Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of community and hospital acquired infections. One of the important sources of staphylococci for nosocomial infection is nasal carriage among hospital personnel. Emergence of drug resistant strains especially methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a serious problem in hospital environments. The aim of this study was to determine the nasal carriage rate of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Dessie Referral Hospital healthcare-workers in Ethiopia.

The emergence of pre-extensively and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (Pre-XDR/XDR-TB) is the major hurdle for TB prevention and care programs especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. The less emphasis on universal access to laboratory techniques for the rapid diagnosis of TB and drug susceptibility testing (DST) makes the management of MDR-TB a challenge. Early detection of second line anti-TB drugs resistance is essential to reduce transmission of Pre-XDR/XDR-TB strains and adjusting the treatment regimen in MDR-TB. To determine the prevalence and resistance pattern of Pre-XDR- and XDR-TB among MDR-TB patients in the Amhara region, Ethiopia. A cross sectional study was carried out in nine MDR-TB treatment centers in the Amhara region. Sputum samples were collected from all pulmonary rifampicin resistant (RR) or MDR-TB patients prior to anti-TB treatment. Lӧwenstein-Jensen (LJ) culture, Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) smear, MTBDRplus and MTBDRsl assays were performed according to the standard procedures. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20 software. Chi-square and/or Fishers exact test was employed. Overall, 6.3% of MDR-TB isolates were resistant to at least one second line drugs. Pre-XDR-TB and XDR-TB isolates accounted 5.7% and 0.6% respectively. Moreover, 3.4% were resistant to FQs and 3.4% were resistant to second line injectable drugs. All isolates were susceptible for low level kanamycin. Almost all pre-XDR-TB strains (90%) were previously treated with anti-TB drugs. Drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were disproportionately distributed in districts of the Amhara region and the majorities were concentrated in urban areas. The high proportion of MDR-TB patients resistant to at least one second line drug is alarming. Strengthening the laboratory facilities to monitor pre-XDR and XDR-TB patients is crucial. The TB programs need to give emphasis on the effective and rational use of second line drugs for newly diagnosed MDR-TB patients to prevent the emergence of pre-XDR/XDR-TB strains.

Sputum smear and culture conversions are an important indicator of treatment efficacy and help to determine treatment duration in multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients. There are no published studies of sputum smear and culture conversion of MDR-TB patients in Ethiopia. The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare time to initial sputum smear and culture conversion and to identify factors influencing time to culture conversion. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among all culture positive and rifampicin mono resistant (RR) or MDR-TB patients from September 2011 to August 2016 at University of Gondar Hospital. Sputum cultures were collected monthly and conversion was defined as two consecutive negative cultures taken at least 30 days apart. Data were entered using EpiData and exported to SPSS software for analysis. Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine the predictor variables for culture conversion. Overall, 85.5% (201/235) of the patients converted their cultures in a median of 72 days (inter-quartile range: 44–123). More than half (61.7%) of patients achieved culture conversion within three months. The median time for sputum smear conversion was 54 days (inter-quartile range: 31–72). The median time to culture conversion among HIV positive patients was significantly shorter at 67 days (95% CI, 55.4–78.6) compared to HIV negative patients, 77 days (95% CI, 63.9–90, p = 0.005). Independent predictors of significantly longer time to sputum culture conversion were underweight (aHR = 0.71, 95% CI, 0.52–0.97), HIV negative (aHR = 0.66, 95% CI, 0.47–0.94) and treatment regimen composition (aHR = 0.57, 95% CI, 0.37–0.88). Significantly higher rate of culture conversion was observed in 2015 (aHR = 1.86, 95% CI, 1.1–3.14) and in 2016 (aHR = 3.7, 95% CI, 1.88–7.35) years of treatment compared to 2011. Majority of patients achieved sputum culture conversion within three months and smear conversion within two months. Patients with identified risk factors were associated with delayed culture conversion. These factors should be considered during management of MDR-TB patients.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen in skin and soft tissue infections. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is prevalent in most of the countries in which it is sought. MRSA is one of the important pathogens implicated in hospital-acquired infections. The main objectives of this study were to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of S. aureus isolates, the prevalence of MRSA, and the nasal carriage rate in healthy hospital staff members. A total of 118 health care workers (HCWs) were enrolled using a cross-sectional study design. Nasal swabs were collected and cultured on mannitol salt agar (MSA). The slide coagulase test was performed. Susceptibility testing was carried out on Mueller-Hinton agar using the modified Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method with 10 antibiotics. Of the 118 HCWs, 34 had S. aureus and 15 had MRSA, with overall positivity rates of 28.8% and 12.7%, respectively. None of the S. aureus isolates were sensitive to penicillin. MRSA isolates were resistant to commonly available antibiotics. Only two (13.3%) of the nasal isolates were vancomycin-resistant. A high rate of nasal carriage and multidrug-resistant S. aureus was found in this study, indicating the need for standard infection control to prevent transmission in our health care setting.

Background. Hematological abnormalities are common in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients, which is one of the major public health problems worldwide. However, there is paucity of information about the hematological profile of PTB patients with and without HIV in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess hematological abnormalities of pulmonary tuberculosis patients with and without HIV at the University of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Gondar Hospital. Sociodemographic data was collected using a pretested, structured questionnaire. Five milliliters of venous blood sample was collected and divided into a 3 ml EDTA tube for complete blood count with the Cell Dyn 1800 hematological analyzer and a 2 ml citrated tube for erythrocyte sedimentation rate determination. Data were entered into Epi Info version 3.5.3 and then transferred to SPSS 20 for analysis. The independent samples t-test was used to compare the mean values of hematological parameters between PTB patients and PTB-HIV coinfected patients. Result. A total of 100 study subjects (50 PTB and 50 PTB-HIV coinfected) were included with a mean age of 31.3 ± 10.3 years for PTB patients and 32.1 ± 9.2 years for PTB-HIV coinfected patients. In this study, there were significantly lower mean values of Hgb (P = 0.049), platelet count (P < 0.001), and neutrophils counts (P = 0.007) among PTB-HIV coinfected patients when compared with PTB patients. Of the PTB infected patients 46% were anemic, 6% leukopenic, 22% neutropenic, 8% lymphopenic, and 8% thrombocytopenic. On the other hand, of the PTB-HIV coinfected patients 60% were anemic, 14% leukopenic, 66% neutropenic, 12% lymphopenic, and 20% thrombocytopenic. ESR value was increased in all patients. Conclusion. This study demonstrated high prevalence of neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia among PTB-HIV coinfected patients. HIV coinfection worsens hematological abnormalities of PTB patients. Assessment of hematological parameters can be used as an indicator in the diagnosis and follow-up of PTB patients coinfected with HIV. We recommended assessment of PTB patients with or without HIV for various hematological disorders such as neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia.

Background: Multi-drug resistant Enterobacteriaceae (MDR-E), primarily extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producers (ESBLs), have emerged as a major public health concern. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of multi-drug resistance and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae among hospitalized patients presumptive for bacterial infections at Debre Berhan Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to May 2021. A total of 384 hospitalized patients presumptive for bacterial infections were included in the study. Urine, wound, blood, stool, and sputum samples were collected and cultured on MacConkey agar, Cysteine Lactose Electrolyte Deficient medium, and Blood agar. Identification was done using a panel of biochemical tests. The antimicrobial susceptibility test was done by disc diffusion. Screening of ESBL production was done by using cefotaxime and ceftazidime and confirmed by the combination disk method per clinical laboratory standard institute guidelines. Data analysis was performed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 25, and a P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Out of 384 study participants, a total of 164 Enterobacteriaceae were isolated. The overall multi-drug resistance rate (MDR) was 92.1%. The overall prevalence of ESBL-PE was 104 (63.4%). E. coli 50 (30.5%) and K. pneumoniae 24 (14.6%) were the predominant ESBL producers. The highest ESBL producers E. coli (13.4%) and K. pneumoniae (6.1%) were isolated from urine sample. History of antibiotic use for the last three months (P-value=0.01), admission in neonatal intensive care unit (P-value=0.02), history of hospital stays (P-value=0.01), and chronic disease (P-value=0.04) showed statistically significant association with ESBL-PE infection. Conclusion: The prevalence of MDR-E and ESBL-PE was high. Therefore, strong infection prevention and control measures and careful selection of antibiotics are needed in the study area to block the transmission and infection in the healthcare setting.