School of Biosecurity, Biotechnolgy and Laboratory Sciences (SBLS) Collection

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https://dissertations.mak.ac.ug/handle/20.500.12281/6445

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    Assessment of hardness of water samples from selected closed water system in Kitgum Municipality, Kitgum District, Northern Uganda
    ( 2024) Opira, Stephen
    This study conducted in Kitgum Municipality evaluated the water quality of closed water systems, revealing that 96.7% of samples were classified as very hard water. The mean concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and iron were 79.87 mg/L, 48.689 mg/L, and 0.525 mg/L respectively, with varying ranges. These findings were compared against USGS and WHO standards, highlighting consistent classification of very hard water and occasional iron levels exceeding WHO guidelines. Geological factors, including limestone and dolomite deposits, were proposed as contributors to high mineral content, while iron presence could have stemmed from local soil and Rock leaching or infrastructure corrosion. Implications of these findings span public health and infrastructure domains, with health risks linked to cardiovascular diseases, Kidney stone and other organ damages from prolonged hard water consumption, alongside dermatological issues from elevated iron and iron overload. Infrastructure faces challenges like scaling and system deterioration, escalating maintenance costs and impairing domestic and industrial appliances efficiency. Mitigating strategies such as ion exchange, reverse osmosis and Lime Soda softening were proposed, contingent on application scale, water quality targets, cost-efficiency, and energy use. Comprehensive monitoring and public education on health risks are recommended to ensure sustainable water quality management in Kitgum Municipality.
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    Prevalence and associated risk factors of helicobacter pyroli infections among the patients attending ROTOM Hospital, Muhanga in Rukiga District
    (Makerere University, 2025) Niwagaba, Andrew
    Helicobacter Pylori is a spiral gram-negative pathogenic bacterium causing inflammation of the stomach tissues leading to gastric ulcers. H. pylori are associated with cause of gastric cancer proven through a variety studies. Higher prevalence in developing countries and over 50% worldwide causes global public health problem throughout life. The study aimed at determining the prevalence and associated risk factors of H. pylori infections among patients attending ROTOM Hospital, Muhanga in Rukiga district. Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted for patients attending ROTOM Hospital Muhanga in Rukiga district from December 2024 to March 2025 and data obtained was analysed stata. Results: In a total of 379 participants included in the study, among them, 221 (58.3%) tested positive, and 158 (41.7%) tested negative for H pylori infections. Female participants (143) had many cases of H pylori infections indicating 59.7% almost the same with males presenting 59.1 % (78 cases) of H pylori infections. The highest prevalence was among (6079) age group having 79 cases (69.3%,), age group 20-39 with 41cases (56.2%), then 40-59 age group with 38 cases (46.9%) and lastly those with ≤ 19 years with 29 cases (43.3%). Conclusion: Prevalence was 58.3% which was high meaning a certain high percentage of population is afflicted with H. pylori infections, a serious public health concern that can lead to a variety of gastrointestinal problems. Therefore, healthcare workers could provide health education on the aforementioned risk factors, the government and other stakeholders could improve the source of drinking water in the area. The need for further studies to a better understanding of the epidemiology of H. pylori infection, which is helpful in diagnosis and prevention of diseases.
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    Antimicrobial resistance profile of pathogenic isolates among out-patients receiving health care services at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, Gulu – Uganda
    (Makerere University, 2024) Akena, Stephen
    Antibiotic resistance poses a profound threat to human health with associated increased mortality rates and the odds ratio of readmission for resistant infections is as high as 1.492 (49.2%). It has increasingly caused high mortality and morbidity especially in low and middle-income communities with limited access to proper diagnosis, antibiotic prescription and use inadequately regulated. In Uganda alone; there was 30,700 associated deaths with 7,100 directly caused by antimicrobial resistance. The study aimed at determining antimicrobial resistance profile of pathogenic isolates among out-patients receiving health care services at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, Gulu – Uganda. This was a cross-sectional study conducted between January 2024 to April, 2024 on 101 out-patients receiving health care services at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital employing non-probability convenience sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was used to collect the socio-demographic factors and risk factors. The samples were cultured and antibiotic test set for the isolates. Out of the 101 patients, females 55 (54.46%) had a higher level of antibiotic resistance. The most affected age group was 15 to 24 (40.59%) with the mean age of 33.62 (±19.13). Secondary level of education was the most predominant level at 52 (51.49%), higher antibiotic resistance was amongst peasant farmers at 40 (39.60%) than other occupation. Higher antibiotic resistance was amongst family size of 5-7 (51.49%). Purchasing the drugs over the counter and self-medication were the most likely direct associated risk factors to antibiotic resistance. S. aureus was the most predominant bacteria at 24 (23.76%), followed by E. coli at 23 (23.77%), Coagulase negative staphylococcus 18 (17.82%), with the least being S. agalactiae at 2 (1.98%). The others were P. mirabilis at 9 (8.91), followed by K. peumoniae at 6 (5.94%). Acinetobacter spps, E. faecalis, P. vulguris and S. pyogenes were all at 4 (3.96%) respectively, P. aeruginosa (2.97%). The highest antibiotic resistance was recorded in Streptomycin (S) at 100% followed by Nalidixic acid (NA) at 95.24%, Ampicillin (AMP) at 94.87%, Cefuroxime (CXM) at 83.72%. There was complete susceptibility to Amikacin and Imipenem. S. aureus and E. coli continues to be the most widely spread organisms with the purchasing of drugs over the counter and self-medication being the most associated risk factors.
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    Structural analysis of the interaction of embB protein mutations of mycobacterium tuberculosis with ethambutol and their effect on the interaction
    ( 2024) Arinda, Dean
    Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains a global health challenge exacerbated by the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Ethambutol is a critical first-line anti-TB drug targeting the embB protein, an enzyme essential for mycobacterial cell wall biosynthesis. Mutations in the embB gene are associated with resistance to ethambutol, reducing treatment efficacy and complicating disease management. This study aimed at investigating the interaction between the wild-type and specific mutant embB proteins and ethambutol and to investigate the effects of these specific embB mutations on this interaction. Computational docking and structural interaction analysis of the wild-type embB protein with Protein Data Bank (PDB) ID: 7BVF and its common mutants (M306V, M306L, E378A) with ethambutol was performed using PyRx software and LigPlot respectively. Binding affinities were calculated and the interaction sites were identified and analysed using molecular docking techniques and 2D ligand interaction diagrams respectively. The wild-type embB protein demonstrated a binding affinity of -4.8 kcal/mol with ethambutol, involving key residues such as Leu561, Thr564, Tyr502 and Asp498, forming a network of hydrogen bonds ranging from 2.87 Å to 3.26 Å. In contrast, embB mutants exhibited reduced binding affinities: -3.8 kcal/mol for M306V, -3.9 kcal/mol for M306L, and -4.7 kcal/mol for E378A. These mutations disrupted the hydrogen bond network, involving fewer residues and exhibiting weaker interactions with ethambutol. The findings highlight the critical role of specific residues in the embB protein for maintaining high-affinity interactions with ethambutol. Mutations in these residues significantly reduce drug binding, contributing to resistance. This study underscores the importance of targeting these mutations for the development of novel therapeutic agents and suggests the need for enhanced diagnostic tools to detect embB mutations in clinical isolates for effective TB management. Keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, embB protein, ethambutol, drug resistance, protein-ligand interactions, structural analysis.
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    Antimicrobial susceptibility and risk factors associated with bacterial post-operative surgical site infections in obstetrics and gynaecology patients at Naggalama Hospital, Uganda
    (Makerere University, 2024) Acen, Beatrice Gloria.
    Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the nosocomial infections that threatens health systems. The aim of this research was to determine antimicrobial susceptibility, biosafety considerations and risk factors associated with bacterial post-operative SSI in obstetrics and gynaecology patients. Despite the efforts put in place to minimize incidence of surgical site infections through sterilization of equipment, disinfection of theater surfaces, aseptic surgical techniques, antimicrobial prophylaxis; post-operative surgical site infections still and is continuing to cause burden in health care units evidenced by increased cases of mortality, costs of treatment and length of hospital stays. These may be due to several risk factors associated with post-operative surgical site infection and on the other hand, the existence of additional measures such as the availability of personal protective equipment and training among healthcare staff are factors that can contribute for reducing risk factors of contamination and spread of pathogens. Some of isolated bacteria are resistant to antibiotics including multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains which can be a burden globally. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Naggalama hospital over a four-month period. The study involved mothers that were admitted and underwent obstetric and/or gynecological operation at Naggalama hospital. Results: One hundred twenty-four (124) women were enrolled in the study, majority in age group of 17-25 years. 98.4% of patients underwent obstetrics procedures with only 1.6% gynecological procedures. 96.8% were caesarean section and 96.1% of patients had emergency procedures. Mean estimated blood loss during operation was 335.7±130.2 ml. Prevalence of SSI was 20.97% and risk factors associated with surgical site infection were; level of education, P value = 0.017 (AOR 0.064, 95%CI 0.007-0.61), availability of medicines from the hospital pharmacy, P value = 0.017 (AOR 9.851, 95% CI 1.5-64.69). Referral patients, P value = 0.011 (AOR 0.115, 95% CI 0.022-0.61). Increase in the amount of blood loss during operation, p value = 0.011 (AOR 1.009, 95% CI 1.002-1.016). Increase in the number of baths per day, p value = 0.024 (AOR 0.152, 95% CI 0.029-0.783). The commonest isolated bacteria were S. aureus (33.3%) followed by K. pneumonia (20%) and E. coli (16.7%). Resistance to, Oxacillin and Tetracycline among Enterobacteriaceae. E. coli showed 80% resistance Ceftazidime-clavulanic as most K. Pneumoniae were susceptible (80%). Except Ciprofloxacin for E. coli, K. pneumoniae and E. coli were susceptible to Imipenem, Ciprofloxacin, Chloramphenicol and Gentamycin. S. aureus showed susceptibility to Imipenem, Vancomycin, Ceftazidime-Clavulanic acid, Tetracycline and Chloramphenicol. Most bacteria were multi drug resistant. Ampicillin was completely ineffective against all bacteria isolated. Antibacterial options for SSI are; Gentamycin, Ciprofloxacin, imipenem, chloramphenicol, Ceftazidime-clavulanic acid, Vancomycin, Chloramphenicol and Tetracycline. In addition, the biosafety considerations are required to protect the healthcare workers and the patients from exposure to infectious agents. Biosafety procedures such as putting on personal protective equipment, disinfection of surgical materials, ensuring aseptic surgical procedure were observed by medical practitioners and use to standard operating procedures. In some wards, patients with septic cases were isolated in the “septic room” to separate them from those without sepsis but in other wards it wasn’t observed. Recommendations: Due to high burden of SSI, it greatly threatens maternal child health, this calls for improvement of appropriate infection prevention and control measures and need for regular training on biosafety procedures. More studies are required to explore the level of bacterial contamination of theater and ward fomites as well as level of bacterial contamination of air in the operating theaters. At laboratory level, the government and hospital administration should enforce and regularly monitor the storage and/or disposal of bio materials such as bacterial cultures since some contains potentially drug resistant bacterial strain that can pose serious biological threat to the environment and the population. Further studies are also required to explore into the biosafety and biosecurity status in clinical settings. Patients should be offered appropriate advice on how to maintain personal hygiene and they should be made aware of the relevance of adhering to recommended medications with emphasis on timeliness of antibiotic therapy post-operation and completion of dose.