According to the World Health Organization's Global Tuberculosis Report 2024, tuberculosis (TB) has resurged as the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, overtaking Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). With 8.2 million diagnoses and 1.25 million deaths in 2023, the highest since monitoring began in 1995, this commentary analyzes factors contributing to TB's resurgence and the limitations of current control strategies. Contributing factors include the diversion of healthcare resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to diagnostic delays and treatment interruptions; the rise of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), complicated by complex treatment regimens and limited diagnostic capacity; socioeconomic barriers such as poverty and overcrowding hindering access to care; and funding shortfalls impeding program implementation and research efforts. We advocate for reevaluating TB control strategies by integrating TB services into primary healthcare, leveraging digital technologies, and investing in capacity building. Addressing drug resistance requires accelerated research, improved diagnostics, and enhanced adherence programs. Essential socioeconomic interventions include poverty alleviation, community engagement, and nutritional support. Securing sustainable funding through increased domestic investment, international cooperation, and private-sector engagement is critical. Reversing TB's resurgence requires global commitment and coordinated action. Political will, robust community involvement, and global solidarity are vital. Ending the TB epidemic is both a medical and moral imperative aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Immediate and decisive action is imperative to prevent further loss of life and achieve a TB-free world.

Background: Schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection classified as a major neglected tropical disease, remains stubbornly endemic within the riverine communities of Kebbi State, Nigeria. Existing control efforts, centered on school-based mass drug administration (MDA), unintentionally bypass a potentially large hidden reservoir of infection: children not enrolled in formal education (out-of-school children, or OOSC). This study set out to quantify the difference in schistosomiasis burden and exposure risks between enrolled and out-of-school children aged 0 to 14 years. Methods: We conducted a comparative cross-sectional survey across six high-endemicity riverine communities in Kebbi State. Utilizing stratified cluster sampling, we enrolled a cohort of 1,155 children (881 enrolled; 274 OOSC). Infection status was determined by analyzing midstream urine samples via sedimentation microscopy. Caregivers completed detailed questionnaires capturing demographic data and behavioral risk factors. To isolate the most influential predictors, we used survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression. Results: The overall prevalence of schistosomiasis across the cohort was 11.4% (132/1,155). Crucially, OOSC carried a significantly higher infection rate (31.4%) compared to enrolled children (5.2%). This disparity resulted in an Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) of 8.23 (95% CI: 5.29–12.78). Independent risk factors strongly associated with infection included: relying on stream water (22.1% prevalence), practicing open defecation (15.2% prevalence), using water only for anal cleansing (15.3%), and having parents engaged in fishing and pastoral occupations. Conclusion: Our findings confirm that schistosomiasis persists as a significant public health issue in Kebbi State, with OOSC bearing a disproportionately heavy, hidden burden. This elevated risk appears driven by unsafe water practices and deficient sanitation. Moving forward, integrated Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions combined with inclusive, community-based MDA strategies are essential steps for effectively reaching these high-risk children and ensuring Nigeria can meet the WHO’s ambitious 2030 elimination targets.

The escalating challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a considerable concern for global health, particularly impacting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This article highlights the critical importance of tackling AMR in LMICs by adopting the Global Antimicrobial Stewardship Accreditation Scheme (GAMSAS). GAMSAS is portrayed as a holistic and sustainable strategy for antimicrobial stewardship, extending beyond accreditation to include educational programs, capacity enhancement, improved surveillance, and support for AMS policy research. While acknowledging the global uptake of the scheme, the article highlights its preliminary phase of adoption in LMICs, particularly in high-AMR burden regions like Sub-Saharan Africa. The piece stresses the imperative for LMICs to integrate GAMSAS, underscoring its significance in optimizing antimicrobial usage and patient health outcomes. It advocates for an all-encompassing approach that leverages international cooperation and sustained financial backing, crucial for the effective deployment and enduring success of antimicrobial stewardship efforts in these key areas.

The resurgence of diphtheria in Nigeria, culminating in an outbreak surpassing previous records, has spotlighted the critical imperative for robust immunization policies amidst a milieu of vaccine hesitancy. This commentary delineates the multifaceted dimensions of the current diphtheria outbreak, which started in May 2022, juxtaposed against historical outbreaks, with a focal examination of the pervasive vaccine hesitancy and its underpinning sociocultural and systemic determinants. The discourse extends to a meticulous evaluation of Nigeria’s public health response, underlined by the synergy with international organizations, reflecting a global collaborative ethos in combating the diphtheria menace. A critical appraisal of the prevailing immunization policies unveils a necessity for strategic amendments to invigorate vaccination uptake, essential for curbing the diphtheria outbreak and enhancing public health resilience. The reflections herein advocate for a comprehensive, culturally resonant, and sustainable public health paradigm, encompassing a synergistic approach of policy fortification, community engagement, and international collaboration to navigate the challenges posed by vaccine-preventable diseases epitomized by the ongoing diphtheria outbreak. Through a synthesis of historical lessons, contemporary challenges, and global solidarity, this piece contributes to the broader discourse on enhancing immunization coverage and infectious disease control in Nigeria.

Intro: Tuberculosis remains a public health threat in Nigeria. Monitoring and evaluating the treatment the outcome of tuberculosis in government own referral centres and understanding the reasons for unsuccessful treatment outcomes are integral parts of the effective control program in Nigeria. This study investigated tuberculosis treatment outcomes and factors associated with unsuccessful tuberculosis control programs in Kebbi State, Nigeria. Methods: A retrospective document review of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients was conducted from September 2018 to June 2021 in 21 Local Area Councils in Kebbi State, Northern Nigeria. Additional data were collected using a pretested structured data extraction format. The association of treatment outcomes with associated variables was analyzed using bivariate and multivariate analysis with a 95% confidence interval with SPSS Version 23. Findings: A total of 6114 records of TB patients were reviewed. 1161(18.9%) of which 963(82.9%) were males and198 (17.1%) females commenced treatment, while 1115 (18.2%) of all records had documented treatment outcomes. Of the 1115 patients with outcomes, 1023(91.7%) had successful treatment outcomes, and 92(8.3%) had an unsuccessful outcome. High treatment success was recorded in female (97.6%) patients with new cases (92.3%) and with pulmonary infections (91.2%). In the multivariate logistic analysis, the odds of unsuccessful treatment outcomes were higher among patients with extrapulmonary infections (adj. OR = 2.40, 95% CI:(1.12-5.39),older than 40 years of age (adj. OR = 2.00, 95% CI: (1.37-2.92), and with old or other cases (adj. OR = 3.03, 95% CI:(1.47- 7.19) as compared to their respective comparison groups. Conclusion: The rate of successful TB treatment outcomes was satisfactory in Kebbi State, Northern Nigeria. Nonetheless, one-fourth of the total patients reviewed were not documented for treatment. Therefore, the need for designing an appropriate recruitment strategy to identify and enrol those patients for an effective and successful TB control program in the State and Nigeria.

Background Pathogenic fungi are the source of the fungal illness known as pulmonary mycosis. The prevalence of pulmonary mycoses among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis is continuously rising, despite improvements in the disease’s diagnosis, treatment, and management. Three hundred clinically confirmed patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were recruited for this study. Sputum samples were collected and analyzed to detect M. tuberculosis using the GeneXpert machine. Fungal elements were determined using microscopy, culture, and fungal biochemical analysis. Fungal isolates were confirmed using nested PCR with the internal transcribed sequence region of the ribosomal cistron of the fungal species. Results Of the 300 sputum samples analyzed, 50 (16.7%) patients had pulmonary tuberculosis. Fungi pathogens were found in 142 patients (47.3%), with 99/142 (71.2%) primary infections, and 40/139 (29.5%) secondary infections. Among the secondary infections, 33 (11%) were fungi coinfections with rifampicin-sensitive MTB coinfections, while 7 (2.3%) were fungi co-infected with rifampicin-resistant MTB. Candida albican was the most common fungus isolate, accounting for 44 (31.7%), while non-Candidal albicans accounted for only 2 (1.4%). Of the 99 species responsible for primary infection, 33 (23.7%) were Blastomyces precursors, 30 (21.6 %) were Candida species, and 21 (15.1%) were Aspergillus fumigatus . The fungal pathogen with the highest frequency of secondary infection was Candida species 14 (10.1%), followed by Aspergillus fumigatus 11 (7.9%), then Blastomyces precursors , and then 09 ( 6.5 %). Conclusion In conclusion, this study determined the prevalence rate of fungal pathogens among pulmonary tuberculosis patients. The most dominant species observed were Blastomyces species, which are seldom reported in Africa and Nigeria. The two others were Aspergillus and Candida species. The study showed that a high percentage of cases of this species, responsible for pulmonary mycosis, were misdiagnosed and treated as pulmonary tuberculosis. Thus, there is a need for improved surveillance and accurate diagnosis of pulmonary infections for proper treatment.

Intro: Pulmonary mycoses are a fungal infection that resembles pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). The diagnosis of pulmonary mycosis is difficult because the disease does not present a specific clinic manifestation. This study aimed to investigate pulmonary mycoses among patients with clinical features and suspected cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in the PTB endemic area of Nigeria. Methods: Three hundred sputum samples were collected from pulmonary tuberculosis patients. For each sample, the following tests were performed: Sabouraud dextrose agar for fungal culture, acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and GeneXpert for Mycobacteria tuberculosis (MTB) and potassium hydroxide for fungal screening. Filamentous fungal growth and yeasts were further examined with lactophenol cotton blue staining and germ tube respectively. Findings: Of the 300-suspected cases, 50 were positive for AFB and 147 (43.7%) had fungal pathogens isolated from their sputum samples. 33 (22.4%) of the 147 fungal pathogens were co-infection with suspected cases of PTB, of which 7 (4.8%) are rifampicin resistance MTB. Among the isolated pulmonary fungal pathogens, Candida albicans 44 (14.7%) and Blastomyces Percursus 43 (14.3%) had the highest occurrence, Aspergillus fumigatus 32 (10.7%), Aspergillus niger 14 (4.7%), and Candida tropicalis 9 (2.3%). Conclusion: The study has shown that cases of pulmonary mycosis are likely to be misdiagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis. In addition, Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected patients are susceptible to many fungal pathogens. Therefore, there is a need for routine diagnosis of pulmonary mycoses among cases of pulmonary tuberculosis for a successful tuberculosis treatment program.

Ikorodu Lighter Terminal is an important lagoon port in Lagos, Nigeria. However, the intense anthropogenic activities that take place around the port could potentially pollute the water. This study assessed the safety of human exposure to the water around the port. Samples of the water were assayed for physicochemical parameters, namely: electrical conductivity, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, turbidity, hardness, calcium, chloride, sulphate, nitrite, and phosphate. Moreover, heavy metals, including lead, manganese, copper, cadmium, nickel, and chromium, were analyzed, and their values were used to estimate potential health risks. Also assayed was the presence of microorganisms. The water samples had non-permissible levels of nitrite, oil and grease, and BOD. The concentrations of the heavy metals as well as their average daily ingestion and average daily dermal exposure were within the tolerable limits, except Ni. However, their hazard quotient and carcinogenic risk via ingestion and dermal contact exceeded the tolerable limits. Safe levels of bacteria, coliforms, and fungi were detected in the water. Based on these results, the water may expose users to health hazards. There is a need for policies geared towards the safety of human exposure to the water.

Highlights: Workplace pollutants predispose people to hyperglycemia through beta cell dysfunction and insulin resistance. The risk is increased by unhealthy lifestyles such as smoking and drinking. Aging, due to mitochondrial function decline, also promotes hyperglycemia. Abstract: The increased global prevalence of hyperglycemia is linked partly to increasing industrial emission exposure, necessitating risk evaluations of various categories of workers worldwide. This study measured the blood glucose levels of selected non-obese artisans and workers from three companies (Imperio International, Mouka Foam, and Continental Iron) in Lagos, Nigeria. The participants’ demographic data were collected using structured questionnaires, after which their blood glucose levels were measured using a glucometer. The results were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards (88–126 mg/dL). On average, Imperio International participants were 32 years old, Mouka Foam and Continental Iron were 28 years old, and the artisans were 32 years old. Most of the participants were male secondary school graduates who worked an average of nine hours per day, six days a week. Artisans had the highest hyperglycemic population (46.15%), followed by Imperio International and Continental Iron (33% each), and Mouka Foam (29.41%). Smokers accounted for 10.53% of the hyperglycemic population, followed by alcoholics (36.84%), those who drank and smoked (42.11%), and those who did not drink or smoke (10.53%). Age class ≥41 accounted for 36.84% of the hyperglycemic population, class 31-40 (34.21%), and class 21-30 (28.95%). Participants with secondary school education constituted 63.16% of the hyperglycemic population, primary education (18.42%), individuals having no education (13.16%), and tertiary education (5.26%). The findings indicate that workplace pollutants predispose workers to hyperglycemia and that smoking and alcohol increase the risks. The findings necessitate exposure reduction and healthy lifestyles in the workplace.

Abstract Background In Nigeria, effective case management and evaluation of pulmonary tuberculosis treatment outcomes are an integral part of controlling the spread of infectious diseases. The study reviewed the treatment outcomes of pulmonary tuberculosis and the factors associated with rates of successful and unsuccessful treatment outcomes in the 21 referral hospitals in Kebbi State, Nigeria. Methods Documented records of pulmonary tuberculosis patients from January 2018 to December 2021 in 21 Local Area Councils in Kebbi State, Northern Nigeria were reviewed. A structured questionnaire collated the socio-demographic and clinical data from the documented records. Descriptive statistics were used to compute and analyse the outcomes of successful and unsuccessful treatment. Logistic regression models were used to determine the association of socio-demographic and clinical data with the unsuccessful treatment outcomes. Results The study reviewed data from 6114 records of TB patients. 1161 (18.9%) started treatment, 963 (82.9%) were males and 198 (17.1%) were females. Of the 1161 patients, 985 (18.2%) had documented treatment outcomes. 932 of 985 (95.1%) had a pulmonary infection. 64 (5.8%) patients with documented treatment outcomes were HIV seropositive. 903 (91.7%) were successfully treated, and 82 (8.3%) failed. Of the patients with failed treatment outcomes, 15 (1.5%) were lost to follow-up, 43 (4.4%) defaulted and 24 (2.4%) died. In the logistic analysis, the odds of unsuccessful treatment outcomes were higher among elderly patients (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI 1.37–2.92), patients with extrapulmonary infections (AOR = 2.40, 95% CI 1.12–5.39), and with old cases of pulmonary TB (AOR = 3.03, 95% CI 1.47–7.19) when compared to their groups. Conclusions The study reported a treatment success rate of 91.7% among TB patients attending public hospitals in Kebbi State. The outcome was higher than the projected success rate of 85% set by the WHO. However, one-fourth of the total patients reviewed were not documented for treatment. Therefore, the need to design an appropriate recruitment strategy to identify and enrol those patients for an effective and successful TB control program in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND Epigenetic disruptions have been implicated in some cases of infertility and can serve as therapeutic targets. However, the involvement of epigenetics in infertility has not received adequate attention.AIM This study aimed to determine the epigenetic basis of infertility in order to enhance public knowledge.METHODS Relevant articles on the subject were collected from PubMed, RCA, Google Scholar, Springer Link, and Scopus. The articles were pooled together and duplicates were removed using Endnote software.RESULTS Available information shows that epigenetic mechanisms, mainly DNA methylation, histone modification, and microRNA interference are necessary for normal gametogenesis and embryogenesis. As a result, epigenetic disruptions in genes that control gametogenesis and embryogenesis, such as DDX3X, ADH4, AZF, PLAG1, D1RAS3, CYGB, MEST, JMJD1A, KCNQ1, IGF2, H19, and MTHFR may result in infertility. Aberrant DNA methylation during genomic imprinting and parental epigenetic mark erasures, in particular, may affect the DNA epigenomes of sperm and oocytes, resulting in reproductive abnormalities.Histone epigenetic dysregulation during oocyte development and histone-protamine replacement in the sperm may also cause reproductive abnormalities. Furthermore, overexpression or repression of certain micro RNAs embedded in the ovary, testis, embryo, as well as granulosa cells and oocytes may impair reproduction. Male infertility is characterized by spermatogenesis failure, which includes oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, and teratozoospermia, while female infertility is characterized by polycystic ovary syndrome. Some epigenetic modifications can be reversed by deactivating the regulatory enzymes, implying that epigenetic reprogramming could help treat infertility in some cases. For some disorders, epigenetic drugs are available, but none have been formulated for infertility.CONCLUSION Some cases of infertility have an epigenetic etiology and can be treated by reversing the same epigenetic mechanism that caused it. As a result, medical practitioners are urged to come up with epigenetic treatments for infertility that have an epigenetic cause.

BACKGROUND:The present study determined the incidence of rifampicin resistance M. tuberculosis among outpatients at the General Hospital Yauri, Kebbi State, Nigeria.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The study is a cross-sectional study conducted from February 2018 to October 2019. Sociodemographic data were collected from hospital registration books. Rifampicin resistance M. tuberculosis was detected using GeneXpert Model GX-IV following manufacturers' instruction. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were computed using SPSS version 20. The results were presented as odds ratios with associated 95% confidence intervals, and P-value at 0.05.RESULT:Of the 837 samples, 65.8% (551/837) were males, and 34.2% (286/837) females, 11.4% (95/837) HIV-seropositive. M. tuberculosis was detected in 15.5% (130/837), of which 116/130 (89.23%) were males and 14/130 (10.77%) females. M. tuberculosis-HIV coinfection was detected in 9.47% (9/95) of HIV positive. Rifampicin resistance was observed in 1.3% (11/837), 7.7% (10/130) in M. tuberculosis patients and 1.05% (1/94) in HIV seropositive. In logistic regression, the odds ratio for having a rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis was 0.49 (0.15-1.54) for > 30 years; taking <30 years as the reference value, 1.02 (1.00-1.03) for male; taking female as the reference value, and 0.78 (0.09-6.15) for HIV positive, taking negative as the reference value.CONCLUSION:This study reported the current incidence rate of rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis at the General Hospital Yelwa Yauri, Kebbi State, Nigeria, among presumptive TB patients. Patients diagnosed with rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis were predominantly male adults. Thus, frequent screening is vital for surveillance and reduces the risk of transmission and spread of M. tuberculosis infections.

ABSTRACT Fura da Nono is a nutritious and refreshing drink made from fermented milk and ground millet grains. In this study, the microbiology of traditional and small-scale industrial production of Fura da Nono in Birnin Kebbi and Jega was investigated. Samples of Fura da Nono were collected from Birnin Kebbi emir’s palace, Mini Factory JEGA and a local hawker in Jega. Food borne and spoilage pathogens were identified based on their colonial morphology, gram staining reaction and series of biochemical tests. Viable colony counts, coliform test, fungal analysis and pH test were also conducted. The results revealed the highest average count of 1.25×108 cfu/ml in the samples collected from local hawker while Birnin Kebbi emir’s palace had the lowest average count of 8.3×105 cfu/ml. The bacteria identified in Fura da Nono were Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp, Lactobacillus plantarum and Escherichia coli. The fungi isolated were Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The highest pH (6.8) was recorded in the sample obtained from local hawker and the lowest (3.1) from the Birnin Kebbi emir’s palace. The study showed the presence of food borne and spoilage pathogens in Fura da Nono which indicates poor hygienic practices during production. Therefore, in order to produce commercial Furada Nono either at large or small-scale quantity, it is necessary to improve the acceptability, microbiological stability and hygiene of the product.

This study was carried out to evaluate bioaerosol concentrations in the indoor air and the hygiene practices of restaurants to highlight the exposure risks and improve food safety in restaurants. Using depositional sampling techniques, air samples were collected from each restaurant kitchen and dining room and aerobically cultured. Hygiene/sanitary conditions were assessed using observation schedules and questionnaires. Meteorological parameters were also monitored during air sampling. The results revealed that bacterial and fungal concentrations (CFU m-3) ranged from 1.07×103‒1.36×104 and 8.2×101‒5.76×102, respectively. Regarding the sanitary conditions of the restaurants, 3.5% of the kitchens were in good sanitary condition, and the food was adequately protected from flies in only 14% of the kitchens. Only 3.5% of the food handlers had attended food hygiene basic training, up to 33% of the food handlers had no education at all, and only 0.10% had medical certifications. High microbial counts and the poor sanitary conditions and personal hygiene practices observed in this study not only indicate a strong need for improved hygiene but also constitute a serious potential health hazards.

Antibiotic resistance among bacteria is becoming a major problem in the treatment of many infections. Hence, there is need to find a potential alternative way of curing disease, this includes the use of medicinal plants in overcoming the antibiotic resistance. The present study was aimed at investigating the antibacterial activity of Acacia nilotica Wild. leaves extracts against some selected multi drug resistant bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and (Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Extraction of Acacia nilotica were performed using water and chloroform, on the basis of their increasing polarity with varying concentrations and were screened for the antibacterial activity using disc diffusion assay. Phytochemical screening reveals presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenols, terpenoids and steroids. Aqueous extract was found to be more potent against all the selected bacterial pathogens with zone of inhibition ranges from (10 mm-13 mm) and (6 mm-10 mm) while that of chloroform extract were (3 mm-5 mm) and (2 mm-4 mm) against S. aureus and aeruginosa respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were (7 mg/ml) and (15 mg/ml) for aqueous extract while (15 mg/ml) and (25 mg/ml) for the chloroform extract on the test bacteria. Therefore this study determined the value of Acacia nilotica plant as alternative treatment for bacterial infections that can be used to completely overcome or minimize the resistance of bacteria observed in synthetic antimicrobial agents.

The traditional medicine involves the use of different plants or the bioactive constituents of different plants to cure diseases and this was done long time ago based on the history of human being Acacia nilotica is a multipurpose plant belonging to the family Mimosaceae. Commonly known as Prickly acacia in English and Bagaruwa in Hausa language, It have been used traditionally to treat infections. The present study aimed at investigating antibacterial activity of Acacia nilotica Wild. ethanolic leaves extract and its column fractions against selected multi drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Extract of Acacia nilotica were prepared using ethanol on the basis of their increasing polarity with varying concentrations and were screened for the antibacterial activity using disc diffusion assay. The crude extract was further subjected to column and thin layer chromatography (TLC) for bioassay guided fractionation; thus a total of 74 fractions were obtained. The fractions were screened for the antibacterial activity, fraction 6 (CF6) showed highest zone of inhibition of 12 mm and 9 mm against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa respectively. Therefore this study demonstrated the value of A. nilotica plant as alternative for the treatment of bacterial infections. The most active fraction can be further explored to isolate and characterize the bioactive components responsible for biological activity to develop new antibacterial drug.