ObjectiveThis was a preliminary study whose objective was to estimate the prevalence and risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among people living with HIV (PLWHIV) based on diabetes risk assessment scores.ResultsThe study was composed of 234 PLWHIV with median age (interquartile range, IQR) of 44 (36, 52) and a female preponderance of 66%. The median risk scores (IQR) for developing T2DM was 5 (2, 9). Based on the risk scores, 5% of PLWHIV were at high risk for developing T2DM close to 3.4% actual prevalence in the study population. This study demonstrated the importance of using a cheap and fast method for identifying high risk individuals for developing T2DM.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-019-4183-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

This study aimed to assess microbial colonization of elevators and the staircase handrail at Ndola Teaching Hospital. Swabs from elevators and staircase handrail were cultured on Blood, MacConkey and Mannitol Salt agar for 24-48h at 35-37oC. All observed bacterial colonies were sub-cultured for identification. Data analysis was conducted with Microsoft excel 2010 and SPSS version 20 statistical software. A 2-tailed Pearson Correlation test was used to assess for significant differences in colonization prevalence between the two elevators and handrail. A total of 94 bacteria species were isolated, among which 75(78.8%) were isolated from elevators while 19(20.2%) were isolated from the staircase handrail. Most bacteria were isolated from exterior buttons followed by doors and interior of elevators whereas the basement, ground and sixth floor sections of the staircase handrail were largely contaminated with S. aureus, non-spore-forming Gram-positive bacilli, Klebsiella spp, coagulase-negative Staphylococci and Enterobacter spp. Overall, the commonest isolated bacteria were S. aureus (33%) followed by non-spore-forming Gram-positive bacilli (16%), coagulase-negative Staphylococci, and endospore-forming Gram-positive bacilli (13.8% apiece), Streptococci (7.4%), and Klebsiella species (6.4%). A strong relationship existed between the prevalence of bacteria colonizers of elevators and the staircase handrail (p<0.01). Therefore, the study showed that elevators and the staircase handrail possess viable microorganisms and may act as potential sources of nosocomial infections especially to immunocompromised patients in hospitals, and this calls for proper and effective infection control and prevention strategies to lessen microbial population from dry surfaces.

Herbs have been used as medicinal for several years to cure or rather manage different ailments such as diabetes mellitus. This is very common in rural settings of sub-saharan Africa and is now being adopted in urban areas. Opunta species have widely been seen to contain antihyperglycaemic effects. To evaluate the antihyperglycaemic and histopancreatic effect of aqueous extract of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia species) cladodes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male Wistar rats in vivo. This was a laboratory based research conducted at Mulungushi University involving 30 wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) that weighed between 160-200 g which were randomly selected into five groups (6 per cage); normal control, diabetic control, diabetic +metformin, diabetic +cactus and cactus only group. Initial blood glucose levels were obtained from the tail and record then Diabetes mellitus was induced using a single intraperitoneal dose of streptozotocin (70mg/kg BW) and established a persistent state of hyperglycemia after 72hours. The aqueous cactus extract of 100 mg/kg BW and metformin of 100 mg/kg BW was administered orally using intragastric cannula daily for a period of 4 weeks. At the end of the fourth week, Diabetes + cactus and diabetes + metformin groups body weights were statistically significant when compared to the diabetic group (P<0.05). While diabetic group was statistically significant when compared to normal control (P<0.05). The relative weight of the pancreas in diabetic group was statistically significant to other groups (P<0.05). The blood glucose in diabetic + cactus was normoglycaemic at 3rd week, Diabetic + metformin group when compared to diabetic group was statistically significant (P<0.05). The normal control and cactus only groups maintained normoglycaemic till the end of the 4th week. The histological findings of the normal control and cactus only group showed normal pancreatic cytoarchitecture. Diabetes group showed high degree of disorganization in the cytoarchitecture in the islet with reduction in β cell mass and deposition of elastic fibres. The Diabetic+Metformin group showed slight decrease in the cell mass (β cells) and elastic fibres were extensively deposited. Diabetic+Cactus treated group exhibited normal histology of the pancreas with increased number of β cells. Opuntia species are able to lower elevated blood glucose levels and ameliorate the effects of STZ on the pancreatic morphology

Background Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a global problem that require multifaceted effort to curb it. This study aimed to evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of routinely isolated bacteria at Livingstone Central Hospital (LCH). Methods A retrospective study was performed on all isolated organisms from patient specimens that were processed from January 2019 to December 2021. Specimens were cultured on standard media and Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was employed for susceptibility testing following the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute’s recommendations. Results A total of 765 specimens were processed and only 500 (65.4%) met the inclusion criteria. Of the 500, 291(58.2%) specimens were received from female and from the age-group 17–39 years (253, 50.6%) and 40–80 years (145, 29%) in form of blood (331, 66.2%), urine (165, 33%) and sputum (4, 0.8%). Amongst the bacterial isolates, Staphylococcus aureus (142, 28.4%) was the commonest followed by Escherichia coli (91, 18.2%), and Enterobacter agglomerans (76, 15.2%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (43, 8.6%). The resistance pattern revealed ampicillin (93%) as the least effective drug followed by oxacillin (88%), penicillin (85.6%), co-trimoxazole (81.5%), erythromycin (71.9%), nalidixic acid (68%), and ceftazidime (60%) whereas the most effective antibiotics were imipenem (14.5%), and piperacillin/tazobactam (16.7%). The screening of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with cefoxitin showed 23.7% (9/38) resistance. Conclusion Increased levels of MDR strains and rising numbers of MRSA strains were detected. Therefore, re-establishing of the empiric therapy is needed for proper patient management, studies to determine the levels of extended spectrum beta lactamase- and carbapenemase-producing bacteria are warranted.

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