Isolation and characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from bovine mastitis in North West Cameroon: public health implications.

Objectives: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a zoonotic pathogen that poses a serious threat to veterinary and public health worldwide. We investigated mastitis milk samples for contamination with MRSA and also characterized the MRSA isolates by investigating antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors.

Result: We confirmed MRSA in 69 of 201 (34.

Expediting pathogen genomics adoption for enhanced foodborne disease surveillance in Africa.

The role of genomics in public health surveillance has been accentuated by its crucial contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating its potential in addressing global disease outbreaks. While Africa has made strides in expanding multi-pathogen genomic surveillance, the integration into foodborne disease (FBD) surveillance remains nascent. Here we highlight the critical components to strengthen and scale-up the integration of whole genome sequencing (WGS) in foodborne disease surveillance across the continent.

Impact of Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 Viral Shedding on COVID-19 Disease Outcome and Viral Dynamics.

This article aimed to review the current literature on the impact of continuous shedding of the COVID-19 virus in infected patients in relation to disease outcome variables and viral dynamics. Electronic databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and MedlinePlus were searched using relevant keywords, restricting the selection to thirty-two peer-reviewed articles and four gray literatures from the WHO websites. Findings from this study showed that several variables such as sex, age, immune status, treatments, and vaccines were found to affect the outcomes associated with the COVID-19 virus shedding.

Molecular Epidemiology and AMR Perspective of Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Introduction: Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) persistently challenges public health in Africa, contributing substantially to the diarrhoeal disease burden. This systematic review and meta-analysis illuminate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns of DEC pathotypes across the continent.

Methods: The review selectively focused on pathotype-specific studies reporting prevalence and/or AMR of human-derived DEC pathotypes from African nations, excluding data from extra-intestinal, animal, and environmental sources and studies focused on drug and mechanism experiments.

Antimicrobial resistance genetic determinants and susceptibility profile of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from clinical samples in a tertiary hospital in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Background: Genetic determinants are known to promote antibiotic resistance through horizontal gene transfer.

Methods: We molecularly characterized integrons, plasmid replicon types and metallo-β-lactamase-encoding genes of 38 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from clinical samples.

Results: The P.

Helicobacter pylori Diagnosis and Treatment in Africa: The First Lagos Consensus Statement of the African Helicobacter and Microbiota Study Group.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the most prevalent type of bacterial infection. Current guidelines from different regions of the world neglect specific African conditions and requirements.

Developing and evaluating a major trauma course and coaching programme for ward nurses.

Nurses working with major trauma patients in ward environments in the UK are expected to evidence their knowledge and skills in a set of national competencies. This article describes a bespoke major trauma course and a coaching and portfolio development programme designed to enhance ward nurses' knowledge and skills, help them evidence their competence and support their professional development. Evaluation of the course showed an overall improvement in nurses' self-rated competence and confidence in a range of relevant major trauma topics and clinical skills.

Combatting anthrax outbreaks across Nigeria's national land borders: need to optimize surveillance with epidemiological surveys.

Background: Anthrax is a non-contagious zoonotic disease caused by the Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Infection is common in livestock and wild animals such as cattle, goats, sheep, camels, and antelopes. In humans, anthrax may occur after contact with contaminated carcasses or animal products like milk and meat.

Antibiotic Resistance and Therapy for Infection.

Approximately half of the world's population is estimated to be infected with [...

Forty Years of Helicobacter pylori: The African Perspective.

Background: Helicobacter pylori colonises 50% of the world population and is a causative agent of gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, mucosa associate lymphoid tissue lymphoma and gastric cancer.

Summary: In Africa, the prevalence rate has been found to be the highest in comparison to other parts of the world. Despite its high prevalence there are low rates of gastric cancer recorded in Africa.

Campylobacter in Africa - A specific viewpoint.

Campylobacter infections and campylobacteriosis-associated post-infectious sequelae are a significant global health burden that needs to be addressed from a specific African perspective. We conducted a comprehensive literature search on NCBI PubMed to compile a comprehensive narrative review article on Campylobacter infections in Africa, focusing on key aspects in human and veterinary medicine as well as food hygiene. We specifically focused on the epidemiology of enteropathogenic Campylobacter spp.

Antibiotic Resistance and Plasmid Replicon Types of Non-Typhoidal Serovars Isolated From Food Animals and Humans in Lagos, Nigeria.

Multidrug resistance and invasiveness of non-typhoidal (NTS) serovars have in recent times brought to the fore the public health risk associated with salmonellosis. This study was aimed at profiling NTS serovars isolated from food animals and humans for their susceptibility to antibiotics and plasmid replicon types. Forty seven NTS serovars were profiled for their susceptibility to antibiotics using the disk diffusion method.

Infection: Antibiotic Resistance and Solutions for Effective Management in Africa.

() infection is ubiquitous worldwide, with prevalence rates of greater than 70% in Africa. Symptomatic patients present with foregut gastrointestinal symptoms which can be readily diagnosed with standardized non-invasive or invasive tests. The biggest challenge, however, is in the management of this condition with rising antimicrobial resistance rates to most of the antibiotics recommended for therapy.

Helicobacter pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori infection causes chronic gastritis, which can progress to severe gastroduodenal pathologies, including peptic ulcer, gastric cancer and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. H. pylori is usually transmitted in childhood and persists for life if untreated.

Review of the prevalence, diagnostics, and containment measures of the current mpox outbreak.

Monkeypox (mpox), is a disease from the family that can cause several serious medical issues. This mini-review sought to analyze the existing literature regarding the current mpox outbreak with a focus on the prevalence, diagnostics, and containment measures. Mpox cases have been reported to World Health Organization (WHO) from 85 Member States in all six WHO regions during the period of January 1, 2022, through August 3, 2022.

COVID-19 and the Human Gut Microbiome: An Under-Recognized Association.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease with a wide range of respiratory and extrapulmonary symptoms, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms. Despite recent research linking gut microbiota to infectious diseases like influenza, minimal information is known about the gut microbiota's function in COVID-19 pathogenesis. Studies suggest that dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and gut barrier dysfunction may play a role in COVID-19 pathogenesis by disrupting host immune homeostasis.

Antibiotic prescription practices amongst veterinarians in Nigeria.

The high rate of antibiotic resistance constitutes a global threat to the continuous use of these drugs, because of increasing treatment failures. The aim of this study was to survey antibiotic prescription practices of veterinarians and the possible contribution to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in Nigeria during the COVID era. This was a cross-sectional study that used a 33-question survey questionnaire administered to registered veterinarians in Nigeria.

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529): A concern with immune escape.

Omicron, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant that is now spreading across the world, is the most altered version to emerge so far, with mutations comparable to changes reported in earlier variants of concern linked with increased transmissibility and partial resistance to vaccine-induced immunity. This article provides an overview of the SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron (B.1.

Helicobacter pylori Infection in Africa: Update of the Current Situation and Challenges.

Background: The burden of Helicobacter pylori infection (HPI) in Africa remains high with varying levels of prevalence among children and adults reported in different regions of the continent. Persistent and uneradicated HPI could result in gastric cancer, although less severe pathological outcomes have been reported among Africans - the so-called "African enigma."

Summary: Analysis of endoscopic findings of the upper gastrointestinal tract demonstrates similarities with that of patients from the West.

Molecular and phenotypic characterization of efflux pump and biofilm in multi-drug resistant non-typhoidal Serovars isolated from food animals and handlers in Lagos Nigeria.

Background: Multidrug resistance efflux pumps and biofilm formation are mechanisms by which bacteria can evade the actions of many antimicrobials. Antibiotic resistant non-typhoidal serovars have become wide spread causing infections that result in high morbidity and mortality globally. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efflux pump activity and biofilm forming capability of multidrug resistant non-typhoidal (NTS) serovars isolated from food handlers and animals (cattle, chicken and sheep) in Lagos.

Evaluation of efflux pump activity and biofilm formation in multidrug resistant clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from a Federal Medical Center in Nigeria.

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa an opportunistic pathogen, is widely associated with nosocomial infections and exhibits resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics. The aim of this study was to determine the antibiotic resistance profile, biofilm formation and efflux pump activity of Pseudomonas strains isolated from clinical samples in Abeokuta Ogun state Nigeria.

Methods: Fifty suspected Pseudomonas isolates were characterized by standard biochemical tests and PCR using Pseudomonas species -specific primers.

Intermittent antegrade warm-blood versus cold-blood cardioplegia in children undergoing open heart surgery: a protocol for a randomised controlled study (Thermic-3).

Introduction: Surgical repair of congenital heart defects often requires the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cardioplegic arrest. Cardioplegia is used during cardiac surgery requiring CPB to keep the heart still and to reduce myocardial damage as a result of ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Cold cardioplegia is the prevalent method of myocardial protection in paediatric patients; however, warm cardioplegia is used as part of usual care throughout the UK in adults.