ABSTRACT
Surgical procedures often lead to both intrinsic and extrinsic infections. In order to improve on recovery of patients; investigations were carried out on samples collected from patients during and after surgery. Laboratory analysis was performed on wound swabs from incision; colon segments; scrapes; tissues; pus and catheter specimen urine. The samples were cultured on MacConkey and Blood agar and incubated aerobically at 370C for 16-24 hours. Thereafter; isolates were identified using standard microbiological methods. Results showed that isolates from wound were also found on endogenous indicators of surgery. Klebsiella species from incision was 15 (18.75) while those from colon segment was 30(37.6); scrapes 8(16) and pus 3(7.5). Acinetobacter species found on incision was 15(7.5) and pus 7(2.3). Pseudomonas species was distributed on incision 5(2.5); colon segment 4(5); tissue 3(1.6); scrapes 5(10) and pus was 5(12.5). Staphylococcus aureus which was isolated from incision was 2(1); while scrapes and pus were 5(10) and 7(17.5) respectively. Catheter associated urinary tract infections yielded significant bacteriuria (64.7); almost twice the rate of non-significant bacteriuria (35.3); indicating the need to remove all catheters as soon as possible. Antibiogram of isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae with resistance pattern: ApGnNaNt; Escherichia coli (ApCtNaTtCm) and S. aureus (ApChCxErPn) with plasmid sizes in the range (30.2-52.51Kb) were common to both indicators and wound; showing that the pathogens were the same clusters. This study demonstrated surgical procedures as precursory to intrinsic infections and that bacterial pathogens found on wounds and endogenous indicators of surgery are links to intrinsic infection. The study therefore emphasizes the need to culture wounds promptly to effect speedy recovery of patients who have undergone surgery
Subject(s)
Cross Infection , General Surgery/surgery , Patients , Wounds and InjuriesABSTRACT
Purpose: To compare the phytochemical constituents in the leaves and fruits of Allanblackia floribunda and determine their free radical scavenging activity. Methods: The fruit and leaves of AF collected from the uncultivated farmlands of Okeigbo; Ondo State; Nigeria; were dried; milled and extracted with methanol. Phytochemical screening was carried out according to standard procedures. Free radical scavenging activity was determined by measuring the decrease in the visible absorbance of 2;2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) on addition of the plant extract. The mean inhibitory concentration (IC50); which is the concentration of extract needed to decrease the initial absorbance of DPPH by 50was determined graphically. Total phenolic; flavonoids and proanthocyanidin contents were determined by spectro-photometric methods. Results: Alkaloids; anthraquinones; tannins; saponins; steroids; terpenoids; flavonoids and cardiac glycosides were found to be present in both the fruits and leaves. Only AF fruit contained phlobatannins. IC50 values of 0.01; 0.02 and 0.1 mg/ml were recorded for Vitamin E; AF leaves and AF fruits respectively. Total phenolic; total flavonoid and proanthocyanidin contents were 65; 0.07 and 2.38 mg/g of powdered plant material for AF fruits; and 12; 51.35; 19.5 mg/g of powdered plant material for AF leaves as gallic acid; rutin and catechin equivalents respectively. Conclusion: AF leaves are five times more potent as a free radical scavenger compared to the fruits though the fruit was found to contain a higher phenolic content
Subject(s)
AlkaloidsABSTRACT
Purpose: To compare the phytochemical constituents in the leaves and fruits of Allanblackia floribunda and determine their free radical scavenging activity. Methods: The fruit and leaves of AF collected from the uncultivated farmlands of Okeigbo; Ondo State; Nigeria; were dried; milled and extracted with methanol. Phytochemical screening was carried out according to standard procedures. Free radical scavenging activity was determined by measuring the decrease in the visible absorbance of 2;2-diphenyl-1 -picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) on addition of the plant extract. The mean inhibitory concentration (IC50); which is the concentration of extract needed to decrease the initial absorbance of DPPH by 50was determined graphically. Total phenolic; flavonoids and proanthocyanidin contents were determined by spectro-photometric methods. Results: Alkaloids; anthraquinones; tannins; saponins; steroids; terpenoids; flavonoids and cardiac glycosides were found to be present in both the fruits and leaves. Only AF fruit contained phlobatannins. IC50 values of 0.01; 0.02 and 0.1 mg/ml were recorded for Vitamin E; AF leaves and AF fruits respectively. Total phenolic; total flavonoid and proanthocyanidin contents were 65; 0.07 and 2.38 mg/g of powdered plant material for AF fruits; and 12; 51.35; 19.5 mg/g of powdered plant material for AF leaves as gallic acid; rutin and catechin equivalents respectively. Conclusion: AF leaves are five times more potent as a free radical scavenger compared to the fruits though the fruit was found to contain a higher phenolic content
Subject(s)
Clusiaceae , Flavonoids , Free Radical ScavengersABSTRACT
There is increasing resistance of malaria parasites to chloroquine; the cheapest and commonly used drug for malaria in Nigeria. Artemisin; a product from medicinal plant indigenous to China; based on active principle of Artemisia annua; has been introduced into the Nigerian market. However not much has been done to project antimalaria properties of indigenous medicinal plants. This study thus; has the main objective of presenting medicinal plants used for malaria therapy in Okeigbo; Ondo State; South west Nigeria. Focus group discussions and interview were held about plants often found useful for malaria therapy in the community. Fifty species (local names) including for example: Morinda lucida (Oruwo); Enantia chlorantha (Awopa); Alstonia boonei (Ahun); Azadirachta indica (Dongoyaro)and Khaya grandifoliola (Oganwo) plants were found to be in use for malaria therapy at Okeigbo; Southwest; Nigeria . The parts of plants used could either be the barks; roots; leaves or whole plants. The recipes also; could be a combination of various species of plants or plant parts. This study highlights potential sources for the development of new antimalarial drugs from indigenous medicinal plants found in Okeigbo; Nigeria
Subject(s)
Antimalarials , Drug Resistance , Malaria , PlantsABSTRACT
This work was undertaken to determine the incidence of nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in children at a tertiary hospital and the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of MRSA compared with methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) strains. From 1994 to 1995; 4;981 admissions in the neonatal intensive care; paediatric surgical; general paediatric; and the well-baby wards of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital were prospectively monitored for nosocomial S. aureus infections. Antibiotictesting was performed on a total of 175 isolates of S. aureus obtained from 169 patients with nosocomial infections (NI) using a disk diffusion method and by E test (AB Biodisk; Sweden). In total; nosocomial MRSA infection was identified in 96 (1.9) patients; rates recorded for patients in the various wards as stated above were 4.2; 3.2; 0.5 and 0 respectively. Correspondingly; the rate of nosocomial MRSA amongst all S. aureus infections was 63.6; 44.7; 41.7 and 0; and 54.9 overall. All MRSA and MSSA were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and vancomycin. Clindamycin and rifampin (87-98) were also highly effective against MRSA and MSSA; 78.3 of MRSA and 91.7 MSSA were sensitive to fusidic acid. Gentamicin (70.9) and erythromycin (65.8) were also active on MSSA. Cotrimoxazole had low activity against all the strains. Following the high rate and multiresistant nature of nosocomial MRSA obtained in this study; there is need for intensive surveillance of such infections and initiation of stringent control measures in Nigeria and Africa at large.; 0.5 and 0 respectively. Correspondingly; the rate of nosocomial MRSA amongst all S. aureus infections was 63.6; 44.7; 41.7 and 0; and 54.9 overall. All MRSA and MSSA were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and vancomycin. Clindamycin and rifampin (87-98) were also highly effective against MRSA and MSSA; 78.3 of MRSA and 91.7 MSSA were sensitive to fusidic acid. Gentamicin (70.9) and erythromycin (65.8) were also active on MSSA. Cotrimoxazole had low activity against all the strains. Following the high rate and multiresistant nature of nosocomial MRSA obtained in this study; there is need for intensive surveillance of such infections and initiation of stringent control measures in Nigeria and Africa at large
Subject(s)
Cross Infection , Methicillin , Staphylococcus haemolyticusABSTRACT
Cryptosporidium is a common cause of diarrhoea in patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Unfortunately this pathogen is not often checked for in Microbiology laboratories because the formol-ether stool concentration method for identification of Cryptosporidium is cumbersome and may not be routinely undertaken in very busy laboratories and in laboratories with inadequate personnel. This study was therefore carried out to compare the outcome of direct stool examination and formol-ether concentration method with the aim of finding a non-cumbersome method of examining for Cryptosporidiumspecies routinely in stools when it is indicated. Fresh stool specimens of 193 HIV positive and 200 HIV negative patients (control) attending clinic at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) were processed within two hours of collection using direct stool smear and formol-ether concentration methods. Permanently stained slides were prepared using Kinyoun acid-fast stains. Cryptosporidium oocysts were found in 35 (18.1) of HIV seropositive patients using direct stool smear method and in 36 (18.7) using formol-ether concentration method. There was no statistical difference between the two methods (p 0.05; xz = 0.012; df = 1 at 95 confidence limit critical ratio = 3.841). No Cryptosporidiumwas identified in the control (HIV negative) patients using either method. Cryptosporidium oocysts can be routinely checked for in the Microbiology laboratories using either direct stool smear or formol-ether concentration stool method with comparable sensitivity
Subject(s)
CryptosporidiumABSTRACT
Many deaths occurring in the developing countries are due to water borne diseases which are usually associated with water related behaviour such as improper disposal of faecal material as well as improper storage of water. This study was therefore designed to identify the factors that influenced domestic water contamination in our rural communities and recommend some intervention measures that can reduce this high morbidity and mortality due to diarrhoeal diseases in Nigeria. Water samples from the water sources serving six rural communities in three local government areas of Lagos State as well as water samples from 308 households from the six communities were collected for bacteriological examination. Demographic and socio-economic characteristics; toilet facilities and water storage facilities available in the households were recorded in a structured questionnaire and analysed with X2 and ANOVA statistical packages. Two out of the 12 (16.7) water sources (both bore-holes); were potable and the others were contaminated with feacal bacteria. A low percentage of households in each of the six communities had potable drinking water. Many toilets facilities (42.9) were situated less than 10 meters away from the households. Only a few households (6 .1 ) purified their drinking water. The water source; toilet facilities and occupation of the fathers in the households had a statistically significant positive association (p0.05) with the domestic water contamination level whereas age; level of education and overcrowding did not. The study recommends provision of less contaminated sources of water such as boreholes as a source of supply to communities and introduction of programmes that will promote hygienic practices amongst the communities
Subject(s)
Developing Countries , Water PollutionABSTRACT
The pH changes; faecal contamination level; survival of nalidixic-acid resistant salmonella typhi in 'gari' soaked in water was examined. The pH values showed that 'gari' had a range of pH 3.76 to pH 6.24. The mean pH values showed that there were no appreciable change for gari types from various sources within the studied time period of 120 minutes. Faecal coliform contamination of 4 to 2;400/g using the MPN technique were recorded in 33of the 36 'gari' samples. This high faecal coliform contamination rate of gari; a popular fermented cassava food is unacceptable and it is of public health importance. Our survival experiment showed that the seeded enteric pathogen slightly decreased in colony-forming unit (cfu) with log(0.3 10) 0.3 within the studied 120 minutes. It is concluded that our local foods should be monitored regularly for public health safety; and improved hygienic practices should be emphasized as an intervention for diarrhoeal diseases in developing countries