Phenotypic drug resistance and genetic mutations linked to resistance among extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients in Ethiopia: Insights from Whole Genome Sequencing.

Globally, drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is responsible for 13% of mortality attributable to antimicrobial resistance. In Ethiopia, extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is a significant public health challenge, and drug resistance (DR) in EPTB is often overlooked. In a cross-sectional study conducted between August 2022 and October 2023, we aimed to explore the magnitude of phenotypic drug resistance and identify genetic mutations linked to resistance using 189 Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates cultured from extrapulmonary clinical specimens.

Assessment of systemic steroid use and its determinants among admitted patients at Debre Berhan University Hakim Gizawu Teaching Hospital.

Rational use of steroids is essential in the long term for improving patient safety. Systemic steroids are important in clinical treatment, but if they are misused, they might have negative effects. This study assessed systemic steroid use and its determinants at Debre Berhan University Hakim Gizawu Teaching Hospital (DBUHGTH), Ethiopia.

Level of health literacy and associated factors among Jimma town public high school adolescent students: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the level of health literacy and its associated factors among Jimma town public high school adolescents, Jimma, Oromia, Southwest Ethiopia, 2023.

Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2023 among 604 Jimma town public high school adolescents. A multistage sampling technique was employed to recruit study participants.

Health-related quality of life and complications of corticosteroid treatment in patients with immune thrombocytopenia in two teaching hospitals in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The treatment of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a major clinical challenge and has a significant impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and prolonged use of corticosteroids may have a negative impact on HRQoL.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of ITP on HRQoL and complications of corticosteroid treatment in patients with ITP in two teaching hospitals in Ethiopia.

Methods: The institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 15, 2022, to March 15, 2023, to recruit 214 study participants during the study period (4 months).

Potentially inappropriate prescribing in elderly patients with epilepsy at two referral hospitals in Ethiopia.

Introduction: The prevalence of drug therapy problems in patients with epilepsy has been reported to be as high as 70-90%. Moreover, elderly patients with epilepsy are highly vulnerable to inappropriate therapies. This study aimed to evaluate potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIP) in elderly patients with epilepsy at the adult neurology clinics of two referral hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Antimicrobial resistance profile of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients, healthcare workers, and the environment in a tertiary hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Staphylococcus aureus infection and colonization in patients may be transmitted to healthcare providers and the environment and subsequently cause healthcare-associated infections in other patients. Pathogenic S. aureus strains produce virulence factors, such as Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL), that contribute to the severity of infections and aid in their spread.

Male support for cervical cancer screening in Debre Berhan City Ethiopia a community based cross sectional survey.

Male partner involvement strongly influences a woman's decision to undergo cervical cancer screening. Women of low socioeconomic status are disproportionately affected by cervical cancer. Women living in low-and middle-income countries often encounter resistance from their partners regarding participation in cervical cancer screening.

Genomic characterization of Dengue virus circulation in Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, dengue virus (DENV) infections have been reported in several regions, however, little is known about the circulating genetic diversity. Here, we conducted clinical surveillance for DENV during the 2023 nationwide outbreak and sequenced DENV whole genomes for the first time in Ethiopia. We enrolled patients at three sentinel hospital sites.

Mapping the evidence on integrated service delivery for non-communicable and infectious disease comorbidity in sub-Saharan Africa: protocol for a scoping review.

Introduction: The concurrent occurrence of infectious diseases (IDs) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) presents complex healthcare challenges in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where healthcare systems often grapple with limited resources. While an integrated care approach has been advocated to address these complex challenges, there is a recognised gap in comprehensive evidence regarding the various models of integrated care, their components and the feasibility of their implementation. This scoping review aims to bridge this gap by examining the breadth and nature of evidence on integrated care models for NCDs and IDs within SSA, thereby updating the current evidence base in the domain.

Cervical cancer: Challenges and prevention strategies: A narrative review.

Background And Aims: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections that continue to exist are the main cause of cervical cancer (CC), two-thirds of CC occurrences worldwide are caused by HPV 16 and HPV 18, and 99.7% of CC tumors are linked to oncogenic HPV infection. To identify challenges of CC and its prevention and treatment modalities.

Treatment outcomes and adherence to treatment in patients with immune thrombocytopenia in two Ethiopian teaching hospitals: a retrospective cohort study.

The treatment of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is challenging and treatment outcomes depend on numerous unknown and patient-specific factors. Corticosteroids are the cornerstone of ITP treatment, but they are associated with many side effects. In this retrospective cohort study, treatment outcomes and treatment adherence in patients with ITP were investigated in 214 ITP patients from November 15, 2022 to March 15, 2023.

Genotypic and phenotypic drug resistance patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Ethiopia: A multicenter study.

Background: The emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) has been a major obstacle to global tuberculosis control programs, especially in developing countries, including Ethiopia. This study investigated drug resistance patterns and associated mutations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex (MTBC) isolates from the Amhara, Gambella, and Benishangul-Gumuz regions of Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using 128 MTBC isolates obtained from patients with presumptive tuberculosis (TB).

Population structure and spatial distribution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is one of the countries with a high tuberculosis (TB) burden, yet little is known about the spatial distribution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) lineages. This study identifies the spoligotyping of 1735 archived Mtb isolates from the National Drug Resistance Survey, collected between November 2011 and June 2013, to investigate Mtb population structure and spatial distribution. Spoligotype International Types (SITs) and lineages were retrieved from online databases.

Prevalence, Characteristics, and Treatment Pattern of Menstrual-Related Headache Among Undergraduate Health Sciences Students at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.

Background: Menstrual-related headache (MRH) is the most prevalent health condition among young females that limits productivity and social life. However, the magnitude of the problem and its characteristics have not been studied in Ethiopia.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence, characteristics, and treatment of MRH among undergraduate female students at the College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.

Assessment of the appropriateness of stress ulcer prophylaxis use and its determinants among admitted surgical patients at Debre Berhan University Hakim Gizaw Hospital, Ethiopia. A hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Pharmacological stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) has been recommended for many years to reduce the risk of clinically significant upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding caused by stress ulcers (SUs). Stress-related ulcer bleeding in surgical patients significantly increases morbidity and mortality. Therefore, preventing stress-induced hemorrhage is the most appropriate measure for patients who are at increased risk.

Antimicrobial resistance trends in clinical and in Ethiopia.

Background: Clinicians rely on local antimicrobial resistance pattern data to guide empiric treatment for seriously ill patients when culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing results are not immediately available.

Objective: This study aimed to analyse 5-year trends in antimicrobial resistance profiles of and isolates.

Methods: Bacteriology reports from 2017 to 2021 at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute were analysed retrospectively.

Health-related quality of life and its associated factors among hemophilia patients: experience from Ethiopian Hemophilia Treatment Centre.

Background: Hemophilia is a rare genetic condition that is often overlooked and underdiagnosed, particularly in low-income countries. Long-term spontaneous joint bleeding and soft tissues can have a significant negative impact on a patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The objective of this study was to assess HRQoL and its associated factors in Ethiopian patients with hemophilia.

Antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacterial isolates from clinical specimens referred to Ethiopian Public Health Institute: analysis of 5-year data.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is one of the common global public health problems. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance is multifactorial, and tackling its development is challenging. Consequently, infections caused by resistant bacteria are unresponsive to conventional drugs, resulting in prolonged and severe illnesses, higher mortality rates, and considerable healthcare costs.

Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of and Species at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Ethiopia: A Five-Year Retrospective Analysis.

Purpose: The study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance patterns of and species isolated from clinical specimens over a period of five years, including resistance to methicillin and vancomycin.

Patients And Methods: Bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing reports from 2017 to 2021 at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute were used for this retrospective study. The organisms were identified using either BD Phoenix M50, Vitek 2 compact, or conventional biochemical methods, whichever was available at the time of testing.

Reliability and validity of the Amharic version of immune thrombocytopenia life quality index tool for assessment of the health-related quality of life in Ethiopian patients of immune thrombocytopenia: Cross-sectional study.

Background: Platelet count and bleeding risk are frequently used in clinical assessments of the severity of immune thrombocytopenia. On the other hand, immune thrombocytopenia also influences patients' health-related quality of life. The immune thrombocytopenia life quality index is a new tool for evaluating health-related quality of life in immune thrombocytopenia patients.

Management Practice and Clinical Outcomes of Dementia in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review.

Background: Dementia is a severe neurodegenerative disorder and it is a group of acquired symptoms associated with impaired cognitive functions. In low-income settings particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), it is often seen as part of normal aging. Environmental, behavioral, and lifestyle interventions have the potential to alter the disease course of dementia.

Cyclin A2 and Ki-67 proliferation markers could be used to identify tumors with poor prognosis in African American women with breast cancer.

Background: Diagnosed invasive breast carcinomas in African American patients are more aggressive compared with those in Caucasian patients and diagnosed at later stages of the disease with higher grade tumors. Despite advances in breast cancer systemic treatment, new prognostic and predictive biomarkers are still needed. Therefore, potential biomarkers were chosen to correlate with different subtypes, recurrence, and survival of invasive breast cancer in a cohort of African American women.