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.

ObjectiveUnhygienically handled fruits and vegetables which are usually consumed in raw serve to transmit various infectious diseases. Bacteria are among the common vegetable contaminants. However, the species of contaminants and rate of contamination depends on various environmental and human factors. Hence, a cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the level of bacterial contamination and associated factors among vegetables marketed in Arba Minch town from January to March, 2018. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data regarding factors associated with bacterial contamination of vegetables. Selected vegetables were purchased and processed for examination of bacterial contamination by standard culture technique following standard protocols. All data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.ResultsA total of 347 vegetable samples were examined, of which 169 (48.7%) were positive for bacteria contamination. Cabbage (71.9%) was the most frequently contaminated vegetable. E. coli (31.4%) was the most frequent contaminant detected. Type of vegetables (p = 0.000) and market place (p = 0.039) show significant association with bacterial contamination. Bacterial contamination rate in the present study was significantly considerable. Therefore we recommend for the local health office to continuously monitor the contamination status of raw edible vegetables and take respective measures.

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: 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.

The levels of indoor air microbial load in hospitals are very crucial to the health of patients and health care workers and are to be regularly monitored and maintained at an acceptable level. However, this problem remains overlooked, particularly in developing countries including Ethiopia. A hospital-based cross-sectional study is designed to determine the indoor air microbial load (settle plate technique), microbial isolates (standard microbiological techniques), bacterial susceptibility profiles (Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique), and associated factors, in different wards of the title Hospital, southern Ethiopia. An observational checklist was used to collect relevant information related to the associated factors; descriptive and inferential statistics were applied using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS); p-values ≤ 0.05 in the multivariable analysis were considered statistically significant. The total average bacterial and fungal load of the selected wards was 1914±1081.4 Colony Forming Units (CFU)/m3 (95% CI: 1718.5–2109.48 CFU/m3) and 1533.7±858.8 CFU/m3 (95% CI: 1378.5-1688CFU/m3) respectively. The highest mean bacterial (1914±1081.4 CFU/m3) and fungal (1533.7±858.8 CFU/m3) loads were found in the male surgical and female medical wards respectively. A total of 229 bacterial and 139 fungal isolates were obtained; Gram-positive bacteria were the predominant type, 130 (56.7%), particularly the isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, 46 (20.1%). The predominant fungal isolates were Aspergillus sp., 53(38%). Percentages of multidrug-resistant (MDR), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), and carbapenemase producers respectively were 48.5, 26.5, and 25%. High room crowd index [p = 0.003; Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 12.5 (Confidence Interval (CI) 95%: 2.42–65)], presence of damp/wet materials [p = 0.025; AOR 7 (CI 95%: 1.3–37.4)], intense room traffic [p = 0.004; AOR 9.6 (CI 95%: 1.2–79.3)], inappropriate storage of food and drugs [p = 0.008; AOR 7.5 (CI 95%: 1.7–32)], and unclean environment [p = 0.03; AOR 5.8 (CI 95%: 1.2–28)] showed statistical significance concerning the indoor air microbial loads; most of the wards in Arba Minch General Hospital (AMGH) stand high and not in an acceptable level as per the WHO and the European Commission standards on indoor air microbial load. Periodic air surveillance and infection prevention control programs are required to reduce the transmission of these microbes to inpatients, visitors, and health care workers.