Detection of Rifampicin Resistance Rate among Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Isolates in Kano, Nigeria

Background: Rifampicin is used in the treatment of staphylococcal prosthesis-associated infections, in which bactericidal activity against surface-adhering, slow-growing and biofilm-producing microorganisms is essential. Objectives: To determine the resistance rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates to Rifampicin and interpretation of susceptibility tests to guide therapy. Methods: The study investigated the susceptibility pattern of 42 non-duplicate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus isolates from different human clinical specimens to antibiotics in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano. All the isolates were tested for rifampicin resistance using disc diffusion method with 30μg rifampicin disc on Mueller Hinton agar. In addition, biotyping characterization of the isolates was carried out. Results: More than half of the total number of the MRSA 22 (52.4%) was recovered from blood culture. The prevalence of rifampicin resistance among MRSA isolates was 33.3%.The susceptibility patterns of MRSA against antibiotics tested showed a susceptibility of 92.9%, 69%, 69%, 69%, 64.3%, 64.3%, 50% and 38.1% to Ciprofloxacin, Erythromycin, Clindamycin, Cloxacillin, Tetracycline, Gentamycin, Cotrimoxazole, and Amoxyclav respectively. Conclusion: Rifampicin monotherapy is associated with the development of resistance among MRSA isolates. For this reason, rifampicin should be used in combination with other antibiotics in the treatment of MRSA infections. The result of the antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that Ciprofloxacin is the first line drug for treatment of MRSA infections. Control of MRSA infection is essential, and it can be achieved by proper implementation of hospital control measures

Chikungunya virus infection: a review

Chikungunya fever is a self-remitting febrile viral illness that has been associated with frequent outbreaks in tropical countries of Africa and Southeast Asia. The illness has only recently become a concern in Western countries and temperate zones around the world. Chikungunya is an arboviral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, caused by Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). It consists of an acute illness characterized by fever, rash and arthralgia. Over the past decades, the virus has dispersed unexpectedly from tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia, affecting millions of people worldwide. Treatment of acute case is symptomatic; treatment of fever and joint swelling includes the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen, non-aspirin analgesics such as acetaminophen. Currently, in the era of globalization and increased international travel, and due to widespread distribution of the mosquito vector, CHIKV is becoming a substantial threat to human health worldwide, including the industrialized countries. Given the lack of effective vaccine or antiviral drug, the long-term consequences of the infection appear to be even more harmful. Adequate coordinated efforts comprising active surveillance, early detection, vector control and public awareness at local, national and international level need to be adopted in endemic areas for the effective control of CHIKV infection. Keywords: Chikungunya virus; infection; malaria; fever; vaccine; treatmen

Bacterial meningitis in pregnancy, neonate and adolescence: A report of five cases

Background: Bacterial meningitis is an infection of the meninges, the thin covering of the brain and spinal cord.Objective: This case study identifies the aetiology and the antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial agents in suspected samples of acute meningitis.Methods: The bacterial agents were detected by culture, Bactec 9050, Directgen and Gram Techniques from five patients of Makoda and Tudun Wada Primary Health care (PHC) facilities as well as Hasiya Bayero Paediatric Hospital (HBPH) that were presented to Microbiology Laboratory unit of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) – a tertiary hospital located within the meningitis belt of Nigeria. Among the five cases, three werepregnant women all in their second trimesters marked patients 1, 2 and 3 according to the increasing pattern of their ages, an adolescent marked patient 4 and a neonate marked patient 5.Results: The CSF sample of the respective patients was assayed for pus cell, protein, and RBC. The Directgen detected Haemophillus influenzae from patients 1 and same organism was isolated from patient 2. Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from patient 3 and Neisseria meningitidis from patients 4 and 5 respectively. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing reveals sensitivity to penicillin and gentamicin by H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae and N. meningitidis. N. Meningitidis and S. pneumoniae were sensitive to ceftriazone, ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin. All the three organisms displayed intermediate sensitivity to chloramphenicol, erythromycin and tetracycline according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) breakpoints.Conclusion: This study demonstrates the relevance of these agents as potential pathogens in the predisposed patients. The antimicrobial sensitivity depicted high sensitivity to the various classes of antibiotics

Burden of intestinal helminths among patients attending General Hospital Wudil in Kano State north western Nigeria

Background: Infection with parasitic helminths is often recognized as one of the most important public health problems in tropical Africa. Aim: This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of intestinal helminths among rural and semi urban communities (with no treated pipe borne water) attending Wudil General Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. Methods: Stool samples were collected from patients and processed using formol ether concentration technique. Results: Out of the 200 stool samples examined, the overall intestinal helminthes prevalence was 138(69.0%). Of these Ancylostoma duodenale had the prevalence rate of 38(19.0%), Strongyloides stercoralis 22(11.0%), Ascaris lumbricoides 28(14.0%), Schistosoma mansoni 26(13.0%), and Trichuris trichiura 24(12.0%). On the basis of gender, males had the highest infestation of 84(60.9%) compared to females 54(39.1%). Infection across age groups revealed that age group of 10-19 had the highest prevalence of helminths 45(32.6%) followed by 20-29 with 33(23.9%) while the least was in the age group of 50-59 with 11(8.0%). Patients that had no toilet facilities (that use open space) were the most infected 123(89.1%), while patients that use closed water system in the semi urban communities had the minimum infection rate of 3(2.2%). Conclusion: The study indicated very high occurrence of intestinal helminthiasis among the study population which stress the need for government efforts to promote and/ or sustain proper sanitation and good water supply

Epidemiology and control of soil transmitted helminthiasis and giardiasis in Nigeria- a review

Background: Nigeria is the country with the largest population in Africa. Helminthiasis and giardiasis are endemic in Nigeria, due to poor environmental sanitation, pollution, and contamination of water and soil. However, parasitic infections in Nigeria are not only due to the large number of its population, but also due to its geographic nature which is apt for easy parasitic development and individuals infected are children and they attributed this to the fact that children are very careless of the risk associated with playing in contaminated environments and eating indiscriminately with unwashed hands. Objective: To review the epidemiology of soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) and giardiasis in Nigeria and feasible control measures. Methodology: A wide-ranging search of electronic bibliographic databases was performed on the epidemiology and control of soil-transmitted helminthiasis and giardiasis in Nigeria. Twenty three full-length articles were studied comprehensively in order to gather up the information on epidemiology of giardiasis and STHs in Nigeria. Result: the occurrence of STH due to the triad of Ascaris lumbricoides, Hookworm and Trichuris trichiura was observed. The paper also showed that the highest and lowest prevalences of helminthiasis are 89.66% and 9.1% while that of giardiasis are 41.45% and 3.10% respectively. Conclusion: This suggests that soil-transmitted helminthiasis and giardiasis are still endemic in Nigeria and majority of those affected are children younger than 10 years living in rural areas and urban slums