Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase and Carbapenemase-Producing Gram-Negative Bacteria and Associated Factors Among Patients Suspected of Community and Hospital-Acquired Urinary Tract Infections at Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Tigrai, Ethiopia.

Background: Little is known about bacteria that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemase in patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Tigrai, Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to describe the magnitude of ESBL- and carbapenemase -producing gram-negative bacteria among patients suspected of community- and hospital-acquired UTIs at a referral hospital in Tigrai, Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Ayder Comprehensive Specialized hospital from January 2020 to June 2020.

Hepatitis B and C viral coinfections and their association with HIV viral load suppression among HIV-1 infected patients on ART at Mekelle hospital, northern Ethiopia.

Background: Although Ethiopia is endemic to viral hepatitis and HIV, data that could guide population-specific interventions are limited. In this study, we determined the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and assessed their associations with HIV-1 viral load suppression among HIV-1 infected patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) at Mekelle hospital in northern Ethiopia.

Methods: Between February and April 2020, blood samples were collected from 439 participants.

Guideline Recommendations for Empirical Antimicrobial Therapy: An Appraisal of Research Evidence for Clinical Decision-Making in Ethiopia.

Introduction: The rapid spread of drug resistance is forcing standard treatment guidelines (STGs) to become more appropriate with due consideration of the evidence on the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) situation in Ethiopia. Therefore, we aimed to assess the local AMR recommendations in the STGs for empirical antibacterial prescriptions for the five common infectious syndromes. We also determined the quality of AMR reviews conducted in the country.

Tuberculosis case detection by trained inmate peer educators in a resource-limited prison setting in Ethiopia: a cluster-randomised trial.

Background: To improve tuberculosis case detection, interventions that are feasible with available resources are needed. We investigated whether involving trained prison inmates in a tuberculosis control programme improved tuberculosis case detection, shortened pre-treatment symptom duration, and increased treatment success in a resource-limited prison setting in Ethiopia.

Methods: In this cluster-randomised trial we randomly assigned prisons in the regions Amhara and Tigray of Ethiopia to an intervention group or a control group, after matching them into pairs based on their geographical proximity and size.

Microbial spectrum and drug-resistance profile of isolates causing bloodstream infections in febrile cancer patients at a referral hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: The spectrum of pathogens causing bloodstream infections (BSIs) in cancer patients has shown significant fluctuations in different geographical areas and time. We studied the microbial spectrum and drug-resistance profile of pathogens causing BSIs in febrile cancer patients at a referral hospital in Ethiopia.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2011 and June 2012 at Tikur Anbessa Hospital in Addis Ababa.

Tuberculosis treatment outcome and predictors in northern Ethiopian prisons: a five-year retrospective analysis.

Background: The prison situations are notorious for causing interruptions of tuberculosis (TB) treatment and occurrence of unfavorable outcomes. In Ethiopian prisons, though TB treatment programs exist, treatment outcome results and factors contributing to unsuccessful outcome are not well documented. In this study, we assessed the treatment outcome of TB cases and identified risk factors for unsuccessful outcome in northern Ethiopian prisons.

Rare bacterial isolates causing bloodstream infections in Ethiopian patients with cancer.

Background: In recent years, saprophytic bacteria have been emerging as potential human pathogens causing life-threatening infections in patients with malignancies. However, evidence is lacking concerning such bacteria, particularly in sub-Saharan countries. This study was designed to determine the spectrum and drug resistance profile of the rare bacterial pathogens causing bloodstream infections (BSIs) in febrile cancer patients at a referral hospital in Ethiopia.

One-fourth of the prisoners are underweight in Northern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Despite the fact that prisoners are exposed to different health problems, prison health problems are often overlooked by researchers and no previous study has investigated nutritional problems of prisoners in Ethiopia.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from 809 prisoners from nine major prison setups in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. A proportional stratified sampling technique was used to select the total number of participants needed from each prison site.

A survey on undiagnosed active pulmonary tuberculosis among pregnant mothers in mekelle and surrounding Districts in Tigray, Ethiopia.

Objective/background: To determine the prevalence of undiagnosed active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) cases and sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of symptom combinations for undiagnosed TB infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and HIV-negative pregnant mothers attending antenatal care (ANC) clinics. Mycobacterium TB and HIV are the leading causes of death among women of reproductive age worldwide. Symptom screening is the first step in the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended TB intensified case finding algorithm for people living with HIV.

Burden and Determinants of Smoking among Prisoners with Respiratory Tract Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study of Nine Major Prison Setups in Northern Ethiopia.

Background: Morbidity, mortality and a wide range of associated risk factors are disproportionately clustered among prisoners compared to the general population. Smoking is one of the risk factors for the increased burden of unfavorable health outcomes particularly among prisoners. However, little is known about the level and determinants of smoking among the incarcerated population in Ethiopia.

More than half of presumptive multidrug-resistant cases referred to a tuberculosis referral laboratory in the Tigray region of Ethiopia are multidrug resistant.

Objective/background: Generating epidemiological data on multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is essential to assess the magnitude and trends of anti-TB drug resistance. This study determined the prevalence of MDR-TB among presumptive MDR cases referred to a TB referral laboratory in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 262 culture-positive presumptive MDR-TB samples submitted to the Tigray Regional Research Laboratory for MDR testing between January 2013 and August 2014.

Half of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Cases Were Left Undiagnosed in Prisons of the Tigray Region of Ethiopia: Implications for Tuberculosis Control.

Introduction: Prison settings have been often identified as important but neglected reservoirs for TB. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed pulmonary TB and assess the potential risk factors for such TB cases in prisons of the Tigray region.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2013 and February 2014 in nine prisons.

Prevalence and drug resistance profile of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from pulmonary tuberculosis patients attending two public hospitals in East Gojjam zone, northwest Ethiopia.

Background: The spread of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) strains has become a challenge to the global TB control and prevention program. In Ethiopia, particularly in rural areas, information on drug-resistant TB is very limited. In this study, we determined the drug resistance patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.