People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are more likely to develop urinary tract infections (UTI) due to the suppression of their immunity. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, risk factors of UTI, and drug susceptibility pattern of bacteria isolated among peoples infected with HIV. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 224 HIV positive individuals attending Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (HUCSH) from September 17 to November 16, 2018. Midstream urine was collected from all study participants and inoculated on to Blood and MacConkey agar. Bacterial isolates were characterized by Gram stain and standard biochemical tests. Kirby-Bauer method was used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected by a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. A bivariate and a multivariable regression model were employed to determine the association between dependent and independent variables. From the total 224 study participants, 23 (10.3%) (95% CI 6.7–14.7) had culture-confirmed UTIs. The distributions of the bacteria were as follows: Escherichia coli 16 (69.6%), Staphylococcus aureus 2 (8.7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 2 (8.7%), Enterobacter aerogenes 2 (8.7%) and Pseudomonas species 1 (4.3%). UTI prevalence was also high among study participants with a previous history of UTI and CD4+ count < 200/mm3. Female study participants were about five times more likely to have UTI (AOR 5.3, 95% CI 1.5–19.2). Ninety-three percent of bacteria isolated were susceptible to nitrofurantoin, ceftriaxone, and gentamycin; 87.5% were susceptible to meropenem and norfloxacin; whereas 93.8%, 68.8%, and 62.5% of isolates were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, and cotrimoxazole respectively. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was seen in 18 (78.3%) of bacterial isolates.

Background Asymptomatic Plasmodium infection (API) that occurs during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirths, abortion, premature delivery, and low birth weight. API also hinders the control and prevention of malaria as infected hosts serve as silent reservoirs for transmission of Plasmodium species in the community. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of API and associated factors among pregnant women. This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Merti district, Oromia, Ethiopia among 364 pregnant women from March to September 2018. Methods Sociodemographic and obstetrics features were collected using a structured questionnaire. About 2ml of blood was collected from participants to detect Plasmodium species, gametocyte carriage rate, parasite density, and anemia. Results The prevalence of API among pregnant women was 3.6%. The proportion of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax was 6(46.2%) and 7(53.8%) respectively. Out of 13 Plasmodium species identified, Gametocyte carriage rate was 4(30.7%). The geometric mean density of the asexual stage of the parasites was 994.7(interquartile [IQR], 320 to 2200) parasites/ul. The geometric mean gametocyte density was 303.3 (interquartile range [IQR], 160 to 600). The proportion of anemia among Plasmodium-infected participants was 12(92.3%). Previous infection by Plasmodium species (AOR = 5.42; 95% CI: 1.19–29.03, p = 0.047), lack of insecticide-treated bed net use (AOR = 6.52; 95% CI: 1.17–36.44, p = 0.032), and living close to stagnant water (AOR = 4.18; 95% CI (1.12–17.36, p = 0.049) were significantly associated with API. Anemia was significantly higher among Plasmodium-infected than non-infected pregnant women (x2 = 27.62, p <0.001). Conclusion In the current study, a relatively high prevalence of API was detected among pregnant women. Identifying API in the community is important to prevent the unwanted outcomes of Plasmodium infection and its transmission.

Background: Eye infection is a public health problem in developing countries including Ethiopia. Bacteria are major causative agents of eye infections that can lead to loss of vision. The objective of this study was to determine bacterial etiology of ocular and periocular infections, antimicrobial susceptibility profile and associated factors among patients who visited the eye unit of Shashamane Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (SCSH). Method: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at SCSH from September 1, 2018, to March 30, 2019. Specimens from the ocular and periocular areas were collected from a total of 332 patients who visited the eye unit. Specimens were inoculated on blood agar, chocolate agar, MacConkey agar, and mannitol salt agar. Isolated bacteria were identified by a series of biochemical tests using the standard bacteriological method. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute by disk diffusion method. Factors that could be associated with ocular and periocular infection were collected by using structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 22.0 software package. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: Out of the total 332 study participants with ocular and periocular infections, 198(60%) were culture positive. The proportion of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were 135(68.2%) and 63(31.8%) respectively. Among Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus were predominant. Among Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli were predominant. Most S. aureus were resistant to penicillin. Conclusion: Majority of ocular and periocular infections in this study were caused by bacteria; Gram-positive bacteria were responsible for most cases.

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Background Group B streptococcus (GBS) is reported as the leading cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis. Newborns from GBS colonized pregnant women are at high risk of infection. Method A Hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from November 05, 2014 to March 25, 2015. A total of 280 pregnant women along with their newborns were screened for GBS using standard method recommended by Center of Disease Control and Prevention. GBS strains were serotyped by using serotype specific antisera. A structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, obstetrics and clinical data of pregnant women and newborns. Data was analyzed by using chi-square and logistic regression to determine factors associated with prevalence of GBS among pregnant women and newborns. Descriptive statistics was used to determine prevalence of GBS among pregnant women and newborns. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result Prevalence of GBS among pregnant women, newborns and vertical transmission rate at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital were 44(15.7%), 26(8.9%) and 59.1% respectively. Among 26 GBS colonized newborns one developed sign and symptoms of early onset disease. Serotype distribution of GBS isolates collected from pregnant women and newborns was Ia 13(18.6%), Ib 9(12.9%), II 24(34.3%), III 8(11.4%), V 14(20%), and NT 2 (2.9%). Conclusion In our study we found relatively high prevalence of GBS among pregnant women and vertical transmission rate. The most prevalent GBS serotypes identified in this study were serotype II followed by V, Ia and Ib. Therefore, appropriate prevention strategies such as intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis and vaccine development should be considered.