Featured Application: This study examined the tolerance of Escherichia coli isolates, a fecal indicator of water contamination, to chlorine as a common water disinfectant and the effectiveness of chlorine at different concentrations in eliminating E. coli in wastewater effluent. Data obtained can be used as baseline monitoring data for future epidemiological surveillances that could further enhance the control of E. coli and some bacteria species of public health concern in wastewater treatment plants and ensure protection of public and environmental health.Abstract: This study investigated the survival of Escherichia coli (E. coli) recovered from secondary effluents of two wastewater treatment plants in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, in the presence of different chlorine concentrations. The bacterial survival, chlorine lethal dose and inactivation kinetics at lethal doses were examined. The bacterial isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA gene of bacteria with known taxa in the GenBank revealed the bacterial isolates to belong to Escherichia coli. At the recommended free chlorine of 0.5 mg/L, reduction of E. coli isolates (n = 20) initial bacterial concentration of 8.35-8.75 log was within a range of 3.88-6.0 log at chlorine residuals of 0.14-0.44 mg/L after 30 min. At higher doses, a marked reduction (p < 0.05) in the viability of E. coli isolates was achieved with a greater than 7.3 log inactivation of the bacterial population. Inactivation kinetics revealed a high rate of bacterial kill over time (R 2 > 0.9) at chlorine dose of 1.5 mg/L. This study indicates poor removal of bacteria at free chlorine at 0.5 mg/L and a greater efficacy of 1.5 mg/L in checking E. coli tolerance.

This present study assessed the chlorine tolerance of some Citrobacter species recovered from secondary effluents from the clarifiers of two wastewater treatment plants in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The bacterial survival, chlorine lethal dose and inactivation kinetics at lethal doses were examined. Inactivation of the test bacteria (n = 20) at the recommended dose of 0.5 mg/l for 30 min exposure showed a progressive reduction in bacterial population from 4 to 5 log reduction and residuals ranged between 0.12 and 0.46 mg/l. The bactericidal activity of chlorine increased at higher dosages with a substantial reduction in viability of the bacteria and complete inactivation of the bacterial population at a lethal dose of 0.75 and 1.0 mg/l in 30 min. For the inactivation kinetics, bactericidal activity of chlorine increased with time showing a 3.67-5.4 log reduction in 10 min, 4.0-5.6 log reduction in 20 min and above 6.3 log reductions to complete sterilization of bacterial population over 30 min for all the entire test Citrobacter isolates used in this study. Furthermore, there was a strong correlation (R > 0.84) between bacteria inactivation and increase in contact time. This study appears to have provided support for laboratory evidence of bacterial tolerance to chlorine disinfection at current recommended dose (0.5 mg/l for 30 min), and chlorine concentration between 0.75 and 1.0 mg/l was found to have a better disinfecting capacity to check tolerance of Citrobacter species.

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The changing environment, climate, and the increasing manifestation of disasters, has generated an increased demand for accurate and timely weather information. This information is provided by the National meteorological authorities (NMAs) through different dissemination channels e.g., using radios, Televisions, emails among others. The use of ICTs to provide weather information is recently gaining popularity. A study was conducted in three countries, namely Nigeria, Uganda, and South Sudan to assess the efficiency of an ICT tool, known as “Weather Information Dissemination System”. The study involved 254 participants (Uganda: 71; South Sudan: 133; and Nigeria: 50). The collected primary data were first quality controlled and organized thematically for detailed analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to provide quantitative analysis as well as content scrutinized for qualitative analysis. The results showed that there is a need for timely weather information to plan farming activities such as planting and application of fertilizers and pesticides as well as to manage flood and drought by the water sector and disaster management. Results further showed that the majority of the respondents have access to the technology needed to access weather and climate information. The respondents who received weather information from NMAs noted that the forecast was good. However, they further noted that there is more room for improvement especially with making the forecasts location-specific, ensuring mobile access is adequate in all regions, provision of weather information by SMS (in countries where this service is currently unavailable) and improved timing of the weather information. Finally, uncertainty about the accuracy of weather information and the weather information not meeting specific needs are key barriers to people’s willingness to pay for it (Uganda: 33.3%; South Sudan: 46.1%; and Nigeria: 33.3%). Improved collaborations between the NMAs, ICT service providers, policymakers and farmers will facilitate an effective approach to weather information access and dissemination. Innovative sensitization approaches through the media houses will enable better understanding of weather products and utilization, and access to enabling ICTs would increase access to weather forecasts

Background and objectives Infection prevention and control is a set of practices, protocols, and procedures that are put in place to prevent infections that are associated with health care service provision settings. It is an element of quality of care and safety in health care service delivery; health worker occupational health and safety practices; medical waste management; and is also concerned with clinical and public health surveillance and action. Healthcare facilities are ideal settings for the transmission of infections to patients (who are more susceptible), healthcare workers, their families and communities. Healthcare associated infections lead to prolonged hospital stay, increased cost of care and death. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess infection prevention and control practices in various types and levels of health facilities in Nyandarua County, Kenya. Methodology A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 47 health facilities that were sampled from a total of 153, using cluster sampling technique. The facilities were drawn from public, private and faith based organizations distributed across 5 sub-counties of Nyandarua County, Kenya. Data collection method was purely quantitative using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was done using SPSS version 17. Results 42/47 of the facilities were observing safe injection practices. Only 8/ 26 of the public health facilities had all their workers immunized against hepatitis B despite procurement, supply and distribution of adequate vaccine doses for the entire health workforce. Poor medical waste management practices where 37/47, 15/47 and 28/47 were segregating waste, had colour coded bins and had functional incinerators respectively. Only 28/47of the sampled facilities were decontaminating patient reusable equipment/instruments appropriately. Electricity, gas, charcoal and firewood were fuels used for autoclaving. About 33/47 and 30/47 of the sampled facilities had running water and soap/hand disinfectant respectively. Conclusions The findings revealed several gaps in the implementation of the national IPC policy especially in healthcare worker occupational health and safety, reprocessing of patient reusable equipment/instruments, medical waste management and hand hygiene practices. These findings will assist the department of health in designing interventions for strengthening and improving IPC practices, to mobilize and allocate resources for IPC activities, improve infrastructure and supplies

The poultry industry is important in boosting food sustainability of a population; however, the poultry environment and products are susceptible to pathogen contamination arising from poor farm hygienic conditions. This study investigated the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and virulence profile of Proteus species from the environment and products of four selected poultry farms in Lafia, Nasarawa State. Farm samples (n =216) comprising feed (64), drinking water (64) and swabs from eggshells (88) were collected and analysed for detection of Proteus species using cultural, biochemical and microscopic techniques. Antibiotics susceptibilities of isolates were also determined, and virulence genes were confirmed using Polymerase Chain Reaction. Of the total studied samples, 34.26% (74/216) were positive for Proteus species. Proteus species were more prevalent in drinking water samples (37.84%) and feed samples (33.78%) and least prevalent in eggshells (28.38%). Proteus species (n= 74) comprised P. mirabilis 78% (58/74) and Proteus vulgaris 22% (16/74). P. mirabilis was markedly higher than P. vulgaris in all the four farms sampled. Farms A and D had the highest prevalence of Proteus species, while Farms A and C (80%), and Farm D (25) has the highest prevalence of P. mirabilis and P. vulgaris respectively. The isolates’ prevalence rate within and between farms, sample type, and species was not statistically significantly different (p≥0.05) from the other farms. Isolates were 100% susceptible to Amikacin and showed the highest resistance (25.7%) to tetracycline. Molecular analysis of the virulence genes of Proteus species revealed the presence of rsbA, ureC and luxS virulent genes in all the test isolates. Data generated indicates a high level of multidrug-resistant pathogenic strains of Proteus circulating in poultry farms in Lafia, Nigeria, which potentiates a significant risk of transmission of pathogenic Proteus via the food chain.

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