Self-medication with antibiotics for the treatment of menstrual symptoms in southwest Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Background: Self-medication with antibiotics is an important factor contributing to the development of bacterial antibiotic resistance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics for the treatment of menstrual symptoms among university women in Southwest Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to female undergraduate and graduate students (n = 706) at four universities in Southwest Nigeria in 2008. The universities were selected by convenience and the study samples within each university were randomly selected cluster samples. The survey was self-administered and included questions pertaining to menstrual symptoms, analgesic and antibiotic use patterns, and demographics. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: The response rate was 95.4%. Eighty-six percent (95% CI: 83-88%) of participants experienced menstrual symptoms, and 39% (95% CI: 36-43%) reported using analgesics to treat them. Overall, 24% (95% CI: 21-27%) of participants reported self-medicated use of antibiotics to treat the following menstrual symptoms: cramps, bloating, heavy bleeding, headaches, pimples/acne, moodiness, tender breasts, backache, joint and muscle pain. Factors associated with this usage were: lower levels of education (Odds Ratio (OR): 2.8, 95% CI: 1.1-7.1, p-value: 0.03); nonscience major (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.03-2.50, p-value: 0.04); usage of analgesics (OR: 3.17, 95% CI: 2.07-4.86, p-value: <0.001); and mild to extreme heavy bleeding (OR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.01-2.67, p-value: 0.05) and pimples/acne (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 0.98-2.54, p-value: 0.06). Ampicillin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and metronidazole were used to treat the most symptoms. Doctors or nurses (6%, 95% CI: 4-7%), friends (6%, 95% CI: 4-7%) and family members (7%, 95% CI: 5-8%) were most likely to recommend the use of antibiotics for menstrual symptoms, while these drugs were most often obtained from local chemists or pharmacists (10.2%, 95% CI: 8-12%). Conclusions: This is the first formal study to report that approximately 1 out of 4 university women surveyed in Southwest Nigeria self-medicate with antibiotics to treat menstrual symptoms. This practice could provide monthly, low-dose exposures to antibiotics among users. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the impacts of selfmedication on student health

Rifampicin + ceftriaxone versus vancomycin + ceftriaxone in the treatment of penicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant pneumococcal meningitis in an experimental rabbit model

PubMed ID: 16099624This study was planned to compare the efficacy of ceftriaxone + vancomycin with ceftriaxone + rifampicin in a rabbit model of penicillin and cephalosporin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis. Meningitis was induced by intracisternal inoculation of S. pneumoniae. After 18 h of incubation, Group 1 was given saline solution (control group), whilst Groups 2 and 3 were given ceftriaxone + vancomycin and ceftriaxone + rifampicin, respectively. Cerebrospinal fluid bacterial concentrations were measured at 0, 2, 12, 14 and 24 h after therapy was initiated. In the control group, bacterial growth was present at all time points, whereas no growth was observed in either the ceftriaxone + vancomycin group or the ceftriaxone + rifampicin group after 2 h of therapy. Ceftriaxone + rifampicin was found to be as effective as ceftriaxone + vancomycin in the treatment of penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae meningitis in experimental rabbit model. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved

Rifampicin plus ceftriaxone versus vancomycin plus ceftriaxone in the treatment of penicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant pneumococcal meningitis in an experimental rabbit model

WOS: 000232211600013PubMed ID: 16099624This study was planned to compare the efficacy of ceftriaxone + vancomycin with ceftriaxone + rifampicin in a rabbit model of penicillin and cephalosporin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis. Meningitis was induced by intracisternal inoculation of S. pneumoniae. After 18 h of incubation, Group I was given saline solution (control group), whilst Groups 2 and 3 were given ceftriaxone + vancomycin and ceftriaxone + rifampicin, respectively. Cerebrospinal fluid bacterial concentrations were, measured at 0, 2, 12, 14 and 24 h after therapy was initiated.. In the control group, bacterial growth was present at all time points, whereas no growth was observed in either the ceftriaxone + vancomycin group or the ceftriaxone + rifampicin group after 2 h of therapy. Ceftriaxone + rifampicin was found to be as effective as ceftriaxone + vancomycin in the treatment of penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae meningitis in experimental rabbit model. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved

High dose of intrathecal netilmicin in the treatment of nosocomial Acinetobacter baumannii meningitis

WOS: 000234100400012PubMed ID: 1632165

High dose of intrathecal netilmicin in the treatment of nosocomial Acinetobacter baumannii meningitis [2]

PubMed ID: 16321655[No abstract available

Kinetic analysis of 2D Mo2C crystal growth via CVD

We investigated the growth mechanism of 2D Mo2C crystals by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) under various time and temperature conditions. The growth kinetics and mechanism of Mo2C on Cu via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) were investigated using a modified Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov (JMAK) model. To analyze the surface coverage, we employed scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and applied the modified JMAK model to determine the growth rate and activation energy. The growth rate of Mo2C exhibited temperature-dependent behavior, described by the Arrhenius relationship, with an apparent activation energy of 4 eV. The Avrami plot exhibited an exponent of 3 indicating a complex process with nucleation and growth