sex respectively. There was a significant association  between substance use and risky-sexual behaviour. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of risky-sexual behaviours among the study cohort.  These were seen from the high percentage of the female students who had sexual debut before the age of 18 years, unprotected sexual intercourse  as well as multiple sexual partners. Substance use, desire for pleasure, expression of love, and quest for money were the factors  associated with sexual behaviour of the cohort