Journal of the Nigerian Infection Control Association

Factors Responsible for Domestic Water Contamination

N Idika, Tolu Odugbemi, EE Ekanem, FT Ogunsola — Wed, 21 Apr 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Many deaths occurring in the developing countries are due to water borne diseases which are usually associated with water related behaviour such as improper disposal of faecal material as well as improper storage of water. This study was therefore designed to identify the factors that influenced domestic water contamination in our rural communities and recommend some intervention measures that can reduce this high morbidity and mortality due to diarrhoeal diseases in Nigeria. Water samples from the water sources serving six rural communities in three local government areas of Lagos State as well as water samples from 308 households from the six communities were collected for bacteriological examination. Demographic and socio-economic characteristics, toilet facilities and water storage facilities available in the households were recorded in a structured questionnaire and analysed with X2 and ANOVA statistical packages.

Two out of the 12 (16.7%) water sources (both bore-holes), were potable and the others were contaminated with feacal bacteria. A low percentage of households in each of the six communities had potable drinking water. Many toilets facilities (42.9%) were situated less than 10 meters away from the households. Only a few households (6 .1% ) purified their drinking water. The water source, toilet facilities and occupation of the fathers in the households had a statistically significant positive association (p<0.05) with the domestic water contamination level whereas age, level of education and overcrowding did not.

The study recommends provision of less contaminated sources of water such as boreholes as a source of supply to communities and introduction of programmes that will promote hygienic practices amongst the communities.

Jnl of Nigerian Infection Control Association Vol.4(1) 2001: 1-5

Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infection in Patients Undergoing Pelvic Radiotherapy at a Teaching Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria

OO Oduyebo, MA Daso, RA Uti, KK Ketiku — Wed, 21 Apr 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Radiation therapy is known to induce the breakdown of certain body defence factors. In the patient who has carcinoma of the cervix, pelvic radiotherapy increases the risk of infection with both opportunistic and pathogenic agents,.

Objectives: This study was done to determine the prevalence of urinary tract infections in patients undergoing pelvic radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-araba, and to isolate and identify the causative agents, and determine their antimicrobial sensitivity patterns.

Methods: Between January and September 2001, mid-stream urine samples were collected from all patients on pelvic radiotherapy for Carcinoma of the cervix and other categories of persons who served as controls. These were immunosuppressed patients like Diabetes mellitus patients, HIV/AIDS patients, and healthy volunteers. Microscopy, culture and sensitivity of their urine samples were performed by standard laboratory methods.

Result: Sixty-four women with age range 30-59 years underwent pelvic radiotherapy during the period of study. The prevalence rate for urinary tract infection was found to be 20.3%. The predominant isolates were Escherichia.coli (23.1%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (23.1%). Many of the gram-positive isolates were sensitive to amoxycillin-clavulanic acid 62.5%) and gentamicin (55%), but showed reduced sensitivity to ampicillin (0%), chloramphenicol (22.22%) and co-trimoxazole (25%). The Gram negative bacilli were completely resistant to amoxycillin-clavulanic acid(0%), ampicillin (0%) and showed low susceptibility to cotrimoxazole (12.5%). Susceptibility rate to nitrofurantoin was 41.02%) and to nalidixic acid was 45%. Susceptibilities to ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin were 50% and 71.87% and to gentamicin and tobramicin were 50% and 40% respectively.

Conclusion: Antimicrobial therapy for urinary tract infection in this patient population should be based on the results of culture and sensitivity. There is need for antibiotic surveillance of urinary pathogens so that therapy can be based on judicious use of antibiotics and antibiotic policies.

Jnl of Nigerian Infection Control Association Vol.4(1) 2001:6-10

Infection Control in Dentistry: The Challenge of “SARS”

OG Uti, OO Sofola — Wed, 21 Apr 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a newly discovered infectious disease poses a fresh threat to infection control in dental practice. This paper reviews the mode of transmission of SARS and its implication on dental practice. It gives practical guidelines for the prevention of its transmission in the dental environment.

Key Words: SARS, dental surgery, infection control.

Jnl of Nigerian Infection Control Association Vol.4(1) 2001: 12-15

The “Elbow-Way” to Proper Handwashing: A Device Improvised for Health Facilities Where there is no Running Water

MT Niemogha, OA Atoyebi, FT Ogunsola, T Odugbemi

Lack of running pipe-borne water is common to developing countries and therefore, water used in hospitals and laboratories are collected in buckets or basins from wells or bore holes. This often leads to contamination of the water from contact with the hands when this is used for routine handwashing.

By improvising a plastic intravenous infusion bottle as soap dispenser, a longitudinal water tank with tap to deliver water, a hose-pipe connected to a plastic bowl on a table and a box containing clean towels, a handwashing set was designed. By applying pressure with the elbow on soap dispenser to obtain liquid soap and turning the tap with the elbow, hands can be properly washed. Using the elbow to control all manouvres reduced the chance of water contamination as no contact was made with the hands.

The use of home-made liquid antiseptic soap also made the set useful in preventing contamination, especially as the shelf life of the prepared soap was shown to be up to four weeks with no significant microbial growth.

More than 70% of health professionals on a trial run were assertive of the usefulness of the handwashing device. Overall result showed that hands were properly washed and contamination was minimal using the improvised device when there is no running tap water.

Key Words: Handwashing, Elbow-way, Water Contamination, Running water.

Jnl of Nigerian Infection Control Association Vol.4(1) 2001: 16-20