ABSTRACT
Malaria caused 350 to 500 million clinical episodes in the year 2000 and remains the fifth most deadly infectious disease worldwide after respiratory infections, HIV/AIDS, diarrhoeal diseases, and tuberculosis. Though malaria remains a global health concern in developing nations, the approximate malaria-infected cases reduced from 227 million cases in 2000 to 198 million cases in 2013 globally. Notably in Africa over the last decades, malaria eradication programmes have received greater international attention leading to reduction of parasite-infected cases by 26%, with a decrease in cases from 173 million in 2000 to 128 million in 2013. Nevertheless malaria remains a global health concern in developing nations. The World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region (SEAR) comprises of 11 member states (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste) of which 10 countries are malaria endemic while Maldives has been declared malaria-free nation since 1984. Presently no licensed malaria vaccine is available and vaccine developers are working on several novel approaches to make a breakthrough as these vaccines would probably be crucial factor to prevent the transmission and onset of malaria. Further due to excessive dependence on artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs), emergence of drug resistant parasites, malaria coinfection in immunocompromised patients and newer P. knowlesi strains are fuelling this severe public health problem. Effective measures such as routine surveillance of the antimalarial drug efficacy, newer rapid diagnostic tools (RDTs) and appropriate treatment regimes will help to monitor and limit this deadly disease especially in the malaria-endemic countries. In this review, the various intertwined factors leading to malaria burden – a continuing problem for global health- specially in South-East Asia region are highlighted.
ABSTRACT
Aims: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU’s) pose socio-economic challenges and are a major cause of hospital admissions and morbidity often causing suffering and poor quality of life for diabetics especially in developing world. The aim of this study was to determine the bacterial profile and antibiotic susceptibility and resistance pattern of foot ulcers of diabetics at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional. Twenty seven (27) diabetics with foot ulcers comprising 15 males and 12 females attending the diabetic clinic at KATH were recruited Original Research Article British Journal of Medicine & Medical Research, 4(27): 4501-4510, 2014 4502 for this study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the diabetic clinic of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) between November 2006 and April 2007. Methodology: Demographic parameters of the participants were recorded and wound swabs were obtained and cultured on blood and MacConkay agar. Organisms isolated were identified and tested for their antimicrobial sensitivity patterns using Kirby-Bauer method. Results: The mean age of the participants, duration of diabetes and FBS were 58.2±12.0 years and 6.5±2 years and 12.3±4.0 mmol/L respectively. Two (2) patients had their toes amputated. Twenty nine (29) isolates were detected from the 27 ulcer specimens out of which 28 (97%) isolates were gram negative organisms. Proteus spp (31%) and Escherichia coli (24%) were the most common gram negative pathogens isolated in this study and Staphylococcus aureus was the only gram positive organism isolated. Ciprofloxacin (100%), ceftazidime (100%), Ceftriaxone (88.3%), gentamycin (80%) and cefotaxime (80%) were most sensitive to the isolates whereas ampicillin (0%), tetracycline (0%) and chloramphenicol (0%) were the most resistant. Conclusions: Gram negative organisms’ highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime and Ceftriaxone are the most common pathogens in DFU’s in KATH.
ABSTRACT
Background: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is useful in the diagnosis of prostate adenocarcinoma. Aims: Our study sought to establish possible effect of age and BMI on serum PSA levels in Ghanaian men with genitourinary complaints. Methods: In this non-randomized, cross-sectional study, we recruited 202 men from the Genitourology and pathology departments of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) and MDS-Lancet Laboratories Ghana, between July 2011 and February 2012. Height and weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) calculated for each participant. Serum PSA levels were measured and prostate biopsies from each of the participants were examined histologically for diagnosis. Results: The mean PSA level was 200 ng/ml, mean age of 66.33±8.90 years, and a BMI of 23 kg/m2. The mean Gleason score of all participants was 3.38±3.58 years. There was a positive correlation between age and PSA levels (r=0.020; P=.78). A negative correlation was established between BMI and PSA (r=-0.068; P=.33). There was however a significant positive correlation (r=0.237; P=.001) between PSA levels and Gleason score. Linear regression analysis revealed no relationship between PSA and age (r=0.002; P=.98) and, PSA and BMI (r=-0.068, P=.36). Conclusion: Serum PSA levels correlate with age and BMI, however these factors do not have an effect on the levels of serum PSA at measurement. We suggest that PSA values be used in the context of the clinical scenario and other PSA altering factors.