African Journal of Infectious Diseases

BACKGROUND: The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 also caused infection in some pregnant women. Some reports say this viral infection can show symptoms of preeclampsia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed 25 pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection with 4 patients presenting with symptoms of preeclampsia. we performed routine blood analysis, renal function, liver function, and IHC examination to see the expression of viral proteins in the placenta. RESULTS: we obtained 4 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection by RT-PCR...

BACKGROUND: There is currently no viable pharmaceutical therapy for COVID-19 illness that has been validated. The use of remdesivir is one of the medications for which there is no consistent evidence of a significant therapeutic benefit or a meaningful effect on survival. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the role of age and comorbidities on the outcome of confirmed clinically critical COVID-19 patients treated with remdesivir at Indonesia's National Referral Hospital...

BACKGROUND: Despite the available treatment options, pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of disease-related deaths worldwide. Treatment non-adherence/lost to follow-up (LTFU), particularly in developing countries, is a continuous concern. LTFU prolongs TB infectiousness and contributes to TB treatment failure, relapse, and death. Furthermore, LTFU also delays global TB eradication by promoting TB spread and drug-resistant TB strain development.[1] The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the commonly observed risk factors associated with TB treatment LTFU in developing countries...

[This corrects the article on p. 21 in vol. 16.].

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus pandemic, a serious global public health threat, affects the Southern African countries more than any other country on the continent. The region has become the epicenter of the coronavirus with South Africa accounting for the most cases. To cap the deadly effect caused by the pandemic, we apply a statistical modelling approach to investigate and predict COVID-19 incidence. METHODS: Using secondary data on the daily confirmed COVID-19 cases per million for Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) member states from March 5, 2020, to July 15, 2021, we model and forecast the spread of coronavirus in the region...

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the efficacy of the essential oil (EO) of Syzgium aromaticum L. (clove) on the bacteria associated with otitis media . MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ear swab samples were collected and bacteria isolated were identified using morphological and biochemical procedures. Essential oil was extracted from the dried flower buds using the hydro-distillation method while physicochemical and phytochemical analysis was done on the oil. Antibiotic susceptibility test and agar well diffusion was used to determine the susceptibility of the isolates to the EO...

Background: Indonesia has demonstrated a significant progress in malaria elimination. Kapuas and Gunung Mas Districts in Central Kalimantan Province have not been freed from malaria and there is no information of malaria incidences in these areas. Palangka Raya city has been freed from malaria in 2018. Materials and Methods: The total number of 140 samples consisting of 75 malaria Giemsa-stained blood smears and 65 RDT cartridges from both local and migrant populations...

Background: In contrast to most developed countries, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has continued to be a serious challenge to public health in the majority of resource-limited countries in Africa. Materials and method: A comprehensive review of all available literature reporting on antimicrobial resistance patterns, antimicrobial drug usage in both human and animals, as well as national AMR regulations in Somalia was undertaken. Results: The review observed that successful AMR control and surveillance among resource-poor nations are affected by a lack of infrastructural and institutional capacities, poor investment in human and material resources, as well as non-adherence to available policies...

Background: The main challenge faced in the African countries was to implement efficient molecular diagnostic facilities and start Covid-19 diagnosis as fast as possible to handle the rapid and unpredictable rise of cases. Materials Methods and Results: We describe our experience in implementing a molecular biology unit at Sheikh Zaïd International University Hospital in Rabat, with a delay as short as one week, and starting real-time RT-PCR assay for the detection of SARS-Cov-2 infection, since the outbreak widened in Morocco in mid-March, 2020...

Biofilm formation, especially on indwelling medical devices such as catheters, can result in infections and substantially affect patients' quality of life. Biofilm-associated infections have led to increased morbidity and mortality, increased cost of treatment, and length of hospital stay. However, all of the identified consequences of the biofilm-associated infections had been attributed to the reduced susceptibility of biofilm to conventional antimicrobial agents which has necessitated the development of a new strategy for biofilm infections control, thereby making a search for more effective antimicrobial agents from plant source inevitable...

Background: Synadenium glaucescens and Commiphora swynnertonii are among the reported plants used traditionally for treatment of bacterial infections. This study reports antibacterial effects of single and combined extracts from leaves, stem and root barks of Commiphora swynnertonii and Synadenium glaucescens . Materials and Methods: Plants were collected from Manyara and Njombe regions in Tanzania. Extraction was done using dichloromethane and methanol. The extracts were assessed for antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis ) and Gram-negative bacteria ( Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa )...

Background: The pharmacological component of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services involves the provision of antiretroviral agents (ARVs) to the mothers and/or their babies at any stage of pregnancy. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of Pharmacists about PMTCT. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted among consenting Pharmacists at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) and University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH)...

Background: The potential of Artocarpus altilis stem bark as a safe antimalarial agent, and the identification of its antimalarial constituents was explored. Materials and Methods: The air-dried stem bark was extracted with 70% ethanol, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to obtain the extract ( EE ). The extract was successively partitioned to give n -hexane ( AAH ), dichloromethane ( AAD ), ethyl acetate ( AAE ) n -butanol ( AAB ) and aqueous ( AAQ ) fractions respectively after determining the acute toxicity using Lorke's method...

Background: Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus (LASV). It is endemic in West Africa and infects about 300,000 people each year, leading to approximately 5000 deaths annually. The development of the LASV vaccine has been listed as a priority by the World Health Organization since 2018. Considering the accelerated development and availability of vaccines against COVID-19, we set out to assess the prospects of LASV vaccines and the progress made so far...

[This corrects the article on p. 63 in vol. 16, PMID: 35582061.].

Background: The 2'-O-methyltransferase is responsible for the capping of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA and consequently the evasion of the host's immune system. This study aims at identifying prospective natural inhibitors of the active site of SARS-CoV-2 2'O-methyltransferase (2'-OMT) through an in silico approach. Materials and methods: The target was docked against a library of natural compounds obtained from edible African plants using PyRx - virtual screening software. The antiviral agent, Dolutegravir which has a binding affinity score of -8...

Background: Healthcare providers have been at the Front line the response to the COVID-19 disease. Many of them have contracted the disease, and some of them already dead. This study assessed the knowledge, compliance with preventive measures and determined the relationship between knowledge and practice of preventive strategies to COVID-19 among nurses working in a selected hospital in South-South Nigeria. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design guided the study...

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2) has infected over 100million individuals worldwide with diverse impacts on nations. The rising cases of new strains and resultant infection waves create an urgent need to assess the readiness of countries especially in Africa to mitigate the impact on community transmission. This paper delivers a brief synopsis of the novel SARS-CoV-2, emerging cases of new variants reported worldwide, and implications for genetic surveillance of disease transmission in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) especially Africa...

Background: The most common problem in forensic personal identification, particularly in paternity tests, is the availability of information originating from a mother or a father that can be used as a comparison in the forensic DNA examination process. The use of sibling analysis in paternity tests is still not widely known. Materials and methods: The respondents of this study were 25 families of the Madurese population with 6, 9, and 10 sibling pairs categorized as female-female, male-male, and male-female siblings...

BACKGROUND: An increasing recognition of the need to eliminate malaria infection globally and particularly in Africa where more than 90% of the cases originate, should enhance community awareness and participation in the same. The perennial freshwater of Okavango Delta located in northern Botswana, which is a source of rural livelihoods and a suitable habitat for the malaria-causing mosquito, and where malaria is endemic provides a suitable environment for the study. Therefore, local households' adaptive strategies against malaria transmission in the Okavango Delta were investigated...