The production of biosurfactants by Actinomycetes isolated from hydrocarbon contaminated soils and Ikpoba river sediments were evaluated. Soil samples were collected from mechanic workshops located in various parts of Benin City and Ikpoba river sediments. Physico-chemical analyses were performed. Isolation of Actnomycetes was done using starch casein agar incorporation with antibiotics incubated for 7 -10 days at 30 o C. Growth on mineral salt medium initiated the production of biosurfactants which was extracted by centrifugation and filtration followed by liquid extraction using chloroform: methanol (2:1v/v). Characterization and stability studies were conducted. The pH of the contaminated soil was 4.92 +/-0.049 while that of Ikpoba river sediments was 6.62+/-0.056. The hydrocarbon contaminated soils had a higher concentration of surphur, nitrogen, potassium, sodium, magnesium and manganese compared to Ikpoba River, but only chlorine concentration was higher in Ikpoba River. Aerobic Gram positive rods with extensive branching were observed confirming growth of Streptomyces sp. The result showed stability across different temperature ranges with no significant difference observed in the two sites in emulsification activity (P>0.05). There was significant difference observed in the mean surface tension of the biosurfactants produced from the two sites across different temperature ranges with hydrocarbon contaminated soil having higher values (P>0.05). There was also significant surface tension difference between pH2 and pH8 (P<0.05) suggesting higher activity within those ranges. The result also show stability across different salt concentrations and had foaming characteristics. Actinomycetes have complex enzymatic mechanism that aids hydrocarbon mineralization and thus increases the potential for biosurfactant production. These biosurfactants are stable across temperature ranges and are not majorly affected by salt concentration; this property aids its potential usage in decontamination of oil contaminated areas in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and other countries.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli (MDRE) continuously pose a threat to global health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, such as Nigeria. Therefore, given the dearth of locally-generated evidence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of MRSA and MDRE with a view to informing local public health research, practice and policy. This was a cross-sectional study of outpatients presenting to three purposively selected healthcare facilities in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Standard microbiological procedures were performed using nasal swabs and urine specimens. The outcome variables were the identification of MRSA and MDRE, defined as the proportion of persons diagnosed as carrying Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli, respectively, with these resistant bacterial strains. Descriptive analysis using frequencies and percentages by participant’s characteristics was presented. Two hundred and thirty-three persons participated in this study between January 2021 and July 2021, majority of whom were females (67%) and aged 18-24 (45%). Growth of S. aureus was detected in 55.1% (91) of 165 participants who provided nasal swabs. Of these 91 participants, 91.2% (83/91) were confirmed as carrying MRSA. Additionally, 51.7% (i.e., 89) of the 172 participants who provided urine for culture were positive for E. coli growth, of which 92.1% (82/89) were identified as carrying MDRE. This study recorded a high prevalence of both MRSA and MDRE in the study setting, underlining the need for an urgent preventive public health measure, such as awareness and antimicrobial stewardship promotion.