Isolation of Candida albicans among HIV Patients Presenting with Oral Thrush in Abuja, Nigeria

Background: Candida infections are known contributors to the high morbidity and mortality rates seen in HIV positive patients.Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study was carried out at the Microbiology research laboratory, department of Medical Microbiology, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada. The population is made up of two hundred and ten (210) patients who presented with oral thrush between fifteen years and seventy years which comprises of 160 HIV seropositive and 50 non age and sex matched HIV seronegative patients. Culture, Microscopy and ELISA methods were used for isolation of Candida albicans. An interviewer-administered, structured questionnaire was used as the study tool Results: The mean age for the isolation of Candida albicanswas 30 ± 18.7 years, with the highest proportion of isolates within the age range of 21-30 years accounting for 27.1% of the study population recruited and the lowest proportion of isolates being 41-50 years accounting for 8.0%.From the 210 subjects withCandida albicansin the study, one hundred and sixty (160) representing 76.2 were isolated from HIV seropositive clients and Candida albicansisolation rate among HIV seronegative population was 23.8%.Conclusion: The sensitivity, specificity and positivepredictive value of using Grams reaction methods in the diagnosis of Candida albicanswas 22.9%, 95.2% and 82.6%. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of using ELISA methods was 25.7%, 86.7% and 65.9%.In this study, there was preponderance of Candida albicansisolate among the young and the old in HIV seropositive patients but largely isolated from older patients among HIV seronegative patients

A Review of Microbiologic Isolates of Adults with Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

Aims:This study was designed to determine the isolates from microbial cultures and the antibiotics susceptibility pattern of adults with lower respiratory tract infection. Study Design:A retrospective study.Place and Duration of Study:This study was carried out at the Pulmonology units of Medicine department and Microbiology research laboratory unit, Microbiology and Parasitology department, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory (F.C.T) from August 2015 to September 2018 (Thirty-six months).Methodology:This was a retrospective study. patients with LRTI who met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. The data were extracted from patients’ case notes using well-structured tools. The quality of clinical and laboratory work up were verified by the contribution of specialist Pulmonologist and Microbiologist in the management of patients. Results: A total of one hundred and ninety-eight sample were reviewed of which fifty-seven percent (112) were males and the mean age of the study populations was 37± 13.8 years. From the positive cultures 86.9% were bacteremia and 4.0% were fungaemia. Streptococcus pneumoniae(30.3%) was the most predominant bacteria recovered from the sputum specimens; closely followed by Klebsiella pneumonieaand Staphylococcus aureus. imipenem and ofloxacin Aims:This study was designed to determine the isolates from microbial cultures and the antibiotics susceptibility pattern of adults with lower respiratory tract infection. Study Design:A retrospective study.Place and Duration of Study:This study was carried out at the Pulmonology units of Medicine department and Microbiology research laboratory unit, Microbiology and Parasitology department, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory (F.C.T) from August 2015 to September 2018 (Thirty-six months).Methodology:This was a retrospective study. patients with LRTI who met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. The data were extracted from patients’ case notes using well-structured tools. The quality of clinical and laboratory work up were verified by the contribution of specialist Pulmonologist and Microbiologist in the management of patients. Results: A total of one hundred and ninety-eight sample were reviewed of which fifty-seven percent (112) were males and the mean age of the study populations was 37± 13.8 years. From the positive cultures 86.9% were bacteremia and 4.0% were fungaemia. Streptococcus pneumoniae(30.3%) was the most predominant bacteria recovered from the sputum specimens; closely followed by Klebsiella pneumonieaand Staphylococcus aureus. imipenem and ofloxacin

Bacteria urinary tract infection in HIV-infected children and adolescents in Abuja, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) remains the second commonest opportunistic infections among HIV infected children. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and causative bacteria of UTI in HIV infected children and adolescents on antiretroviral medications in our health institution. Method: The study was a cross sectional design conducted between October 2017 and March 2018 among HIV infected children and adolescents aged 2 months to 18 years on follow up attendance at the Paediatric Outpatient Special Treatment Clinic (POSTC) of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH). Early morning midstream urine was collected from each participant for urinalysis, microscopy and aerobic bacterial culture. Bacteria were identified from culture by standard microbiological methods and antibiogram of the isolates was determined by the disk diffusion method. Result: Of 166 HIV infected children and adolescents studied, 106 (63.9%) were males, 82 (49.4%) were in age group 5-10 years, and 110 (66.3%) were from lower socio-economic class. Significant bacteria (UTI) were isolated in 54 (32.5%) subjects, with 38 (70.4%) from females, and 51 (94.4%) from those on first line antiretroviral therapy. Isolates recovered were Escherichia coli 20 (37.0%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 16 (29.6%), Staphylococcus aureus 8 (14.8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 6 (11.1%), and Proteus mirabilis 4 (7.4%). Leucocyturia in 19 (35.2%), nitrituria in 10 (18.5%), and haematuria in 15 (27.8%) subjects with significant bacteriuria were also recorded. Isolates were sensitive to ofloxacin (81.5%), nalidixic acid (74.1%) and cefuroxime (61.1%), while they were resistant to cotrimoxazole (100%), ampicillin (98.1%) and piperacillin (94.4%). Significant difference was observed in the mean CD4 cell count and viral load of subjects with significant bacteriuria compared to those without; 838.6 ± 177.8 versus 1009.9 ± 234.7 cells/µL (p=0.02), and 10, 360.5 ± 471.0 versus 5, 840.8 ± 563.8 copies/ml (p=0.003) for CD4 cell count and viral load respectively. Conclusion: This study reported a high prevalence of UTI among HIV infected children and adolescents, especially in those with high viral load. Routine screening for UTI should be offered to HIV infected children and adolescents with high viral load

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Haemophilus influenzae among Under-five Children Presenting at the Emergency Paediatric Unit (EPU) Two Teaching Hospitals in Jos, Nigeria.

Background: Haemophilus influenzae meningitis is a leading cause of endemic bacterial meningitis in infants and under-five children globally. H. influenza infection is severe where vaccine is not routinely used and one-third to half of the children either dies or suffers permanent disability such as deafness, paralysis or mental retardation when prompt and appropriate treatment is not instituted. Aim: This research sets to study and document the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of H. influenzae isolates from cerebrospinal fluids of under-five children presenting at the Emergency Paediatric Units of two Teaching Hospitals in Jos, Nigeria. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross–sectional prospective study conducted from October 2009 to March 2010. One hundred and sixty consecutive under-five children who presented with signs and symptoms consistent with H. influenzae meningitis were recruited. Socio-demography data was obtained with structured questionnaire. Specimens were aseptically collected and carefully processed for isolation and identification of H. influenza and subsequently the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the isolates. Results: The prevalence of H. influenzae meningitiswas low in Jos with prevalence of 6.3% among 160 under-five children studied, with mean age of 34 months and M: F ratio of 1:1. About 60% of these isolates were obtained from patients with acute pyogenic bacterial meningitis. Majority of the isolates were ampicillin resistant, β-lactamases producers and were all sensitive to ceftriaxone and azithromycin. Conclusion: The low prevalence of H. influenzae meningitis suggests substantial but not complete coverage of vaccine activity in this region while the susceptibility pattern of the isolate reveals and supports the vital role ceftriax one plays in the management of invasive H. influenzae infections to avoid pathologic complications.

Skeletal neuromuscular and smooth muscle effects of whole venom of the green mamba, Dendroaspis angusticeps - I.

Dendroaspis angusticeps venom (75 micrograms/ml) caused an irreversible blockade of the directly as well as directly evoked contractions of the rat hemidiaphragm and indirectly evoked contractions of the chick biventer cervicis muscle. The venom itself also produced a contraction of the frog rectus abdominis muscle, rat fundal strip, rat uterus and nictitating membrane of the cat; however, it did alter responses of nictitating membrane to preganglionic electrical stimulation and to ganglion stimulant drugs. The effect was attributed to the presence of acetylcholine-like substance in the venom.

Myocardial depressant fraction in the venom of Dendroaspis angusticeps.

Whole venom Dendroaspis angusticeps produced a negative chronotropic and ionotropic effect on the heart. Isolation of the fraction (T39) produced the same effect. Negative inotropic effect was blocked by atropine. The bradycardia may be due to a cholinergic effect and the negative ionotropic to a direct depressant effect on the myocardium.