Articles: disease.
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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Jan 1994
The epidemiology of needlestick and sharp instrument accidents in a Nigerian hospital.
To characterize the epidemiology of percutaneous injuries of healthcare workers (HCWs) in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. ⋯ The high frequency of percutaneous exposure to blood among HCWs in this Nigerian hospital potentially could be reduced by simple interventions at modest cost.
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About 20% of children admitted during the study period had febrile convulsions, of which 5% were aged below 5 months or above 5 years. The study confirms the view that there is a strong familial predisposition in febrile seizures. Major causes of the rise in temperature in those studied included malaria, which accounted for 32.7%, followed by bronchopneumonia (16.8%), measles (15.4%), otitis media (13.4%) and tonsillitis (10.5%). The morbidity and mortality could be attributable to the socio-cultural background of the community which practices modes of therapy that are often detrimental to the health of patients.
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This study, based on responses to a questionnaire, was undertaken to define problems in and formulate solutions for improving blood safety in developing countries as part of an effort to monitor the status of blood transfusion services globally. Despite improvements between 1988 and 1992, only 66% of developing countries (DGCs) and 46% of least developed countries (LDCs) screen all blood donations for antibodies to human immunodeficiency viruses; 72% DGCs and 35% LDCs test all donations for hepatitis B surface antigen and 71 and 48%, respectively, for syphilis. The antihuman globulin test is performed routinely in 62% DGCs and 23% LDCs, and inadequate quality assurance in all aspects of preparatory testing is a major weakness in many countries. ⋯ The proportion of repeat donors is low (medians: 47% in DGCs, 20% in LDCs), and discard rates for collected blood are often high (up to 33%). Most of the blood collected is transfused as whole blood, and most DGCs and LDCs have inadequate supplies of plasma substitutes for management of acute haemorrhage. The reasons for these problems and suggested solutions are discussed.