BackgroundOpportunistic Intestinal Parasites (OIPs) commonly cause morbidity in HIV/AIDS patients due to the decline of CD4+T-cells. The burden of Opportunistic Intestinal Parasitic Infections (OIPIs) in Ethiopia is expected to be high due to poor sanitation and co-pandemicity of HIV/AIDs. Therefore, frequent assessment of the magnitude and associated factors for intestinal parasitosis is essential for the management of HIV/AIDS patients.MethodsA hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted among patients attending Arba Minch Hospital Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Clinic from March to June 2016. Stool specimens were processed for parasitological examination using direct wet mount, formol-ether sedimentation and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining techniques. CD4+ T-cell count data were taken from patients' medical records. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics and possible associated factors for OIPIs. All the data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.ResultsTwo hundred and twenty ART patients participated in the study. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 28.18% while that of OIPIs alone was 17.72%. Among identified intestinal parasites, Cryptosporidium species accounts for the highest frequency (19/220, 8.63%), followed by Cyclospora species (13/220, 5.90%). Presence of domestic animals (AOR=2.07, 95%CI:1.07–8.40, P= 0.032) and CD4+ T-cell count <500cell/µl (AOR=4.66, 95%CI:1.17–5.35, P= 0.001) were significantly associated with OIPIs.ConclusionThe study indicated that co-infection rate of OIPs is high among ART patients. It also found that contact with domestic animals and having CD4+ count <500 cell/µl predict for the presence of OIPs.

Background: Ascitic fluid plays a critical role in the microbiological diagnosis of peritonitis. Drug-resistant bacterial infection of the peritoneal cavity is becoming a public health threat. However, data on bacterial profile and antimicrobial-resistant pattern of isolates from the ascitic fluid are scarce. Thus, this study was aimed to assess drug-resistant bacteriological profiles and factors associated with peritonitis in southern Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2019 to December 2019. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and clinical data. A total of 147 ascitic fluid samples were aseptically collected and inoculated onto blood agar, MacConkey agar, and chocolate agar. The inoculated culture media were incubated aerobically and micro-aerobically at 37°C for 48 hrs. Bacterial identification was done by standard protocols and the antimicrobial susceptibility testing by Kirby Bauer's disk diffusion method. Logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors with bacterial peritonitis. Results: Of the total study participants, the overall magnitude of bacterial peritonitis was 19.05% with a total of 30 bacterial isolates. Majority of the isolates were Gram negative bacteria with predominant species E. coli 36.67% followed by Gram positive S. aureus 13.33%. The multidrug resistant isolates accounts about 43.3% while a quarter of isolated S. aureus were methicillin resistant. The bacterial peritonitis was associated with recent history of surgery [AOR = 8.724, 95% CI: (2.688-28.314)], hospitalization more than seven days [AOR = 8.990,)], cirrhosis [AOR = 2.751, 95% CI: (1.109-6.822)] and alcoholism [AOR = 5.802,]. Conclusion:Nearly half of the isolated bacteria were observed to be MDR, and this may alarm all healthcare workers and policymakers. Thus, continuous surveillance of antimicrobial resistance patterns along with associated factors is essential for regular monitoring of transmission of drug-resistant bacteria and the emergence of antibiotic resistance.

Background: Due to the reduction of their immunity, people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are more susceptible to acquiring urinary tract infections (UTI). Moreover, the emergence of drug-resistant bacterial uropathogens has grown widely and now constitutes a severe clinical problem among HIV-positive patients. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the ART clinic of Arba Minch General Hospital from 1st January to 30th May, 2021. A total of 251 adult HIV-positive patients clinically suspected of having UTIs were systematically recruited. Socio-demographic and other factors were collected by a pre-tested structured questionnaire. A clean-catch mid-stream urine sample was collected and inoculated onto blood agar, MacConkey agar, and cysteine lactose electrolyte deficient agar (CLED). The inoculated culture media were incubated aerobically at 37°C for 24 hrs. After overnight incubation, significant bacteriuria, 105 CFU/ml, was considered. Bacterial identification was made by standard protocols. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done by Kirby Bauer’s disk diffusion method. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. A P-value less than 0.05 was used as statistical significance. Results: The overall magnitude of multidrug-resistant (MDR) uropathogens was found to be 14.3%, with a 95% CI (10-19.1). Gram-negative bacteria (83.3%) were the predominant MDR isolates, with E. coli (41.7%) followed by K. pneumoniae (22.2%). All isolates of S. aureus and two-thirds of the isolated CoNS were MDR. A total of 30% and 16.7% of Gram-negative isolates were ESBL and carbapenemase producers, respectively, whereas 50% and 33.3% of isolated S. aureus and CoNS were methicillin-resistant, respectively. Antibiotic use in the previous 6 months [AOR = 6.7, 95% CI: (2.53-17.6)], presence of chronic underlying disease [AOR = 7.03, 95% CI: (1.72-28.73)], antibiotic use without a prescription [AOR = 9.7, 95% CI: (3.53-26.675)], CD4+ counts less than 250 cells/mm3 [AOR = 8.05, 95% CI: (2.078–31.154)], and CD4+ count in between 250-500 cells/mm3 [AOR = 2.49, 95% CI: (1.05-5.923)] were found to be statistically significant associated with MDR uropathogens. Conclusion: This study found a significant number of multidrug-resistant uropathogens, indicating that healthcare providers should be aware of this and take urgent action to minimize resistance spread, as well as consider current empirical antibiotic therapy for UTI in HIV-positive patients.

Purpose of the Study This study aimed to assess the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome and associated factors among diabetic patients in Arba Minch General Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the second most common cause of absence from work which causes functional loss of the hands and leads to disability. However, it is understudied among diabetic patients in Ethiopia. Patients and Materials An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 1 to October 1, 2021. Systematic random sampling method was used to select 353 study participants. CTS-6 Evaluation tool was applied to assess carpal tunnel syndrome. The data was coded and entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 statistical packages and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Binary logistic regression model was applied to assess the association between outcome variable and independent variables. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI and p-values <0.05 were used to identify significantly associated factors with an outcome variable. Results The study was conducted among 353 diabetic patients. The cumulative prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome among diabetes was 3.1%. CTS was statistically significantly associated with high body mass index; AOR=0.34 (0.12, 0.97, 95% CI) (p=0.04. Majority of participants 322 (91.2%) had type 2 DM. Mean fasting blood sugar level ± standard error of study participants was 157.52 ± 1.91 mg/dl. Conclusion The prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome was relatively low. High body mass index (BMI) was significantly but negatively associated with carpal tunnel syndrome compared to diabetic patients with normal BMI. Diabetic patients with normal BMI should be screened for CTS for early management of the disease and prevention of further complications. Further investigations are recommended.

Background. Group B Streptococcus (GBS) contributes to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality by increasing intrauterine infection or vertical transmission at the time of birth. Despite many efforts to reduce the potential risk of vertical transmission, GBS remains the main cause of serious disease (neonatal sepsis, meningitis, and/or pneumonia) in vulnerable newborns during the first week of life. This study aimed to assess vertical transmission, risk factors, and antimicrobial resistance patterns of GBS among pregnant women and their neonates. Methods. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers and their neonates from February to May 2021. A total of 201 pregnant women with their neonates participated in this study. A well-designed questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and clinical data. A vaginal swab from mother before delivery and neonatal nasal and ear canal swab samples were taken as soon as after delivery within 30 minutes. Vaginal swabs, neonatal ear canal, and nasal swabs were placed into Todd–Hewitt broth and incubated at 37°C for 18–24 hours at 35–37°C in 5% CO2 conditions and then subcultured on 5% sheep blood agar for 18–48 hours. Presumptive identification of GBS was made by morphology, Gram stain, catalase, and hemolytic activity on sheep blood agar plates. CAMP and bacitracin susceptibility tests were used as confirmatory tests for GBS. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. P value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. Vertical transmission rates of GBS (mother to neonates) were 11.9%. The prevalence of GBS among pregnant women and newborns was 24/201 (11.9%) (95% CI = 7.5–16.9) and 11/201 (5.5%) (95% CI = 2.5–9.0), respectively. The history of prolonged rupture of membranes (AOR = 3.5, CI = 2.2–18.8) and urinary tract infection (AOR = 2.9, CI = 1.7–16.3) were associated factors for maternal GBS colonization. Gestational age of <37 weeks ( p = 0.008 ), low birth weight of <2.5 kg ( p = 0.001 ), and maternal history of vaginal discharge ( p = 0.048 ) were associated factors for neonatal GBS colonization. Low antibiotic resistance was observed for erythromycin 8.6%, clindamycin 5.7%, and chloramphenicol 2.9%. Conclusion. In this study, high vertical transmission (mother to neonates) rate was observed. The prevalence of vaginal GBS colonization of women at delivery was 11.9% and significantly associated with the history of prolonged rupture of membranes and urinary tract infections. Gestational age of <37 weeks, low birth weight of <2.5 kg, and maternal history of vaginal discharge were associated with neonatal GBS colonization. Hence, there is a need for antenatal culture-based GBS screening, risk factor-based interventions, and regular follow-up of drug resistance patterns for proper treatment and management of GBS.