Tuberculosis (TB) treatment may present significant hematological disorder and some anti-TB drugs also have serious side effects. Although many other diseases may be reflected by the blood and its constituents, the abnormalities of red cells, white cells, platelets, and clotting factors are considered to be primary hematologic disorder as a result of tuberculosis treatment. The aim of this study was to determine hematological profiles of TB patients before and after intensive phase treatment. The aim of this study was to determine hematological profiles of TB patients before and after intensive phase treatment. Smear positive new TB patients were recruited successively and socio-demographic characteristics were collected using pre-tested questionnaire. About 5 ml of venous blood was collected from each patient and the hematological profiles were determined using Mindry BC 3000 plus automated hematology analyzer. The hematological profiles of TB patients showed statistically significant difference in hematocrit (38.5 % versus 35.7 %), hemoglobin (12.7 g/lversus11.8 g/l) and platelet (268 × 103/μlversus239 × 103/μl) values of patients before initiation of treatment and after completion of the intensive phase of tuberculosis treatment, respectively (P < 0.05). The red cell distribution width (RDW) of treatment naïve TB patients was by far lower (17.6 ± 7.09 %) than the corresponding RDW (31.9 ± 5.19 %) of intensive phase treatment completed patients. Among TB patients that had high platelet distribution width (PDW) (n = 11) before initiation of TB treatment, 10 demonstrated lower PDW values after completion of the intensive phase. There was no significant difference on total white blood cell count among TB patients before and after completion of the 2 month treatment. The levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet count of the TB patients were significantly lowered after completion of the intensive phase of TB treatment. Significant variation of the RDW and PDW were also observed among treatment naïve and treatment completed patients. Hematological abnormalities resulted from TB treatment should be assessed continuously throughout the course of tuberculosis therapy.

Background: World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that viral load ([VL) is a primary tool that clinicians and researchers have used to monitor patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART), an antiviral drug against retroviruses. Whereas, CD4 cell counts can only be used to monitor clinical response to ART in the absence of VL testing service. Therefore, this study is aimed to assess the level of immunological status and virological suppression, and identify associated factors among human immunodeficiency virus ([HIV)-infected adults who were taking antiretroviral drugs of combination regimen know as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Gondar comprehensive specialized referral hospital from February to April 2018. A total of 323 adult participants on HAART were selected using a systematic random sampling technique and enrolled into the study. Blood samples for viral load determination and CD4 cell count were collected. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with immunologic status and virological suppression in HIV patients on HAART. Odds ratio with 95% CI was used to measure the strength of association. Results: Virological suppression (VL level < 1000 copies/ml) was found in 82% (95% CI 77.7, 86.1) of study participants, and it has been associated with CD4 cell count between 350 and 499 cells/mm³ (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.56; 95% CI 1.14, 5.75) and > 499 cells/mm³ (AOR = 7.71; 95% CI 3.48, 17.09) at VL testing and current age > 45 years old (AOR = 5.99; 95% CI 2.12, 16.91). Similarly, favorable immunological status (≥ 400 cells/mm³ for male and ≥ 466 cells/mm³ for female) was observed in 52.9% (95% CI 47.4, 58.8) of the study participants. Baseline CD4 cell count of > 200 cells/mm³, age at enrollment of 26 through 40 years old, and urban residence were significantly associated with favorable immunological status. Conclusion: Though the majority of HIV-infected adults who were on HAART had shown viral suppression, the rate of suppression was sub-optimal according to the UNAIDS 90-90-90 target to help end the AIDS pandemic by 2020. Nonetheless, the rate of immunological recovery in the study cohort was low. Hence, early initiation of HAART should be strengthened to achieve good virological suppression and immunological recovery.

Objective Liver function test (LFT) abnormalities are higher in patients with severe COVID-19. Most of the studies on this theme were conducted in foreign nations, and the association with LFT abnormalities was not sufficiently addressed in the study areas. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the effects of COVID-19 infection on liver function of patients. Setting A facility-based comparative cross-sectional study was carried out from 10 April to 15 June 2022, among COVID-19 infected individuals admitted in Eka Kotebe General Hospital and Saint Petrous Specialized Hospitals, Addis Ababa, 2022. Participants A total of 284 confirmed COVID-19-positive and COVID-19-negative controls matched by gender and age were included in the present study. Results Among SARS-COV-2 positive groups, 63 (44.4%) had one or more LFT abnormalities. The most common elevated level of the LFTs among patients with COVID-19 were gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) 50 (35.2%), while the most common lowered level was albumin 58 (40.8%). The mean values of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (35.4±26.9 vs 22.9±12.6, p<0.001) were significantly different between patients with COVID-19 and the COVID-19-free groups. Being COVID-19-positive was significantly associated with an elevated level of AST (AOR=3.0, 95% CI 1.2 to 7.4) and GGT (AOR=4.55, 95% CI 2.02 to 10.3). Being male was significantly associated with an elevated level of total bilirubin (BILT, AOR=2.41, 95% CI 1.2 to 4.9) and direct bilirubin (BILD, AOR=3.7, 95% CI 1.72 to 8.2), and also severe stage of COVID-19 was associated with hypoalbuminaemia (AOR=3.3, 95% CI 1.4 to 7.9). SARS-COV-2 infection was independently associated with LFT abnormality. Conclusion Patients with COVID-19 had decreased albumin levels, and elevated AST, GGT, BILT and BILD levels.

Background: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding the use of thiopurine chemotherapeutic drugs in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are critical for healthcare professionals. Thiopurines are associated with varying levels of toxicity, including myelosuppression, hepatotoxicity, and gastrointestinal intolerance. Approximately 20% of ALL patients discontinue thiopurine therapy due to toxicity and other adverse events. This study aims to assess the KAP of healthcare providers (HCPs) concerning thiopurine drugs used in the treatment of ALL in hospital wards in Northwestern Ethiopia.Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 161 HCPs at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from June 1, 2023, to August 30, 2023. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The collected data were coded, entered and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Associations between categorical variables were assessed using cross tabulation, and both crude and adjusted odds ratios were calculated with a 95% confidence interval. Variables with p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.Results: A total of 161 HCPs participated in the study, comprising 69 (42.9%) females and 92 (57.1%) males. The majority of participants were nurses 105 (65%), followed by physicians 20 (12.4%), pharmacists 19 (11.8%), midwives 10 (6.2%), and health officers 7 (4.3%). More than half of the participants demonstrated inadequate knowledge 94 (58.4%), negative attitudes 82 (50.9%), and poor practices 90 (55.9%) regarding the use of thiopurine drugs for the treatment of ALL. Approximately 50 (31.1%) participants understood the term “thiopurine drugs,” while 89 (55.3%) were aware of their adverse drug reactions. However, the majority 136 (84.5%) had not received training on how to report adverse drug reactions.Conclusion: The majority of healthcare professionals demonstrated negative attitudes, inadequate knowledge, and poor practices concerning the reporting of adverse drug reactions associated with thiopurine drugs.

Background: Despite the critical importance of early blood cancer diagnosis in children for timely treatment, late presentation, delayed diagnosis, and delayed treatment initiation remain significant issues in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Addressing these delays requires improving healthcare infrastructure, public awareness, provider training, and reducing financial barriers. This study aimed to assess referral delays, diagnostic delays, and overall treatment delays among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients under 18 years. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to primary caregivers from December 29, 2022, to January 30, 2024. During the study, 90 ALL cases were included using a consecutive sampling technique. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 25 software, with results presented through descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, graphs, and tables. Binary logistic regression examined associations between sociodemographic factors and treatment delays among childhood ALL patients. Results: A total of 90 children participated, 63 (70.0%) male. Median time from first symptoms to medical consultation was 9.7 days, referral delay 51.3 days, diagnosis delay 3.2 days, and treatment initiation delay 4.6 days. Total delay to treatment was 69 days, with induction mortality at 22%. High-risk ALL, malaria, and delays of 30–90 days increased induction mortality risk. Conclusion: The study revealed significant delays in childhood ALL treatment, contributing to high mortality rates. Timely diagnosis and treatment initiation are critical, particularly for high-risk patients and those with malaria. Strengthening healthcare infrastructure, awareness, and provider training is vital to improve outcomes.

The novel corona virus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is a deadly respiratory disease. The major causes of the rise of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 are genetic mutations and recombination. The club-shaped spike (S) projections of glycoprotein on the virus's envelope has interaction with the host cell’s ACE2 (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2) receptors to enable the entrance of infectious virus particles. With-Corona’ is possible only when antiviral and vaccination are available. Disease prevention and control is based on new biosafety technologies and guidelines which improve ways to safely handle microbiological material. Corona pandemic is a serious biosafety event. Thus, biosafety is being valued worldwide and applied in medical field. This review presents the current biosafety standards of the COVID-19 pandemic in a comprehensive manner from a fragmented or wide variety of biosafety guidelines and articles available.