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Background: Leprosy leads to nerve damage and slow-healing ulcers, which are treatable with routine therapy. There has been a recent resurgence of interest in the use of honey for the treatment of different kinds of wounds. Objective: The aim of this study, Honey Experiment on Leprosy Ulcer (HELP), is to evaluate the healing properties of raw, unadulterated African honey in comparison with normal saline dressing for the treatment leprosy ulcers. Methods: This is a multicenter, comparative, prospective, single-blinded, parallel-group, and 1:1 individually randomized controlled trial to be conducted at The Leprosy Referral Hospital, Chanchaga in Minna, Niger State, North Central Nigeria, and St. Benedict Tuberculosis and Leprosy Rehabilitation Hospital in Ogoja, Cross River State, South-South Nigeria. Raw, unadulterated honey will be used in the ulcer dressing of eligible, consenting participants in the intervention group, whereas those in the control group will be treated by dressing with normal saline. The main outcomes will be the proportion of complete healing and the rate of healing up to 84 days after randomization. Follow-up will be conducted 6 months after randomization. We aim to enroll 90-130 participants into the study. Blinded observers will examine photographs of ulcers to determine the outcomes. Results: The recruitment of trial participants began on March 14, 2022, and has been continuing for approximately 24 months. Conclusions: Our study will provide an unbiased estimate of the effect of honey on the healing of neuropathic ulcers.
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INTRODUCTION: Suya, a form of barbecued meat widely consumed in Nigeria is a rising source of concern for the dissemination of pathogens and antibiotic resistance. METHODS: this study was carried out to determine the antibiotic resistance profile of Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolated from Suya sold in Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A total of three hundred (300) Suya samples were collected and screened for the presence of E. coli. An antibiotic susceptibility study was carried out on the isolated bacteria to determine their resistance profiles. RESULTS: the overall isolation and occurrence of E. coli was 13.3%. The isolated organisms were most resistant to Ampicillin (100%) followed by Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid (95%), Ciprofloxacin (92.5%), Nitrofurantoin, Imipenem and Ceftriaxone (85%), Cefixime (80%), Streptomycin (77.5%), and Cotrimoxazole (77%), with a low level of resistance recorded against Gentamycin (5%). Most of the E. coli isolates had multiple resistance (MAR) to at least five antibiotics (MAR Index of = 0.5) and the most frequent MAR Index was 0.8 with 37.5% occurrence. The most frequently encountered resistance phenotype was Nitrofurantoin-Imipenem-Streptomycin-Ciprofloxacin-Ceftriaxone-Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid-Cefixime-Ampicillin. The E. coli isolates categorised based on drug resistance classes were Multi-Drug Resistance, MDR (97.5%), Pan Drug Resistance, PDR (2.5%), Non-Multi-Drug Resistance, NMDR (0.0%) and Extensive Drug Resistance, XDR (0.0%). CONCLUSION: these findings indicate a potential danger of multidrug resistant organisms in circulation. Antibiotics stewardship and drug resistance surveillance is strongly recommended for all stakeholders.