Biofilms are accumulations of microorganisms in an extracellular polymeric substance matrix which are composed of polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Many bacteria can switch between a planktonic form and a biofilm form. The planktonic bacteria have relatively high cell growth and reproduction rates and have a reduced likelihood of survival but can adapt to occupy new habitats. The biofilm state appears to be a natural and predominant state of bacteria. The need for the formation of bacterial biofilm is that it enhances the tolerance of bacteria to harsh environmental conditions, thereby allowing bacteria to avoid being washed away by water flow or the bloodstream by simply attaching to a surface or tissue, and the EPS matrix protects bacteria cells, in deeper layers, against antimicrobial agents, probably by limiting the diffusion of these agents. Biofilm formation steps are initial contact/attachment to the surface, followed by micro-colony formation, maturation and formation of the architecture of the biofilm, and finally detachment/dispersion of the biofilm. Once formed, biofilm restricts bacterial mobility and increases cell density. Secretions of autoinducers into the environment are critical for cross-signaling between bacteria. This cross-talk is called quorum sensing (QS). Quorum sensing is a cell–cell communication mechanism between bacteria that allows specific processes to be controlled, such as biofilm formation and virulence factor expression. Bacterial quorum sensing signaling mainly consists of acyl-homoserine lactones (produced by Gram-negatives), autoinducing peptides (produced by Gram-positives), and autoinducer-2 (produced by both Gram-negatives and Gram-positives). Therefore, this review is aimed at how bacterial biofilms work and are formed.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a frequent sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical cancer in women. Early detection could slow the spread of HPV infection and its eventual development into cervical cancer. Furthermore, there are few statistics available on the prevalence of cervical cancer and HPV in Ethiopia. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of high-risk cervical human papillomavirus infections and the factors associated with them among women who visited the family planning and gynecology clinic at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in Northcentral Ethiopia. A health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among women attending the gynecology and family planning clinic from October 2022 to May, 2023. After obtaining written informed consent from each participant woman, the data on sociodemographic and clinical factors were collected by a trained nurse through face-to-face interviews using a pretested questionnaire. Clinicians collected cervical swabs from participants, which were then analyzed by laboratory technologists using the OncoE6™ Cervical Test (Arbor Vita Corporation, Fremont, CA, USA) a lateral flow assay coated with high-affinity monoclonal antibodies designed to detect E6 oncoproteins specific to high-risk HPV types 16 and 18. In addition, clinicians conducted the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) test, a procedure in which diluted acetic acid is applied to the cervix; areas with abnormal epithelial cells temporarily turn white, allowing for visual identification of potential lesions. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 21, using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models, with a p value of ≤ 0.05 indicating statistical significance. There were 335 study participants during the course of the study. The mean age of the study participants in this study was 36.66 ± 7.92 years. Furthermore, the overall prevalence of HPV (HPV16 and/or 18) was 13.4%, with a 95% CI of 10.1%-17.3%. Fifty-three individuals (15.8%) out of the total study participants tested positive for the VIA. Moreover, the overall prevalence of HPV type 16, HPV18, and HPV16 and 18 coinfections was 8.66%, 7.76%, and 2.99%, respectively. A previous history of STIs (AOR = 14.42, 95% CI = 6.31–32.99, P = 0.001), HIV infection (AOR = 3.53, 95% CI = 1.46–8.54, P = 0.005) and age between 40 and 49 years (AOR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.04–0.72, P = 0.016) were significantly associated with human papillomavirus infection. The results of the current study showed a significant prevalence of HPV infection and a high VIA positive rate. This study also demonstrated that age, HIV infection, and a history of STIs were significantly associated predictors of HPV infection. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of early screening, education, and prevention efforts to reduce the prevalence of HPV infections and associated diseases among women in the study area.

Background: Bacterial infections constitute a large portion of infectious disorders. The location of culture-positive specimens and profiles of antibiotic resistance for common pathogens have been the focal points of subsequent investigations. Methodology: The diagnosis of microbiology was carried out using traditional culture techniques. In accordance with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines, the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method was employed for antimicrobial susceptibility analysis. The data were extracted from WHONET 2022 software version 22.5.5 and analyzed using SPSS software. Results: In total, 2489 pathogens were isolated from 2073 patients in three consecutive years. About 768 (34.9%) of the isolates were from the neonatal intensive care unit and the pediatric wards, and 63.2% isolates were from blood specimens. The ESKAPE pathogens were predominant (67%). About 100 Enterobacteriaceae family member bacteria were resistant to carbapenem drugs, and 320 isolates of this family were expected to be beta lactamase producers. A total of 120 methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates were also identified. Conclusions: Among the isolates, ESKAPE pathogens accounted for the greatest proportion. Most isolates were from the neonatal intensive care unit. A significant number of multidrug-resistant, extreme drug-resistant, and pandrug-resistant isolates were identified in the present study.

Hematopoietic stem cell donation is a method used to treat both blood-related and non-blood-related malignancies. Graft-versus-host disease is a potentially life-threatening complication that can occur following a stem cell transplant from a donor. This happens after the transplanted grafts attack the recipient’s body as foreign cells, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Clinically, this condition can be classified as acute or chronic based on onset and pathophysiology. This review aims to provide an overview of recent studies on extracorporeal photopheresis as a treatment strategy option for graft-versus-host-diseased patients. It will explain how it treats graft-versus-host disease, summarize its promising effects, and provide future recommendations for its use in treating this illness. Extracorporeal photopheresis is used to treat graft-versus-host disease by collecting and separating white blood cells from the patient. This blood is fractionated into different parts, and white blood cells undergo treatment with 8-methoxy psoralen, a photoactivable drug, before exposure to ultraviolet light A. Lastly, the cells that have been treated are reinfused into the recipient’s body. It prompts the programmed cell death of lymphocytes and the engulfment of cellular debris by host antigen-presenting, leading to a subsequent rise in T regulatory cells. However, more experimental and randomized controlled studies are required to identify the best patient selection requirements, environments, and treatment regimens for graft-versus-host disease.

Data about the distribution of ABO and RhD blood groups is important for effective blood utilization, which is maintained by identifying the most clinically required blood type. However, there is a scarcity of data in Ethiopia about the distribution of ABO and RhD blood groups among blood-transfused patients, particularly in the study area. To determine the frequency of ABO and RhD blood groups among blood transfused patients at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northern Ethiopia, 2023. A hospital-based retrospective study was conducted from September 1 to September 30, 2022, to determine the frequency of ABO and RhD blood groups among blood-transfused patients at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. The study was conducted on data from blood-transfused patients from October 2019 to June 2022. A total of 3762 blood transfused patients’ data was collected from the blood transfusion log book records. The data were coded, entered, and cleaned using Epi-data version 4.6 and analyzed for descriptive statistics using Stata version 14.0. A total of 3762 blood-transfused patients were included in the study. Of those, females made up 57.3 % (2156/3762). Of 3762 blood transfused patients, the majority (33.9 %, 1277/3762) had ABO blood group B, and 81.3 % (3060/3762) of the blood transfused patients were RhD-positive. Eight thousand three hundred fifteen units of whole blood were transfused to 3762 patients, with a mean of 2.2 units of blood transfused per patient. Furthermore, the majority of the study participants 42.82 %, (1611/3762) were given two units of blood, and 8.77 % (330/3762) were given four units of blood. Most of the study participants had B and RhD-positive blood groups. The majority of the blood transfused patients were females. Most of the blood was transfused in the medical ward, and whole blood was transfused for all patients.

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical cancer in women. Early screening could reduce the transmission and progression of HPV infection to cervical cancer. Besides, data on the burden of HPV and cervical cancer is limited in Ethiopia as well as in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of cervical high-risk human papillomavirus infections and associated risk factors among women attending the gynecology and family planning clinic at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Southern Gondar, Ethiopia.Method A health facility-based prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among women attending the gynecology and family planning clinic from October 21 to May 21, 2023. A containing was used. After obtaining written informed consent from each participant women, the data on socio-demographic and clinical factors was collected by a trained nurse through face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested questionnaire. Cervical swab was also collected from the participant women by clinicians and performed by laboratory technologist using E6 HPV 16/18 oncoprotein detection lateral flow test strip which is coated with high-affinity monoclonal antibodies (OncoE6TM Cervical Test (Arbor Vita Corporation, Fremont, CA, USA). The data was entered into Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21 for analysis. Bivariate and Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to analyze specific associations between variables and a p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results During the study period, a total of 335 study participants participated. The mean (+ SD) age of the study participant women was 36.66 years (+ 7.92). Besides, the overall prevalence of HPV (HPV16 and/or18) was 13.4% with 95% CI (10.1%-17.3%). Moreover, the overall prevalence of HPV type16, HPV18, and both HPV16 and 18 co-infection was 8.66%, 7.76%, and 2.99% respectively. Participant women who had a previous history of STI (AOR = 14.42, 95% CI = 6.31–32.99, P-value = 0.001), HIV infection (AOR = 3.53, 95CI% =1.46–8.54, P-value = 0.005) and age between 40 to 49 years (AOR = 0.17, 95%CI = 0.04–0.72, P-value = 0.016) were significantly associated factor for Human papillomavirus infection.Conclusions This study reveals a considerably high prevalence of HPV infection and VIA positivity rate. This study also showed that history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), age, and HIV infection were significantly associated risk factors for HPV infection. Overall, this finding highlights the need for early screening, increased awareness, and prevention efforts to reduce the burden of HPV infections and associated diseases among women in the study area.