Knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus post-exposure prophylaxis among doctors in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND: The mainstay of prevention of occupationally-acquired HIV infection is compliance with universal precautions. Appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis is an integral part of prevention, control and workplace safety. This study was undertaken to assess the level of knowledge of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among doctors in Federal Medical Centre, Gombe, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethical committee approval for the conduct of the study was obtained. Questionnaires were served to all cadres of doctors from house officers to consultants; it was completed and returned on anonymous basis. RESULTS: Sixty six (88.0%) of the 75 distributed questionnaires were returned completed and formed the basis of further analysis. The overall knowledge level of post-exposure prophylaxis against human immunodeficiency virus infection was very low. About 62.1% are aware of the existence of PEP policy in the hospital. The level of knowledge concerning the high-risk fluid and three drugs used in PEP is high. Over 90% are not aware of the risk of sero-conversion following significant needle-sticks injury and mucous membrane exposure. The study also revealed poor knowledge concerning actions to be taken, how soon to commence the PEP treatment and the duration of medication following needle stick injury. More than 50% of the surveyed doctors had experienced significant exposure to potentially infective materials and none reported or sought PEP advice. CONCLUSION: There is the need to educate the doctors and other health workers about the PEP guideline policy, what to do in the event of injury, whom to contact and the importance of seeking urgent advice following injury or exposure.

Knowledge of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Post-Exposure Prophylaxis among Doctors in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Background: The mainstay of prevention of occupationally-acquired HIV infection is compliance with universal precautions. Appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis is an integral part of prevention; control and workplace safety. This study was undertaken to assess the level of knowledge of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among doctors in Federal Medical Centre; Gombe; Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Ethical committee approval for the conduct of the study was obtained. Questionnaires were served to all cadres of doctors from house officers to consultants; it was completed and returned on anonymous basis. Results: Sixty six (88.0) of the 75 distributed questionnaires were returned completed and formed the basis of further analysis. The overall knowledge level of post-exposure prophylaxis against human immunodeficiency virus infection was very low. About 62.1are aware of the existence of PEP policy in the hospital. The level of knowledge concerning the high-risk fluid and three drugs used in PEP is high. Over 90are not aware of the risk of sero-conversion following significant needle-sticks injury and mucous membrane exposure. The study also revealed poor knowledge concerning actions to be taken; how soon to commence the PEP treatment and the duration of medication following needle stick injury. More than 50of the surveyed doctors had experienced significant exposure to potentially infective materials and none reported or sought PEP advice. Conclusion: There is the need to educate the doctors and other health workers about the PEP guideline policy; what to do in the event of injury; whom to contact and the importance of seeking urgent advice following injury or exposure

Hereditary multiple exostoses: case report.

OBJECTIVE: Hereditary Multiple Exostoses (HME) is a genetically transmitted bone dysplasia that is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. It usually presents after the age of two years as multiple bony growths on the appendicular skeleton. As a rare condition (incidence of 0.9-2/100,000), it is not commonly seen in our environment. This paper presents the clinical and radiological features of two patients seen in our hospital within a period of six months. METHOD: The case records of two patients with hereditary multiple exostoses are presented to highlight the clinical presentation and management options of the condition. RESULTS: A boy and a girl who respectively manifested the features of hereditary multiple exostoses at the age of two and six years are presented. The main presenting features were painless progressively increasing bony swellings in both upper and lower limbs, with forearm deformity and ulnar deviation of the wrist. One of them had pressure symptoms which necessitated surgical excision of the symptomatic exostosis. Fine needle aspiration cytology confirmed the diagnosis ofosteochondroma. CONCLUSION: Hereditary multiple exostoses though rare, do occur in our environment and the management is essentially by masterly inactivity except when the bony swellings exhibit any complications or there is concomitant deformity.