African health sciences
-
African health sciences · Dec 2021
Occurrence of bacteraemia following oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
A prospective study of 130 patients attending the Government Dental and Maxillofacial Hospital (now Maxillofacial unit, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital), Port Harcourt, between August 2018 and September 2019. ⋯ This study shows the occurrence of bacteremia in Nigerians following various oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures and that the observed bacteremia was not dependent on the patient's age or gender. This study emphasizes the need for antibiotic prophylaxis in those patients who are at risk of developing complications from bacteremia. Amoxicillin as this study shows will not be an effective antibiotic prophylactic agent in a majority of patients. The author therefore recommends the use of azithromycin as an alternative prophylactic agent in those patients.
-
African health sciences · Dec 2021
What are the key leadership competencies required by medical school deans in Uganda? A qualitative cross-sectional study.
Effective leadership is vital for organizational growth and sustainability. Globally, medical schools are faced with leadership challenges due to the pace of globalization, technological advances, reduced funding and changed funding cycles, increasing student enrolment, demands of accreditation, academic collaboration, innovations and research. This makes identification and selection for the right leadership competencies a priority. ⋯ A dean of a medical school in Uganda should possess a combination of personality, medical expertise, health professions training and organizational management competencies and have training in leadership, financial and resources management.
-
African health sciences · Dec 2021
The evaluation of vancomycin-resistant enterococci and carbapenamase producing Klebsiella colonization among ICU-Hospitalized Patients.
Multi-drug resistant organisms, especially Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and Carbapenam Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC), are serious health threat. Early detection of resistant bacteria colonization among patients in intensive care units (ICUs) not only enables effective treatment but more importantly prevents disease and limits transmission. Therefore, we aimed to to assess the frequency of VRE and KPC colonization via rectal swab sampling. ⋯ This study shows that VRE and KPC colonization continues to be a serious threat in ICUs.
-
African health sciences · Dec 2021
Falls and potential therapeutic interventions among elderly and older adult patients with cancer: a systematic review.
The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review for previous publications that have assessed the incidence, risk factors, and favorable procedures to prevent and manage falls among cancer survivors of elderly and older adults. ⋯ This review concludes that the assessment of falls among older individuals with cancer is the most important way for determining who could need additional observation and treatment program. Health professions involving physical therapy and occupational therapy have an important function for promoting health well-being in elderly and older adults with cancer.
-
African health sciences · Dec 2021
An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by traditional healers for the treatment of cancer in Hammanskraal and Winterveld, Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa.
Knowledge of medicinal plants used by the traditional healers are mostly confined among the locals and the adherents, hence, proper enquiry and documentation can help the ever dynamic scientific world to find permanent cure to the menace of such deadly diseases such as cancer. This study aimed at (1) specifically recording medicinal plants traditionally used for the treatment of cancer in Hammanskraal and Winterveld, South Africa, and (2) documenting the different methods of preparation and administration of those medicinal plants as recorded during the study. ⋯ In addition to the documentation of indigenous knowledge related to the use of medicinal plants in the traditional management of cancer in South Africa, this study opens a vista for investigations into the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of the documented plants.