ABSTRACT Bacteria belonging to the genus bifidobacteria are reported to be the most abundant gut endosymbiotic flora in the intestinal tract of new-born infants, particularly those that have been exclusively breast-fed. This high concentration of this gram-positive anaerobic bacteria has been attributed to the prebiotic and bifidogenic factors present in human breast milk. Currently, there is limited information on the presence of bifidobacteri aspecies in Namibia. The aims of this study wer...
Abstract The Kavango region is extensively involved in agriculture and is also known to be dominated by sandy arenosols. The bad soils in the region, which have poor nutrients and water holding capacity, combined with climate change have contributed to the reduction in yield of most crops grown in the area. One of the aims of this study was to isolate and identify cowpea nodule symbionts from soils in the Kavango Region while the other was to determine cowpeas’ response to bio-inoculants b...
ABSTRACT The aims of this study were to conduct an ethnobotanical survey on indigenous knowledge of plants traditionally used as herbs and spices in Kabbe constituencies of the Zambezi region, evaluate their antimicrobial activity, determine their synergistic effects, and further elucidate their potential mechanism of action. Using semistructured interviews and closed-end questionnaires, ethnobotanical data were collected from local informants in fourteen villages of Kabbe constituencies bet...
ABSTRACT The goal of the study was to determine the plants used in Namibia to treat symptoms linked to gastro-intestinal tract infections (GITI) and to verify their antimicrobial activity. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted to document plants used in Namibia to treat symptoms related to GITI, and eighteen plant species (from 16 families) were collected and identified. Aqueous and organic extraction methods were used to obtain crude extracts that were tested on Escherichia coli, Staphyloc...
ABSTRACT Bacteriological and physicochemical properties of drinking water (tap, well and borehole) in Sokoto metropolis were investigated to determine the level of contamination and the persistence of target organisms. A total of 270 samples comprising of 90 well water samples, 90 tap water samples and 90 boreholes water samples were obtained from some parts of Sokoto metropolis and analyzed using standard procedures. Total coliform count, heterotrophic plate count, physico-chemical prop...
ABSTRACT Background: Rotaviruses are recognised world-wide as the principal aetiological agents of severe neonatal diarrhoea in a number of species, including man and domestic animals. Eight species of this virus have been detected and classified as A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H. Human beings are predominantly infected by species A, B and C, but A–E species cause disease in other animals. Studies in Ghana have reported new emerging strains of the virus in paediatric diarrheal cases some of whic...
ABSTRACT Background Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the most common healthcare-associated infections affecting surgical patients. Such infections are often caused by methicillin-susceptible as well as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is resistant to the entire class of beta-lactam antimicrobials; which are largely used in clinical medicine. Patients infected with MRSAs therefore have limited therapeutic options, and this may ...
ABSTRACT Giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis remain as part of the commonest gastroenteritis in Ghana. The diseases are caused by the protozoan parasites, Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium sp. respectively. Inadequate supply of treated water and poor sanitation are some of the key factors leading to the spread of these infections. Being zoonotic diseases, it is suspected that, a large proportion of human infections could come from infected domestic and farm animals. Though, use of molecular to...
ABSTRACT Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are plasmid-mediated enzymes capable of hydrolysing beta-lactams except carbapenems and cephamycins but are inhibited by beta-lactamase inhibitors. Most of these ESBL plasmids also carry genes conferring resistance to several non-beta-lactam antimicrobials. Hence, ESBL-producing isolates limit therapeutic options, contribute to treatment failure, increase morbidity and mortality, prolong hospitalization and increase cost of healthcare. There ...
BACKGROUND Infections are known to be a major complication of stroke patients. The relationship between stroke and bacteriuria has rarely been studied in sub Saharan Africa, though this information could be relevant in the management of stroke in the sub-region. AIM The aim of the study was to investigate the epidemiology of post stroke bacteriuria at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital including the prevalence, incidence, risk factors and causative organisms. METHODS This was a longitudin...
The purpose of this study was to find out the species of mycobacteria causing pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV and non-HIV seropositive patients in Accra, Ghana, and to determine the drug susceptibility patterns in the two groups of patients. From November 2002 to March 2003, new patients attending the Chest Clinic of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and diagnosed with tuberculosis by sputum smear microscopy were enrolled. Patient sputum was cultured and drug susceptibility testing done for ...
ABSTRACT Background: Malaria infection is caused by parasites belonging to the genus Plasmodium. There are five (5) species of Plasmodium that infect humans, namely: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium malariae. Malaria ensuing from Plasmodium falciparum infection is a principal source of disease and death annually, especially among African children in the Sub-Saharan Regions. The erythrocytic stages of the parasites of Plasmodium falc...
ABSTRACT Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a public health threat because it is extensively resistant to antimicrobials, is associated with persistent outbreaks in hospital and community settings, and is associated with markedly increased healthcare costs. Moreover, HIV-infected persons are at a higher risk for colonization with MRSA, and could potentially disseminate the pathogen to other individuals. In Ghana, little is known about MRSA in relation to at-r...
ABSTRACT Background: Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the genus Schistosoma. It has a worldwide distribution with more cases occurring in Africa. Urogenital schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haematobium is prevalent in several places within Ghana, particularly in areas where there are large water bodies. Persistent infection of S. haematobium leads to cytological changes of urothelial cells which in turn could lead to the development of bladder cancer. The persist...
ABSTRACT Amoebiasis remains one of the commonest gastroenteritis in Ghana especially among children. The Entamoeba complex comprises Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar and Entamoeba moshkovskii, which are morphologically identical but genetically diverse. Entamoeba histolytica is the only known pathogenic protozoan Entamoeba species. The epidemiology of Entamoeba complex infections within the Ho Municipality in the South-Eastern part of Ghana has not been thoroughly investigated and th...