International Public Health Laboratory Twinning: An Innovative Approach to Strengthen the National Health Laboratory System in Uganda, 2014-2017.

International initiatives to strengthen national health laboratory systems in resource-poor countries are often hampered by unfamiliarity with the country's health laboratory environment and turnover of international partners during the initiative. This study provides an overview of, and lessons learned from, the use of a laboratory long-term partnership approach (ie, "twinning") to strengthen the national public health laboratory system in an international setting. We focused on the partnering of the Uganda Ministry of Health Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL) with the New Mexico State Public Health Laboratory to help the CPHL become Uganda's national public health reference laboratory (Uganda National Health Laboratory Services [UNHLS] Institute) and leader of its nascent Uganda National Health Laboratory Network (UNHLN).

A cholera outbreak caused by drinking contaminated river water, Bulambuli District, Eastern Uganda, March 2016.

Background: A cholera outbreak started on 29 February in Bwikhonge Sub-county, Bulambuli District in Eastern Uganda. Local public health authorities implemented initial control measures. However, in late March, cases sharply increased in Bwikhonge Sub-county.

Antimicrobial Drug Resistance in Blood Culture Isolates at a Tertiary Hospital, Uganda.

We summarize antimicrobial drug resistance (AMR) patterns from blood cultures at a tertiary hospital in Uganda. High rates of resistance to first-line antibiotic drugs were observed among Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative organisms. Microbiology services with susceptibility testing should be strengthened to support standardized reporting of AMR data in sub-Saharan Africa.

Effectiveness of the credit-line approach for support of CD4 equipment functionality in northern Uganda.

Background: Improving laboratory service delivery requires a functioning logistics and supply system. Uganda's Ministry of Health uses the credit-line approach to provide laboratory supplies including commodities for CD4 test equipment.

Objectives: We examined the effectiveness of the credit-line approach in improving laboratory service delivery by using the functionality of CD4 test equipment as a proxy indicator.