Descriptive epidemiology of coronavirus disease 2019 in Nigeria, 27 February-6 June 2020.

The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Nigeria with a view of generating evidence to enhance planning and response strategies. A national surveillance dataset between 27 February and 6 June 2020 was retrospectively analysed, with confirmatory testing for COVID-19 done by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The primary outcomes were cumulative incidence (CI) and case fatality (CF). A total of 40 926 persons (67% of total 60 839) had complete records of RT-PCR test across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory, 12 289 (30.0%) of whom were confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of those confirmed cases, 3467 (28.2%) had complete records of clinical outcome (alive or dead), 342 (9.9%) of which died. The overall CI and CF were 5.6 per 100 000 population and 2.8%, respectively. The highest proportion of COVID-19 cases and deaths were recorded in persons aged 31-40 years (25.5%) and 61-70 years (26.6%), respectively; and males accounted for a higher proportion of confirmed cases (65.8%) and deaths (79.0%). Sixty-six per cent of confirmed COVID-19 cases were asymptomatic at diagnosis. In conclusion, this paper has provided an insight into the early epidemiology of COVID-19 in Nigeria, which could be useful for contextualising public health planning.

Barriers in determining prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus among postpartum GDM: The research and retraining needs of healthcare professionals.

AIM: A large percentage of gestational diabetes (GDM) are undiagnosed, and prevalence of postpartum type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is unknown, especially in developing countries. This study assessed barriers to GDM diagnosis and postpartum follow-up; to determine educational needs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a clinical observational study of records and procedures of antenatal services at two hospitals. Laboratory and medical records were reviewed for availability of data on anthropometrics, blood glucose, gestational age, urinalysis, and lipid profile for GDM register. Antenatal clinic protocol was observed for GDM diagnosis. BMI was derived and data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: Critical barriers attributable to health systems included lack of screening for blood sugar as part of routine antenatal protocol, and lack of GDM registers at both facilities. There was 6.5% registration of pregnancies in first trimester, 22% pre-pregnancy obesity, and 2.6% high blood pressure. Positive glucosuria cases were not followed-up for GDM diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: There is neither concerted effort to diagnose GDM, nor systematic records of screening and postpartum follow-up. The gap in diabetology knowledge and practice calls for re-training of antenatal healthcare professionals. GDM screening checklist needs to be established and positive results entered into GDM registers for proper management during and after delivery.

Electrically active induced energy levels and metastability of B and N vacancy-complexes in 4H-SiC.

Electrically active induced energy levels in semiconductor devices could be beneficial to the discovery of an enhanced p or n-type semiconductor. Nitrogen (N) implanted into 4H-SiC is a high energy process that produced high defect concentrations which could be removed during dopant activation annealing. On the other hand, boron (B) substituted for silicon in SiC causes a reduction in the number of defects. This scenario leads to a decrease in the dielectric properties and induced deep donor and shallow acceptor levels. Complexes formed by the N, such as the nitrogen-vacancy centre, have been reported to play a significant role in the application of quantum bits. In this paper, results of charge states thermodynamic transition level of the N and B vacancy-complexes in 4H-SiC are presented. We explore complexes where substitutional N[Formula: see text]/N[Formula: see text] or B[Formula: see text]/B[Formula: see text] sits near a Si (V[Formula: see text]) or C (V[Formula: see text]) vacancy to form vacancy-complexes (N[Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text], N[Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text], N[Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text], N[Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text], B[Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text], B[Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text], B[Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text] and B[Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text]). The energies of formation of the N related vacancy-complexes showed the N[Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text] to be energetically stable close to the valence band maximum in its double positive charge state. The N[Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text] is more energetically stable in the double negative charge state close to the conduction band minimum. The N[Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text] on the other hand, induced double donor level and the N[Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text] induced a double acceptor level. For B related complexes, the B[Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text] and B[Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text] were energetically stable in their single positive charge state close to the valence band maximum. As the Fermi energy is varied across the band gap, the neutral and single negative charge states of the B[Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text] become more stable at different energy levels. B and N related complexes exhibited charge state controlled metastability behaviour.

Prediabetes and cardiovascular complications study (PACCS): international collaboration 4 years' summary and future direction.

OBJECTIVE: The prediabetes and cardiovascular complications studies proposes to develop a screening protocol for diabetes cardiovascular risk, and strategies for holistic management amongst others. Over 500 participants were recruited in the first 2 years of rural community research screening. Specific for this report, various published findings were reviewed. The objective is to summarize research outcomes and itemize limitations as they constitute basis of future directions. RESULTS: Affordability and availability are major confounding behavioural change wheel factors in the rural community. 4.9% prevalence of prediabetes, which may be lower or non-significantly different in urban areas. Hyperglycaemia co-morbidity with dyslipidaemia (5.0%), obesity (3.1%) and hypertension (1.8%) were observed. Limitation of the study includes participants being mostly over 60 years old, which has created impetus for the Global Alliance on Chronic Diseases agenda on vulnerability of older adults to diabetes being a new direction of the collaboration. Other directions in Australia and Nepal focus on patients with chronic kidney disease with or without cardiovascular complications. This report highlights the need to translational research.

Development of public health program for type 1 diabetes in a university community: preliminary evaluation of behavioural change wheel.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus, including type 1 is a global public health problem among the young persons. While public health campaign and screening program is a potential strategy, but communication skills, knowledge and opinion of the healthcare personnel are indicated as variables that can impact patient's education, which will lead to better outcome of care. Thus, in designing or planning a program for public health, workforce development considers opinion and behavioural change wheel of prospective personnel. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this preliminary study was to evaluate if a university academic department has the behavioural change wheel to function as workforce infrastructure for an envisioned program. METHOD: Survey of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of a university community regarding diabetes type 1 was performed. The KAP were translated into behavioural change wheel comprising capacity, motivation and opportunity (CMO). RESULTS: There are baseline indications of the behavioural change wheel potential of the public health department to run a T1D screening program. The number of participants who knew someone with T1D was significantly higher than the subgroup with no such knowledge (p<0.0004) and this improved when age factor is considered (p<0.00005). CONCLUSION: While the public health department of a university community has the behavioural change wheel or CMO to develop a workforce infrastructure for T1D screening program, the experience that comes with age of lecturers will be an important factor to enable such program to succeed.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Socioeconomic Status and Cardiovascular Disease Risk among Participants in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological (PURE) Study

Background. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a challenge to populations and health systems worldwide. It is projected that by 2020 about a third of all deaths globally will be caused by CVDs; and that they will become the single leading cause of death by 2030. Empirical evidence suggests that there is socioeconomic patterning in the distribution and prevalence of risk factors for CVD; but the exact nature of this relationship in South Africa remains unclear. Objective. To examine the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and risk factors for CVD in a cohort of adult South Africans living in rural and urban communities.Method. This was a cross-sectional analytical study of baseline data on a population-based cohort of 1 976 SA men and women aged 35 - 70 years who were part of the Cape Town arm of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Study.Results. We found a complex association between SES and CVD risk factors; its pattern differing between urban and rural participants. Marital status showed the most consistent association with CVD risk in both groups: widowed participants living in urban communities were more likely to be hypertensive as well as diabetic; while single participants in both locations were more likely to use alcohol and tobacco products. Level of education was the only SES variable that had no significant association with any CVD risk factor in either study group. All measured SES variables were significantly different between urban and rural participants (p0.05); with diabetes; obesity and alcohol use significantly more prevalent in urban than in rural participants (p0.05) while hypertension and tobacco use were not (p?0.05). Conclusions. In this cohort of South Africans; there were significant associations between SES and CVD risk; with marked differences in these associations between rural and urban locations. These findings highlight the need to consider SES and area of residence when designing interventions for CVD prevention and control

Prognostic value of grip strength: findings from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study

BACKGROUND:Reduced muscular strength, as measured by grip strength, has been associated with an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Grip strength is appealing as a simple, quick, and inexpensive means of stratifying an individual's risk of cardiovascular death. However, the prognostic value of grip strength with respect to the number and range of populations and confounders is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the independent prognostic importance of grip strength measurement in socioculturally and economically diverse countries.METHODS:The Prospective Urban-Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study is a large, longitudinal population study done in 17 countries of varying incomes and sociocultural settings. We enrolled an unbiased sample of households, which were eligible if at least one household member was aged 35-70 years and if household members intended to stay at that address for another 4 years. Participants were assessed for grip strength, measured using a Jamar dynamometer. During a median follow-up of 4.0 years (IQR 2.9-5.1), we assessed all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, non-cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, diabetes, cancer, pneumonia, hospital admission for pneumonia or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hospital admission for any respiratory disease (including COPD, asthma, tuberculosis, and pneumonia), injury due to fall, and fracture. Study outcomes were adjudicated using source documents by a local investigator, and a subset were adjudicated centrally.FINDINGS:Between January, 2003, and December, 2009, a total of 142,861 participants were enrolled in the PURE study, of whom 139,691 with known vital status were included in the analysis. During a median follow-up of 4.0 years (IQR 2.9-5.1), 3379 (2%) of 139,691 participants died. After adjustment, the association between grip strength...

The environmental profile of a community's health: a cross-sectional study on tobacco marketing in 16 countries

To examine and compare tobacco marketing in 16 countries while the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control requires parties to implement a comprehensive ban on such marketing.METHODS:Between 2009 and 2012, a kilometre-long walk was completed by trained investigators in 462 communities across 16 countries to collect data on tobacco marketing. We interviewed community members about their exposure to traditional and non-traditional marketing in the previous six months. To examine differences in marketing between urban and rural communities and between high-, middle- and low-income countries, we used multilevel regression models controlling for potential confounders.FINDINGS:Compared with high-income countries, the number of tobacco advertisements observed was 81 times higher in low-income countries (incidence rate ratio, IRR: 80.98; 95% confidence interval, CI: 4.15-1578.42) and the number of tobacco outlets was 2.5 times higher in both low- and lower-middle-income countries (IRR: 2.58; 95% CI: 1.17-5.67 and IRR: 2.52; CI: 1.23-5.17, respectively). Of the 11,842 interviewees, 1184 (10%) reported seeing at least five types of tobacco marketing. Self-reported exposure to at least one type of traditional marketing was 10 times higher in low-income countries than in high-income countries (odds ratio, OR: 9.77; 95% CI: 1.24-76.77). For almost all measures, marketing exposure was significantly lower in the rural communities than in the urban communities.CONCLUSION:Despite global legislation to limit tobacco marketing, it appears ubiquitous. The frequency and type of tobacco marketing varies on the national level by income group and by community type, appearing to be greatest in low-income countries and urban communities.

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic and bacterial pathogens in diarrhoeal and non-diarroeal human stools from Vhembe district, South Africa.

In the present study, a cross-sectional survey of intestinal parasitic and bacterial infections in relation to diarrhoea in Vhembe district and the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of isolated bacterial pathogens was conducted. Stool samples were collected from 528 patients attending major public hospitals and 295 children attending two public primary schools and were analyzed by standard microbiological and parasitological techniques. Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar (34.2%) and Cryptosporidium spp. (25.5%) were the most common parasitic causes of diarrhoea among the hospital attendees while Giardia lamblia (12.8%) was the most common cause of diarrhoea among the primary school children (p < 0.05). Schistosoma mansoni (14.4%) was more common in non-diarrhoeal samples at both hospitals (16.9%) and schools (17.6%). Campylobacter spp. (24.9%), Aeromonas spp. (20.8%), and Shigella spp. (8.5%) were the most common bacterial causes of diarrhoea among the hospital attendees while Campylobacter (12.8%) and Aeromonas spp. (12.8%) were most common in diarrhoeal samples from school children. Vibrio spp. was less common (3% in the hospitals) and were all associated with diarrhoea. Antimicrobial resistance was common among the bacterial isolates but ceftriaxone (91%) and ciprofloxacin (88.6%) showed stronger activities against all the organisms. The present study has demonstrated that E. histolytica/dispar, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Cyclospora are common parasitic causes of diarrhoea in Vhembe district while Campylobacter spp. and Aeromonas are the most common bacterial causes of diarrhoea in Vhembe district of South Africa.

Prevalence, haemolytic and haemagglutination activities and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of Campylobacter spp. isolated from human diarrhoeal stools in Vhembe District, South Africa.

Campylobacter species are increasingly being recognized as agents of gastroenteritis worldwide. However, data on the pathogenic characteristics of the organism isolated in rural communities in South Africa are lacking. In this study, the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. from diarrhoeal stools, haemolytic and haemagglutinating activities of the isolates, and antibiotic susceptibility profiles, including minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) patterns to different antibiotics, were determined using the standard microbiological techniques. Campylobacter spp. were isolated from individuals of all age-groups; however, the infection rate was higher among individuals aged less than two years (30.4%). Of 115 Campylobacter strains isolated, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis indicated that 98 (85%) were C. jejuni, while 17 (15%) were C. coli. Seventy-one (62%) of the strains showed haemolysis on human blood, and 80% agglutinated human blood, whereas 22.6% were beta-lactamase-positive. Resistance to antimicrobials, such as erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, and fusidic acid, was high. Increased resistance to macrolide and quinolone antibiotics poses major risks for treatment failure. Haemolytic and haemagglutinating activities may be useful in preliminary characterization of pathogenic strains in settings where Campylobacter-associated infections are common.

Prevalence, pathogenesis, antibiotic susceptibility profiles, and in-vitro activity of selected medicinal plants against Aeromonas isolates from stool samples of patients in the Venda region of South Africa.

The prevalence, pathogenic indices, such as haemolytic and haemagglutinating activities, antibiograms, and in-vitro activities of local medicinal plants against Aeromonas isolates in Vhembe district of Limpopo province, South Africa, were studied using standard microbiological methods. In total, 309 diarrhoeic stool samples were collected from patients attending five health centres in the region during December 2004-May 2005. Aeromonas species were identified using the API 20E system. The haemagglutinating and haemolytic activities of isolates on human, sheep, pig and chicken red blood cells were investigated. Antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the isolates to several antibiotics and in-vitro activity of local medicinal plants were also ascertained using previously-reported schemes. Results showed that 104 (33.6%) of the 309 samples were positive for Aeromonas species, of which 89 (85.6%) were Aeromonas hydrophila, 12 (11.5%) A. sobria, and three (2.9%) A. caviae. All strains of A. hydrophila and A. caviae produced haemolysis on sheep blood, while eight of the 12 A. sobria strains were haemolytic on sheep blood. The haemolytic activities of the isolates were variable on other red blood cells tested. High level of resistance was observed to amoxicillin and ampicillin, followed by cefuroxime (79%), chloramphenicol (74%), and erythromycin (65%). The carbapenems were the most active drugs with only 7% resistance to meropenem and 11% to imipenem. About 12% of the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin. The extracts of three of seven medicinal plants tested showed inhibitory activity against all Aeromonas isolates; these included acetone and hexane extracts of Pterocarpus angolensis, Syzygium cordatum, and Zornia milneana. The results suggest a high prevalence of Aeromonas species in the region. The isolates demonstrated multiple resistant profiles to different antibiotics tested. Some local medicinal plants were inhibitory to Aeromonas isolates, indicating a potential role in the management of Aeromonas-related infections. Structural elucidation of the active components may pave the way for the discovery of candidate templates for eventual drug design. Most isolates possessed important virulence characteristics based on their haemolytic and haemagglutinating ability. However, the genetic characterization of the isolates will further confirm their pathogenicity and the origin of multiple antibiotic resistance.

A Comparison Of Cervical Smear Adequacy Using Either The Cytobrush Or The Ayre Spatula: A Practice Audit

Background: To obtain an adequate cervical (Papanicolaou) smear; the transformation zone; including the squamo-columnar junction; should be sampled as carcinoma develops preferentially in this transformation zone. The Ayre spatula has been widely used but is not very effective. Other sampling devices have been developed to improve efficiency; including the cytobrush. The purpose of this study was to compare the adequacy of cervical smears taken with the Ayre spatula as opposed to the cytobrush. MethodsThis was a retrospective analytical study. One sampler; an experienced general practitioner; took the smears in the period 1990 to 2004. Initially; the Ayre spatula was used to consecutively sample the cervix and thereafter; a cytobrush alone was used. Two groups were thus formed for comparison. The presence of endocervical cells was accepted as an indicator of an adequate smear. A Cusco speculum was used to visualize the cervix. The sample was smeared onto a slide and fixated with an alcohol aerosol spray. ResultsA total of 4561 smears were taken and 247 had no endocervical cells. A further 34 smears were classified as unsatisfactory due to the presence of degeneration (19); insufficient squamous cells (7); inflammatory exudate (4); excess blood (3) and/or a thick slide (1).The cytobrush group was similar demographically to the Ayre spatula group: 1981 (99) and 2490 (98) respectively were non pregnant; 67 (3) and 110 (4) were nulliparous; 1008 (50) and 1370 (54) were para 1 - 5; and 931 (46) and 1075 (42) were para 6 or more; 0 (0) and 2 (0.1) were aged between 10 - 19 years; 1496 (75) and 2012 (78) between 20 - 49; and 510 (25) and 541 (21) were aged 50 years or more. Of 2006 smears taken with a cytobrush; 1955 (97.5) contained endocervical cells compared with 2325 (91) of 2555 smears taken with an Ayre spatula. The difference was significant with an Odds Ratio of 4.56 (95Confidence Interval 3.42-6.42). ConclusionThe cytobrush is significantly more efficacious than the Ayre spatula in obtaining adequate cervical smears. Use of the cytobrush will ensure less repeat smears with a consequent reduction in workload for samplers and laboratories. Although very few smears lacked sufficient squamous cells (an indicator of adequate ectocervical sampling); current best practice is that the cytobrush be used together with a wooden spatula to ensure adequate sampling of both the endocervical and ectocervical components of the transformation zone

A Comparison of Cervical Smear Adequacy Using either the Cytobrush or the Ayre Spatula: a Practice Audit

Background: The study aimed to i) investigate the smoking habits of students attending tertiary institutions of learning in the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) and ii) determine the knowledge of the students about the health hazards of smoking and their attitude towards current government anti-smoking legislation.Methods: This was a questionnaire-based study involving all seven tertiary institutions of learning in the ECP; viz. the Universities of Transkei; Fort Hare; Port Elizabeth and Rhodes University; and the Border; Eastern Cape and Port Elizabeth technikons. A total of 1 728 students were interviewed out of a student population of 30;080. Stratified random sampling was used to select the students. Two-way tables were used to test the independence of the variables and chi-square tests were applied. A 'p' value of below 5 was used as a test of significance. Results : A total of 1 480 students completed the questionnaires (86). The racial classification of the respondents was 79 Black; 13 White; 7 Coloured and 2 Indian. Twenty-six per cent of the students were smokers; of which 37 were male and 15 were female. Forty-five per cent of the Coloured students smoked; while the figures for Whites and Blacks were 26 and 25 respectively. Seventy per cent of the students smoked less than 10 cigarettes a day. Fifty-two per cent of the smokers said they wanted to stop smoking. Sixty-one per cent had been influenced to start smoking by their friends and only 13 were influenced by advertisements. Ninety-four percent agreed that smoking was dangerous to the smoker's health; while 73 responded that there was a relationship between mothers who smoke and low birth weight. Thirteen per cent thought the legislation was too tough; while 30 said it was good as it was. On measures to reduce smoking; 86 favoured restricting smoking in public places.Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that smoking is prevalent in tertiary institutions of learning in the Eastern Cape Province. The demographic profile of the smokers reflects the national picture. The knowledge of the harmful effects of smoking is generally good

Bacteriological examination of milk and milk products sold in Harare.

A study to assess the bacteriological quality of milk and ice cream was conducted using the direct plate count method and the methylene blue dye reduction test. A total of 105 milk and 95 ice cream samples were obtained form two factories (depots) and distributing supermarkets (outlets) in Harare. Under the methylene blue test, all milk and ice cream samples passed the hour and 2 hour tests respectively. However, 99% of the milk and 69% of the ice cream samples reduced the dye after 5.5 and 4 hrs respectively. The results from the direct plate counts revealed the presence of both pathogens and non-pathogens. The median plate counts in the milk and ice cream were found 400 cfu / ml and 100 cfu / ml respectively. Organisms isolated in both samples and in all outlets were similar, these included Bacillus spp. Coagulase Staphlococcus spp., microcuccus spp., Steptococcus spp., Diphthroids, Fusiform bacterial Klebsiella spp., and Citrobacter spp. No significant differences were found in the plate counts of the samples obtained from the depots and outlets for the milk (P = 0.542, df = 1)) and ice cream samples (P = 0.377, df = 1). Results further revealed that there was no significant difference in isolates obtained form strawberry ice cream (0.0096). The study has therefore, revealed that milk and milk product sold in various outlets in Harare contained a variety of bacteria of public health importance and also that the methylene blue dye reduction test is not reliable for the detection of bacterial contaminants in dairy products. It is thus suggested that the use of methylene blue dyes be adapted in combination with other tests such as the plate count in assessing bacterial contaminants in milk products.

Antibiotic sensitivity and plasmid profiles of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to commonly used antibiotics and to study the relationship between antibiotic resistance and the plasmid profiles of the organism. DESIGN: Cross sectional study SETTING: Samples of burns, wound pus, urine, blood, sputum, stool and aspirates were obtained from Harare Hospital (n = 120) and Parirenyatwa Hospital(n = 80). SUBJECTS: Male and female patients either admitted or attending clinics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: P. aeruginosa isolates obtained were resistant to commonly used antibiotics in this environment. The resistance may be plasmid-dependent. RESULTS: P. aeruginosa is prevalent in burns (76.7%) and wounds (67.5%) and in their respective hospital wards. The isolates of P. aeruginosa were resistant to gentamicin (65.5%); carbenicillin (61.9); polymyxinb (53.0%); ciprofloxacin (61.1%) and ceftriazone (70.8%); but showed high sensitivity to tazocin (89.4%) and nalidixic acid (59.3%) and cotrimoxazole (54.9%). All the isolates resistant to the antibiotics tested possessed plasmid DNA. Strains with four plasmids of molecular weight of approximately, 1.5 x 10(6), 1.8 x 10(6), 2.9 x 10(6) and 7.4 x 10(6) Da showed multiple resistance to the drugs that were tested. CONCLUSION: This study reveals an emergence of multiple antibiotic-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa. The traditional drugs gentamicin, carbenicillin, ciproflaxacin, and polymyxin-b used for treatment of P. aeruginosa infections may no longer be reliable. Therefore, a newer drug such as tazocin and other rarely used drugs such as nalidixic acid should be considered for P. aeruginosa antibiotic therapy.

Storage of breast milk: effect of temperature and storage duration on microbial growth.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of storage duration at varying temperature ranges, the pattern of microbial isolates and the quantity of colony-forming units (CFU) on expressed breast milk. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Bacteriology laboratory, University of Zimbabwe in Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The temperature, storage duration and types of micro-organisms in freshly expressed breast milk. RESULTS: Freshly expressed human breast milk contained microbial non-pathogens of skin flora. There was no growth of organisms in stored breast milk after four hours, eight hours, 24 hours and 72 hours storage duration at temperature ranges 0 to 4 degrees C (freezing temperature), 4 to 10 degrees C (refrigerator temperature), 15 to 27 degrees C (room temperature) and 30 to 38 degrees C (high temperature) respectively. Growth was detected after the storage durations and organisms isolated were both pathogens and non-pathogens with low counts. Average colony counts was (CFU < 200). CONCLUSION: The study revealed that storage duration for expressed breast milk should not exceed 24 hours in refrigerator temperature (4 to 10 degrees C), eight hours at room temperature (15 to 27 degrees C) and four hours at high temperature (30 to 38 degrees C). Although freezing temperature (0 to 4 degrees C) seemed safest for breast milk storage, short-term storage in a freezer is not recommended due to likely the hazards of the thawing process.

The bactericidal effect of normal human serum samples from various blood groups against local isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.

The sensitivity of staphylococcus aureus isolated in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria, to the bactericidal activity of normal human sera from different blood groups ("A", "B", "AB", "O") was determined using the microtitre plate method. Results obtained revealed that S. aureus was sensitive to pooled serum samples of blood groups "B", "AB", and "O", each accounting for 60.7 per cent, 50.5 per cent and 53.5 per cent respectively, but resistant to blood group "A" with a sensitivity value of 43.3 per cent. This finding which is of clinical importance shows the differences of serum batctericidal activity of normal human sera from different blood group against S. aureus.

The bactericidal Effect of Normal Human Serum Samples from Various Blood Groups against Local Isolates of Staphloccus aureus

"The sensitivity of staphylococcus aureus isolated in Ekpoma; Edo State; Nigeria; to the bactericidal activity of normal human sera from different blood groups (""A""; ""B""; ""AB""; ""O"") was determined using the microtitre plate method. Results obtained revealed that S. aureus was sensitive to pooled serum samples of blood groups ""B""; ""AB""; and ""O""; each accounting for 60.7 per cent; 50.5 per cent and 53.5 per cent respectively; but resistant to blood group ""A"" with a sensitivity value of 43.3 per cent. This finding which is of clinical importance shows the differences of serum batctericidal activity of normal human sera from different blood group against S. aureus."