Research
Prevalence of Resistant Strains of Streptococcus Pneumoniae to Oxacillin, Ofloxacin and Rifampicin in Abraka South-South Nigeria
The clinical isolate Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of illness such as pneumoniae, meningitis, bacteremia and otitis media in children and the elderly. The emergence of drug-resistant strains threatens to complicate the management of these diseases. An hospitalbased and community-based surveillance for drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in outpatients with respiratory infection in Abraka, Delta State Nigeria was conducted. Between August – October 2014, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Abraka general hospital and Abraka community to assess the prevalence of drug resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from sputum samples of patients with cough and catarrh (respiratory tract infection). A total of 125 sputum samples of patients with respiratory tract infection were collected and inoculated on 5% sheep-blood agar, incubated at 35oC for 24hours in 5-10% CO2. Susceptibility testing panels of Ofloxacin, Rifampicin and Oxacillin were tested against isolated Streptococcus pneumoniae. Of the 125 sputum samples collected 28 (22.4%) was positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Evaluation of the Comparative Activity of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers and Toilet Soaps against some Bacterial Isolates
This study is aimed at comparing the activity of alcohol based hand sanitizers (Dettol® and Lovillea®) and toilet soaps (Lux® and Premier®) against bacterial isolates. The activity of Dettol® and Lovillea® was compared with the activity of Lux® and Premier® toilet soaps against the bacterial isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus specie and Shigella specie) obtained from the palms of some individuals in Abraka, Delta state. Susceptibility of the bacterial isolates was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method by measuring the zones of inhibition observed after 24hours of incubation. Their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were also determined using the agar dilution technique. Dettol® hand sanitizer had the highest zones of inhibition (5mm, 5mm and 3mm) against Staph aureus, Staph epidermis and Shigella specie respectively. Both soaps had no activity against Gram negative Shigella specie. Dettol® antiseptic was used as control and it gave zones of inhibition (36mm, 45mm, 35mm and 50mm) against Shigella specie, Streptococcus specie, Staph aureus, and Staph epidermidis respectively. For the MIC; the hand sanitizers inhibited all four organisms at 2ml, Premier® soap had MIC of 5mg/ml against Staph epidermidis while Lux® soap had MIC of 5mg/ml against Staph epidermidis and Streptococcus specie. The result revealed the efficacy of the antiseptic (control), hand sanitizers and soaps in descending order as follows; Antiseptic > Hand sanitizers > soaps. The use of soaps for hand hygiene appeared to be less efficacious against Gram negative organisms. However, both hand sanitizers and soaps can be used as effective measures to control the spread of diseases.
