Triple positivity of HBsAg, anti-HCV antibody, and HIV and their influence on CD4+ lymphocyte levels in the highly HIV infected population of Abeokuta, Nigeria

Background: Few studies exist on hospital-based seroprevalence of triple positivity of HIV/HBV/HCV in Nigeria.Objectives: The study aimed at determining the triple positivity of HIV, HBsAg and HCV among  HIV-infected individuals in Abeokuta, Nigeria and defining the influence of these triple infections on CD4+ counts of HIV-infected individuals as antiretroviral therapy improves in Nigeria.Methods: Enumeration of CD4+ levels in 183 HIV-infected persons was done with Partec Flow  Cytometer. Seropositivity of HBsAg and anti-HCV antibody was detected with rapid kits.Results: From the result obtained, significance variance (p<0.05) existed between HIV positive persons and persons who tested positive to HIV/HBV/HCV triple infection before and after the commencement of HAART. Of these infections, 31(16.9%) had HBV/HCV/HIV triple infection, while 152(83.1%) had HIV mono infection only, 56(30.6%) had HBV/HIV dual infection only and 43(23.5%) had HCV/HIV dual infection only. Significant variance (p<0.05) also existed between subjects with CD4 counts of <200 cells/μl, 200-499 cells/μl and >500 cells/μl. Highest seroprevalence of HIV (35.0%) was found in age groups 35-44 years and >65 years had the least (2.7%). Significant variance (p<0.05) also existed in the progression of CD4+ lymphocytes cells between subjects with persistent decrease (32.3%) in CD4+ lymphocytes cells and those with fluctuation in their CD4+ lymphocytes cells (12.9%) after the commencement of ART.Conclusion: The study further confirms that triple positivity of HIV/HBV/HCV infection is common in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Testing of these triple infections should be a big concern in the best choice and commencement of ART. Also, the study showed that consistent and prolonged use of HAART had a  positive impact on the CD4 count of HIV-infected individuals.Keywords: AIDS, ART, HAART, CD4, HIV/HBV/HC

Knowledge of Occupational Hazards, Attitude and Practice of Occupational Safety Measures Among Construction Workers in Different Building Sites Located in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria.

This is a descriptive cross sectional study aimed at studying the knowledge of occupational hazards, attitude to and practice of occupational safety measures and prevalence of occupational injuries among construction workers in different building sites located at Ibeju-Lekki Local Government in Lagos State. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for construction workers present at the sampled building sites with active ongoing construction activities for six weeks duration. Multistage Clustering sampling was used and a total of 420 respondents participated in the study. Most of the respondents were between 25 to 34 years of age with a mean value of 29.46 ± 7.08 years. The mean knowledge of occupation hazards of respondents was 51.9 ± 17.3 with the majority of respondent (61.9%) having good knowledge of construction occupational hazards. Poor attitude to occupational safety measures with mean value of 45.4 ± 12.8 and poor practice of occupational safety measures with mean value of 31.9 ± 10.4 was observed. A higher proportion of respondents reported cases of injuries ranging from puncturing of foots by sharp objects (95.2%), falling on ground level (89.5%) and injury while handling, lifting or carrying loads (87.4%). Respondents’ knowledge of occupational hazards was found to be statistically associated with their attitude to and practice of occupational measures while their attitude to safety measure is statistically associated with their practice. Hence, the need to provide adequate information on construction hazards and improve the attitude to occupational safety measures for high practice of safety measures especially the utilization of personal protective equipment

Resistant plasmid profile analysis of multidrug resistant Escherichia coli isolated from urinary tract infections in Abeokuta, Nigeria

Background: Multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli has become a major threat and cause of many urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Abeokuta, Nigeria.Objectives: This study was carried out to determine the resistant plasmids of multidrug resistant Escherichia coli isolated from (Urinary tract infections)UTIs in Abeokuta.Methods: A total of 120 Escherichia coli isolates were obtained from urine samples collected from patients attending inpatient and outpatient clinics presenting UTI; with their biodata. Antibiotics susceptibility was performed and multi-drug resistant isolates were selected for plasmid profiling. Plasmids were extracted by the alkaline lysis method, electrophoresed on 0.8% agarose gel and profiled using a gel-photo documentation system gel.Results: Escherichia coli isolates obtained shows high resistance to cloxacillin (92.5%), amoxicillin (90.8%), ampicillin (90.8%), erythromycin (75.8%), cotrimoxazole (70.0%), streptomycin (70.0%) and tetracycline (68.3%) while 85.8% and 84.2% were susceptible to gentamycin and ceftazidime respectively. Sixteen Escherichia coli strains were observed to be resistant to more than two classes of antibiotics. The resistant plasmid DNA was detectable in 6(37.5%) of the 16 multidrug resistant Escherichia coli having single sized plasmids of the same weight 854bp and were all resistant to erythromycin, cefuroxime, cloxacillin, amoxicillin, ampicillin and cotrimoxazole.Conclusion: This study has highlighted the emergence of multidrug resistant R-plasmids among Escherichia coli causing urinary tract infections in Abeokuta, Nigeria. There is a high level of resistance to many antimicrobials that are frequently used in Abeokuta, Nigeria.Keywords: Escherichia coli, UTI, R-plasmid, multidrug resis

Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Bacteria isolated from Septicaemia Cases in a Tertiary Health Care in Abeokuta

ABSTRACT: The term septicaemia is often used in describing severe bacteraemic infections or a condition in which the blood serves as a site of bacteria multiplication. A total of 120 blood culture samples were collected during year 2011 to 2012. Bacteria isolated were characterized and the antibiotic sensitivity patterns were determined. The antibiotic sensitivity was carried out using Kirby-Bauer diffusion method. Bacteria isolated include Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The highest number of bacteria was found among patient age 10 years. Escherichia coli accounted for 12(46.2%) of the bacteria isolated while Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella sp and Streptococcus pneumoniae accounted for 6(23.1%), 6(23.1%) and 2(7.6%) respectively. The least prevalent isolate Streptococcus pneumoniae was found only in age group 10. Ceftazidime and Levoxin showed high sensitivity rate to most of the bacterial isolates. From this study, the uncontrolled use of antibiotics may have implication for emerging resistance of bacteria to commonly -used antibiotics. [Akingbade OA, Ojo DA, Okerentugba PO, Adejuwon AO, Okonko IO

Ambulatory Epigastric Hernia Repair Using Local Anaesthesia: A Pragmatic Approach In A Resource Poor Society

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Design and construction of solar-powered smart garbage disposal unit

Cities with developing economies experience exhausted waste collection services, and inadequately managed and uncontrolled dumpsites; which is an ongoing challenge and many struggles due to weak institutions and rapid urbanization. The purpose of the research is to design and construct a smart garbage disposal system using a two-way power supply unit (that is, the electrical power supply unit and solar power supply unit) based on Arduino Nano that utilizes ATMEGA 328p microcontroller. Two pairs of ultrasonic sensors, the pair that faced upward detects the presence of garbage disposal agent at a close distance of (5 - 50) cm and then opens the lid while the other pair faced the inside of the container senses when the container is filled up and then closes the container until it is emptied are used

Antimicrobial resistance in Africa: a systematic review

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is widely acknowledged as a global problem, yet in many parts of the world its magnitude is still not well understood. This review, using a public health focused approach, aimed to understand and describe the current status of AMR in Africa in relation to common causes of infections and drugs recommended in WHO treatment guidelines. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE and other relevant databases were searched for recent articles (2013–2016) in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Article retrieval and screening were done using a structured search string and strict inclusion/exclusion criteria. Median and interquartile ranges of percent resistance were calculated for each antibiotic-bacterium combination. Results: AMR data was not available for 42.6% of the countries in the African continent. A total of 144 articles were included in the final analysis. 13 Gram negative and 5 Gram positive bacteria were tested against 37 different antibiotics. Penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae was reported in 14/144studies (median resistance (MR): 26.7%). Further 18/53 (34.0%) of Haemophilus influenza isolates were resistant to amoxicillin. MR of Escherichia coli to amoxicillin, trimethoprim and gentamicin was 88.1%, 80.7% and 29.8% respectively. Ciprofloxacin resistance in Salmonella Typhi was rare. No documented ceftriaxone resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae was reported, while the MR for quinolone was 37.5%. Carbapenem resistance was common in Acinetobacter spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa but uncommon in Enterobacteriaceae. Conclusion: Our review highlights three important findings. First, recent AMR data is not available for more than 40% of the countries. Second, the level of resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics was significant. Third, the quality of microbiological data is of serious concern. Our findings underline that to conserve our current arsenal of antibiotics it is imperative to address the gaps in AMR diagnostic standardization and reporting and use available information to optimize treatment guidelines.</p