Assessment of antibacterial potentials of violacein extract from Chromobacterium violaceum isolated from domestic and recreational water sources in Owerri, Nigeria

This study was carried out with the aim of assessing the antibacterial potentials of violacein extracted from Chromobacterium violaceum isolated from domestic and recreational water sources in Owerri, Nigeria. Water samples were collected from different locations of the domestic water sources, five different swimming pools, and three borehole stations using sterile amber bottles. The isolation of C. violaceum was done using pour plate method on nutrient agar. The violet colonies of C. violaceum were counted, characterized and identified using standard microbiological and biochemical techniques. The mean viable bacterial counts were high. Water sample from Otamiri station-1 have the highest bacterial count (200 × 101 CFU/ml and 19.50 × 101 CFU/ml) respectively. Swimming pool 1 and 3 bacterial counts were (4.50 × 101 CFU/ml, 11 × 101 CFU/ml and 11.50 × 101 CFU/ml) respectively. For borehole 1, 2 and 3, swimming pool 2, 4 and 5, counts were (0.00 × 101 CFU/ml). Ethanolic extraction of violacein from C. violaceum was performed from a 48-hour culture broth. The sensitivity of the bacteria isolates to violacein was assayed on nutrient agar and nutrient broth by agar diffusion and broth dilution methods respectively. All the bacterial isolates were susceptible to the violacein extract at various concentrations, except MRSA that showed resistance to the violacein at 2.19mg/ml for extract from recreational water isolate and at 17.5mg/ml to 2.19mg/ml for extract from domestic water isolates. Conclusively, violacein has the potential to be used as an antibacterial compound for treatment of multidrug resistant bacterial infections.

Assessment of the level of adherence of health care workers to workplace safety measures provided at the Enugu state university teaching hospital Enugu, Nigeria

Aim: To assess the level of adherence of healthcare workers to workplace safety measures provided at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu Nigeria. Method: A total of 350 health care workers of the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTTH) were used for the cross-sectional study which took place between February and August 2019. Basic information like age, sex and duration of work in the hospital were taken. Finally their levels of adherence to the safety measures provided in the hospital were assessed. Results: The greatest number of respondents fell within the age group 26-35years (40.9%) and the gender distribution showed that 54.6% were female workers. The greatest proportion of the respondents indicated that they have worked in the hospital between 1 -5years (31.1%). Lastly assessment of adherence indicated 67.2% comply with the instructions on hand-washing.70.3% use gloves when making physical contact with patients. 50.6% claimed that they have an occupational/environmental health policy in their departments. 80.9% use bleach/disinfectants to clean up spillages and other hazardous substances. 52% have knowledge of segregation of healthcare waste. 60.3% engage in routine screening for blood-borne diseases e.g. HIV, Hepatitis B and C. while 57.3% said that they undergo routine medical checkup annually. Conclusion: Most of the respondents were young adults 26-35years who had worked in the hospital between 1- 5years due to the fact that the teaching hospital had not been in existence for too long. Majority of the respondents (>50% in each case) have a good adherence to the safety measures i.e. hand-washing, use of disinfectants, segregation of hospital waste, and routine screening and regular medical checkups. This situation has been responsible for the maintenance of a very low rate of hospital transmitted (Nosocomial) infections in ESUT Teaching Hospital Enugu.