The presence of bacteria pathogens associated with nosocomial infection was identified. Transmission of pathogens can be reduced by hand hygiene and regular cleaning of mobile phones.

Surgical site infection (SSI) is the most common complication following surgical procedures. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and associated risk factors of surgical site infection in a tertiary health institution in Kano, Nigeria.The study was carried out between January 2008 and December 2010. Data was collected in a predesigned questionnaire forms which focused on demographic details, socioeconomic background and lifestyle while the diagnosis, surgical procedure, duration of surgery, prophylactic antibiotics, postoperative antibiotics and co-morbidity were obtained from the patients hospital records. all the patients who underwent surgery in the male and female surgical wards, gynaecology and maternity wards including paediatric wards were enrolled in the study after informed consent of patients or parents in the case of children. all patients were followed up for 30 days for development of surgical site infection. Infected cases were identified using CDC, USA definition for surgical site infections. Out of 2880 patients, 585 (20.3%) were confirmed to be clinically infected (SSI). There were 1,016 (35.3%) males with a mean age of 38.3±16.3 and 1864 females (64.9%), mean age 30.6 ± 12.3yrs. There were 65% Superficial Incisional SSI, 30% deep Incisional SSI and 5% Organ Space SSI. Incidence related to clean, clean contaminated, contaminated and dirty were 5.8%, 30.5%, 40.6%, and 64.8% wounds respectively. Age, anaemia, obesity, number of persons in operating room and duration of surgery were all significantly associated with SSI. Effective infection control measures and good regular surveillance will improve the SSI rate to an acceptable level.

Background: The importance of Staphylococcus aureus as a persistent nosocomial and community acquired pathogen has become a global health

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the world with severe complications. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and possible risk factors of C. trachomatis in Kano. There is dearth of information on this subject in this locality. Method: Urine samples, Endocervical swabs and Urethral swab were collected from consecutive patients attending the Infertility and STD clinics in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) between June and December 2012, after administering a questionnaire by the attending physician and also obtaining an informed consent.Samples were analyzed using Diaspot Chlamydia kit, a rapid immunoassay test for the detection of genital chlamydial antigen in urinogenital samples. Results: A total of 125 consecutive samples were collected, comprising 69 females and 56 males aged between 14 -55 years. Twelve samples tested positive for C. trachomatis antigen giving a prevalence rate of 9.6%. The age group prevalence were as follows 25 -29 yrs (17.1%), 20 -24 (16.7%), 15 -19 (12.5%), 30 -34 (11.1%) and > 49 years (9.0%). Married patients were associated with higher infection rate than single (8.3%), and divorced patients (33.3%). A higher percentage of the patients (95.2%) were not aware of the existence of C. trachomatis infection and its complications. Previous STD exposure was associated with increased risk of Chlamydia infection. Conclusion: C. trachomatis infection if unchecked will continue to pose a threat to reproductive life with its established complications. Since asymptomatic cases are common in the population regular screening should be encouraged for every adult especially before commencement of marital life.

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Neonatal septicaemia is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries and a major health concern. The aim of this study is to evaluate the bacterial profile, antibiotics susceptibility pattern and associated risk factors of suspected septicaemia in neonates in this locality. Five hundred and forty seven consecutive blood samples from neonates admitted in the special baby care unit (SCBU), Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano between January 2007 and December 2008 were cultured aerobically and anaerobically in the Microbiology Department, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital by standard bacteriological methods. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern was done by disc diffusion methods. One hundred and fifty two (27.8%) positive blood cultures were obtained from the present study. The most frequently isolated organism was Staphylococcus aureus (25.0%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (21.1%) and Escherichia coli (15.0%). Gentamicin, ofloxacin, ceftriaxone and amoxycillin/clavulanate showed higher percentage antibiotic sensitivity pattern while chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazole and ampicillin showed very low percentage antibiotic sensitivity pattern against the various bacterial isolates. The present study showed that Staphylococcus aureus is the leading isolate in neonatal septicaemia in Kano. Gentamicin and Ceftriaxone are recommended as first line drugs in the management of neonatal septicaemia in our locality.