This study determined the prevalence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from 246 clinical samples collected at a tertiary care hospital, its antimicrobial susceptibility, spectrum of infections and the associated risk factors. Standard procedures were used for isolation, screening, and susceptibility testing. The result showed that 41 (40.2%) out of 102 S. aureus isolated were methicillin-resistant while 61 (59.8%) were methicillin-sensitive. The prevalence rate of MRSA for male and female group was 37.3% and 43.1% respectively. Thirty (73.2%) methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates were obtained from inpatients while 11 (26.8%) were from outpatients. MRSA were significantly isolated from the Orthopaedic ward (OR=3.36; P=0.031) and the antenatal ward (OR=8.33; P=0.037). High resistance rates were exhibited by MRSA isolates to cefotaxime (102, 79.4%) and clindamycin (102, 49%) but had low resistance rates to gentamicin (102, 27.5%) and chloramphenicol (n=102, 28.4%). MRSA were more significantly resistant to gentamicin (χ 2 =12.284; p=0.0001), clindamycin (χ 2 =20.234; p=0.0001) and cefotaxime (χ 2 =13.812; p=0.0002) than MSSA. Thirty-two (78%) out of 41 MRSA isolated were multidrug resistant. All isolates (MRSA and MSSA) were susceptible to vancomycin with MIC values ranging from 2.1 to 0.12µg/ml. This study showed a high prevalence of MRSA in clinical infections that were resistant to treatment options in OAUTHC, Ile-Ife. Being in the antenatal and orthopaedic wards is a predictor of MRSA infections in the hospital. In spite of reports that vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus is increasing, it is yet to be a problem in the hospital and vancomycin remains a drug of choice for the treatment of MRSA and multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Objective: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a haemoglobinopathy that causes several clinical complications. Unripe Carica papaya has been shown to possess antisickling activity that could reduce these complications. This study aimed to examine the presence of antisickling and sickling-reversal activities of aqueous extracts and ethyl acetate fractions of C. papaya fruit at different stages of ripening. Methods: Unripe, partly ripe, and fully ripe fruits were quantitatively screened for some phytochemicals using standard methods. Blood samples from sickle cell patients were used to investigate antisickling and sickling reversal activities of aqueous extracts and ethyl acetate fractions of the fruits. Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA. The p-value was set at 0.05. Results: Phytochemicals such as alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids and polyphenols were found in varying concentrations in C. papaya fruit at the different stages of ripening. All extracts and fractions showed antisickling and sickling-reversal activities with the ethyl acetate fraction of partly ripe C. papaya being most effective.  Conclusion: The study showed that C. papaya fruit at different stages of ripening contains antisickling and sickling-reversal activities which may help reduce the associated complications of SCD when consumed by affected individuals.

Background: Anaemia is a major public health concern worldwide, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. In a previous study on determinants of prenatal anaemia, we found out that the majority of our respondents had dietary iron intake below the recommended value of 27mg∕day and all of them belonged to low socio-economic class. We opined that many of our respondents could have become pregnant with sub-optimal haemoglobin concentrations. Aim: This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of anaemia and the socio-economic determinants of anaemia in non-pregnant women of reproductive age in our community. Materials and Methods: The study which was descriptive and cross-sectional, involved two hundred consenting non-pregnant women of reproductive age in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect socio-demographic information and 24-hr dietary recall data which was used to determine the dietary diversity score (DDS) and daily dietary iron intake (DDI). Using a finger prick, the haemoglobin (Hb) concentration of each respondent was determined with a Haemoglobinometer DG-300HB. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results: The mean age of respondents was 32.04±8.99 years while the age range was 18-43years. The mean and range of Hb concentrations were 11.77±1.02 g∕dL and 8-16.67 g∕dL respectively. The prevalence of anaemia obtained from this study was 54% (mean 11.77 SD1.02). The prevalence of anaemia was highest amongst respondents who were farmers. There was a statistically significant association between Hb concentration and body mass index (BMI) p=0.009. Of the 200 respondents, 193 (96.5%) had inadequate dietary iron intake (<18mg/day). There was statistically significant association between Hb groupings and daily dietary iron (DDI) intake. P=0.003. With a mean of 2.96±0.95 food groups and range of 1.0-5.0 food groups, 95 % of respondents had low DDS (< 5 food groups). Hb concentration was also significantly associated with DDS as only 1(20%) of 5 respondents that had adequate DDS had Hb concentration below cut-off value. Conclusion: The prevalence of anaemia in non-pregnant women of reproductive age was high in the community studied making it possible for majority of them to enter pregnancy with sub-optimal Hb concentration. The prevalence was highest amongst respondents who were farmers. The majority of the respondents had inadequate DDS and daily DDI.