Publications by authors named "M N Njuguna"
A Situation Analysis of the Capacity of Laboratories in Faith-Based Hospitals in Zambia to Conduct Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance: Opportunities to Improve Diagnostic Stewardship.
Microorganisms
August 2024
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a public health problem exacerbated by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics and the inadequate capacity of laboratories to conduct AMR surveillance. This study assessed the capacity of laboratories in seven faith-based hospitals to conduct AMR testing and surveillance in Zambia. This multi-facility, cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted from February 2024 to April 2024.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWastewater-based surveillance has emerged as an important method for monitoring the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Zambia. We conducted a longitudinal study in the Copperbelt and Eastern provinces of Zambia from October 2023 to December 2023 during which 155 wastewater samples were collected.
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- Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 have led to the emergence of new variants with potential effects like increased spread, severity, and vaccine resistance.
- A cross-sectional study in Zambia analyzed 76 SARS-CoV-2 samples from November 2021 to February 2022, identifying 4,097 mutations, with 1,925 occurring in the spike protein.
- The study found 83 unique amino acid mutations in the spike proteins of various Omicron sublineages, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring and pandemic readiness.
Article Synopsis
- Zambia has a high adult HIV prevalence of 11%, and it's struggling to meet the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals, with only 86.2% of people achieving viral load suppression.
- The study focused on North-Western Province, where viral load suppression is the lowest at 77.5%, and explored how an integrated sample referral system can enhance HIV testing and diagnosis results.
- Results showed that after implementing this referral system, there was a significant and consistent increase in viral load coverage, a 47.7% improvement in Early Infant Diagnosis turnaround time, and a 25% rise in sample volume, highlighting the need for ongoing support and targeted strategies to optimize testing outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- Bone tissue engineering is evolving with a focus on using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and calcium phosphate scaffolds, but these cannot effectively heal large jawbone defects.
- To address this issue, researchers developed alveolar bone-derived immature osteoblast-like cells (HAOBs) combined with polylactic acid fibers to create a 3D scaffold (3DPL), which showed promise for bone regeneration.
- Although HAOB constructs did not work in a pig model, using mouse calvaria-derived immature osteoblast-like cells (MCOBs) with 3DPL successfully regenerated bone in a mouse model, demonstrating the potential for effective treatment of large bone defects with reliable strength and connection to implants.