Global Journal of Medicine Researches and Studies, 2(1) 2015, Pages: 7-11 Academic Journals Global Journal of Medicine Researches and Studies www.academicjournalscenter.org ISSN 2345-6094 Microbial Status of Prison Inmates in Abakaliki Prison, Ebonyi State Southeastern Nigeria Alo, Moses Nnaemeka 1 , Ugah, Uchenna Iyioku 2 , Saidu, Abdullahi Yaro 3 , Alhassan Hussain Mohammed 4 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. 2. Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. 3. Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Federal University of Dutse Jigawa State, Nigeria 4. Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria * Corresponding Author: E-mail: Ugahuchennaiyioku@gmail.com ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: Prison Parasites Bacteria Environment Prisoners in developing countries live in extremely poor conditions. They carry a much greater burden of illness than other members of the society. They harbor diseases that are determined both by the environment from which they come and by the prison in which they live. This study aimed at determining the epidemiology of intestinal, haemoparasites and urinary infection among the inmates of Abakaliki prison. Venous blood, stool and clean-catch midstream urine specimens were collected from each informed and consenting prison inmate and analyzed following standard laboratory methods. A total of three hundred and fifty (350) prison inmates were enrolled in this study. Among this, 267 (76.29%) were positive for intestinal parasites, 193 (55.14%) were positive for urinary bacteria while 324 (92.57%) were positive for malaria parasites. The pathogens were observed to be higher among prison inmates who had been incarcerated for a longer duration than among those with shorter duration of incarceration. This study advocates immediate renovation and decongestion of prisons, as well as continuous education of prison inmates and prison officers, adequate nutrition and proper cooking of food served to inmates. Provision of potable water, improved toilets, beddings, clothing and social welfare facilities. © 2014 Global Journal of Medicine Researches and Studies. All rights reserved for Academic Journals Center. INTRODUCTION Urinary tract infection is said to exist when significant number of microorganisms usually greater than 10 5 cells/ml of urine are detected in properly collected clean-catch midstream urine [1], [2]. The gold standard for diagnosis is the detection and identification of the causative pathogen in the urine [3]. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infections to plague man worldwide. The common etiologic agents of UTI include Enterobacteriaceae like E.coli and Klebsiella spp as well as Gram – positive organisms like Staphylococci and Enterococci as well as Candida albicans in patients with underlying physiological debilitation [4], [5],[6]. Prisoners carry a much greater burden of illness than other members of the society. They harbor diseases that are determined both by the environment from which they come and by the prison in which they live. Prisoners in developing countries live in extremely poor conditions. There are inadequate facilities, malnutrition, and lack of potable water, dirty environment and very poor personal and environmental hygiene. There are also problems of drug abuse, alcoholism, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, skin and helminthes infections etc. Infections by parasites and urinary tract pathogens as well as blood-borne pathogens are greater among populations who are heavily exposed in low income countries [8], [9].