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Introduction: Nosocomial infections (NI) are common conditions among hospitalized patients. This study aimed to evaluate healthcare workers' knowledge and practices regarding infection prevention measures in intensive care units. Method: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted from April 13to June 10, 2022, among 45 healthcare workers in three university teaching hospitals of Abidjan. The parameters studied were: the theoretical and practical knowledge of healthcare workers regarding the prevention of nosocomial infections. Results: 45 healthcare workers participated. 74.7% knew the definition of a nosocomial infection and 43% identified the main risk factors for its occurrence. Sixty-five percent identified staff hands as the main mode of cross-transmission of germs between patients. Sixty-four percent of staff reported using non-sterile gloves during urinary catheter insertion. Compliance with hand hygiene before patient contact was low (31.8%) while gloves changes between patients were observed in 87.2% of cases. Deficiencies were noted in adherence to aseptic techniques before performing invasive procedures. Non-compliance was mainly attributed to shortages of supplies and personnel, and insufficient knowledge of preventive measures. Conclusion: healthcare workers’ knowledge and adherence to hygiene practices in intensive care units were insufficient.

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Introduction: Obstetric complications remain a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly when intensive care is required. This study aimed to analyse the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and prognostic aspects of these complications. Methods: We conducted a 12-month descriptive and analytical study (March 2024 to February 2025) in the general intensive care unit (ICU) of CHU Gabriel Touré. All women admitted for obstetric complications were included. Data were entered and analysed using SPSS® 22.0. Results: Of 674 ICU admissions, 244 involved obstetric complications (36.2%). Mean age was 25.7 ± 7.1 years. Most patients were housewives (80%) and primigravidae (34.4%); over three-quarters (76.2%) had no antenatal care. Clinical findings included tachycardia (45%), arterial hypertension (45%), hypotension (35%) and anaemia (65%). The main obstetric complications were eclampsia (43%), retroplacental haematoma (36%), haemorrhagic shock (33.6%) and acute kidney injury (22.9%). Management comprised initial stabilisation (100%), oxygen therapy (39.7%), ventilatory support (50%), and blood transfusion (36.5%), predominantly red cell concentrates (65.1%). Magnesium sulphate (29.5%) and antihypertensives (25%) were used; noradrenaline was the vasopressor of choice (98%). Mean length of stay was 2.8 ± 2.32 days. Mortality was 17.6%. Prognostic analysis showed significant associations between mortality and eclampsia (p=0.000; RR=4.65 [2.04–10.62]), acute kidney injury (p=0.000; RR=3.12 [1.83–5.65]) and haemorrhagic shock (p=0.000; RR=2.75 [1.58–4.79]). Conclusion: Obstetric complications are frequent and carry substantial mortality. Strengthening antenatal care and ensuring timely, protocol-driven management are essential to improve maternal outcomes.

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The higher education sector is undergoing a significant transformation as universities increasingly adopt online learning as a strategic tool for expanding access, promoting flexibility, and enhancing competitiveness. In Kenya, private universities within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area have embraced online programs to remain competitive in a rapidly digitalized academic landscape. However, the performance of online programs, remains inconsistent across institutions. This study examined the effect of focus strategy on the performance of online programs among private universities in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Kenya. The study adopted a positivist philosophical paradigm and a cross-sectional explanatory research design. Data were collected from 149 respondents drawn from 20 private universities using stratified random sampling. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed using SPSS version 29.0, with diagnostics conducted to confirm normality, multicollinearity, and homoscedasticity assumptions. The results indicated a statistically significant and positive relationship between focus strategy and performance of online programs (R=0.573; R²=0.328; F=71.819; p<0.05). The regression coefficient (B=0.527, t=8.475, p<0.05) showed that a unit increase in focus strategy leads to a 0.527-unit improvement in online program performance. These findings suggest that universities implementing targeted market segmentation, customized content delivery, and distinct marketing initiatives record superior outcomes in enrolment, completion, and ranking performance. The study concludes that focus strategy significantly enhances institutional competitiveness and sustainability by aligning educational offerings with the specific needs of niche markets. The study recommends that university management should institutionalize focus strategies through specialized program design, adaptive digital content, and niche marketing to attract and retain specific learner groups. Policy maker

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Background: Laryngomalacia is a congenital or, less commonly, acquired condition characterized by dynamic collapse of the supraglottic structures during inspiration. It is the leading cause of inspiratory stridor in infants, accounting for approximately 60%–75% of cases globally. The pathophysiology involves flaccid laryngeal tissues particularly the arytenoid cartilages, aryepiglottic folds, and epiglottis leading to airway obstruction when negative intrathoracic pressure increases during inhalation. The condition is generally classified as mild, moderate, or severe, based on symptom severity, impact on feeding and growth, and respiratory compromise. While the majority of mild cases resolve spontaneously by 18 to 24 months, more severe forms may result in significant complications including hypoxia, feeding difficulties, gastroesophageal reflux, failure to thrive, obstructive sleep apnea, and developmental delays. In such cases, conservative approaches like anti-reflux therapy and positional feeding may prove inadequate, necessitating surgical interventions such as supraglottoplasty or tracheostomy. In low-resource settings like Zanzibar, timely diagnosis and access to specialized surgical interventions are often limited. This increases the risk of progression from mild to life-threatening forms due to diagnostic delays, lack of equipment such as flexible laryngoscopes, and inadequate neonatal monitoring systems. Additionally, healthcare worker training in neonatal airway disorders is often insufficient in remote areas. This case report illustrates how prompt recognition, referral, and surgical management in such a setting led to a successful outcome, despite initial challenges.

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Honey-based craft beers were obtained in the towns of Katiola, Korhogo, and Ferkessédougou in northern Côte d'Ivoire. This study aims to evaluate the microbiological quality of a craft beer produced by spontaneous fermentation of honey. To this end, research and counts of microorganisms in raw honey and artisanal honey-based beers were carried out in the different study areas. Microbiological analyses revealed that raw honey contains microorganisms. The results reveal a predominance of fermentative yeasts (6.5±1.14 to 8.6±0.01 log CFU/mL) and lactic acid bacteria (4.5±0.5 to 5.1±0.17 log CFU/mL), confirming mixed fermentation and a total absence of anaerobic sulfite-reducing bacteria. Microorganism analysis showed that during beer production, heating the honey-water mixtures to 100°C for 15 minutes completely eliminated coliforms and enterococci in samples from all locations, and when the mixture was left to ferment for 24 hours without the addition of industrial yeast, natural yeasts developed rapidly (up to 6.9± 0.46 log CFU/mL in Nangakaha). These microorganisms are essential for the production of organic acids, giving the drink microbiological stability and acidity, indicating good production hygiene. This traditional beer could be of interest as a local probiotic product.

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Introduction: Eclampsia, a serious neurological complication of pre-eclampsia, is manifested by convulsions and/or impaired consciousness during pregnancy or postpartum. It is a major public health problem in Senegal and in sub-Saharan Africa. It is associated with a high maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality. Objective: Evaluate the management and prognosis of eclampsia in intensive care unit. Patients and Method: A descriptive and analytical retrospective study was conducted in an intensive care unit from January 1st, to December 31th, 2024. All patients admitted for eclampsia were included. The epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary data were collected via standardized survey sheets and analyzed with the Sphinx software. Results: Pre-eclampsia affects 16.58% of admissions, mainly among young primiparas. Prenatal monitoring is limited (11.1% without consultations) and seizures most often occur before childbirth (61.1%). Severe arterial hypertension (33.3%) and significant proteinuria (94.4%) are common. The treatment is based on magnesium sulfate (100%), antihypertensives (75%) and cesarean section (86.1%). Maternal complications (38.9%) include renal failure and HELLP syndrome while prematurity was the most common fetal complication (55.5%). The rate of maternal deaths is 8.3%, two thirds of which are due to acute kidney failure and the perinatal rate is 8.1%. Conclusion: Eclampsia remains an obstetric emergency of concern in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Senegal, strongly increasing maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality. To remedy this, it is essential to strengthen prenatal monitoring for early detection, improve the training of professionals with standardized protocols, raise awareness among communities about warning signs and optimize infrastructure for easier access to essential care. A multisectoral approach is needed to sustainably reduce this burden.

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Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic, and evolutionary aspects of severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI) admitted to the intensive care unit at Dalal Jamm National Hospital. Methodology: This is a retrospective, descriptive, and analytical study conducted over a period of 30 months (January 2022–June 2024) on patients with severe TBI, Glasgow ≤ 8, admitted to the intensive care unit at Dalal Jamm Hospital. Results: The incidence of severe TBI was 5.1% with a mean age of 21.98 years (range 18 months to 67 years). Males predominated with a sex ratio of 5. The 15-30 age group was the most affected. Road traffic accidents were the most common cause (63% of cases), followed by falls due to work-related or recreational accidents (26%). Medical transport was used for 17% of patients. The average time to admission to intensive care was 2.39 hours. A Glasgow Coma Scale score between 3 and 4 was noted in 10% of patients, 30% had a score between 5 and 6, and 60% between 7 and 8. Brain CT scans were performed in 90% of cases. Severe TBI was part of multiple trauma in 60% of cases. Edematous-hemorrhagic contusion was the most frequently found lesion (33%). The secondary systemic cerebral injuries (SSCI) noted were arterial hypotension (46.67%), acute anemia (40%), and arterial hypertension (23.33%). All patients were intubated, ventilated, and sedated. Surgical indications were established in 36.6% of patients, and surgery was performed in 17% of patients. The outcome was favorable in 36.67% of cases and unfavorable in 63.34% of cases. Complications included VAP (33%), pressure ulcers (30%), and urinary tract infections (23%). Overall mortality was 63.34%, with septic shock (52.6%) as the main cause. The average length of stay was 9.77 ± 12.02 days, ranging from 1 hour to 58 days. The factors for poor prognosis were a Glasgow score between 3 and 6 and a pupillary abnormality on admission. Conclusion: Severe TBI mainly affects young adult