Background: Improper and uncoordinated healthcare waste management (HCWM) practice exposes the healthcare worker, patients and surrounding communities to several morbidities and mortality from nosocomial infections. Objectives: This study aims at assessing waste management services in public and private healthcare facilities at the three levels of healthcare delivery in Enugu State. Methods: A cross-sectional study using quantitative and qualitative data collection methods involving healthcare workers and healthcare facilities (public and private) at the three levels of care in Enugu state. The study comprised of a total of 23 health facilities and 362 health workers drawn from the three levels of healthcare for private and public facilities. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. Chi-square test was used to compare the proportion of healthcare workers with adequate knowledge of HCWM. A significance level of p < 0.05 was used for statistical calculations. Results: One hundred and eighty (47.5%) of the respondents knew the correct steps for HCWM. Most respondents 355(93.7%) admitted that there is associated risk in handling waste. About 147 (38.8%) sustained injury while they had contact with waste out of which 57(38.8%) have had this injury more than three times. The presence of written strategy was higher in public facilities compared to private facilities (x2 = 1.446; p = 0.485), The access to it was highest in the unit (x2 = 1.027; p = 0.311). The frequency of waste collection was highest on a daily basis in both private and public facilities. Waste measurement and segregation were also observed to be higher in public than private facilities (x2 = 1.434; p = 0.488 and x2 = 1.644; p = 0.440 respectively). More public facilities segregated their waste at source compared to private facilities and this was statistically significant (x2 = 13.875; p = 0.008). Conclusion: The frequency of waste collection was highest on a daily basis in both private and public facilities. However, waste measurement and segregation were observed to be higher in public than private facilities. More public facilities segregated their waste at source compared to private facilities. There seems to be a gap in communication among those involve in health management waste. The health personnel despite level of education and cadre, have poor knowledge of the risk associated with healthcare waste.

Objective: Despite the broad pharmacological activity of gentamicin against a number of bacteria, it's very inadequate oral bioavailability due to poor intestinal membrane permeability has limited its formulation into oral dosage delivery system. This work was thus aimed at formulation and evaluation of gentamicin-loaded microemulsions based on preparation of lipid matrix for sustained release delivery. Methods:Oral gentamicin suspensions were prepared by emulsification method using Tween 80 as a mobile surfactant in the lipid matrix dispersion. The resultant oral suspensions were evaluated for mean particle size and morphology using a photomicrograph, encapsulation efficiency/entrapment, EE (%), dispersibility, pH and absolute drug content. Release study as a function of inhibition zone diameter (IZD) and in vitro release study was also carried out. The in vitro release study was performed in both simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2) and simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.2) respectively. The release data were analyzed mathematically according to zero order, first order and Higuchi equations. Results:The prepared suspensions were cream-white in colour, easily dispersed and well homogenized. Batch D, which had least amount of excipients incorporated into the lipid matrix showed clumped irregular-shaped and less free-flowing particles. The particle size was significantly influenced by lipid matrix combination ratio in the presence of a surfactant (p<0.05). The mean particle size diameters of the samples were 15.44 mm, 10.64 mm, 4.12 mm, and 2.70 mm for batches A, B, C and D respectively. The values of EE obtained varied between 47% and 59% with Batch B exhibiting the highest value. The Higuchi model gave the best release kinetics result followed by zero order kinetics. Conclusion:Oral gentamicin prepared exhibited antibacterial properties against Klebsiella spp., Escherchia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results suggest that a lipid matrix system could be useful as a sustained release oral delivery system of a poorly absorbable drug such as gentamicin.