Overview of Prevalence of Syphilis in a Health Facility in Rivers State

Syphilis is one of the sexually transmitted diseases that is prevalent in developing countries and is of public health importance. Among pregnant women, it is reported to cause foetal defects if not treated. This study was thus carried out to determine the prevalence of syphilis among pregnant women visiting a health facility in Rivers State. Records of 482 pregnant women who visited the health facility within January and December 2018 were reviewed after obtaining due consent from the relevant authority. The sensitivity rate of the RPR test was higher than the THPA test, however the THPA has been found to be more specific. A prevalence rate of 2.28% was reported among the samples collected. The women who tested positive had little or no formal education which may have contributed to low knowledge of the disease. Intensive public health awareness on the means of transmission, symptoms, signs and effects of contracting the disease, especially among pregnant womenshould be carried out. Also, robust screening should be carried out at the community level in order to have proper record of the number of persons infected. Rapid test kits that are reliable should be made available also.Original Research Article

Knowledge and use of contraceptives among secondary school girls in Dar es Salaam Tanzania.

Use of contraceptives is one of the ways which can help to reduce unwanted pregnancy in adolescent girls. Adolescent pregnancy has been identified as one of the reasons for girls dropping out from school in Tanzania, however the knowledge and practice of secondary school girls regarding contraceptive methods is not well documented. This descriptive study was therefore undertaken to assess knowledge and use of contraceptives among secondary school girls in Dar es Salaam region. It was found out that majority (97%) of the girls knew at least one contraception method but only (40%) used any of the methods. The major source of information on contraceptives was from schools and media. Majority of the participant (87%) were aware of unwanted pregnancies prevailing among school girls and problems associated with it. Educational interventions are still needed in order to increase use of contraceptives by adolescent school girls.

The use of Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori in Lagos, Nigeria / El uso del test de antígeno en heces para el diagnóstico de la infección por Helicobacter pylori en Lagos, Nigeria

OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to screen the use of Helicobacter pylori stool antigen (HpSA) tests for diagnosis and monitoring of H pylori in Nigeria. METHODS: Seven hundred and forty participants were enrolled after informed consent was obtained, while 83 came back for a post-eradication test. The stool samples were taken from the patients at endoscopy and tested for HpSA. RESULTS: The proportion of patients that were positive at the pretest, 520 (70.3%) was significantly higher (Fisher's exact p = 0.001) than those positive at the post-test, 44 (53%). There was a significant difference (F = 4.106, p = 0.043) between the mean age of those that came for the pretest (40.0 ± 14.5 years) and those that came for the post-test, 43.6 ± 11.6 years. More males than females had the tendency to come back for a post-eradication test. CONCLUSION: Although potential bias was introduced during this study, HpSA using monoclonal antibody could still be used for diagnosis and monitoring of H pylori in Nigeria.

OBJETIVOS: Este estudio se llevó a cabo con el propósito de examinar el uso del test de antígeno en heces (HpSA) para el diagnóstico y monitoreo de Helicobacter pylori en Nigeria MÉTODO: Tras obtener su consentimiento informado, se enrolaron ciento cuarenta participantes, mientras que 83 regresaron para un test de post-erradicación. Las muestras de heces fueron tomadas de pacientes en endoscopia e investigadas en busca de HpSA. RESULTADOS: La proporción de pacientes que resultaron positivos en el test previo, 520 (70.3%) fue significativamente mayor (Test exacto de Fisher p = 0.001) que la de los que resultaron positivos en el test posterior, 44(53%). Hubo una diferencia significativa (F = 4.106, p = 0.043) entre la edad promedio de los que vinieron al test previo (40.0 ± 14.5 años) y la de aquellos que vinieron al test posterior, 43.6 ± 11.6 años. Más varones que hembras mostraron tendencia a regresar al test de post-erradicación. CONCLUSION: Aunque un sesgo potencial fue introducido en este estudio, HpSA con anticuerpos monoclonales podría todavía usarse para el diagnóstico y monitoreo de H pylori en Nigeria.

Chlamydia and Vaginitis in Sexually Active Females: Classical Identification Methods for Effective Control

Laboratory diagnosis of Chlamydia and vaginitis in sexually active females has been limited by unavailability of a sequential method/rapid technique for simple diagnosis. Six hundred (600) adult females from hotel/brothel; Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Clinic; Obstetrics/Gynaecology Clinic; Family Planning Clinic and Healthy controls were investigated for Chlamydia; Candida; trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis (BV). This was done using microscopy: wet mount; stained vaginal secretion and stained smear after culture. Results showed that there were 72infections in the female groups. The brothel and STI group had infection in the range (70-86). Chlamydial infection was highest in the STI group while Candida infection was highest in the healthy (control) females. Bacterial vaginosis was distributed in all groups. As p-value increased; f-value increased indicating constant co-infection of Candida and BV in Chlamydia positive females. Microscopy by direct detection from sample and stained smear after culture were in the range: 56-86. Direct microscopy for BV was 78.5and stained smear after culture; 57.1. Sensitivity and specificity of the techniques showed that detection of Chlamydia was less sensitive by direct microscopy of sample but sensitivity and specificity of stained smear after culture were high. Immunoassay (32.2) was also less sensitive. Sensitivity and specificity of wet mount microscopy for Candida; Trichomoniasis and BV were in the range 62.5 - 80and 62.5-97.8respectively. Wet mount has high sensitivity and specificity for detecting agents of vaginitis and may be useful for routine use and for diagnosis where disease is absent; thus; making identification more cost effective

Prevalence of EHEC 0157:H7 from human and environmental samples from Lagos and Zaria

Prevalence, antibiotic patterns and plasmid profiles of Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli [EHEC] 0157:H7 from humans and environmental sources were studied at various seasons of the year in Nigeria. Stool and environmental samples were obtained from Lagos and Zaria and characterized as EHEC 0157:H7 using the method of Cowan and serotyping. The isolates were further characterized using antibiotic susceptibility testing and plasmid profile. Out of 132 stool samples, 42 [31.8%] of EHEC 0157:H7 were isolated between April to December 2004. These samples were from Lagos [Western Nigeria] and Zaria [Northern Nigeria]. Thirty-three isolates were from Lagos while 9 were from Zaria. Out of 90 environmental samples, 11 [12.2%] were positive for EHEC 0157:H7. The highest number of isolates [13] was obtained during the month of December, the dry, harmattan and festive season. Most of the isolates from Zaria were resistant to ampicillin, nitrofurantoin and tetracycline, while those from Lagos were resistant to ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, nitrofurantoin and tetracycline. Nine out of 53 [17%] isolates harboured detectable plasmids. The presence of multi-drug resistance amongst these isolates is of concern and so antibiotic therapy should not be recommended as it complicates the disease while misuse in our environment has led to emergence of resistance strains