The Relative Incidence of Hypertension Comorbidly Occurring with Diabetes in ABO/Rhesus Blood Groups and Haemoglobin Genotypes in South-Western Nigeria.

ABO blood groups, Rhesus factors and haemoglobin genotypes are all inherited blood characters. This this study was aimed at investigating the relative incidence of hypertension comorbidly occurring with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in ABO/Rhesus blood groups and haemoglobin genotypes in some residents of Abeokuta, South-Western Nigeria. Age and sex matched control subjects (n=150) and patients (n=470) [hypertensive nondiabetics (HND, n=179), normotensive diabetics (ND, n=132), hypertensive diabetics (HD, n=159)] presenting at the Medical Out-Patient Clinic of the State Hospital, Abeokuta, Nigeria were recruited. Standard electrophoretic and haemagglutination techniques were employed in testing the blood samples. Fasting plasma glucose, haemoglobin, plasma creatinine and plasma urea were determined spectrophotometrically. Blood pressure and its component were also determined. Prevalence of hypertension and/or T2DM was observed in subjects with blood O followed by A. The phenotype frequencies of ABO blood group in both hypertensive and diabetic patients and controls (both sexes) are in the order O>A>B>AB. The RhD+ and RhD- distribution were similar in patients and their control counterparts (p > 0.05). The spectrum of haemoglobin electrophoresis among the controls and patients can be shown with a general formula HbAA>HbAS>HbAC>HbSS>HbSC>HbCC except in control female and HD female. The results obtained suggest that there is a strong positive relationship between blood group O and hypertension and/or T2DM. Large studies in other ethnic groups are needed to confirm these results.

Neonatal sepsis in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital: Clinical features, clinical outcome, aetiology and antibiotic susceptibility pattern

Background: Neonatal sepsis is a significant cause of neonatal mortality in developing countries. The aetiological agents and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns are dynamic.Objectives: This study determined clinical features, aetiology, antimicrobial susceptibility and clinical outcome of neonatal sepsis in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital.Methods: Neonates undergoing sepsis evaluation at a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital were included in the study. Demographic and clinical information were obtained using standard questionnaires. Blood samples were cultured on MacConkey, Blood and Chocolate agar. Isolated bacteria were identified based on morphology, Gram stain appearance and standard commercially prepared biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on Mueller-Hinton agar using the Kirby-Bauer method.Results: Eighty-five of the 180 neonates admitted during the study period were recruited. Fifty-five neonates presented with early-onset sepsis and 30 with late-onset sepsis. Culture-proven sepsis was detected in 19 (22.4%) neonates. The incidence of culture-proven sepsis in the hospital was 2.8/100 live-births. The most common clinical feature at presentation was respiratory distress. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 78.9 percent of all isolates and were the only organisms encountered in early-onset sepsis. Isolated pathogens were predominantly Klebsiella spp (31.6%), Enterobacter spp (21.1%) and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (15.8%). The isolates were most sensitive to ofloxacin. Gram-negative bacteria showed high resistance to cefuroxime and ampicillin. The case-fatality rate was 26%.Conclusion: Gram-negative bacilli, especially Klebsiella spp, was predominant. Neonatal sepsis persists as a cause of mortality in this region. Regular antimicrobial surveillance for empirical treatment remains an important component of neonatal care