Browsing by Author "Rufai, T."
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Item Effect of Asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum Parasitaemia on Platelets Thrombogenicity in Blood Donors(Indian Journal of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, 2021) Aninagyei, E.; Adu, P.; Rufai, T.; Ampomah, P.; Kwakye-Nuako, G.; Egyir-Yawson, A.; Acheampong, D.O.Currently, blood donors in Ghana are not screened for malaria parasites. Therefore, this study assessed platelet thrombogenicity in blood donors infected asymptomatically with Plasmodium falciparum and the relationship between tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFa), 8-iso-prostaglandin F2a oxidative stress biomarker (8- iso-PG2a), C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and D-dimer, and platelet thrombogenes levels. Haematology analyser was used to enumerate platelet count and platelet indices in 80 P. falciparum infected blood donors and 160 matched noninfected controls. Replicate serum levels of von Willebrand Factor (vWF), platelet factor 4 (PF4), P-selectin thrombogenic factors as well as TNF-a and 8-iso-PG2a were determined using enzyme immuno-assay while high sensitive hs-CRP and D-dimer concentrations were determined by fluorescent immunoassay. The geometric mean of parasite density in malaria infected donors was 1784 parasites/ lL (505-2478 parasites/lL). This led to significant increase in the mean levels of 8-iso-PG2a, hs-CRP, TNF-a and D-dimer. However, PF4, P-selectin were significantly lower in infected donors while vWF levels did not differ significantly among the groups even though lower levels were observed in the infected donors. Significant direct relationship existed between both P-selectin and PF4 and platelet count, and plateletcrit and platelet large cell ratio whereas these thrombogenic factors varied inversely to 8-iso-PG2a, TNF-a and hs-CRP. Relative thrombocytopaenia was associated with significant reduction in P-selectin and platelet factor 4 levels together with increased 8-iso-PG2a, hs-CRP, TNF-a and D-dimer levels. Taken together, it is recommended that all P. falciparum infected blood donors should be deferred.Item Malaria and typhoid fever among patients presenting with febrile illnesses in Ga West Municipality, Ghana(PLOS, 2023) Ayin, C. T. M.; Nortey, P.; Rufai, T.; et alBackground Clinicians in areas where malaria and typhoid fever are co-endemic often treat infected patients irrationally, which may lead to the emergence of drug resistance and extra cost to patients. This study determined the proportion of febrile conditions attributable to either malaria and/or typhoid fever and the susceptibility patterns of Salmonella spp. isolates to commonly used antimicrobial agents in Ghana. Methods One hundred and fifty-seven (157) febrile patients attending the Ga West Municipal Hospital, Ghana, from February to May 2017 were sampled. Blood samples were collected for cultivation of pathogenic bacteria and the susceptibility of the Salmonella isolates to antimicrobial agents was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method with antibiotic discs on Mu¨ller Hinton agar plates. For each sample, conventional Widal test for the detection of Salmonella spp was done as well as blood film preparation for detection of Plasmodium spp. Data on the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the study participants were collected using an android technology software kobo-collect by interview. Results Of the total number of patients aged 2–37 years (median age = 6 years, IQR 3–11), 82 (52.2%) were females. The proportion of febrile patients with falciparum malaria was 57/157 (36.3%), while Salmonella typhi O and H antigens were detected in 23/157 (14.6%) of the samples. The detection rate of Salmonella spp in febrile patients was 10/157 (6.4%). Malaria and typhoid fever coinfection using Widal test and blood culture was 9 (5.7%) and 3 (1.9%), respectively. The isolates were highly susceptible to cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, and amikacin but resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, co-trimoxazole, gentamicin, cefuroxime, chloramphenicol, and meropenem. Conclusion Plasmodium falciparum and Salmonella spp coinfections were only up to 1.9%, while malaria and typhoid fever, individually, were responsible for 36.3% and 6.4%, respectively. Treatment of febrile conditions must be based on laboratory findings in order not to expose patients to unnecessary side effects of antibiotics and reduce the emergence and spread of drug resistance against antibiotics.Item Malaria And Typhoid Fever Co-Infection: A Study Among Patients Presenting With Febrile Illnesses In The Ga West Municipal Hospital, Amasaman(University of Ghana, 2017-07) Rufai, T.Introduction: Malaria and typhoid fever cause major health problems especially in low and middle income countries. People in endemic areas are at risk of developing both infections concomitantly. These study was conducted to provide an epidemiological data on co-infection of malaria and typhoid fever in Ga West Municipality Hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving one hundred and fifty seven (157) febrile patients attending Ga West Municipal Hospital, Amasaman from February to May, 2017. Blood samples were collected for blood culture, Widal test, and blood film preparation for microscopy. Data were analyzed using Stata version 13 statistical software. Results: The study population involved 157 febrile patients aged between 2years to 37years who reported to the hospital with fever (temperature 37.6 0C to 42 0C). A total of 82 (52.2%) of the study participants were females. The median age of all the patients was 6years (IQR=3-11/years). Out of the 157 febrile patients, 57/157(36.31%) had malaria, 23/157 (14.64%) had typhoid fever using Widal test and 10/157 (6.37) by blood culture. Comparing patients with only malaria, the geometric mean parasite density was 174485 (45782-665000) for those with co-infection (p-value=0.009). Malaria for male 31/57(54.4%) and typhoid 6/10(60%). With age ≤10; malaria 42/57 (73.7%) and typhoid 8/10 (80%). The co-infection of malaria and typhoid fever using Widal test and blood culture was 5.73% and 1.91% respectively. The isolates exhibited high resistance ranging from 60% - 100% against ampicillin, tetracycline, co-trimozazole, gentamicin, cefuroxime, chloramphenicol, and meropenem. The sensitivity also ranged from 66.7% - 100% against cefotaxime, ceftrizone, ciprofloxacin and amikacin. No isolate of Salmonella typhi were susceptible to gentamicin, cefuroxime and co-trimoxazole. Other species of Salmonella were also not susceptible to tetracycline, ampicillin, co-trimoxazole and cefuroxime. All of the Salmonella isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and amikacin. Conclusion: These result of malaria and typhoid fever co-infection for blood culture and Widal test is 1.9% and 5.73%. All of the Salmonella isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and amikacin.