The current upsurge in resistance to conventional antibiotics, as well as high cost of orthodox medical treatment, called for the use of medicinal plants as an alternative therapy. This research was aimed at determining the antibacterial activity of Artocarpus heterophyllus seed extracts (Jackfruit as it is locally called) in the treatment of diarrhoea. Ethanolic and hexanolic seed crude extracts of the plant were screened for antidiarrhoeal activity against bacteria isolated from clinical samples (methicillin-resistant and susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella typhimurium, and third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli). Plant phytochemical screening was conducted using standard methods. The antibacterial activity was carried out using the agar well diffusion method and compared to the standard antibiotics ceftriaxone and vancomycin. The minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by the microbroth dilution method, whereas the minimum bactericidal concentration was determined by plating out from microtitre plates with no visible growth. The results of phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, reducing sugars, cardiac glycosides, saponins, and steroids from the prepared crude extracts. The ethanolic and hexanolic extracts had activity on multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus with the mean and standard error zone of inhibition that ranged from 8.5 ± 0.5 to 16.5 ± 0.25 mm; however, the extracts were found not to have activity on resistant E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The ethanolic crude extract had the lowest MIC and MBC values of 31.25 and 125 mg/ml, respectively, compared to the hexane extract which had the MIC and MBC values of 62.50 and 250 mg/ml, respectively. This provides the evidence for its usage as an alternative herbal remedy for the treatment of diarrhoea caused by susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Uganda is among the 22 countries in the world with a high burden of tuberculosis. The southwestern region of the country has consistently registered a high TB/HIV incidence rate. This study is aimed at characterizing the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) genotypic diversity in southwestern Uganda. A total of 283 sputum samples from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were genotyped using specific single nucleotide polymorphism markers for lineages 3 and 4. Most of the patients were males with a mean age of 34. The lineage 4 Ugandan family was found to be the most dominant strains accounting for 59.7 of all cases followed by lineage 3 at 15.2. The lineage 4 non-Ugandan family accounted for 14.5 of all cases while 4.2 showed amplification for both lineage 4 and lineage 3. Eighteen samples (6.4) of the strains remained unclassified since they could not be matched to any lineage based on the genotyping technique used. This study demonstrates that a wide diversity of strains is causing pulmonary tuberculosis in this region with those belonging to the lineage 4 Ugandan family being more predominant. However, to confirm this, further studies using more discriminative genotyping methods are necessary.

Dermatophyte infections are a global health problem but neglected in Uganda. This work aimed at determining prevalence of dermatophytosis and antifungal activity of ethanolic crude leaf extract ofTetradenia ripariaagainst dermatophytes isolated from patients attending Kampala International University Teaching Hospital (KIU-TH), Uganda. A total of 100 samples of skin and nail scrapings were collected and processed using standard microscopy (KOH) and cultural methods.T. riparialeaves were collected and processed with 95% ethanol using standard extraction method. The crude leaves ethanolic extract was tested against three dermatophytes:Trichophyton tonsurans,T. mentagrophyte,andMicrosporum audouiniiusing modified agar well diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the ethanolic leaves crude extract were also determined using broth tube dilution and culture, respectively. Out of 100 samples collected, 49 (49%, 95%CI: 0.3930-0.5876) were found positive for microscopy. The prevalence of dermatophytosis was significantly (p=0.001) associated with age groups of participants with higher infection among those aged 11-20 and 21-30 years with 75.0% each. Out of the 49 that were positive by microscopy, 28 (57.15%, 95% CI: 0.1987-0.3739) were positive by culture. Thirty-one (31) fungal isolates were obtained which included both dermatophyte and non-dermatophyte fungi.T. verrucosumhad highest distribution 6 (19.35%) among dermatophytes species whileAspergillusspp. were found to have highest distribution 7 (22.58%) among non-dermatophyte species. The result of the antidermatophytic test showed thatT. ripariaethanolic crude leaves extract had activity against tested dermatophytes at 1 g/ml. MIC and MFC of the crude extract ofT. ripariaagainst tested dermatophytes ranged from 62.5 to 250 mg/ml and 125 to 500 mg/ml, respectively. The findings of this study reported the presence of dermatophytes causing dermatophytosis among patients attending KIU-TH. The results of the current study showed thatT. riparialeaves ethanolic crude extract has antidermatophytic activity against tested dermatophytes.

Superbugs are pathogenic micro-organism and especially a bacterium that has developed resistance to the medications normally used against it. As the superbug family increases, the need for appropriate diagnostic, treatment, prevention and control strategies cannot be over emphasized. Therefore, this work determined the distribution of superbug bacteria among patients on prolonged hospital admissions in three tertiary hospitals of Kano state, Nigeria. A descriptive cross sectional study was undertaken among 401 patients from medical, surgery, orthopedic and burn centre wards in a three tertiary hospitals in Kano state. A sample collected comprises wound/pus, urine, urine catheter and nasal intubation and were analysed using standard microbiological methods for Acinetobacter spp and other related nosocomial bacterial pathogens. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. One hundred and thirty eight (138) isolates were recovered, from the studied participants. More than 80% of the nosocomial infections (NIs) were caused by Gram-negative bacteria, predominantly Escherichia coli, Klebseilla spp, Proteus spp, Pseudomona spp and Acinetobacter spp. In-vitro antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that acinetobacter were 100% resistant to amoxicillin, co-trimoxazole, perfloxacin and imipenem. Superbugs (Acinetobacter species) significantly contributed to delayed hospital admissions through observed 100% resistance to used antibiotics. The healthcare managers of these hospitals and the ministry of health need to take measures against this resistant bacteria (Acinetobacter spp) especially on prescribing antibiotics that showed 100% resistant from these studied hospitals.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological quality of water sources in Ishaka division, Bushenyi district. Methods: Water from taps, wells and springs were sampled for the cross-sectional investigation. The enumeration and identification of microbes ( Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Proteus, Staphylococcus aureus and total coliforms) in water samples were carried out using a variety of methods. Escherichia coli was enumerated using the membrane filtration method; Salmonella, Shigella and Proteus using a two-step enrichment method; Staphylococcus aureus using the surface spread method and total coliforms using the most probable number technique. Mannitol salt agar was used for enumeration of Staphylococcus Aureus and violet red bile agar was used for enumeration of total coliforms and Escherichia coli; xylose lysine deoxycholate agar was used for both Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. API-20E was used to phenotypically identify the Enterobacteriaceae contaminants in water. These included Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus. Results: Escherichia coli counts in the water from springs and wells ranged from 0 to 314 cfu/mL ( p = 0.173) and 0 to 3 cfu/mL ( p = 0.269), respectively, while tap water had no incidence of Escherichia coli. Highest level of bacterial contamination in water sources, beyond acceptable WHO (0 cfu/100 mL) limits for drinking water, was reported: Proteus spp., 34 (54.8%), followed by total coliforms, 24 (38.7%), Shigella spp., 22 (35.5%) and least were Salmonella spp. (8.1%) and Staphylococcus aureus spp. (8.1%). Conclusion: It is therefore concluded that spring and well community water sources in Ishaka division, Uganda, are significantly contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and thus unsafe for drinking without adequate water treatment (disinfection and filtration).

The purpose of the study was to generate information on the safety of probiotics, thus the study objectives were to evaluate the effects of Yoba® on basic physiochemical properties. The study assessed male w1118 Drosophila melanogaster which were provided food supplemented with Yoba® at 1%, 3%, 6%, and 12% on motor function, total protein, catalase activity, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity and lifespan. Yoba® at high concentration (≥ 6%) increased locomotor activity in Drosophila melanogaster, however, total protein, catalase, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity were significantly higher at 1% Yoba® compared to 3%, 6%, and 12% Yoba®. Yoba consumed at 1% was associated with greater physiological benefits in Drosophila melanogaster. Findings in the study offer a rationale for the consumption of Yoba® at 1% in humans as is currently being promoted by the Yoba for Life consortium, however, high concentrations of Yoba® would disrupt physiological function as shown by this study.