ABSTRACT
Graft tolerance is a pathophysiological condition heavily reliant on the dynamic interaction of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Genetic polymorphism determines immune responses to tissue/organ transplantation, and intricate humoral and cell-mediated mechanisms control these responses. In transplantation, the clinician's goal is to achieve a delicate equilibrium between the allogeneic immune response, undesired effects of the immunosuppressive drugs, and the existing morbidities that are potentially life-threatening. Transplant immunopathology involves sensitization, effector, and apoptosis phases which recruit and engages immunological cells like natural killer cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes. Similarly, these cells are involved in the transfer of normal or genetically engineered T cells. Advances in tissue transplantation would involve a profound knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that underpin the respective immunopathology involved and the design of precision medicines that are safe and effective.
ABSTRACT
Extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms have become a serious challenge in healthcare delivery globally. The prevalence of ESBL carriage in healthy and sick children in Enugu, Nigeria, was bacteriologically investigated in this study. Four hundred and twenty-two biological samples (mid-stream urine and feces) were bacteriologically analyzed. The isolates were screened for ESBL production using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) breakpoints. The suspected ESBL producers were confirmed using double disc synergy test method. Out of the 162 isolates screened, 32 (19.8%) were confirmed as ESBL positive, with a prevalence of 25.32% among sick children in Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Parklane, Enugu and 13.89% in apparently healthy children in a community setting. Klebsiella spp. and Escherichia coli had the highest prevalence of 34.6% and 28.6%, respectively; Citrobacter spp. and Enterobacter spp. were 18.2% and 16.7%, respectively. The ESBL positive isolates were resistant to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (100%), tetracycline (100%), kanamycin (96.9%), nitrofurantoin (84.4%), ciprofloxacin (68.6%), and chloramphenicol (62.5%) but susceptible to meropenem (100%), colistin (56.3%), and gentamicin (50%). Klebsiella spp. had the highest ESBL occurrence among sick children while E. coli had the highest ESBL occurrence among healthy children in Enugu. All ESBL-positive isolates were multiply resistant to conventional antibiotics. The emergence and spread of ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in hospital and community environments highlight the possibility for an infection outbreak if not checked.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a common contagion among men and women with the incidence relatively higher among women due to their differing anatomy. An understanding of the kind of pathogens implicated in urinary tract infections as well as antibiotic susceptibility profiling may help the clinician make rationally correct empirical choice in their treatment. OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed at determining the type and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of bacterial uropathogens isolated from female patients attending Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka, Nigeria. METHOD: Two hundred and forty patients with clinically diagnosed UTI and who were on at least 5 days' antibiotic holiday were recruited into the study. Their demographic characteristics were captured using pre-tested questionnaire. Their clean catch mid-stream urine samples were collected using sterile universal container and sent to the Microbiology Department for processing. Within 30 minutes of samples collection, the specimens were cultured and the isolates were identified, after 24 h of incubation, using standard microbiological techniques. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were done with standard antibiotic discs using the Kirby-bauer disc diffusion method. RESULTS: Out of the 240 urine samples, 89.17% yielded significant bacteriuria. The pathogens implicated were Escherichia coli (28.5%), Staphylococcus aureus (28.0%), Salmonella spp (22.8%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20.5%). HIV status, patients age, pregnancy status and marital status all significantly affected bacteriuria rate (p value < 0.05), while patients' location (sub-urban/rural dwelling), and level of education did not (p value > 0.05). The pattern of microbial resistance to antibiotics suggests that ceftazidime, fosfomycin and cefoxitin may not be used as first-line agents in the empirical treatment of UTIs rather; levofloxacin, meropenem or aztreonam should be considered. Levofloxacin was significantly effective against all the isolates and may be administered empirically while waiting for the culture result (Mean % susceptibility was 79.85). CONCLUSION: E. coli and S. aureus were the predominant pathogens in the study and many were resistant to the commonly prescribed antibiotics and so leave the clinicians with only few alternative drugs for UTIs treatment. Routine surveillance and monitoring studies need to be constantly conducted to update clinicians on the prevalent pathogens and the rational and empirical treatment of UTIs. Aggressive and consistent health education using every possible media is also recommended to combat the menace of drug resistance occasioned by inappropriate antibiotic use.
