Bacterial aetiology, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and factors associated with urinary tract infection among under-five children at primary health facility, North-Western Tanzania.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are common in under-five children, with significant consequences leading to bacteremia, dehydration, kidney scarring, and renal failure. The incidence of UTI varies with patients' demographics and geographic location. Limited studies have addressed UTI issues, particularly in children.

Polymicrobial bloodstream infections a risk factor for mortality in neonates at the national hospital, Tanzania: A case-control study.

Background: Polymicrobial bloodstream infections (BSI) are difficult to treat since empiric antibiotics treatment are frequently less effective against multiple pathogens. The study aimed to compare outcomes in patients with polymicrobial and monomicrobial BSIs.

Methods: The study was a retrospective case-control design conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital for data processed between July 2021 and June 2022.

Bacterial Aetiology of Neonatal Sepsis and Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern at the Regional Referral Hospital, Dar es Salam, Tanzania; A Call to Strengthening Antibiotic Stewardship Program.

The diagnosis of neonatal sepsis in lower-income countries is mainly based on clinical presentation. The practice necessitates empirical treatment with limited aetiology and antibiotic susceptibility profile knowledge, prompting the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the aetiology of neonatal sepsis and antimicrobial resistance patterns.

Molecular Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Dengue Fever Viruses in Three Outbreaks in Tanzania Between 2017 and 2019.

Background: Dengue is a disease of public health interest, and Tanzania experienced major outbreaks in 2014 and 2019. Here, we report our findings on the molecular characterization of dengue viruses (DENV) that circulated during two smaller outbreaks (2017 and 2018) and one major epidemic (2019) in Tanzania.

Methodology/principal Findings: We tested archived serum samples from 1,381 suspected dengue fever patients, with a median age of 29 (IQR:22-40) years, referred to the National Public Health Laboratory for confirmation of DENV infection.

Predominance of Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria on Contaminated Surfaces at a Tertiary Hospital in Tanzania: A Call to Strengthening Environmental Infection Prevention and Control Measures.

The spreading of multidrug resistance (MDR) strains in the hospital settings via contaminated surfaces have been increasingly reported where Gram-negative bacteria have been implicated in causing most nosocomial infections. This study aimed to determine the rate of contamination with multi-resistant gram-negative bacteria in the hospital environment. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital paediatric department, between July and August 2020.

Impaired fasting glucose levels among perinatally HIV-infected adolescents and youths in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Objective: This study assessed impaired fasting glucose and associated factors among perinatally HIV-infected adolescents and youths in Dar es salaam Tanzania.

Background: Impaired fasting glucose is a marker of heightened risk for developing type 2 diabetes among perinatally HIV-infected individuals. Therefore, identifying individuals at this stage is crucial to enable early intervention.

Genetic relatedness, virulence factors and antibiotics susceptibility pattern of Vibrio cholerae isolates from various regions during cholera outbreak in Tanzania.

Background: Cholera continues to cause morbidity and mortality in developing countries, including Tanzania. Since August 2015, Tanzania Mainland has experienced cholera outbreaks affecting 26 regions and a 1.6% case fatality rate.

Bacterial vaginosis, the leading cause of genital discharge among women presenting with vaginal infection in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Background: Pathological vaginal discharge is a common complaint of women in reproductive age worldwide caused by various agents. The prevalence and etiologic agents vary depending on the population studied. Management of vaginal discharge in low-income countries, typically depend on the syndromic approach, which limits understanding the specific causative agents.

Seroprevalence of Human Herpesvirus Infections in Newly Diagnosed HIV-Infected Key Populations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Background: Human herpesvirus (HHV) infections can significantly increase the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and accelerate disease progression. In the population at high risk of HIV infection, also termed as key populations (female sex workers (FSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), and people who inject drugs (PWID)), and their sexual partners, HHV infections can potentially compromise the efforts to prevent and control HIV infection. Here, we investigated the seroprevalence of HHV infections among HIV-infected key populations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

High Level of Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Pathogens Causing Burn Wound Infections in Hospitalized Children in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Background: Bacterial infection remains the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients with burn wounds. The increase in infection and multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens necessitates a periodic review of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in the burn units. The study aimed to determine the magnitude of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative (MDRGN) bacteria in children with burn wound infections and describe the resistance patterns in the tertiary and regional hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Prevalence, recent infection and predictors of HIV infection in fishing community along the shore of Lake Victoria in Tanzania.

Background: Fishing communities are a subpopulation burdened by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), mainly due to their mobility and cash income access. Strategies to mitigate the spread of HIV in fishing communities have varying outcomes. We conducted a study to determine the prevalence of HIV, recent infection and associated factors among fishing communities at Lake Victoria in Tanzania.

High Carriage Rate of Extended-Spectrum -Lactamase-Producing and Species among Poultry Meat Vendors in Dar es Salaam: The Urgent Need for Intervention to Prevent the Spread of Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens.

Background: Bacteria possessing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), especially and a species, are problematic, particularly in hospitalized patients. Poultry meat vendors are at risk of carrying ESBL-producing bacteria when processing and handling meat products in an unhygienic environment. There is limited information on the carriage rate of ESBL-producing pathogens among poultry meat vendors that necessitated the conduction of the study.

Frequent and Durable Anti-HIV Envelope VIV2 IgG Responses Induced by HIV-1 DNA Priming and HIV-MVA Boosting in Healthy Tanzanian Volunteers.

We evaluated antibody responses to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope variable regions 1 and 2 (V1V2) in 29 vaccinees who had received three HIV-1 DNA immunizations and two HIV-modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) boosts in the phase I/II HIVIS03 vaccine trial. Twenty vaccinees received a third HIV-MVA boost after three years in the HIVIS06 trial. IgG and IgG antibody subclasses to gp70V1V2 proteins of HIV-1 A244, CN54, Consensus C, and Case A2 were analysed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Frequent Anti-V1V2 Responses Induced by HIV-DNA Followed by HIV-MVA with or without CN54rgp140/GLA-AF in Healthy African Volunteers.

Antibody responses that correlated with reduced risk of HIV acquisition in the RV144 efficacy trial were assessed in healthy African volunteers who had been primed three times with HIV-DNA (subtype A, B, C) and then randomized into two groups; group 1 was boosted twice with HIV-MVA (CRF01_AE) and group 2 with the same HIV-MVA coadministered with subtype C envelope (Env) protein (CN54rgp140/GLA-AF). The fine specificity of plasma Env-specific antibody responses was mapped after the final vaccination using linear peptide microarray technology. Binding IgG antibodies to the V1V2 loop in CRF01_AE and subtype C Env and Env-specific IgA antibodies were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Induction of Identical IgG HIV-1 Envelope Epitope Recognition Patterns After Initial HIVIS-DNA/MVA-CMDR Immunization and a Late MVA-CMDR Boost.

In the RV144 trial, to date the only HIV-1 vaccine efficacy trial demonstrating a modestly reduced risk of HIV-1 acquisition, antibody responses toward the HIV Envelope protein (Env) variable (V) 2 and V3 regions were shown to be correlated with a reduced risk of infection. These potentially protective antibody responses, in parallel with the vaccine efficacy, however, waned quickly. Dissecting vaccine-induced IgG recognition of antigenic regions and their variants within the HIV-1 Env from different vaccine trials will aid in designing future HIV-1 immunogens and vaccination schedules.

Etiologic Agents of Fever of Unknown Origin Among Patients Attending Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Zanzibar.

Background: Fever of unknown origin (FUO) remains an important public health problem. With malaria transmission declining in some parts of Africa, the evidence suggests other infectious agents now account for most FUO. The purpose of this study was to identify the etiologic agents of FUO in a cross-section of patients at the Mnazi Mmoja hospital in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Seroprevalence of Brucella infection and associated factors among pregnant women receiving antenatal care around human, wildlife and livestock interface in Ngorongoro ecosystem, Northern Tanzania. A cross-sectional study.

Background: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals, animal products or consumption of infected dairy products. Brucella infection during pregnancy is of special interest due to association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study determined the seroprevalence and factors associated with Brucella infection among pregnant women around the human-wildlife-livestock interface area in Ngorongoro ecosystem, Northern Tanzania.

Factors associated with Salmonella infection in patients with gastrointestinal complaints seeking health care at Regional Hospital in Southern Highland of Tanzania.

Background: Salmonellosis remains an important public health problem globally. The disease is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries that experience poor hygiene and lack of access to clean and safe water. There was an increase in reported cases of Salmonellosis in Njombe Region, Southern Highland of Tanzania between 2015 and 2016 based on clinical diagnosis.

Prospective exploration of the effect of adiposity and associated microbial factors on healing and progression of diabetic foot ulcers in Tanzania: study protocol of a longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are associated with high morbidity and mortality in low-income countries. This coexists with an increasing prevalence of obesity which has been reported to alter antimicrobial susceptibility and potentially affect the outcome of infected foot ulcers. This study aims to determine whether adiposity and local microbial factors affect the progression and healing of foot ulcers in people with type 2 diabetes in hospital settings in Tanzania.