Background: Healthcare acquired infections (HCAIs) otherwise call nosocomial infection is associated with increased morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients and predisposes healthcare workers (HCWs) to an increased risk of infections. The study explores the knowledge and practices of infection control among HCW in a tertiary referral center in North-Western Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. A self-administered structured questionnaire was distributed to the study group (of doctors and nurses). Data on knowledge and practice of infection control were obtained and analyzed. Study population were selected by convenience sampling. Results: A total of 200 responses were analyzed, 152 were nurses while 48 were doctors. The median age and years of working experience of the respondents were 35 years (interquartile range [IQR] 31–39) and 7 years (IQR 4–12), respectively. Most of the respondents 174/198 (87.9%) correctly identified hand washing as the most effective method to prevent HCAI, with nurses having better knowledge 139/152 (91%) (P = 0.001). Majority agreed that avoiding injury with sharps 172/200 (86%), use of barrier precaution 180/200 (90%) and hand hygiene 184/200 (92%) effectively prevent HCAI. Only 88/198 (44.4%), 122/198 (61.6%), and 84/198 (42.4%) of the respondents were aware of the risks of infection following exposure to human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus-infected blood, respectively. About 52% of doctors and 76% of nurses (P = 0.002) always practice hand hygiene in between patient care. Conclusion: Gaps have been identified in knowledge and practice of infection control among doctors' and nurses' in the study; hence, it will be beneficial for all HCW to receive formal and periodic refresher trainings. Résumé Contexte: Healthcare a acquis infections aux soins (IAS) Sinon, appeler infection nosocomiale est associée à une augmentation de la morbidité et de la mortalité chez les patients hospitalisés et prédispose les travailleurs de la santé (HCW) à un risque accru d'infections. L'étude explore les connaissances et les pratiques de contrôle de l'infection chez les travailleurs de la santé dans un centre tertiaire de référence dans le nord-ouest du Nigeria. Matériels et Méthodes: Ceci est une étude transversale. Un questionnaire structuré auto-administré a été distribué au groupe (médecins et infirmières) étude. Les données sur la connaissance et la pratique du contrôle des infections ont été obtenues et analysées. Population de l'étude ont été sélectionnés par échantillonnage de commodité. Résultats: Un total de 200 réponses ont été analysés, 152 étaient des infirmières tandis que 48 étaient médecins. L'âge et les années d'expérience de travail des répondants étaient médian de 35 ans (intervalle interquartile [IQR] 31-39) et 7 ans (IQR 4-12), respectivement. La plupart des répondants 174/198 (87,9%) correctement identifié le lavage des mains fi é que la méthode la plus efficace pour prévenir les IAS, avec les infirmières ayant une meilleure connaissance 139/152 (91%) (P = 0,001). La majorité a convenu que évitant les blessures aux objets tranchants 172/200 (86%), l'utilisation de barrière précaution 180/200 (90%) et l'hygiène des mains 184/200 (92%) de prévenir efficacement les IAS. Seulement 88/198 (44,4%), 122/198 (61,6%), et 84/198 (42,4%) des répondants étaient au courant des risques d'infection exposition ng followi à virus immunodéficience fi cience humaine, le virus de l'hépatite B et l'hépatite C infectées par le virus du sang, respectivement. Environ 52% des médecins et 76% des infirmières (P = 0,002) pratiquent toujours l'hygiène des mains entre les soins aux patients. Conclusion: Des lacunes ont été identi fi és dans la connaissance et la pratique du contrôle de l'infection chez les médecins et les infirmières de l'i n l'étude; par conséquent, il sera béné fi que pour tous les travailleurs de la santé pour recevoir des formations formelles et périodiques de recyclage. Mots-clιs: Travailleurs de la santι, la prιvention des infections, la connaissance, la pratique

For more than a century, meningitis epidemics have regularly recurred across sub-Saharan Africa, involving 19 contiguous countries that constitute a ‘meningitis belt’ where historically the causative agent has been serogroup A meningococcus. Attempts to control epidemic meningococcal meningitis in Africa by vaccination with meningococcal polysaccharide (PS) vaccines have not been successful. This is largely because PS vaccines are poorly immunogenic in young children, do not induce immunological memory, and have little or no effect on the pharyngeal carriage. Meningococcal PS–protein conjugate vaccines overcome these deficiencies. Conjugate meningococcal vaccine against serotype A (MenAfriVac) was developed between 2001 and 2009 and deployed in 2010. So far, 262 million individuals have been immunized across the meningitis belt. The public health benefits of MenAfriVac have already been demonstrated by a sharp decline in reported cases of meningococcal disease in the countries where it has been introduced. However, serogroup replacement following mass meningitis vaccination has been noted, and in 2015 an epidemic with a novel strain of serogroup C was recorded in Niger and Nigeria for the first time since 1975. This has posed a serious challenge toward elimination of meningococcal meningitis epidemics in the African. For an effective control of meningococcal meningitis in the African meningitis belt, there is a need for an effective surveillance system, provision of rapid antigen detection kits as well as affordable vaccine that provides protection against the main serogroups causing meningitis in the sub-region.

Snakebite envenoming is a neglected tropical disease that predominantly affects impoverished rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The global efforts to reduce the impact of this disease must consider the local national contexts and, therefore, comparative studies on envenomings in different countries are necessary to identify strengths, weaknesses and needs. This work presents a comparative analysis of snakebite envenomings in Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, and Nigeria. The comparison included the following aspects: (a) burden of envenomings, (b) historical background of national efforts to confront envenomings, (c) national health systems, (d) antivenom availability and accessibility including local production, (e) training of physicians and nurses in the diagnosis and management of envenomings, (f) prevention campaigns and community-based work, (g) scientific and technological platforms in these topics, and (h) international cooperation programs. Strengths and weaknesses were identified in the three contexts and several urgent tasks to improve the management of this disease in these countries are highlighted. This comparative analysis could be of benefit for similar studies in other national and regional contexts.