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Slaughtering methods and practices in Sub-Saharan African countries tend to contribute to the bacterial quality of meat and could be a source of bacterial contamination of meat due to noncompliance with the National Environmental Health Practice Regulations. This study aimed to assess the microbial quality of beef and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles ofisolates from Nsukka and Owerri abattoirs. A completely randomized and a cross-sectional design were adopted. A total of 240 samples from two slaughterhouses (120 meat samples from each slaughterhouse) were collected during 15 visits. The mean aerobic plate and coliform counts of Nsukka meat and Owerri meat abattoirs from the table were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of Nsukka and Owerri abattoirs from the floor, respectively. Verotoxigenic E. coli and Salmonella spp were isolated from the meat on the floor of both abattoirs. The E. coli and Salmonella isolated from both slaughterhouses (Nsukka and Owerri) were resistant to neomycin (57.15%, 40.00% and 53.06%, 14.29%), gentamicin (14.29%, 20.00% and 6.12%, 0%), amoxycillin (100%, 100% and 100%, 66.6%), tetracycline (42.86%, 40.00% and 83.67%, 66.60%), doxycycline (14.29%, 0% and 61.22%, 0%), nitrofuratoin (42.86%, 40.00% and 22.45%, 42.86%), streptomycin (100%, 100% and 83.67%, 71.43%), amoxicillin-clauvulamic acid (100%, 0% and 93.88%, 7%), ciprofloxacin (28.58%, 20.00% and 38.32%, 28.58%) sulphamethazole/trimethoprin (28.57%, 20% and 46.94%, 14.29%). High microbial loads and pathogenic microorganisms have been found in both abattoirs, indicating unsanitary practices. On the other hand, the slaughtering and processing of animals should be improved, regulated, and enforced by the appropriate authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In least developing countries, there are few data on children's critical care. This makes the provision of aid and improvement of outcome difficult. Objectives: To describe admission and outcome patterns of children managed in a general intensive care unit at Jimma University Specialized Hospital (JUSH), Ethiopia, over a 5-year period. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study design was used. All children from birth to 14 years of age who were admitted to the general ICU of the hospital from 2009-2013 were included. Patient charts and ICU documentation log were reviewed. Results: A total of 170 children were admitted to the ICU of JUSH over the study period. The greater share was taken by males (54.7%), with a male-to-female ratio of 1.2:1. The overall mortality rate was 40%. The majority of the children were in the age range of 10-14 years (38.8%). Of the total number of patients admitted, 34.7% were trauma cases, 45.8% of whom died. The highest percentage, 69.5%, of trauma patients were admitted for head injuries. Among the trauma cases, burn and polytrauma were the second and third leading causes (15.3%) of admission. Postoperative patients and medical patients accounted for the rest of the admitted cases (28.2% and 27.6% of the cases respectively). Conclusion: The leading cause of admission and death was trauma. Postoperative and medical causes of admission were also significant. The mortality rate in the ICU was very high, and this could be due to various factors. Further research benchmarking and interventions are highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]