ABSTRACT
The incidence of candidiasis in the female reproductive tract is a serious threat to public health. This study assesses the prevalence of Candida albicansamong female patients in the two selected hospitals in Owerri metropolis. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 120 female patients between the ages of 16-56 years. Only patients who showed no symptoms of urinary tract infections and who were not on anti-fungal therapy at the time of the study were included in the study. A well-structured interview questionnaire was used to source information on socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents as well as the risk factors of Candida albicansinfections. High Vaginal Swab (HVS) was aseptically collected from each of the patients, using a sterile swab stick. The collected samples were labeled appropriately and immediately sent to the microbiology/mycology lab for analysis. The HVS samples were respectively streaked directly into sabouraud agar plates and incubated anaerobically at 37oC for 48 hours. Yeast growth characteristics were noted. Positive colonies were sub-cultured in Macconkey agar to obtain pure isolates. The Candida albicanswere properly identified and confirmed by germ tube test, gram staining and biochemical tests. The results showed that the overall prevalence of Candida albicansamong the women was (53.34%). The prevalence was highest among the patients in the age group 16-25 (44.17%), lower education qualification (n=65, 54.17%) and pregnant women (n=44, 36.67%). The possible risk factors for the infection include use of antibiotics (n=85, 70.83%), use of nylon underwear (n=78, 65.00), use of public toilet (n=90, 75.00%), use of squat WC (n=59, 9.17%) and use of oral contraceptive (n=59, 49.17%). The results call for preventive measures to protect women. Therefore public health education and campaign should be adopted
ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants, also calledherbal medicine, have been used intraditional medicinepractices since prehistoric times. The phytochemical screening of root and shoot extracts of Euphorbia hirta plant commonly known as asthma weed was evaluated using soxhlet and aqueous extract as a solvent to determine the active components. Maceration methodwas used in extracting the active properties/component. Phytochemical screening of root and shoot extracts revealed presences of saponins, anthranoid anthroqunione, phenol, alkaloid, tannins, phylobatanninsand cardiac glycoside. Antibacterial screening of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Streptococcus pyogenes, using disk diffusion method, showed that in both the aqueous root and shoot extract Streptococcus pyogeneshas the highest zone of inhibition of 120mg with 12mm while least is Escherichia coli that had no inhibition at all. The aqueous extractthe root and shoot were more active than the soxhlet solution. Using the aqueous shoot extract Streptococcus at 120mg with 12mm zone of inhibition of Staphylococcus at 90mg with 9mm. While in the aqueous root extract, Staphylococcus aureus at 100mg with 10mm, Streptococcus pyogenes at 90mg with 9m and Salmonella typhi at 80mm with 8mm. Antifungal screening with clinical isolate of candidaalbicanshad highest zone of inhibition 130mg with 13mm at root aqueous extract while penicilliumspp, Aspergillus, spp and Microsporium spp showed no zones of inhibition atboth root and shoot extracts. The results obtained suggested that Euphorbia hirta plant can be used in the treatment of ailments caused by the test microorganisms, with particular attention being paid to its aqueous extract