Background: The incidence of hospital-acquired enterobacteria that produce extendedspectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) is on the rise worldwide. Colonization of gastrointestinal tract by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase Enterobacteriaceae, a prominent causative agent, results in life-threatening infections.Objective: To determine the rate of gastrointestinal colonization by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and also to elucidate the antibiotic susceptibility profile and associated risk factors among hospitalized patients in Arba Minch General Hospital, Ethiopia. Methodology: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Arba Minch General Hospital from May 2018 to July 2019. Sociodemographic data and associated factors were collected using a pre-tested-structured questionnaire. Stool specimens were collected using sterile stool cups. Each sample was then inoculated onto MacConkey agar. Bacterial isolates were identified using various biochemical tests. Screening and confirmatory tests for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae were performed using the modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. Statistical package for Social Science was used to analyze the data. The P-value ≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: A total of 421 hospitalized patients were enrolled in this study of which there were 240 (57%) females. The mean age of the study participants was 28.8 with SD of 15.7. Majority of participants were in the age range of 25-40 years 179 (42.5%). About 146 (34.7%) participants were found to be colonized by extended-spectrum beta-lactamaseproducing Enterobacteriaceae. The predominant ESBL-producing isolates were Escherichia coli 62 (42.46%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae 60 (41.09%). Six (1.43%) carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae were isolated. ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae showed higher resistance against tetracycline (91.1%) and cotrimoxazole (93.84%). Colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by ESBL showed statistically significant association with regard to chronic diseases (p<0.001) and the administration of oral antibiotics after admission (p=0.020). Conclusion:The overall colonization rate of the gastrointestinal tract by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae was prominent. The extended-spectrum betalactamase-producing isolates exhibited a higher level of resistance against the commonly used antibiotics which further needs greater attention.

Background. In developing countries, the prevalence of bacterial infections is quite rampant due to several factors such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic, lack of hygiene, overcrowding, and resistance to conventional antimicrobials. Hence the use of plant-based antimicrobial agents could provide a low-cost alternative therapy. Rosmarinus officinalis is reputed as a medicinal plant in Ethiopia; however, its antibacterial activity against many of the clinical isolates remains overlooked. Methods. Tender foliage of R. officinalis was collected and extracted in ethanol (EtOH) and evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against ten multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical isolates, human type culture pathogens, and meat-borne bacterial isolates by employing agar well diffusion assay. Results. EtOH extract of R. officinalis efficiently subdued the growth of all tested MDR clinical isolates in varying degrees. Salmonella sp. and Staphylococcus aureus were found to be the most sensitive clinical isolates. Likewise, it efficiently repressed the growth of meat-borne pathogens, particularly, S. aureus and Salmonella sp. showing its potentiality to be used as a natural antibacterial agent in the meat processing industry. The mechanism of antibiosis of plant extract against meat-borne pathogens is inferred to be bactericidal. Chemical constituents of the crude plant extract were analysed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), and UV-visible spectroscopy showing genkwanin (26%), camphor (13%), endo-borneol (13%), alpha-terpineol (12%), and hydroxyhydrocaffeic acid (13%) as the major compounds. Conclusion. Overall results of the present study conclude that R. officinalis could be an excellent source of antimicrobial agents for the management of drug-resistant bacteria as well as meat-borne pathogens.

Bacterial bloodstream infections are of great concern globally. Of late, the emergence of drug resistant bacteria worsen the related morbidity and mortality. This study was aimed to determine the bacterial profile, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and associated factors among the blood stream infection (BSI) suspected patients attending the Arba Minch General Hospital (AMGH), southern Ethiopia, from 01 June through 31st August, 2020. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 225 BSI suspected patients. Systematic random sampling method was used to select patients. Blood culture was done to isolate bacterial pathogens. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed by employing the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analysis were done by Statistical Package for Social Service (SPSS) version 22. The rate of prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed cases was 22/225 (9.8%). Majority of BSI were caused by Gram-positive cocci, 13/22 (59.1%), particularly the isolates of S. aureus, 7/22 (31.8%) followed by Enterococci species, 4/22 (18.2%) and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS), 2/22 (9.1%). Among the Gram-negative bacteria 9/22 (41.1%), Klebsiella species 4/22 (18.2%) was the prominent one followed by Escherichia coli 2/22 (9.1%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2/22 (9.1%), and Enterobacter species 1/22 (4.5%). All the isolates of Gram-negative bacteria were susceptible to meropenem whereas 69.2% of the isolates of Gram-positive counterparts were susceptible to erythromycin. Slightly above two third (68.2%) of the total isolates were multidrug resistant. Insertion of a peripheral intravenous line was significantly associated with BSI [p = 0.03; Adjusted Odds Ratio = 4.82; (Confidence Interval: 1.08–21.46)]. Overall results revealed that eventhough the prevalence of BSI in Arba Minch is comparatively lower (9.8%), multidrug resistance is alarmingly on the rise, which is to be addressed through effective surveillance and control strategies.

Intoduction Patient-care equipment and inanimate objects contaminated with bacteria are a persistent problem in countries like Ethiopia, and remain overlooked. This study aimed to elucidate the magnitude of contaminations, diversity, and antimicrobial-susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates from selected wards of Arba Minch General Hospital, Ethiopia. Methods Samples were inoculated into bacteriological media and identified by biochemical characterization, followed by antimicrobial-susceptibility tests. Results Of the 99 inanimate objects and items of patient-care equipment examined, 71 (71.7%) showed contamination: 26 (76.4%) from the surgical ward and 22 (66.6%) and 23 (71.8%), respectively, from the pediatric ward and neonatal intensive care unit. In the case of Gram-positive bacteria, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS; 52.2%) were predominant, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (47.7%), whereas common Gram-negative counterparts were Acinetobacter spp. (28.5%) and Klebsiella spp. (23.8%). Antibiograms of S. aureus and CoNS showed 100% and 78% resistance, respectively, against penicillin. Isolates of Acinetobacter spp. showed 100% resistance to ceftriaxone and ampicillin, whereas those of Klebsiella spp. displayed complete resistance against ampicillin and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole. All isolates of Citrobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli , and Serratia spp. exhibited 100% resistance to amoxicillin, ampicillin, and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole. Overall prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria was 57.7%. Conclusion A stringent infection-vigilance program comprising routine sampling from equipment and inanimate objects combined with antimicrobial-resistance surveillance and decontamination efforts must be instituted promptly.

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.