Molecular typing and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of enteropathogenic and shigatoxin producing Escherichia coli isolated from food handlers in three areas of Kenya.

Objectives: To determine the aetiology, epidemiology and sanitary factors of carriage of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in food-handlers working in tourist hotels in three popular tourist destinations in Kenya.

Design: Cross sectional laboratory based study.

Molecular technique utilising sputum for detecting Wuchereria bancrofti infections in Malindi, Kenya.

Background: Lymphatic filariasis is a tropical parasitic disease which has been identified for elimination by 2020 through mass drugs administration. There is a major problem in its diagnosis and sensitive surveillance methods for monitoring the disease elimination programs need to be sought.

Objectives: To establish and evaluate the usefulness of a Polymerase Chain Reaction, PCR assay employing sputum for diagnosis of Wuchereria bancrofti infections in an endemic location.

High incidence of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli among food handlers in three areas of Kenya: a possible transmission route of travelers' diarrhea.

Background: Contaminated food and water are acknowledged vehicles for the transmission of travelers' diarrhea (TD). Importance of food handlers as reservoirs of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC), enteropathogenic E coli (EPEC), and Shiga toxin-producing E coli (STEC) causing TD has not been clearly demonstrated.

Methods: We undertook a 1-year prospective study to determine the presence and selected risk factors of carriage of EAEC, EPEC, and STEC by 1,399 food handlers working in tourist hotels in three popular tourist destinations of Kenya.

Anti-viral activity of the extracts of a Kenyan medicinal plant Carissa edulis against herpes simplex virus.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is a major opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed persons. It is therefore a serious disease in high HIV/AIDS prevalence areas as in sub-Saharan Africa where infections due to HSV have risen significantly. The development of resistant strains of HSV to the available drugs for infection management, as is evident in the first drug of choice acyclovir, has further compounded this situation.

Non-typhi salmonella in children with severe malaria.

Objective: To determine the association between Plasmodium falciparum malaria and non-typhi Salmonella in children.

Design: Cross-sectional hospital based study.

Setting: Kilifi District Hospital (KDH) between January 1997 and June 2001.