Introduction Low and middle income countries are disproportionately affected with road traffic injuries and the lower extremity is one of the most affected anatomical body parts. There exist very limited data on the pattern of lower extremity injuries in the Cameroon especially in the South West Region. We therefore, hypothesized that lower limb injuries are common in road traffic crashes and motorized two wheelers are the commonest cause. Methods This was a hospital based prospective, cross sectional study. It involved four hospitals (Limbe and Buea Regional Hospitals, Baptist hospital Mutengene and Tiko District Hospital) in the Fako Division. It was carried out for three months. Victims of road traffic crashes received at emergency department of these hospitals during this period were assessed. Crash characteristics and injury characteristics were assessed and recorded. Results We analyzed 411 crash victims, 197(47.93%) had lower extremity injuries. The male to female ratio was 1.4:1. Majority of crash victims were in their 3 rd and 4 th decades of life. The mean age of patients who had lower limb injuries was 33.30(±16.04). The most vulnerable road users were pedestrians (26.52%) and passengers on motor bikes (38.44%) and the commonest mechanism by which crash victims sustained injuries were: bike-car collisions (22.84%), and bike-pedestrian collisions (19.29%). Commercial motor bikes (62.77%) and taxis (22.38%) were the road users most involved in road traffic collisions. The leg 98(49.75%), thigh 23(11.68%), and knee 20(10.15%) were the most injured anatomical parts of the lower extremity. Fractures 68 (34.52%), lacerations 53(26.90%), and bruises 49(24.87%) were the most recurrent pattern of lower extremity injuries. Conclusion In view of our findings we conclude therefore as follows: The prevalence of lower extremity injuries from Road Traffic Crashes in our study area was 47.93%. Associated risk factors to the road traffic crashes as identified by the victims were bad roads (10.15%) and bad weather (5.05%). The safety gargets were not adequately utilized by our victims, with 87.72% confirming that they did not wear the helmet and 87.50% affirming that they did not wear the seat belt at the time of the crash. The occupations mostly affected in our series were pupils and students (20.3%) and business people (19.2%), then the bike riders (15.23%). We thus recommend that the laws on the use of road safety gargets, especially helmets and seatbelts, be enforced, with riding and driving speeds reduced to below 60km/hour. Road usage should be avoided in bad weather and pedestrians lanes and zebra crossings be provided to minimize pedestrian-car or -bike collision.

IntroductionWound infection is a significant clinical challenge in hospitals in developing countries where proper healthcare delivery is hampered by limited resources. This study investigated the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of bacteria causing wound infection and risk factors for infection among hospitalized patients in Buea, Cameroon, to generate findings which could drive reformation of policies on infection control.MethodsAerobic bacteria were isolated from 212 swabs collected from patients with clinically diagnosed infected wounds. Risk factors for wound infection were investigated. Antibiotic susceptibility of isolates was determined by disk diffusion technique. The Chi-square test was employed to determine significant differences in isolation and distribution of organisms in various specimens. Differences were considered significant at P < 0.05.ResultsTwelve bacteria species were isolated from 169 (79.7%) specimens. Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae, the predominant isolates in all wound types exhibited a high preponderance of multidrug resistant strains. High rate of infection was attributed to lack of constant water supply and breakdown of sterilization equipment during the study period. Highest diversity of pathogens occurred in open wounds. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in isolation of pathogens with respect to age, gender and wound type. Co-existing morbidity increased risk of wound infection. Isolates were susceptible to fluoroquinolones and resistant to oxacillin.ConclusionWound infection with resistant bacteria constitutes a significant cause of morbidity in the study area. Findings reiterate the need to strengthen infection control and drug dispensing policies, and greater collaboration between microbiologists and medical practioners to stem the spread of resistant bacteria.

Background: An open fracture is an injury in which the fracture site and/or hematoma communicates with the external environment. It is associated with significant morbidity and disability and is a challenge to the surgical team. The lower extremities are the most often exposed to traumatic injuries compared to other anatomical parts of the body. Patterns of open fractures differ with different mechanisms of injury and the segment of the long bone affected. The correct and timely management of open fractures is beneficial to the patients and leads to a more favorable outcome. This study aimed at describing the pattern of open fractures of long bones of the lower limb treated in 3 major hospitals of the south west region, Cameroon. Methodology: This was a hospital-based retrospective review of files of patients with open fractures of long bones of the lower limb managed at the surgical units of three secondary health facilities in the South-West region of Cameroon from the 1 st of January 2015 to the 31 st of December 2019. The socio-demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, treatment modalities, and outcomes were recorded. The data was stored and analyzed using Epi info version 7.0 and SPSS version 23.0 respectively. Results: A total of 195 files of patients aged 8 to 80 years were studied. The main age group affected was between 20 -40 years. There were 147 (75.4%) males and 48 (24.6%) females giving a sex-ratio of 3.1:1. The most common cause was road traffic crashes 142 (72.8%). In 98 cases (50.3%), the left side was more involved. The tibia was the most common long bone affected in 75 (38.5%) cases. Comminuted fracture was the most common fracture pattern encountered in 126 cases (64.6%). A total of 76 (39%) fractures were graded Gustilo-Anderson IIIA.

Background & Aim: Although the nursing process can help ensure the quality of nursing care, some nurses do not implement it in patient care. This study assessed nurses' knowledge and use of the nursing process in two major hospitals in Fako. Methods & Materials: A cross-sectional design with a purposive sample of 101 nurses was used. In addition, 310 randomly selected files of hospitalized patients were examined for the presence and effective use of a nursing care plan. A questionnaire was used to collect data on knowledge and use of the nursing process among nurses, while a checklist was used to audit hospital files for adequate use of the nursing care plan. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics, with the aid of SPSS version 20, with all statistics at Alpha=0.05. Results: The majority (85.1%) of participants had a mean knowledge score of 8.5/10 (1.06). There was a statistically significant association between nurses' knowledge and gender (χ2=17.998, P=0.003), age group (χ2=49.809, P=0.000), qualification (χ2=65.989, P=0.003) and duration of work experience (χ2=28.158, P=0.021). Most nurses (62.6%) reported using the nursing process only sometimes during patient care. There was a statistically significant association between nurses' age (χ2=9.723, P=0.049), qualification (χ2=34.67, P=0.000), and use of the nursing process. Only 42 files had a complete nursing care plan. Increased workload and nursing shortages were found to hinder the use of the nursing process. Conclusion: Nurses had good knowledge of the nursing process but did not effectively use it. Thus, the quality of care received by patients in these hospitals is questionable. Strategies to improve the use of the nursing process are needed for effective nursing care.

Background Since December 2019, the world has watched the rapid growth of a new pandemic, the COVID-19, a novel pandemic causing death and disruption of normal life. This COVID-19 continues to spread and poses serious threats to public health throughout the world. Even though vaccines are available, there is no guarantee of critical population vaccination, as there still exist stiff resistance to the uptake of the currently available vaccines. Purpose To assess nurses’ perceptions regarding the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, determine the proportion of nurses vaccinated, as well as the associated factors influencing the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, so as to alert decision makers on the possible limitations associated with the uptake of the vaccines in the nursing population in Fako Division, Cameroon. Methods This was a mixed method quantitative and qualitative study conducted in Fako Division. A multistage random sampling technique was employed to enroll participants into the study. We collected quantitative data from consented nurses through the use of a structured questionnaire from April 06th to June 2nd, 2022, and qualitative data from nurse leaders through focused-group discussion from June 3rd to 23rd, 2022. In the quantitative phase, we performed descriptive and inferential statistics using the SPSS Version 23.0 and in the qualitative phase, we performed a thematic content analyses and transcription. Results In the quantitative phase, we had more females 131(66.5%), and nurses aged 26-40years 90(45.7%). Most nurses worked in the maternity 49(24.9%). In the qualitative phase, 20(76.9%) were females. Regarding nurses perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines uptake, 133(67.5%) nurses had positive perceptions, and 26(07.6%) had “No trust” in the vaccines. Most nurses 109(55.3%) had not been vaccinated. Negative factors reported by nurses included the belief that the vaccines were dangerous and could cause death 120(60.9%) and 32(16.2%) said no one can influence them to change their minds about taking the vaccines. In the qualitative phase, a majority of the nurse leaders 15(57.7%) wished that COVID-19 vaccination should continue, but with accompanying research to eliminate side effects. It was observed that a majority of the nurse leaders 16(61.5%) had been vaccinated. The respondents reported some factors (belief factors, social influence and lack of knowledge), which had negatively influenced them from taking the COVID-19 vaccines. Conclusion Nurses perceived high relevance for the COVID-19 vaccines while a majority of the nurse leaders perceived that the COVID-19 vaccines are not safe, ineffective with numerous side effects, has a magnetic effect, politically motivated with bad faith, and has the possibility to cause infections. Furthermore, most nurses had not been vaccinated, but a majority of nurse leaders were reported to have taken a COVID-19 vaccine. Several negative factors including belief, social influence and religious factors were reported to have contributed to the lower uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines amongst nurses and nurse leaders in Fako division, Cameroon.