African health sciences
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African health sciences · Mar 2018
Illicit drug use and violence in acute psychosis among acute adult admissions at a South African psychiatric hospital.
The prevalence of mental illness and illicit substance use has increased markedly in South Africa's Western Cape Province, over the last 2 decades; potentially increasing demand for psychiatric care. This paper describes the demographic and substance use profile of patients admitted to Lentegeur (LGH), the largest of the four psychiatric hospitals in the Province. ⋯ Substance use and violence were high, yet only a small proportion of the patients utilised available drug rehabilitation services. This may have implications on psychotic relapses, morbidity and subsequent pressure on financial resources within the health care system. Efforts are needed to maximise utilisation of existing rehabilitative resources for these patients.
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African health sciences · Mar 2018
Teaching obstetric ultrasound at Mulago Hospital - Kampala, Uganda.
Mulago Hospital is a high volume referral hospital under the Makerere University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Basic obstetric ultrasound is a useful skill that can aid patient care. ⋯ This original teaching intervention is an effective method to improve knowledge and skills for medical students and house officers at Mulago Hospital in the area of basic obstetric ultrasound.
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African health sciences · Mar 2018
Silencing the nosocomial pathogen Serratia marcescens by glyceryl trinitrate.
Quorum sensing is a cell-to-cell communication system in bacteria that controls the production of virulence factors. Serratia marcescens is a causative agent of hospital-acquired infections that shows high resistance to antibiotics. This makes the treatment of these infections difficult. Quorum sensing regulates the production of virulence factors of S. marcescens such as prodigiosin, protease, swimming and swarming motilities and formation of biofilms. Inhibition of quorum sensing may be an alternative to antibiotic treatment to avoid emergence of resistance. ⋯ Glyceryl trinitrate is a quorum sensing and virulence inhibitor that may be useful in treatment of nosocomial infections caused by Serratia marcescens.
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African health sciences · Mar 2018
Predictors of esophageal candidiasis among patients attending endoscopy unit in a tertiary hospital, Tanzania: a retrospective cross-sectional study.
Esophageal candidiasis is a common disease among patients with impaired cell mediated immunity. In the current study, we report esophageal candidiasis among patients with various co-morbidities attending the endoscopic unit at the Bugando Medical Centre. ⋯ Patients with a history of drinking alcohol, smoking, use of antibiotics and those with chronic diseases such as peptic ulcers were at high risk of developing esophageal candidiasis. Further studies are needed to identify Candida spp. and their anti-fungal susceptibility for proper management of esophageal candidiasis in HIV and non-HIV individuals.
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African health sciences · Mar 2018
Multidrug-resistant pattern of food borne illness associated bacteria isolated from cockroaches in meal serving facilities, Jimma, Ethiopia.
An increase in the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in recent years is becoming worrisome. Domestic cockroaches can play a significant role in the dissemination of such bacteria between the environment and human beings. This study aimed at determining anti-microbial resistance pattern of food borne illness associated bacteria identified from cockroaches trapped in restaurants and cafeterias. ⋯ A very high percentage of MDR bacteria was seen in this study. Most of the bacteria tested were isolated from the gut of cockroaches. Potential factors associated with cockroaches that contributed to this high MDR rate of the isolates should be investigated in future.