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OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of viral haemoparasites in prospective Nigerian blood donors. METHODS: Ethical clearance was obtained and informed consent questionnaires were distributed to blood donors to obtain their demographical data. A total of 186 blood donors from LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo were tested for hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) using rapid test kit and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The highest prevalence of blood transmitted infections was 182 (97.85%) while the prevalence of HIV, HAV, HBV and HCV were 6.45%, 97.85%, 14.52% and 3.23%, respectively. Highest seroprevalence for hepatitis A, B and C occurred among low risk occupation. There was no significant association between all the hepatitis viruses and demographic factors except occupation with P value of 0.002 7. Hepatitis A, B and C seropositive blood donors on average tend to have PCV within the normal reference range. Out of the 27 hepatitis B positive blood donors, 22 were donating blood for the first time while 5 were repeat donors. None of the hepatitis C seropositive donors have been exposed to blood or any form of its products and were all donating blood for the first time. However, the distribution of donor type for HAV is random. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HAV, HBV, HCV and HIV among prospective donors in Nigeria is alarming particularly HAV. These infections can be transmitted to recipients if proper screening is not carried out, hence they should be included as a routine test for blood donors.
RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: The characteristics and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Staphylococcus aureus differs according to geographical regions and in relation to antibiotic usage. The aim of this study was to determine the biochemical characteristics of the prevalent S. aureus from Ekiti State, Nigeria, and to evaluate three commonly used disk diffusion methods (cefoxitin, oxacillin, and methicillin) for the detection of methicillin resistance in comparison with mecA gene detection by polymerase chain reaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 208 isolates of S. aureus recovered from clinical specimens were included in this study. Standard microbiological procedures were employed in isolating the strains. Susceptibility of each isolate to methicillin (5 µg), oxacillin (1 µg), and cefoxitin (30 µg) was carried out using the modified Kirby-Bauer/Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute disk diffusion technique. They were also tested against panels of antibiotics including vancomycin. The conventional polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect the presence of the mecA gene. RESULTS: Phenotypic resistance to methicillin, oxacillin, and cefoxitin were 32.7%, 40.3%, and 46.5%, respectively. The mecA gene was detected in 40 isolates, giving a methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) prevalence of 19.2%. The S. aureus isolates were resistant to penicillin (82.7%) and tetracycline (65.4%), but largely susceptible to erythromycin (78.8% sensitive), pefloxacin (82.7%), and gentamicin (88.5%). When compared to the mecA gene as the gold standard for MRSA detection, methicillin, oxacillin, and cefoxitin gave sensitivity rates of 70%, 80%, and 100%, and specificity rates of 76.2%, 69.1%, and 78.5% respectively. CONCLUSION: When compared with previous studies employing mecA polymerase chain reaction for MRSA detection, the prevalence of 19.2% reported in Ekiti State, Nigeria in this study is an indication of gradual rise in the prevalence of MRSA in Nigeria. A cefoxitin (30 µg) disk diffusion test is recommended above methicillin and oxacillin for the phenotypic detection of MRSA in clinical laboratories.
