Abera Kumalo

Not susceptible to methicillin Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is a potentially harmful bacteria that is resistant to the most important antimicrobial agents. Because MRSA is so resistant to many antibiotics, it can cause illnesses by forming biofilms. The aim of this study was to assess the nasal carriage rate of biofilm‐producing methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and its associated factors among HealthCare Workers at Wachemo University Nigist Ellen Mohammed Memorial Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Central Ethiopia. This cross‐sectional study, carried out at Wachemo University Nigist Ellen Mohammed Memorial Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Central Ethiopia from August 1 to November 30, 2023. Nasal swab samples from 294 healthcare workers (HCWs) were obtained using sterile cotton swabs. Bacterial isolates were identified using standard culture methods on Mannitol Salt and Blood Agar, while antimicrobial susceptibility testing and biofilm formation assessments followed the CLSI 2023 (M100, 33rd edition) guidelines via the Kirby‐Bauer disk diffusion methods. All laboratory analyses were performed in triplicate to ensure consistency. Data were double‐entered into Epi Data version 4.6 and cross‐checked for accuracy. Missing or inconsistent data were verified against original laboratory records and latterly then, exported to SPSS V25 for analysis. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were applied for statistical evaluation, with a p ‐value of ≤ 0.05 regarded as statistically significant. In this study, the occurrence rates of S. aureus, MRSA, and biofilm‐producing MRSA were 98 out of 294 isolated strains (33.4%), 41 out of 294 isolated strains (13.9%), and 28 out of 294 isolated strains (9.5%), respectively. The MRSA strains exhibited high sensitivity to linezolid, rifampicin, and vancomycin while showing resistance to cefoxitin, cotrimoxazole, and ciprofloxacin. A history of prior hospitalization (length of stay in the hospital) was statistically significant for the colonization of biofilm‐producing MRSA, with an adjusted odds ratio of 10.00 (95% CI: 1.36–73.3; P = 0.024). MRSA and MRSA that produces biofilms were found to be 41.8% and 68.3% prevalent overall in the study area, respectively. Biofilm‐producing MRSA is a potential cause of healthcare‐associated diseases. Therefore, these findings emphasize the urgent need for improved infection‐prevention practices and routine screening of healthcare workers to mitigate the risk of healthcare‐associated infections.

Background: Streptococcus agalactiae or Group B Streptococcal colonization of the gastrointestinal and genital tracts of pregnant women usually remains asymptomatic, even though it is the critical determinant of infection in neonates and young infants. It causes early and late onset of invasive Group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease manifesting as septicemia, meningitis, and pneumonia. Now it is recognized as an important cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in many parts of the world including Ethiopia, where the magnitude of the problem has been little studied. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of GBS colonization and to identify associated risk factors and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among pregnant women at selected health facilities of Wolaita Sodo Town, Southern Ethiopia.Methodology: A health-facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted at WSUCSH & Wolaita Sodo Health Center from June to August, 2022. A total of 279 pregnant women who were in ANC follow-up at 35–37 weeks of gestation were included. For GBS isolation, recto-vaginal swabs were inoculated in 1 mL Todd-Hewitt broth medium supplemented with 10 μg/mL colistin and 15 μg/mL nalidixic acid, followed by identification of isolates based on colonial morphology, gram stains, catalase reaction, and CAMP tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using a modified Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. All collected data were entered in Epi info 4.6.0.2, then transferred and tabulated using SPSS version 20. Logistic regression analysis was used to see the association between variables. Finally, a p-value GBS was 67 (24.0%). GBS colonization showed a statistically significant association with college and above levels of maternal education [AOR = 6.610, 95% CI (1.724–25.349), p = 0.01]. High susceptibility of GBS isolate was seen with Penicillin G & Chloramphenicol (92.5%), Ampicillin, Ceftriaxone (89.6%), Vancomycin (74.62%), and Erythromycin (77%). Relatively, GBS showed high resistance to Tetracycline (88%).Conclusion and recommendation: In this study, the overall prevalence of GBS colonization was 24.0%. College and above educational level was statistically significant with GBS colonization. This study aimed to draw attention to the management of Group B Streptococci in pregnant women by making GBS culture one of the routine diagnoses during ANC follow-up and to prevent infection with early detection.

Background. Bacterial contamination of indoor hospitals, especially in intensive care units is a serious health hazard in the world with a high morbidity and mortality rates. Particularly, multidrug-resistant bacteria can cross-contaminate medical devices, inanimate surfaces, health care providers, and patients in the intensive care unit. This study was aimed to assess the bacterial profile and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates from intensive care unit at WUNEMMCSH (Wachemo University Nigest Ellen Mohammed Memorial Compressive Specialized Hospital), Southern Ethiopia. Methods. A hospital-based cross sectional study was conducted on 180 intensive care unit environmental samples at WUNEMMCSH from August 1, 2022, to October 30, 2022. In this study, a total of 180 swab samples were collected from medical devices, inanimate surfaces, patients, and health care providers from the intensive care unit by using sterile cotton-tipped swabs moistened with normal saline. Then, bacterial isolates were identified using the standard culture method, Gram stain, and biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests for bacterial isolates were performed by using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. Data were entered into EpiData Version 4.6 cleanup and exported to SPSS V25 for analysis. Results. A total of 180 swab samples were processed from intensive care unit environments, and 143 (79.4) were found to have been contaminated by at least one potential pathogenic bacterial isolate. A total of two hundred and thirty-eight bacteria were isolated. Of these, the predominant bacteria were coagulase-negative Staphylococci 72 (30.3), S. aureus 61 (25.6), E. coli 41 (17.2), and K. pneumoniae 30 (12.6). Seventy (49) out of all swabbed samples were contaminated with mixed isolates. In the antimicrobial susceptibility tests, 19 (86) Gram-positive bacteria and 25 (76) Gram-negative bacterial isolates were susceptible to nitrofurantoin, respectively. Vancomycin was sensitive to 83 of Gram-positive isolates. Gram-positive and Gram-negative isolates from irrespective sources showed multidrug resistance in 56.4 and 76.2, respectively. Conclusion. The inanimate hospital environments, medical device, health care providers, and patients in ICU rooms of WUNEMMCSH (Wachemo University Nigest Ellen Mohammed Memorial Comprehensive Specialized Hospital) were colonized with 143 (79.4) of potential pathogenic bacterial isolate, which can cause nosocomial infections with high rates of morbidity and mortality among patients. The frequencies of multidrug-resistant 159 (66.8) bacterial pathogens were alarmingly high. Therefore, to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination and MDR, strict adherence to hospital infection prevention and control measures should be enforced. These measures include regularly performing hand hygiene, periodic disinfection, and sterilization of medical equipment.

Background: Streptococcus agalactiae or Group B Streptococcal colonization of the gastrointestinal and genital tracts of pregnant women usually remains asymptomatic; even if it is the critical determinant of infection in neonates and young infants. It causes early and late onset of invasive Group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease manifesting as septicemia, meningitis and pneumonia. Now it is recognized as an important cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in many parts of the world including Ethiopia where the magnitude of the problem has been little studied. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of GBS colonization, to identify associated risk factors and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among pregnant women at selected health facilities of Wolaita Sodo Town, Southern Ethiopia. Methodology: A health facility based cross-sectional study design was conducted at WSUCSH & Wolaita Sodo Health Center from June to August, 2022. A total of 279 pregnant women who were in ANC follow up with at 35-37 weeks of gestation were included. For GBS isolation, recto-vaginal swabs were inoculated in 1ml Todd-Hewitt broth medium supplemented with 10μg/ml colistin and 15μg/ml nalidixic acid and followed by identification of isolates based on colonial morphology, gram stains, catalase reaction and CAMP tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using modified Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. All collected data were organized in Epi info 4.6.0.2, then transfer tabulated using SPSS version 20. Logistic regression analysis was used to see the association between variables. Finally, the p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: In present study, 279 pregnant mothers included and their age was between 15 to 38 years with a mean of 26.5 ± 4.5 years. Of all participants, the highest 120 (43.01%) were housewives. The overall carriage rate of GBS was 67(24.0%). GBS colonization showed a statistically significant association with college and above levels of maternal education [AOR= 6.610, 95% CI (1.724 - 25.349), P=0.01]. High susceptibility of GBS isolate was seen to Penicillin G & Chloramphenicol (92.5%) for each, Ampicillin, and Ceftriaxone (89.6%) each, following Vancomycin (74.62%), and Erythromycin (77%). Relatively, GBS showed high resistance to Tetracycline (88 %). Conclusion: In this study, the overall prevalence of GBS colonization was 24.0%. College and above educational level was statistically significant with GBS colonization. This study used to give attention to the management of pregnant women by making GBS culture one of the routine diagnoses during ANC follow-up and to prevent infection by early detection.

Background: Despite Ethiopia’s hepatitis endemic status with intermediate to hyperendemic level, there is no national strategy for monitoring, preventing, and controlling viral hepatitis. In order to advise community-based intervention programs, studies on the magnitude, determinant factors, and understanding of indigenous social organization are important. Thus, this study examined undiagnosed seroprevalence and associated factors for HBV and HCV infections among community members in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 320 individuals from randomly selected two woredas in the Wolaita Zone to determine the magnitude of HBV and HCV. Multistage sampling was used to select participants. Relevant clinical and sociodemographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire. One test strip technique was used for the screening of hepatitis B surface antigen and for antibodies against HCV. Both tests were confirmed by ELISA methods. The associated factors were assessed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The seroprevalence for HBV infection was 6.6% (95% CI: 4.22%, 8.69%) using a one-step HBsAg test strip and 5.6% (95% CI: 3.47%, 8.58%) using confirmatory test (ELISA). The two tests had a very good agreement (K = 0.918; SE = 0.047; P < 0.001). The overall seroprevalence for HCV infection was 1.9% (95% CI: 0.9%, 3.0%). All four of the one-step HCV test strip positives were also positive by ELISA. One (0.3%) of the participants was co-infected with HBV and HCV. Hospital admission (AOR = 0.22; 95% CI = 0.5– 0.95) and needle stick (AOR = 0.15; 95% CI = 0.07– 0.72) were independently associated with HBV infections. Conclusion: According to the current study, in Wolaita community, there is endemic to HBV at a higher-intermediate level and to HCV at a low level. It would be imperative to increase awareness of transmission modes and prevention of infection, as well as vaccination, in order to reduce the burden of both HBV and HCV.

Background. Antibiotic resistance is a serious threat to the human population everywhere. However, less attention is given to its concern in sub‐Saharan Africa including Ethiopia. There is an information gap concerning antibiotic resistance and its pattern in Wolaita Sodo University Teaching Referral Hospital. This study is aimed at investigating the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in the study area. Methods. Five‐year retrospective data of cultures and records of 581 patients were utilized to analyze the pattern of antibiotic resistance. The statistical software including SPSS version 25 and Microsoft excel 2013 were used. Laboratory records with incompletely registered age, sex, culture isolation, or drug susceptibility test data were excluded. Results. Out of the total of 581 samples extracted from the microbiology laboratory, 237 (40.8%) samples were culture positive for bacteria. From positive culture growth, 165 (69.6%) were gram‐positive bacteria whereas 72 (30.4%) were gram negative. Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent isolate among gram‐positive isolates as Escherichia coli was for gram‐negative isolates. Overall antibiotic resistance of gram‐positive isolates was 57.2% whereas that of gram‐negative bacteria was 58.8%.Conclusion. S. aureus and E. coli were found to be the most prevalent pathogenic isolates among gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria, respectively. Most of the isolated pathogens showed high resistance towards the commonly prescribed antibiotic agents. The overall antibiotic resistance in this study was 57.7%, and the overall MDR prevalence was 72.2%.

Background. Food borne disease, which is the result of ingestion of foodstuffs contaminated with microorganisms, parasites, or chemicals, encompasses a wide spectrum of illness and public health problem worldwide. Ethiopia is placed on second, third, and fourth position due to the highest burden of ascariasis, hookworm, and trichuriasis, respectively, in sub-Saharan Africa. The present study is aimed at determining the prevalence of Salmonella typhi and intestinal parasites among food handlers working in catering establishments of public institutes found in Dawuro Zone, South-Western Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional study is conducted among food handlers working in catering establishments of public institutions found in Dawuro Zone from March to July 2019. The data was collected by using pretested structured questionnaires. Stool and blood samples were taken from each participant for parasitic examinations concurrently using direct and modified formol ether concentration wet smear techniques and Widal test by slide test and tube serial dilution technique, respectively. The data entered into Epi info version 3.5.1 and then exported into SPSS window version 20.0 for analysis. Logistic regressions were performed to assess the association between binary outcomes and different explanatory variables. value Result. The study included 402 (293 females and 109 males) food handlers. Of 402 stool specimens, 20.4% were found to be positive for different parasite species, comprising protozoa (35.9%) and helminths (64.1%). A. lumbricoides was the most prevalent parasite (8.0%), followed by E. histolytica/dispar (4.23%). Twenty-six (6.5%) of food handlers were positive for Widal test. years (AOR: 0.436; 95% CI: 0.203, 0.937), attending no education (AOR: 2.142; 95% CI: 1.048, 4.378), not washing hands after using latrine (AOR: 4.355; 95% CI: 1.771, 10.708), not covering mouth with tissue paper (AOR: 0.530; 95% CI: 0.312, 0.899), no medical checkup (in the last four months) (AOR: 0.278; 95% CI: 0.116, 0.667), and untrimmed fingernails (AOR: 0.382; 95% CI: 0.229, 0.635) were significantly associated with intestinal parasitic or Salmonella typhi infections. Conclusion. The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection (IPI) and Salmonella among food handlers in the present study is relatively high compared to other different studies conducted in developed and developing countries. Therefore, biannually screening of food handlers for intestinal parasites (IPs) and periodic deworming of infected cases along with provision of food safety measures focusing on personal hygiene and environmental sanitation are recommended to control the parasitic infection in food handlers.

Background: In Ethiopia, Streptococcus pneumoniae is the predominant causative agent of pneumonia. About, 95% of bacterial pneumonia cases in under five years of children are caused by pneumococci. Objective: To assess the nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae, its antibiotic susceptibility pattern, and associated factors among children in Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 01, 2018, to December 30, 2018. A total of 293 children aged ≤15 years were included in the study using a systematic random sampling technique. A nasopharyngeal swab was collected using a sterile cotton swab and cultured on blood agar supplemented with 5μg/ml gentamicin. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. Results: The ages of participants ranged from 5 months to 14 years. The carriage rate of Streptococcus pneumoniae was 74/293 (25.3%). Being within the age group Streptococcus pneumoniae showed the highest resistance to Tetracycline, 36 (48.65%), and Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, 29 (39.2%), and was found to be susceptible to Chloramphenicol, 54 (77%), and Erythromycin, 38 (51.4%). Conclusion: The nasopharyngeal carriage rate of Streptococcus pneumoniae is considerably high. High antimicrobial resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae against Tetracycline and Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was observed. Living in a house with a single room, children’s habit of sleeping with parents/guardians and age are associated factors of high pneumococcal carriage. Strategies need to be designed to address the modifiable associated factors and the bacterium antibiotic resistance pattern should be monitored regularly.

Background. Nosocomial infections occur among patients during their stay in hospitals. The severity of infection depends on the characteristics of microorganisms with a high risk of being acquired when the environment is contaminated. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are emerging rapidly around the globe creating a serious threat. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2016–February 2017 at Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia. Samples were collected from the equipment and hospital surfaces. The isolated bacteria were checked for susceptibility by the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method following the standards of CLSI 2014. Health professionals and sanitary team members were included in the study which assessed the disinfection practice of objects from which samples were taken. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results. A total of 201 swab samples were taken, and most bacteria were recovered from thermometer and floor consisting of 21.6% S. aureus, 19.3% CoNS, 15.9% E. coli, 14.8% Klebsiella species, 11.4% P. aeruginosa, 10.2% Proteus species, and 6.8% Serratia species. The most multidrug resistant organisms were S. aureus (79%), Klebsiella species (53.8%), CoNS (47%), and Proteus species (44.4%). Only 6.45% of health professionals disinfect their stethoscope consistently. Conclusion. S. aureus, CoNS, and E. coli were the predominant isolates. Most isolates showed highest susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and least to ampicillin and penicillin. There is no regular sanitation and disinfection of hospital equipment and surfaces.

Background. Self-medication, which is a form of self-care, is an important initial response to illness, and many illnesses can be successfully treated at this stage. It is practiced by a considerable proportion of the population and is affected by sociodemographic and economic factors. This study was conducted to assess the practice of self-medication and associated factors in Limmu Genet’s town households, Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia.Methods and Materials. A community based cross-sectional study was done. Systematic sampling technique was used to select participants. Data was collected by face-to-face interviews by using structured questionnaires. After checking the completeness, missing values, and coding of questionnaires, data was tabulated and calculated on SPSS version 20.0. Finally data was presented in tables, graphs frequency, percentage, and cross-tabulation with different variables.Result. In this study, both self-medication and the prevalence of diseases among households were 78.1%. That constituted any kind of illness reported by participants.Conclusion. Self-medication practice is common among community members regardless of being community based health insurance members. Therefore, it needs pertinent health education on legal prescriptions and use of medicines as well as strengthening the access of community based insurance.