School of Health Sciences

Red Blood Cell Alloimmunization And Associated Risk Factors Among Transfused Cancer Patients At Moi Teaching And Referral Hospital, Kenya

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Red Blood Cell Alloimmunization And Associated Risk Factors Among Transfused Cancer Patients At Moi Teaching And Referral Hospital, Kenya Wapukha, Bunoro Zippy Alloimmunization is an immune response to foreign antigens after interaction with tissues or cells with genetic disparity, despite the fact that they can save lives. Alloantibodies to one or more RBC antigens can develop as an effect of transfusions of blood. The incidence of alloimmunization in cancer patients presenting at Moi Teaching Hospital has not been assessed, and it is still unknown despite the fact that it is a major causes of transfusion adverse incidences among cancer patients. This study assessed prevalence of red blood cells alloimmunization, association between alloimmunization and transfusion frequency, and association between alloimmunization and age among cancer patients at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. It also assessed the association between alloimmunization and gender. Cross-sectional study design was used in investigation and focused on multi-transfused cancer patients treated at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Kenya. The study included 162-person sample size based on Fisher's exact test formulae and a consecutive sampling technique was applied. The gel-based antibody screening and identification was performed with "ID-Diacell I-IIIII®" panel cells. Frequency, mean, median, and dispersion of descriptive statistics were shown and the association between alloimmunization with relation to transfusions, age and gender were established by spearman’s analysis correlation. The threshold for statistical significance was set at P0.05. Moreover, 95% degree of significance was used for statistical testing. The outcomes were displayed using tables and charts. Participation was voluntary, confidentiality was upheld, and informed agreement was obtained in writing. In the present investigation, the findings highlighted the necessity of meticulously screening for alloantibodies in cancer patients, particularly in those who have received multiple transfusions, in order to significantly improve the safety of blood transfusions in these patients. This study established prevalence of 6.2% alloimmunization among cancer patients with a higher rate in female (8.8%) compared to male (3.7%) patients. Anti-E and anti-K alloantibodies were the most frequent alloantibodies. No correlation was found between frequency of transfusions and alloimmunization (P= 0.753). There was moderate correlation between alloimmunization and age (P= 0.159), Nonetheless, there was a significant positive correlation with gender (P= 0.01). This study proposes that in order to limit the volume of blood removed by alloantibodies following transfusion, cancer patients receiving blood should be tested for alloantibodies and given equal antigen-negative blood units.

Factors Influencing Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake Among HIV/AIDS Patients In Nandi County, Kenya

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Factors Influencing Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake Among HIV/AIDS Patients In Nandi County, Kenya Ngetich, Ruth AIDS and cervical cancer are both diseases that affect the tissues of the cervix.. Women with HIV/AIDS are at a higher risk of persistent Human Papilloma Virus infection, which ends up in a multiplied threat of growing premalignant lesion of the cervix. If cervical cancer is identified through screening early, it is treatable. Therefore, factors affecting the use of cervical cancer screening in HIV/AIDS sufferers in Nandi County being evaluated in this study. The study used a mixed-methods descriptive study design, with findings computed for quantitative variables. The target population were 670 HIV/AIDS patients. This was the estimated number of female HIV/AIDS positive patients that visited the Nandi County Referral Hospital's comprehensive treatment center from July to October 2020. A sample size of 190 based on Fisher et al formula, and a purposeful and systematic random sampling technique was used to recruit the participants. Utilizing both open-ended and closed-ended questionnaires, primary data was gathered. The data was entered and coded using Microsoft Excel 2016, and SPSS was utilized to examine it (version 25.0). Frequencies, percentages, and means were created with the aid of descriptive statistics. The association between socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and the adoption of cervical cancer screening was examined using the Chi-Square test of independence. Tables, bar graphs, and pie charts were utilized to display the findings. The average age of the respondents was 33.8 years. 77.3 percent of women had learned of cervical cancer, and 47.3 percent had learned about it from the media. the proportion of responders who were aware of early cervical screening initiatives and were associated with any screening procedures was 83.2% and 62%, respectively. 51.1% of participants said they had been screened, and 57.1% listed the Pap smear test as a screening tool. Since p0.05, the chi-square test's findings were significant. (2 (4, N=190) = 1.930, p=.003). In addition, 69.9% of respondents stated that they avoided screening because they were afraid they might already have cervix cancer. Further, awareness on cervical cancer screening was high with mass media being a leading platform; however, uptake of check-up was low. This indicates that awareness did not translate to screening uptake. Therefore, the study recommends increase of health sensitization on importance of screening.

Resistant Gene Profiling Of E. coli Isolates Among Pregnant Women With Urinary Tract Infections At Kisii Teaching And Referral Hospital Kenya

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Resistant Gene Profiling Of E. coli Isolates Among Pregnant Women With Urinary Tract Infections At Kisii Teaching And Referral Hospital Kenya Mobagi, Simba Sosmus The bacterium Escherichia coli is known to cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) and has been linked to human drug resistance. This study determined its prevalence among pregnant women seeking Medicare at Kisii Referral Hospital (KTRH), together with other bacteria that cause UTIs. It further profiled its drug susceptibility patterns, resistant genes and antibiofilm formation activity. The study was conducted between March and June of 2020, using cross sectional study design. The urine samples from 119 pregnant women were cultured on Cysteine Leucine Electrolyte Deficiency media (CLED) and sub-cultured on Mueller Hinton media. Gram staining was used to identify the isolated bacteria and Indole, Methyl-Red, Voges-Proskaur and Citrate assays were used for biochemical characterisation while Kirby Bauer disc technique was employed to determine drug susceptibility. The isolates were profiled for extended spectrum of beta lactamase genes (ESBL) using polymerase chain reaction methods and their biofilm formation activity. Data for antibiofilm was analyzed using a standard one-way ANOVA (Graph Pad Prism version 9.3) while that for drug resistance analyzed using one sample CHI square (SPSS version 25.0). Results were presented in bar graphs of ANOVA Dennett’s multiple comparison tests with significance level of 95% (P<0.05). Of the 119 urine samples, E. coli 28 (23.5%) was second in prevalence after S. aureus 40 (33.6%). All the E. coli isolates (28) showed resistance to Sulfamethoxazole 28(100%), Ceftriaxone 20 (71.42%), Amoxyclave 24 (85.75%) and were least resistant to Ofloxacin 6 (21.42%) and Gentamycin 4 (14.28%). The genotyped E. coli isolates contained 8 (42.1%) blaCTX-M, 6(31.6%), blaTEM and 5(26.31%) blaSHV ESBL genes. From the selected 12 high resistant isolates,8(66.7%) formed biofilms, a major cause of drug resistance. The study determined that E. coli as a key causative agent of UTIs, possesses ESBLs resistant genes and forms biofilms. It concludes that E. coli is the second most frequent causal agent of UTIs affecting pregnant women and the isolates have high antimicrobial resistance with major abilities to form biofilms even in the presence of common antibiotics that are currently in use. The study has provided a further understanding of biofilm detection in E. coli useful in the development of newer and more effective treatment.

Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care In Kisii Teaching And Referral Hospital, Kisii County, Kenya

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care In Kisii Teaching And Referral Hospital, Kisii County, Kenya Ratemo, Geoffrey Gekonde Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) constitutes the commonest human infections across the globe. However, the levels of infection among the vulnerable pregnant women and the risk factors including geophagy and the socio-demographic factors in South Western Kenya are not documented. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of STH in pregnancy, its association with geophagy, and the influence of sociodemographic factors. In a cross-sectional study, 384 pregnant women, recruited by systematic random sampling. In order to collect relevant data on social demographic factors and geophagous substances consumed, a closed ended questionnaire was used. Microscopic examination of fecal samples was achieved through saline method, and further confirmation of helminth species was done through formal-ether concentration technique. Data was analyzed using STATA version 15. Proportions were used to determine prevalence. ꭕ2 was used to determine associations between geophagy, socio-demographic factors and STH infections. To evaluate the association between socio-demographic factors and STH infections, simple logistic regression was used. Results indicated the prevalence of STH in pregnant women was 144 (37.5%) where single/ mono-infections included Ascaris lumbricoides 94 (24.5%), Hookworm 21 (5.5%), Strongyloides stercolaris 5 (1.3%), Trichuris trichiura 1 (0.3%) and Enterobius vermicularis 1 (0.3%). Additionally, mixed infections were observed; A. lumbricoides and Hookworm 16 (4.2%), A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura 2 (0.5%), T. trichiura and E. vermicularis 2 (0.5%), hookworm and S. stercolaris 1 (0.3%) and A. lumbricoides and E. vermicularis 1 (0.3%). A significant association between geophagy and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections was determined (ꭕ2=4.99, p=0.02). While consumption of ant hill soil and STH infections was significantly associated (ꭕ2=24.291, p<0.01), consumption of special clay (ꭕ2=3.411, p=0.06), purchased stones (ꭕ2=0.175, p=0.68), and mud from house walls (ꭕ2=0.2124, p=0.64) had no significant association with STH infections. Economic activity was significantly associated with STH infections (ꭕ2=63.485, p=0.01). Subsistence farming in particular was significantly associated with STH infections (ꭕ2=4.580, p=0.03). However, business (ꭕ2=0.001, p=0.97), formal employment (ꭕ2=1.01, p=0.31), and casual labor (ꭕ2=0.298, p=0.58) had no significant association with STH infections. The income levels and STH infections were significantly associated (ꭕ2=16.833, p< 0.01). Lower income levels and STH infections were significantly associated (ꭕ2=10.96, p<0.01). However, there was no significant association between age (ꭕ2=6.871, p=0.07), education (ꭕ2=2.708, p=0.43) and STH infections. In conclusion, STH infection prevalence in pregnant women in KTRH was 37.5%. Consumption of ant hill soil contributed to contraction of STH infections. Pregnant women who were engaged in subsistence farming were particularly prone to STH infections. Early diagnosis, provision of health education and economic empowerment is therefore recommended to control and prevent pregnant women from STH infections. The information could aid healthcare providers in eliminating STH infections among pregnant women.