Incidence and sociodemographic, living environment and maternal health associations with stillbirth in a tertiary healthcare setting in Kano, Northern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Almost two million stillbirths occur annually, most occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Nigeria is reported to have one of the highest stillbirth rates on the African continent. The aim was to identify sociodemographic, living environment, and health status factors associated with stillbirth and determine the associations between pregnancy and birth factors and stillbirth in the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. METHODS: A three-month single-site prospective observational feasibility study. Demographic and clinical data were collected. We fitted bivariable and multivariable models for stillbirth (yes/no) and three-category livebirth/macerated stillbirth/non-macerated stillbirth outcomes to explore their association with demographic and clinical factors. FINDINGS: 1,998 neonates and 1,926 mothers were enrolled. Higher odds of stillbirth were associated with low-levels of maternal education, a further distance to travel to the hospital, living in a shack, maternal hypertension, previous stillbirth, birthing complications, increased duration of labour, antepartum haemorrhage, prolonged or obstructed labour, vaginal breech delivery, emergency caesarean-section, and signs of trauma to the neonate following birth. INTERPRETATION: This work has obtained data on some factors influencing stillbirth. This in turn will facilitate the development of improved public health interventions to reduce preventable deaths and to progress maternal health within this site.

Antibiotic susceptibility profiles and detection of genes mediating extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (Esbl) production in escherichia coli isolates from National Hospital, Abuja.

Background: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) are the most widespread of the new beta-lactamases and are a significant threat to patient care in the hospital and the community. Aim: The study assessed the prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility profile, and major ESBL encoding genes among Escherichia coli isolated from clinical specimens of patients in the National Hospital, Abuja (NHA). Materials and Methods: E. coli isolated from diverse clinical specimens obtained from clinically proven cases of infection managed at the NHA were included in the study. The antimicrobial susceptibility was performed by the Kirby-Bauer method and E-test was used to confirm the ESBL phenotype. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the genes mediating ESBL production. Results: Meropenem, fosfomycin, and tigecycline demonstrated excellent activities against all isolates: of the 400 isolates, 392 (98%), 386 (96.5%), and 362 (90.5%) were susceptible, respectively. Similarly, 358 (89.5%) were susceptible to amikacin, 323 (80.3%) nitrofurantoin, 281 (70.3%) ceftazidime, and 279 (69.8%) cefotaxime. A total of 271 (67.8%), 219 (54.8%), and 208 (52.0%) were resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanate, ciprofloxacillin, and gentamicin, respectively. However, all the isolates were resistant to ampicillin. There was a significantly higher proportion of multidrug resistance among ESBL-producing isolates compared to non-ESBL-producing isolates (P = 0.0001). Of the 121 phenotypically detected ESBL isolates, 119 (98.3%) harbored genes mediating the production of Cefotaximase- Munich (CTX-M), Temoniera (TEM) or Sulfhydryl Variable (SHV) enzymes. Conclusion: The prevalence of ESBLs among E. coli was relatively high, at 30.2%. About 81% of all blood isolates were ESBL-producers. blaCTX-M is the predominant type of ESBL gene among E. coli. A high proportion of the ESBL-producing isolates expressed a combination of two or three genes together.

A qualitative focus group study concerning perceptions and experiences of Nigerian mothers on stillbirths.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences and perceptions of stillbirth among mothers from a tertiary medical centre in Kano, Northern Nigeria. DESIGN: Qualitative, interpretative. SETTING: Tertiary healthcare facility, Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital (MMSH), Kano, Northern Nigeria. SAMPLE: Mothers who had given birth to a liveborn baby at the MMSH in the prior 6 months (n = 31). In order to capture the experiences and perception of stillbirth within this cohort we approached mothers who had in a previous pregnancy experienced a stillbirth. Of the 31 who attended 16 had a previous stillbirth. METHODS: Semi-structured Focus Group Discussions, consisting of open-ended questions about stillbirth, beliefs, experiences and influences were held in MMSH, conducted over 1 day. RESULTS: Our findings highlight that this is a resource-poor tertiary facility serving an ever-growing population, increasing strain on the hospital and healthcare workers. Many of the participants highlighted needing permission from certain family members before accessing healthcare or medical treatment. We identified that mothers generally have knowledge on self-care during pregnancy, yet certain societal factors prevented that from being their priority. Judgement and blame was a common theme, yet a complex area entwined with traditions, superstitions and the pressure to procreate with many mothers described being made to feel useless and worthless if they did not birth a live baby. CONCLUSIONS: As access to healthcare becomes easier, there are certain traditions, family and social dynamics and beliefs which conflict with scientific knowledge and act as a major barrier to uptake of healthcare services. The findings highlight the need for investment in maternity care, appropriate health education and public enlightenment; they will help inform appropriate interventions aimed at reducing stigma around stillbirth and aide in educating mothers about the importance of appropriate health seeking behaviour. Stillbirths are occurring in this area of the world unnecessarily, globally there has been extensive research conducted on stillbirth prevention. This research has highlighted some of the areas which can be tackled by modifying existing successful interventions to work towards reducing preventable stillbirths.

Resistance Pattern and Detection of Metallo-beta-lactamase Genes in Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Central Nigeria Tertiary Hospital.

BACKGROUND:: Acquired metallo-ß-lactamases (MBLs) pose serious problem both in terms of treatment and infection control in the hospitals and report across the world showed an increase in their prevalence. However, there is a paucity of data from Africa, and their report is rare in Nigeria. AIM:: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of acquired MBL-resistant genes in carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Abuja, North Central Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS:: Two hundred nonduplicate, consecutive isolates of P. aeruginosa from clinical samples submitted to the Medical Microbiology Laboratory of National Hospital, Abuja were screened for carbapenem resistance using imipenem and meropenem. Phenotypic detection of MBL-producing strains was determined using Total MBL confirm kits and E-test strips on isolates that were resistant to both Imipenem and meropenem. The MBL genes were detected using multiplex polymerase chain reaction, while the gene variant was determined by sequencing. RESULTS:: Twenty-two MBL-producing strains were detected phenotypically, but only 5 harbored the blaVIM-1 gene, giving a prevalence of 2.5%. These 5 strains were resistant to all the antipseudomonal antibiotics tested except Aztreonam and Colistin. Other common MBL-genes were not detected. CONCLUSION:: The prevalence of MBL-producing strains of P. aeruginosa which poses serious challenge for therapeutics and infection control is currently low in Abuja, North Central, Nigeria. Therefore, rational use of the carbapenems and other antipseudomonal antibiotics, regular surveillance and adequate infection control measures should be instituted to limit further spread.

Group B streptococcal colonization and transmission dynamics in pregnant women and their newborns in Nigeria: implications for prevention strategies.

OBJECTIVES: Because few studies have been conducted on group B Streptococcus (GBS) in Nigeria, we sought to estimate GBS colonization and transmission frequencies for 500 women and their newborns and identify risk factors for both outcomes. METHODS: GBS strains were characterized for antibiotic susceptibilities, capsule (cps) genotype, pilus island profile and multilocus sequence type (ST). RESULTS: In all, 171 (34.2%) mothers and 95 (19.0%) of their newborns were colonized with GBS; the vertical transmission rate was 48.5%. One newborn developed early-onset disease, yielding an incidence of 2.0 cases per 1000 live births (95% CI 0.50-7.30). Rectal maternal colonization (OR 26.6; 95% CI 13.69-51.58) and prolonged rupture of membranes (OR 4.2; 95% CI 1.03-17.17) were associated with neonatal colonization, whereas prolonged membrane rupture (OR 3.4; 95% CI 1.04-11.39) and young maternal age (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.22-3.39) were associated with maternal colonization. Women reporting four or more intrapartum vaginal examinations (OR 6.1; 95% CI 3.41-10.93) and douching (OR 3.7; 95% CI 2.26-6.11) were also more likely to be colonized. Twelve STs were identified among 35 mother-baby pairs with evidence of transmission; strains of cpsV ST-19 (n = 9; 25.7%) and cpsIII ST-182 (n = 7; 20.0%) predominated. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate high rates of colonization and transmission in a population that does not use antibiotics to prevent neonatal infections, a strategy that should be considered in the future.

Randomized trial evaluating self-sampling for HPV DNA based tests for cervical cancer screening in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remain high due to several factors including low levels of uptake of cervical cancer screening. Self-collection of cervicovaginal samples for HPV DNA testing may be an effective modality that can increase uptake of cervical cancer screening in SSA and hard to reach populations in developed countries. We investigated whether self-collection of cervicovaginal samples for HPV DNA tests would be associated with increased uptake of screening compared with clinic based collection of samples. Furthermore, we compared the quality of samples collected by both approaches for use in HPV genotyping. METHODS: We conducted a community based randomized trial in a semi-urban district of Abuja, Nigeria with 400 women, aged 30 to 65 years randomized to either hospital-collection or self-collection of cervicovaginal samples. We compared cervical cancer screening uptake among the 2 groups and evaluated the concentration of human DNA in the samples by measuring RNase P gene levels using qPCR. High-risk HPV DNA detection and typing was done using the GP5+/6+ Luminex system. RESULTS: Most participants in the self-collection arm (93%, 185/200) submitted their samples while only 56% (113/200) of those invited to the hospital for sample collection attended and were screened during the study period (p value < 0.001). Human genomic DNA was detected in all but five (1.7%) participants, all of whom were in the self-collection arm. The prevalence of high-risk HPV in the study population was 10% with types 35, 52 and 18 being the commonest. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that self-sampling significantly increased uptake of HPV DNA based test for cervical cancer screening in this population and the samples collected were adequate for HPV detection and genotyping. Cervical cancer screening programs that incorporate self-sampling and HPV DNA tests are feasible and may significantly improve uptake of cervical cancer screening in SSA.

Viral Load Pattern Among Hepatitis B Surface Antigen-positive Patients: Laboratory Perspective and Implications for Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B viral infection is an old medical problem with worldwide distribution. It is usually diagnosed using serologic methods. However, the decision as to which patient to treat or not remains challenging due to the poor sensitivity of serologic markers as prognostic or severity markers. Viral load (VL) determination using polymerase chain reaction techniques is a useful tool in decision-making. AIM: To determine the proportion of hepatitis B-positive patients who fall into different care groups based on the Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria (SOGHIN) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, respectively, using result of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA determination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective and descriptive study. Data from all patients sent to the medical microbiology laboratory, National Hospital Abuja over a period of 28 months (November 2012 to February 2015) for hepatitis B DNA VL determinations were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2010 (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA) and IBM SPSS version 20.0 (IBM SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: A total 666 patients, with mean age of 33.2 years, were tested. For those whose ages were known 36.2% (100/276) were below 30 years and 63.8% (176/276) 30 years and above. Exactly 66.7% (444/666) were males and the remaining 33.3% (222/666) were females. The VL of the patients varied from 20 to 1.7 × 10(8) IU/ml, with an average of 3.5 × 10(6) IU/ml. Around 76.1% (507/666) had measurable assay levels (20 - 1.7 × 10(8) IU/ml); 10.8% (76/666) had below 20 IU/ml and 3.8% (25/666) above 1.7 × 10(8) IU/ml. About 9.3% (62/666) had no detectable HBV DNA in their samples. About 46.8% (312/666) of the patients had levels between 20 and 2 × 10(3) IU/ml; 16.4% (109/666) had between 2001 and 2 × 10(4) IU/ml while 16.7% (111/666) had VL of between 20,001 and 1.7 × 10(8) IU/ml. Males tended to have detectable and higher VLs than females (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: HBV DNA assay used in accordance with existing treatment guidelines will improve quality of care. To avoid unnecessary liver biopsy, there is a need to further fine-tune the SOGHIN guidelines.

Extended spectrum Beta-Lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae septicaemia outbreak in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.

Between March and August 2002 a cluster of nosocomial septicaemia associated with Extended Spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae was observed in 11 neonates from the neonatal intensive care unit of a 200-bed tertiary hospital in Abuja, the Federal Capital territory of Nigeria. An investigation was conducted to identify the possible reservoirs and mode of transmission. Infection control measures and epidemiologic surveillance were executed. The environment was investigated by collecting and processing several swab samples for microbiological studies. Antibiogram tests and extended spectrum beta lactamase production test were performed on all K. pneumoniae isolates from both the environment and the patients, and all bacteraemic and environmental isolates of K. pneumoniae compared. A total of 30 K. pneumoniae isolates made up of 17 from the patients and 13 from the environment were analysed. An identical antibiogram was found in 24 isolates, which included all the 17 from the patients and the 7 from the hands of staff, sink and incubator surface in the NICU. Mortality rate from the outbreak was 36.4% and constituted 10.8% of all deaths in the unit in 2002. Overall mortality in the unit for 2002 was 28.9%. The outbreak significantly caused more deaths than usual in the unit. The nosocomial septicaemia was caused by a single ESBL-producing strain of K. pneumnoniae brought into the hospital by a neonate delivered and admitted from an external health institution. Sink and the incubator were also contaminated by the same strain.

Prevalence of Kaposi's sarcoma among adult HIV-seropositive patients seen in a designated HIV treatment and care center in Abuja, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: There is a dearth of information on the prevalence of AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (AAKS) in Nigeria despite the HIV National seroprevalence of 5% and the occurrence of the disease in people living with HIV/AIDS. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of AAKS among HIV-seropositive adults seen in an HIV/AIDS treatment and care center in Abuja, Nigeria. DESIGN: This was a retrospective study of all cases seen over a period of 42 months. METHOD: Medical records of the 1591 patients comprising 857 males and 734 females were reviewed, and relevant data such as age, sex, CD4 count at diagnosis of AAKS were obtained and analyzed. RESULTS: A prevalence of 0.8% was found, with a male:female ratio of 2:1. Females presented at earlier ages and relatively lower CD4 count than did males. CONCLUSION: Easy access to antiretroviral medications and a well-targeted education and awareness campaign will help reduce the incidence and prevalence of the disease. The inability to perform histologic examinations on all suspected cases calls for a well-designed prospective study to determine the actual prevalence of Kaposi's sarcoma in HIV-seropositive patients in Nigeria.

The pattern of paediatric HIV/AIDS as seen at the National Hospital Abuja Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Paediatric HIV/AIDS has become a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in our environment. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this paper is to determine the mode of transmission, clinical presentations and outcome of hospital admissions in children with Paediatric HIV/AIDS at the National Hospital Abuja Nigeria. METHODS: A retrospective study of children with Paediatric HIV/AIDS admitted into the hospital from January December 2000 was done. Screening for HIV infection was based on clinical criteria as recommended by WHO except in 3 children with previously diagnosed HIV seropositivity. One positive ELISA and one positive Western Blot assay diagnosed HIV seropositivity. RESULTS: Forty-three HIV positive children aged six weeks to nine years (mean 16.5 months, SD 26.32) were admitted into the Paediatric unit (exclusive of the newborn unit) of the hospital, accounting for 5.7% of all admissions into the unit. There were 35 infants (81.4%). There were 18 males and 25 females (male: female ratio 1:0.72). The presumed modes of transmission were mother to child transmission 40(93.02%), blood transfusion 2 (4.6%) and an unidentified route 1 (2.3%). All parents were in the reproductive age group and there were 6 discordant couples identified (mother HIV positive, father HIV negative). Common presenting symptoms were fever 16 (37.2.8%), diarrhoea 13 (30.2%), difficult/fast breathing 12 (27.9%) and vomiting 8 (18.6%), while clinical signs were crepitations in the lungs 27 (62.7%), pallor 22 (51.2%), oral thrush 20 (46.5%), hepatomegaly 18 (41.9%), and dehydration 16 (37.2%). Admitting diagnoses were pneumonia 26 (60.5%), septicaemia 4 (9.3%), diarrhoea with dehydration, intestinal obstruction and malnutrition 2 (4.7%) each. There were 14 deaths (mortality rate 32.6%); accounting for 28.57% of total deaths in the paediatric unit during the period. Thirteen (13) (92.8%) deaths occurred in children aged 2 years old and below. The greatest contributors to mortality were pneumonia 10 (71.4%) and septicaemia 2 (14.3%). Poor nutritional status was associated (p<0.05) with increased mortality. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that paediatric HIVAIDS occurs predominantly by mother to child transmission and constitutes a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality at the National Hospital Abuja Nigeria. We recommend intensification of efforts to implement the existing prevention of mother to child transmission programme and further evaluation ofpneumonia in HIV positive children.

Comparative evaluation of direct stool smear and formol-ether concentration methods in the identification of Cryptosporidium species

Cryptosporidium is a common cause of diarrhoea in patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Unfortunately this pathogen is not often checked for in Microbiology laboratories because the formol-ether stool concentration method for identification of Cryptosporidium is cumbersome and may not be routinely undertaken in very busy laboratories and in laboratories with inadequate personnel. This study was therefore carried out to compare the outcome of direct stool examination and formol-ether concentration method with the aim of finding a non-cumbersome method of examining for Cryptosporidiumspecies routinely in stools when it is indicated. Fresh stool specimens of 193 HIV positive and 200 HIV negative patients (control) attending clinic at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) were processed within two hours of collection using direct stool smear and formol-ether concentration methods. Permanently stained slides were prepared using Kinyoun acid-fast stains. Cryptosporidium oocysts were found in 35 (18.1) of HIV seropositive patients using direct stool smear method and in 36 (18.7) using formol-ether concentration method. There was no statistical difference between the two methods (p 0.05; xz = 0.012; df = 1 at 95 confidence limit critical ratio = 3.841). No Cryptosporidiumwas identified in the control (HIV negative) patients using either method. Cryptosporidium oocysts can be routinely checked for in the Microbiology laboratories using either direct stool smear or formol-ether concentration stool method with comparable sensitivity

Susceptibility profile of Enterococcus faecalis isolated at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

Enterococcus faecalis is the most common of the Enterococcus genus causing infection, particularly urinary tract infections, worldwide. It is also a common cause of nosocomial infections and resistance to various antibiotics is on the increase worldwide. Thirty-five strains of E. Faecalis isolated from various clinical specimens (blood, wound swabs endocervical swabs but mostly urine) were screened for high-level aminoglycoside resistance. Their susceptibility nine antibiotics (ampicillin, gentamicin, streptomycin, vancomycin, tetracycline cotrimoxazole and chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin and erthromycin) was also determined. All isolates were susceptible to Ampicillin and Vancomycin with MIC90 of 4microg/ml but resistant to Nalidixic acid with an MIC90>256microg/ml. Four (11%) of the isolates showed high-level resistance to Gentamicin while 11(32%) exhibited high-level resistance streptomycin after 24 hours incubation. It will appear that Ampicillin in combination with gentamicin but not streptomycin, can still be used empirically for the treatment of Enterococcal infections.

Infections caused by Acinetobacter species and their susceptibility to 14 antibiotics in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos.

Acinetobacter spp are well recognised as causes of nosocomial infections particularly in patients with immature or defective body defence system. Information concerning these organisms are lacking in this environment. For this reason the pattern of infection and the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of these organisms isolated over a one-year period were studied. A total of 58 (3%) of the 2001 isolates from all clinical specimens received in the laboratory during the year were Acinetobacter spp. The 58 Acinetobacter spp constituted 5.5% of all the 1051 NLF-GNB isolated, and caused 4.6% of all the 1261 nosocomial infections. Thirty-seven (63%) and 17 (30%) of the Acinetobacter isolates were from wound infections and UTI respectively. All the infections were nosocomially acquired and were associated with compromised host immunity, defective body defence, surgery or urinary catheterization; with Acinetobacter baumannii being the predominant species. There was an apparent male predominance over females by a ratio of 1. 9:1 in the infections, particularly from 45 years and above. One hundred percent and 96.6% of the isolates were susceptible to cefoperazone-sulbactam and travofloxacin respectively. Forty-five (77.6%) were susceptible to cefotaxime, 49 (84.5%) to ampicillin-sulbactam, 34 (58.6%) to ceftazidime, 38 (65.6%) to ticarcillin-clavulanic acid and 41 (70.7%) to ciprofloxacin. Generally the Acinetobacter spp showed multiple resistance to the range of antibiotics tested. All the isolates produced beta-lactamase.