Urogenital Infections Among Women Attending Mwingi Hospital, Kitui County, Kenya: Safeguarding Antibiotics Through Microbiological Diagnosis.

Background: Urogenital infections pose a considerable public health threat, as almost half of women will experience urinary and reproductive system infections at some point in their lives. However, the urogenital infection burden is often not clear in some regions. Nevertheless, the misuse of antimicrobial agents, including self-prescription, has increased widespread antimicrobial resistance, limiting treatment benefits.

Study of bacterial respiratory infections and antimicrobial susceptibility profile among antibiotics naive outpatients visiting Meru teaching and referral hospital, Meru County, Kenya in 2018.

Objective: Respiratory tract infections cause significant morbidity and mortality globally and are the most common infectious diseases in humans. This study aims at assessing the presence of bacterial respiratory infections, number of people infected and antimicrobial susceptibility profile among antibiotic naïve outpatients presenting with respiratory tract infections in Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Methods: The study was conducted in Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital, Meru County from April 2017 to August 2018.

Efficacy of diversely isolated lytic phages against multi-drug resistant isolates in Kenya.

Background: causes nosocomial infections in 15% of patients in low- and middle-income countries with emergence of carbapenem resistance. The utilisation of bacteriophages for therapeutic purposes is crucial for eradicating these resistant bacterial strains.

Objective: This study evaluated the efficacy of lytic phages on bacterial isolates of and determined their stability in various physicochemical conditions.

Molecular Characterization and Diversity of Bacteria Isolated from Fish and Fish Products Retailed in Kenyan Markets.

Fish products are highly vulnerable to microbial contamination due to their soft tissues, making them perishable and harmful to consumers. The clinical and subclinical infections reported by fish consumers are mainly associated with pathogenic microorganisms in fish products. Therefore, this study aimed at establishing the molecular profiles and diversity of the bacterial isolates from fish and fish products obtained from Kirinyaga County markets in Kenya.

Risk factors of severe hepatotoxicity among HIV-1 infected individuals initiated on highly active antiretroviral therapy in the Northwest Region of Cameroon.

Background: Hepatotoxicity due to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has gained prominent attention since it can be affected by many factors. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatotoxicity and related risk factors of severe hepatotoxicity following HAART initiation.

Methods: A total of 100 drug-naive patients aged between 18 and 61 years were recruited.

Characteristics and treatment outcomes of HIV infected elderly patients enrolled in Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya.

Background: A better understanding of the baseline characteristics of elderly people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is relevant because the world's HIV population is ageing.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the baseline characteristics of PLWHA aged ≥ 50years at recruitment to HIV/AIDS clinic compared against the viral load (VL) and CD4 count among patients attending Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH), Kenya.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated temporal inclinations of CD4 levels, viral load change and baseline demographic characteristics in the electronic records at the hospital using a mixed error-component model for 1329 PLWHA attending clinic between January 2008 and December 2019.

Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of HAV and HBV Viruses among Jaundice Patients at Coast General Hospital, Mombasa County, Kenya.

Background: Hepatitis A and B causes morbidity and mortality among patients. This study determined the proportion of hepatitis A, B viruses (HAV, HBV) and genetic diversity of HBV among jaundice patients at the Coast General Hospital, Mombasa County, Kenya.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 222 patients; recruited and screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HAV IgM.

Hepatitis B virus genetic heterogeneity and drug resistance among jaundiced patients at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, Mombasa County, Kenya.

Objectives: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and emergence of drug resistance have remained one of the major public health puzzles. This study determined circulating HBV genotypes and nucleoside analog resistance to provide information in choosing the best therapy.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among jaundiced patients visiting Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital during the period between February and August 2018.

Secondary malaria vectors in western Kenya include novel species with unexpectedly high densities and parasite infection rates.

Background: Malaria vector control has been implemented chiefly through indoor interventions targeting primary vectors resulting in population declines-pointing to a possible greater proportional contribution to transmission by secondary malaria vectors with their predominant exophagic and exophilic traits. With a historical focus on primary vectors, there is paucity of data on secondary malaria vectors in many countries in Africa. This study sought to determine the species compositions and bionomic traits, including proportions infected with Plasmodium falciparum and phenotypic insecticide resistance, of secondary vectors in three sites with high malaria transmission in Kisumu County, western Kenya.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Salmonella species and Escherichia coli isolates from poultry feeds in Ruiru Sub-County, Kenya.

Objectives: Contaminated poultry feeds can be a major source of E. coli and Salmonella infections in poultry. This study aimed at determining microbial load, prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Salmonella sp.

Atypical cervical cytomorphologic predictors: a descriptive study of pre-cervical cancer patients of low education in Kenya.

Introduction: high risk HPV is the perpetrator of cervical cancer disease, however screening and vaccination is not included in cervical cancer prevention program within public hospitals in Kenya. This descriptive study assessed the association of specific microbial STI and socio-demographic characteristics and practices with cervical cytomorphologic presentations in regards to pre cervical cancer grades amongst health seeking patients attending the reproductive health clinic of Nakuru County referral hospital, a public hospital under newly devolved health services governance.

Methods: a total of 142 patients (AGC/AIS, n=8; HSIL, n=59; LSIL, n=35; controls, n=40) whose median age ranged between 20-70 years were purposively sampled.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 ((HIV-1) subtypes in the northwest region, Cameroon.

Background: The high genetic diversity of HIV-1 has been shown to influence the global distribution, disease progression, treatment success, and the development of an effective vaccine. Despite the low HIV prevalence in Cameroon, all the major HIV subtypes alongside several circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) and unique recombinant forms (URFs) have been reported in Cameroon. To date, HIV-1 diversity in some parts of Cameroon has been largely studied however, information on circulating HIV-1 subtypes in the Northwest region (NWR) of Cameroon is dearth.

Prevalence and detection of drug resistant mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis among drug naïve patients in Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB), an ancient scourge of humanity known for several thousands of years, is still a significant public health challenge in many countries today even though some progress has been made in recent years in controlling the disease. The study's aim was to determine the prevalence of mutations responsible for drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis among patients visiting selected health centers in Nairobi, Kenya.

Methods: The cross-sectional study involved 132 TB positive patients visiting Mbagathi and Chandaria hospitals between September 2015 and August 2016.

Antimicrobial resistance genes in Salmonella and Escherichia coli isolates from chicken droppings in Nairobi, Kenya.

Objective: Increase in antimicrobial resistance is a threat to health sector globally. Surveillance on the spread and emergence of antimicrobial resistance is therefore invertible. This study investigated prevalence of Salmonella and Escherichia coli, molecularly characterized their antimicrobial resistance patterns and spread among resistant isolates from chicken droppings.

Predominance of Hepatitis B Virus Genotype A Among Treated HIV Infected Patients Experiencing High Hepatitis B Virus Drug Resistance in Nairobi, Kenya.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-HIV coinfections are becoming common with information on HBV genetic diversity and drug resistance still remaining elusive. To evaluate the HBV genetic diversity and drug resistance-associated mutations among drug-experienced HIV patients, the genetic analysis of the partial HBV-pol-reverse trancriptase gene was successfully sequenced from 13 samples. Analysis of the sequences showed that all (11) the sequences belonged to genotype A.

RANTES Gene Polymorphisms Associated with HIV-1 Infections in Kenyan Population.

Previous studies have reported that two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the RANTES gene promoter region, -403G/A and -28C/G, are associated with a slower rate of decline in CD4+ T cell count. In addition, as a ligand of the major HIV coreceptor CCR5, it is known to block HIV-CCR5 interactions in the course of the HIV infection cycle. This study was carried out with the aim of determining the occurrence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) -403G > A and -28C > G in the promoter region of RANTES, in a subset of the Kenyan population.

Physico-chemical Analysis, Microbial Isolation, Sensitivity Test of the Isolates and Solar Disinfection of Water Running in Community Taps and River Kandutura in Nakuru North Sub-county, Kenya.

Nakuru North sub-county is a peri-urban area which has both dry and wet seasons. Its residents rely mostly on untreated water sources for daily water needs due to unreliable water supply from the urban council. However, this water has not been evaluated on its quality despite residents solely depending on it.

Hepatitis B virus sero-profiles and genotypes in HIV-1 infected and uninfected injection and Non-injection drug users from coastal Kenya.

Background: Information about HBV sero-markers, infection stages and genotypes in HIV-1 infected and uninfected injection and non-injection drug users (IDUs) in Kenya remains elusive.

Methods: A cross-sectional study examining HBV sero-marker, infection stages and genotypes was conducted among HIV-1 infected and uninfected, respectively, IDUs (n = 157 and n = 214) and non-IDUs (n = 139 and n = 48), and HIV-1 uninfected non-drug using controls (n = 194) from coastal, Kenya. HBV sero-marker and infection stages were based on HBV 5-panel rapid test plasma sero-reactivity.

Prevalence of Tinea capitis in school going children from Mathare, informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: Tinea capitis is a common infection especially in poor resource settings. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence Tinea capitis in children from selected schools from an urban slum in Nairobi city of Kenya.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 150 school going children during the period between May and September 2013.

HIV type 1 drug resistance patterns among patients failing first and second line antiretroviral therapy in Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: The ever-expanding rollout of antiretroviral therapy in poor resource settings without routine virological monitoring has been accompanied with development of drug resistance that has resulted in limited treatment success.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with one time viral load was conducted during the period between 2012 and 2013 to determine treatment failure and drug resistance mutations among adults receiving first-line (44) (3TC_d4T/AZT_NVP/EFV) and second-line (20) (3TC/AZT/LPV/r) in Nairobi, Kenya. HIV-1 pol-RT genotyping for drug resistance was performed using an in-house protocol.

Seroprevalence of Cytomegalo Virus (CMV) among pregnant women in Thika, Kenya.

Background: The fetal consequences of CMV infection have made it one of the most serious infections contracted during pregnancy. Despite the posed teratogenic risk during pregnancy, there is no national screening test for CMV infection is available during pregnancy in Kenya. Thus little is known on its epidemiological data that is necessary for health planners and care providers.

Population specific reference ranges of CD3, CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte subsets among healthy Kenyans.

Background: The enumeration of absolute CD4 counts is of primary importance for many medical conditions especially HIV infection where therapeutic initiation depends on the count. These ranges tend to vary across populations. However, these ranges have not been comprehensively established in the Kenyan population.

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C viral co-infections among HIV-1 infected individuals in Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infections among HIV-1 infected individuals are growing worldwide health problems characterized by lack of effective vaccines, need for expensive treatment, chronicity of morbidity and associated mortality. Their prevalence and distribution patterns continue to vary across geographical locations with high prevalence being detected among high risk populations. To determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV among HIV-1 infected individuals, blood samples were collected from consenting study subjects visiting comprehensive HIV clinics in Nairobi during the period between October and December 2009.