PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF NEEDLE STICK INJURIES AMONG CLEANERS IN A TERTIARY HEALTH FACILITY IN GOMBE, NORTHEAST, NIGERIA.

Introduction: The cleaning staff working in a health facility are at risk of needle stick injuries (NSI) because of the nature of their work which involves the disposal of used needles and sharps. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of NSI among cleaning staff at Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 150 cleaning staff, selected using simple random sampling technique. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the research variables. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 23. Bivariate analysis was conducted to examine the relationships between sociodemographic factors and the prevalence of injury, while logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of needle stick injuries. Statistical significance was determined at a p-value of ≤0.05. Result: Majority of the respondents were males (64%) and uneducated (63.3%) with a mean age of 39.9±9 years. The prevalence of NSI among the cleaners was 35.3% with 23.3% having experienced injury at least once. Uneducated individuals were found to have experienced NSI more than those who were educated. Risk factors found to be predictors of NSI were sex, educational level, job duration of > 10 years, and number of hours spent during cleaning activity. Conclusion: Most of the staff were uneducated with no formal training before the commencement of work. Prevalence of NSI was high and therefore, there is a need for health education on the risks of the job and formal training of staff before commencement of work.

RELATIONSHIP OF MEAN PLATELET VOLUME TO SEVERITY AND SHORT-TERM OUTCOME OF ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE.

Introduction: Despite the considerable number of clinical studies conducted, questions on the importance of the determinants of outcome after ischaemic stroke still exits. Methodology: Eighty consenting acute ischaemic stroke patients presenting to the emergency unit of Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, along with 80 age and sex-matched controls were recruited. All the subjects were examined after relevant clinical history and stroke severity was determined using the NIHSS score. A brain imaging computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (CT/MRI) was performed for each patient and the stroke outcome of each patient was documented at the end of 30 days. MPV was assayed using the Sysmex KX-21N automated haematology analyser. Result: The mean age of patients 59.74±14.44 years was similar to the mean age of controls 59.80±14.08 years; P=0.947. The gender distribution between the two groups was also similar (p=0.436). Systemic hypertension was the most common modifiable risk factor for stroke accounting for 58.8%. The MPV of stroke patients 10.51 ± 0.88fl was significantly higher than that of controls 9.86±0.88fl p=0.0001 with a reference interval of 9.10-10.62fl using controls. Patients with MPV ≥10.62fl were categorized as high MPV range. The majority of patients in the high MPV category had significantly severe stroke with NIHSS score >16 p=0.001. No significant relationship was observed between the high MPV category and functional outcome based on mRS category p=0.101, The effect of MPV in the prediction of mortality remained significant (OR: 4.58, P= 0.012) in the multivariate regression model after controlling for other factors associated with mortality in acute ischemic stroke. A significant relationship was observed between MPV and infarct volume on the ROC curve and the area under the curve was 0.684 and an MPV value of 9.85fl was determined at 90% sensitivity and specificity of 50%. Conclusion: The study shows that MPV is associated with stroke severity and can be used as a marker to predict mortality in acute ischaemic stroke.