Molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of Clostridioides difficile detected in chicken, soil and human samples from Zimbabwe

Background: Clostridioides difficile is the major cause of infectious nosocomial diarrhoea in industrialized nations. Data on the occurrence of C. difficile in Africa, ribotype (RT) distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and potential zoonotic transmission are scarce. Methods: 80 Zimbabwean C. difficile isolates from different sources (chicken [n = 30], soil [n = 21] and humans [n = 29]) were investigated using ribotyping, toxin gene detection, resistance testing, multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), and whole genome sequencing (WGS). Results: Among chicken isolates, the most common RTs were RT103 (6/30), RT025 (5/30) and RT070 (4/30). Within soil samples, RT025 and RT056 were most common (3/21 each). In contrast, the non-toxigenic RT084 was most frequently found in human isolates (4/29). Toxin genes were detected in only 19/29 human isolates. Susceptibility testing showed no resistance against metronidazole and vancomycin, and resistance against macrolides and rifampicin was scarce (3/80 and 2/80, respectively); however, 26/80 isolates showed moxifloxacin resistance. MLVA and WGS of strains with identical RTs stemming from different sources revealed clustering of RT025 and RT084 isolates from human und non-human samples. Conclusion: No "hypervirulent” strains were found. The detected clusters between human, chicken and soil isolates indicate ongoing transmission between humans and environmental sources and might point towards a zoonotic potential

Potential use of traditional fermented foods for weaning in Zimbabwe

The current interest in the use of traditional fermented and malted foods for weaning is their potential to reduce the transmission of bacterial enteric pathogens through contaminated weaning foods as well as improving the nutritional value of the foods. This study was carried out to investigate the potential use of traditional fermented and malted foods for weaning in rural areas. Information was obtained by interviewing randomly selected 150 rural women with children under five years old. Ninety seven percent of the women had knowledge of some traditional fermented foods. The commonest fermented foods known by the women were mahewu (traditional fermented and malted sour, non-alcoholic cereal gruel), sour milk and sour porridge. Most of the women indicated that mahewu (94%), sour milk (87%) and sour porridge (71%) were consumed by all family members. The majority of the women gave the fermented foods to infants from the age of four months. Although most of the infants were introduced to the fermented and malted foods from the age of four months, the foods were not given to infants very often, with the exception of mahewu. The storage period of the fermented foods ranged from one to three days. The results of this study show that mahewu, sour milk and sour porridge have a potential for use as weaning foods if they are promoted.fermented foods weaning diarrhoea nutrition Zimbabwe

Prevalence of bacterial contamination in blood and blood products at the National Blood Service Zimbabwe

Introduction: Advances in screening for infections improve the safety of donated blood. Transfusion-related bacterial sepsis, although not established in Zimbabwe, stills makes bacterial contamination of blood clinically relevant. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Harare. Bacteriological and antibiotic susceptibility testing were done using standard methods. Results: Of the 196 samples analyzed, 6 (3.1%) were contaminated with bacteria. Platelets had a significantly high contamination rate compared to other blood products. Bacteria showed varying patterns of susceptibility to the antibiotics tested. Conclusions: The prevalence of bacterial contamination in blood products suggests that patients who receive blood products are at risk of developing infection.</jats:p