This study was undertaken to investigate the phytochemical and antibacterial activities of Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract against clinical isolates obtained from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, using agar well diffusion method. Phytochemicals present in Vernonia amygdalin included flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, reducing sugar, terpenoids and saponins. Ethanolic extract acted against with inhibition zones ranging from 7.0±0.0mm at 25mg/ml to 14.5±2.5mm at 200mg/ml against E. coli; 6.5±0.5mm at 100mg/ml to 9.0±2.0mm at 200mg/ml against S. aureus; 11.0±1.0mm at 50mg/ml to 16.5±5.0mm at 200mg/ml; 7.5±1.5mm at 25mg/ml to 11.5±0.5mm at 200mg/ml. Inhibition zones in aqueous extract ranged from 8.0±2.0mm at 25mg/ml to 12.5±1.5 at 200mg/ml against P. aeruginosa; 9.0±1.0mm at 50mg/ml to 15.0±1.5mm at 200mg/ml against S aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentration of ethanolic extract ranged from 25mg/ml in S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis and K. pneumoniae to 50mg/ml in E. coli. Minimum bactericidal concentration of the ethanol extract was 50mg/ml in P. aeruginosa and K. pneumonia and 100mg/ml for E. coli, S. aureus and B. subtilis. MBC of 200mg/ml was observed for B. subtilis, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa in the aqueous fraction of the plant. The most antibiotic resistant bacterial strain was S. aureus (80%) while the least resistant was P. aeruginosa (10%). The most resistant bacterial strain was S. aureus (80%) while the least resistant was P. aeruginosa (10%). The most effective antibiotics were perfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, septrin and choramphenicol. Vernonia amygdalina extract was found to be more potent than conventional antibiotics.

This study was carried out to investigate the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of bacterial pathogens isolated from human hair in barbing salon. Hair samples were collected from ten different barbing saloons in Benin City and immediately transported to the laboratory for microbiological analysis using pour plate isolation method. Isolated bacteria were identified based on their cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristic. Antibiotics sensitivity was carried out using commercially available antibiotic disks. Total bacteria counts ranged from 2.80x104±0.8cfu/g to 6.13x104±0.21 cfu/g. Bacterial isolated included Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Streptococcus viridians and Corynebacterium sp. The least occurring bacteria were Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris with percentage distribution of 40% each while the most widely distributed was Corynebacterium sp. (80%). All the bacterial isolates were observed to be multiple drug resistant. The most effective drugs were sparfloxacin, perfloxacin, gentamicin, erythromycin and ciprofloxacin. This study has shown that high densities of multiple drug resistant pathogenic bacteria are usually associated with human hair.

Healthcare workers are exposed to various hazards in their workplaces that pose threats to their health and safety, however, exposure depends on the job category and their work environment. In the healthcare facilities, occupational safety and health hazards can be grouped according to location or service offered. Contaminated laundry, noise, heat, lifting, sharps, slips, trips, falls and fire hazards are among those located in the laundry department. In industrial laundries, chemical exposure, injuries from sharps left in linen, slips from wet floors, and exposure to pathogens in contaminated linen are among the most common accidents. The purpose of the study was to provide information on the exposure of hospital laundry workers to previously identified workplace hazards, in order that appropriate interventions to minimize occupational risks due to workers exposures to hazards in the healthcare laundries would be established. Furthermore, it also provides information on the common health and safety complaints among laundry workers. The study adopted a comparative cross-sectional study design, conducted in hospitals with a laundry department in Benin, Nigeria. A survey was conducted as semi-structured questionnaires were issued to the study participants to obtain data on their exposure to different workplace hazards as well as on work-related injuries and diseases. Also, body mapping exercise was conducted to obtain workers' health information resulting from exposures to ergonomic hazards. All the respondents handled clean linen but only 74% handled dirty linen, while 62% handled soiled linen. In addition, respondents reported that they were exposed to sharps (62%), ergonomic (40%), illumination (2%), noise (28%), electrical (50%), heat (38%) and chemical (68%) hazards in the workplace. The common workplace injuries or illnesses reported were sharps injury (20%), musculoskeletal pain (92%), hearing disorder (4%), burns (8%), electric shocks (6%), slips, trips, or falls (28%) and cuts or bruises (18%). The most common musculoskeletal complaints were that of the lower back (74%), shoulders (42%), upper back (34%), and knee (34%). Various types of hazards were identified in all the health facilities. Hospital laundry workers in both secondary and tertiary health facilities alike suffered from various adverse health and safety conditions due to exposure to occupational hazards in the workplace. It is recommended that laundry workers be frequently educated on the occupational health and safety risks associated with their job.

A study on the antibacterial activities of Bryophylum pinnatum against multidrug resistant bacterial pathogens was carried out in this research. Air-dried and powered Bryophylum pinnatum leaves was extracted using ethanol and aqueous solvents. Five bacteria strains including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were obtained from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and they were preliminarily identified using standard microbiological methods. Antibacterial activity was carried out using agar well diffusion method. Mean zone diameter of inhibition in aqueous extract ranged from 9.20±0.17-10.50±0.50mm and 9.30±0.33- 10.33±0.89mm against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus respectively at 25-100mg/ml. In the ethanol extract, mean zone of inhibition ranged from 9.50±0.28-13.33±0.88mm and 10.67±0.67-19.00±0.58mm at concentration range of 6.25-100mg/ml.  Minimum inhibitory concentrations of ethanol extract ranged from 6.25-100 mg/ml against bacterial strains. While those of aqueous extract ranged from 25-100 mg/ml against bacterial isolates. Minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentrations of ethanol extract ranged from 25-50 mg/ml. While in the aqueous extract, value was 50 mg/ml and against bacteria. The test bacterial pathogens were found to possess multiple drug resistance potential with multidrug resistance index ranging from 0.3 – 0.5. This study has shown that multidrug resistant clinical bacterial pathogens are sensitive to aqueous extract of Bryophyllum pinatum.

Background: Generally, personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used by healthcare workers, as they provide a physical barrier between hazards and the wearer. Exposure to occupational hazards in the laundry can be limited by the use of PPE such as barrier gowns, gloves, eyewear, foot coverings and face masks. This study provides information on the PPE compliance of the workers at the laundry, as this would prove useful in order to establish appropriate interventions to minimize occupational risks of workers in the healthcare laundries.Methods: This study was a comparative cross-sectional study. It was conducted in six hospitals with a laundry department in Benin-city, composed of one available tertiary healthcare facility and five secondary healthcare facilities. Questionnaire was administered to the workers concerning the availability and use of PPE.Results: The common PPE used were nose masks (7.9%), hand gloves (39.5%), safety boots (3.6%) and coveralls (84.5%). Respondents revealed that eye goggles or face shields and ear plugs or muffs were never provided for them.Conclusions: Compliance of respondents to PPE was not at an optimally recommended level. It is recommended that efforts be made to ensure that workers comply with PPE use, while providing all necessary protective equipment, which should first be assessed before selection and use.