I.N. IBEH

Tuberculosis continues to be a major public health problem globally. The aim of the study was to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis antibodies in apparently healthy individuals in Gabia and Chike communities of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. Out of the 228 respondents of the questionnaire served, 205 (89.9%) acknowledged that they heard about tuberculosis. Two hundred and twenty eight (228) samples of human serum were examined for Mycobacterium tuberculosis antibodies using a one step TB IgG/IgM flow chromatographic immunoassay. The prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in
the study areas was 19.7%. The prevalence in the inhabitants of Chinke was 10.5% while that of Gabia was 9.2%. The females in the study population had a prevalence of 12.3% while the males had 7.5%. The prevalence was more in individuals in the age brackets of 40 – 49 years (7.9%) and 50 – 59 years (3.5%), while individuals within the age brackets of 70 – 79 years in Chinke and 80 – 89 years in Gabia did not present with Mycobacterium tuberculosis antibodies. Considering active and inactive (Latent) infection, a total of 18 (7.9%) individuals had IgM antibodies, with males constituting 4.7% and females with 3.1%, indicative of recent infection while 27 (11.9%) had IgG antibodies showing previous infection. Considering active and inactive (Latent) infection, a total of 18 (7.9%) individuals had IgM antibodies, with males constituting 4.7% and females with 3.1%, indicative of recent infection while 27 (11.9%) had IgG antibodies showing previous infection. The sputum of IgM positive cases were further examined for acid fast bacilli and the result was statistically significant (p>0.02), showing 2.6% with 2+, 5.2% with a +. The high prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the study areas is worrisome as the positive individuals are not only at risk of having full blown tuberculosis in the future but are also sources of spreading the bacteria to the populace.

Microorganisms are living things ordinarily too small to be seen without magnification, in terms of numbers and range of distribution, microbes are the dominant organisms on earth. The hands are probably the most exposed organs of the human body, to environmental bacterial contamination. They are the central organs for the physical manipulation and control of the surrounding environment. Wash hand basins are common amenities provided in toilets and other facilities used primarily for washing of hands and other purposes. They can become contaminated thereby putting the general public at a risk of infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bacterial contamination of wash hand basins in University of Benin Community, Benin city, Edo state, Nigeria.A total of 100 samples were collected asceptically from wash hand basins in toilets and other public facilities in University of Benin using sterile swab sticks moistened in normal saline. Swab samples were collected specifically from the knob of the taps
and the surface area where hands are rested on and analyzed by culturing on chocolate and MacConkey media and biochemical tests were carried out on isolates.The result from the study shows the prevalence of bacterial contaminating wash hand basins was 58.6%. A total of eight (8) bacteria isolated, which are Klebsiella spp, Providencia spp, Pseudomonas spp, Streptococcus
faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter spp, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis. However, Staphylococcus aureus has the highest prevalence rate of 36.6% which was followed by Klebsiella spp. With 19.5%, Escherichia coli with 14.6%, Enterobacter spp. With 12.2%, Providencia spp. Pseudomonas spp. and Proteus mirabilis has 4.9% each, and lastly Streptococcus faecaliswith 2.4% respectively. In conclusion, this study determined the distribution of bacterial transfer rates between various site of sampling surfaces of wash hand basins commonly encountered during hand washing in the University environment. The results shows a relatively high prevalence that bacterial transfer rates among student hands and wash 11 hand basins surfaces are highly variable, and faucet spigots may be a significant source of cross- contamination. Therefore, daily cleaning and disinfection in conjunction with a regular hygiene service are recommended to reduce cross-infection risks in washrooms and toilets .