IntroductionVarious dermatoses, due to their morbidity characteristics, have been shown to negatively impact on learning. The most epidemiologically important seem to be the infectious types because of their transmissibility and amenability to simple school-health measures. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and sex/age correlates of infectious dermatoses in a rural South-eastern Nigerian community.MethodsThe pupils were proportionately recruited from the three primary schools based on school population. Stratified simple random sampling method was adopted and a table of random numbers was used to select required pupils from each arm. Clinical and laboratory examination was done to establish diagnoses of infectious skin disease. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 16.ResultsThe 400 pupils consisted of 153 males and 247 females. Age range was between 6 and 12 years. The prevalence of infectious dermatoses was 72.3%. The five most prevalent clinical forms of infectious dermatoses, in order of decreasing prevalence, were tinea capitis (35.2%), scabies (10.5%), tinea corporis (5.8%), tinea pedis (5.5%), and impetigo (5.0%). More cases, generally, occurred among males than females (80.4% vs 67.2%)); while some specific clinical types, pediculosis and seborrheic dermatitis, exhibited predilection for females. Pyodermas and scabies were significantly more prevalent in the 7-9 age-group; while tinea capitis, tinea corporis, seborrheic dermatitis and pediculosis were more associated with ≥10 age-group.ConclusionInfectious dermatoses were highly prevalent in the surveyed population. Many of the clinical types exhibited sex- and age-specificity.

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii, a non-glucose fermenting Gram negative bacillus, has emerged in the last three decades as a major etiological agent of hospital-associated infections giving rise to significant morbidity and mortality particularly in immunocompromised patients. Multidrug resistant A. baumannii (MDR-AB) is fast becoming a global threat, having developed resistance to major classes of antibiotics and carbapenem-resistant isolates have increasingly been reported worldwide as a cause of nosocomial outbreaks. Despite intensive efforts, nosocomial acquisition of MDR-AB is still a problem due to the organism's great ability to colonize human and environmental reservoirs. Objectives: This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of (MDR) AB and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Methodology: A total of 400 specimens which include tracheal aspirates, catheter specimens of urine, wound biopsies and blood culture collected from 100 patients admitted at the Intensive Care Unit of our hospital over a period of nine months were processed following standard microbiologic procedure. Results: A total of 155 non-lactose fermenters were isolated out of which 14 (9.0%) were Acinetobacter spp. Eleven (79.0%) out of the 14 Acinetobacter spp were A. Baumanii, while 2 (14.0%) were A.lwoffi and 1(7.0%) A.calcoaceticus. All the isolates were resistant to Amoxicillinclavulanate, Ceftriaxone, Ciprofloxacin, Ofloxacin, gentamicin and Ampicillin-sulbactam; while susceptibility to Meropenem, Amikacin and Levofloxacin were 64.3%, 50.0% and 35.7% respectively. Conclusion: The high rate of antibiotic resistance shown by Acintobacter isolates in this study demonstrates the need for antibiotic stewardship protocols to be set up in health facilities to prevent outbreaks of multi-resistant bacterial infections.

Bartholin's glands are prone to obstruction at their opening into the vestibule, forming cysts which could be infected to become gland abscess. In our unit, treatment of Bartholin's abscess is usually surgical. In addition to surgical treatment, antimicrobial agents are often administered before microbial culture results are known. In this study, we aimed to determine the most common pathogens in Bartholin's glands abscess in our local population so that empiric antimicrobial therapy, if required, could be correctly directed. Among the 78 cases reviewed, there was positive microbial culture in 73.9%. Bartholin's abscess was commonly caused by opportunistic organisms, either as single agents or polymicrobial infections. Aerobic organisms were the commonest with coliforms being the most common bacteria. No cases of N. gonorrhoea or C. trachomatis were encountered. Flucloxacillin as a single agent was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic. Poly-pharmacy was common practice. It was concluded that whether adjuvant antibiotic therapy is necessary following surgical treatment of Bartholin's abscess is still controversial. Where antibiotics are required, the optimal initial therapy is not known. As poly-microbial infections are common, a broad spectrum agent like co-amoxiclav may be suitable for empirical treatment until culture results are known.

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First episode HSV-2 infection among pregnant women in Benin, Nigeria is associated with an increased risk of occurrence of spontaneous abortion, LBW delivery, stillbirths, and preterm delivery.

Introduction: The burden of HSV-2 infection, the cause of most cases of genital herpes in Nigeria, varies from region to region; and so are the associated factors. This infection is known to be responsible for several negative pregnancy outcomes. There is currently no documented data on sexual behavioral factors associated with the occurrence of HSV-2 infection or seroprevalence among pregnant women in Nigeria. This study aimed at identifying the sexual behavioral correlates of HSV-2 seroprevalence among pregnant women in Benin City, Nigeria. Methodology: The cross-sectional study design was adopted and the study took place between November 2011 and June 2012. Four hundred and ten consenting ante-natal clinic patients in two major tertiary hospitals in Benin City were consecutively and prospectively included. Data sources were represented by questionnaires, the patient's case records and laboratory investigations. Each patient's serum was analyzed for HSV-2 antibody detection. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 16. Results: Four hundred and ten patients were enrolled with average age 30.6 years. Seroprevalence of HSV-2 antibody was 47.3%. Sexual behavioral factors that were significantly associated with HSV-2 seroprevalence included early exposure to sexual intercourse, number of sex partners, involvement in polygamous marriages, involvement of husband in extra-marital affairs and hormonal contraceptive use. Conclusion: The prevalence of HSV-2 among pregnant women in Benin City is high. Public health campaigns aimed at: delaying onset of sexual activity; encouraging monogamous relationships; and emphasizing that hormonal contraceptives do not protect from STI's, are recommended.

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