Access to the World Health Organization-recommended essential diagnostics for invasive fungal infections in critical care and cancer patients in Africa: A diagnostic survey.

Background: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) contribute to significant morbidity and mortality among patients with haemato-oncological conditions, seriously ill hospitalised patients and those in intensive care (ICU). We surveyed for the World Health Organization-recommended essential diagnostic tests for IFIs in these risk groups in Africa.

Methods: The Global Action For Fungal Infections (GAFFI) evaluated the different levels of access to both diagnostics for IFIs for populations in Africa, with the aim of building a comparative dataset and a publicly available interactive map.

Disseminated Cryptococcosis Is a Common Finding among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients with Suspected Sepsis and Is Associated with Higher Mortality Rates.

Cryptococcosis is the leading cause of death among people with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. The lack of optimum diagnoses and medications significantly impair the management of the disease. We investigated the burden of cryptococcosis and related mortality among people with HIV and suspected sepsis in Ethiopia.

Efficacy of Penicillin-Streptomycin Brands against : Concordance between Veterinary Clinicians' Perception and the Realities.

Antibiotics must be safe and effective for use in both human and veterinary medicine. However, information about the efficacy of different brands of antibiotics commonly used in veterinary practices is lacking in Ethiopia. In this study, we determined the efficacy of three brands of penicillin-streptomycin (Pen&strep, Penstrep, and Pro&strep) by performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing against isolated from cow milk from dairy farms in the towns of Sebata and Bishoftu, Central Ethiopia.

RETRACTED: Gradual emergence followed by exponential spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Africa.

The geographic and evolutionary origins of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (BA.1), which was first detected mid-November 2021 in Southern Africa, remain unknown. We tested 13,097 COVID-19 patients sampled between mid-2021 to early 2022 from 22 African countries for BA.

Prevalence of among asymptomatic HIV-positive and negative individuals in Central Ethiopia and efficacy of eradication therapy.

Objectives: is a widespread pathogen and major contributor to dyspeptic disease and gastric cancer. Although the interaction between HIV and infection is not well investigated, previous studies have suggested a decreased prevalence of and limited efficacy of eradication therapy in HIV-positive individuals. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence of infection according to HIV status and analyze the efficacy of eradication therapy in Ethiopia.

Risk-adjusted active tuberculosis case finding strategy in central Ethiopia.

Background: The World Health Organization recommends active case finding for tuberculosis (TB). Our study evaluated the targeted screening of household contacts (HHCs) of patients with contagious pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Central Ethiopia.

Methods: The HHCs of patients with microbiologically confirmed PTB were screened for TB symptoms and risk factors for TB transmission.

The implementation of the Kinyoun staining technique in a resource-limited setting is feasible and reveals a high prevalence of intestinal cryptosporidiosis in patients with HIV.

Objectives: In resource-limited settings, intestinal Cryptosporidial or coccidian infections are common causes of chronic diarrhea but usually remain undiagnosed by routine stool investigation. Here, the addition of the Kinyoun staining technique after stool concentration was evaluated as an easy and inexpensive method for diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infection in patients with HIV.

Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated patients with HIV with diarrhea and randomly selected patients with HIV without diarrhea as controls.

Prevalence and characterization of antimicrobial resistance among gram-negative bacteria isolated from febrile hospitalized patients in central Ethiopia.

Background: Infectious diseases are among the leading causes of death in many low-income countries, such as Ethiopia. Without reliable local data concerning causative pathogens and antimicrobial resistance, empiric treatment is suboptimal. The objective of this study was to characterize gram-negative bacteria (GNB) as pathogens and their resistance pattern in hospitalized patients with infections in central Ethiopia.

Characterization of HIV-1 drug resistance among patients with failure of second-line combined antiretroviral therapy in central Ethiopia.

Background: As a consequence of the improved availability of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) in resource-limited countries, an emergence of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) has been observed. We assessed the prevalence and spectrum of HIVDR in patients with failure of second-line cART at two HIV clinics in central Ethiopia.

Methods: HIV drug resistance was analysed in HIV-1-infected patients with virological failure of second-line cART using the geno2pheno application.

Tick species from cattle in the Adama Region of Ethiopia and pathogens detected.

Ticks will diminish productivity among farm animals and transmit zoonotic diseases. We conducted a study to identify tick species infesting slaughter bulls from Adama City and to screen them for tick-borne pathogens. In 2016, 291 ticks were collected from 37 bulls in Adama, which were ready for slaughter.

Clinical and microbiological characterization of sepsis and evaluation of sepsis scores.

Background: Despite the necessity of early recognition for an optimal outcome, sepsis often remains unrecognized. Available tools for early recognition are rarely evaluated in low- and middle-income countries. In this study, we analyzed the spectrum, treatment and outcome of sepsis at an Ethiopian tertiary hospital and evaluated recommended sepsis scores.

Variation of vital signs with potential to influence the performance of qSOFA scoring in the Ethiopian general population at different altitudes of residency: A multisite cross-sectional study.

Introduction: The physiological range of different vital signs is dependent on various environmental and individual factors. There is a strong interdependent relationship between vital signs and health conditions. Deviations of the physiological range are commonly used for risk assessment in clinical scores, e.

Carriage of ESBL-producing Gram-negative bacteria by flies captured in a hospital and its suburban surroundings in Ethiopia.

Background: Local data from the Asella Teaching and Referral Hospital in the town of Asella, Ethiopia reveal a high prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase- (ESBL) producing Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) in clinical isolates. To investigate a possible route of transmission, we determined the proportions ESBL-producing GNB in isolates from flies caught in the hospital and in the town of Asella.

Methods: Flies were collected in August 2019 from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the orthopedic ward, the hospital's waste disposal area, and from a butchery situated 1.

Correction to: High rate of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing gram-negative infections and associated mortality in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

CTX-M-9 group ESBL-producing Raoultella planticola nosocomial infection: first report from sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Raoultella are Gram-negative rod-shaped aerobic bacteria which grow in water and soil. They mostly cause nosocomial infections associated with surgical procedures. This case study is the first report of a Raoultella infection in Africa.

High rate of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing gram-negative infections and associated mortality in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Gram-negative bacteria have become a serious threat to global health. Their rapid spread is associated with high mortality due to ineffective antibiotic treatment. To date a regular surveillance of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens in Ethiopia is not established.

The Burden of Fungal Infections in Ethiopia.

The burden of severe fungal infections (FIs) is not well addressed in Ethiopia. We have estimated the burden of FIs from multiple demographic sources and by searching articles from PubMed. Opportunistic FIs were estimated using modelling and 2017 national HIV data.

Assessment of status of solid waste management in Asella town, Ethiopia.

Background: Improper solid waste management (SWM) is a major public health and environmental concern in the urban areas of many developing countries such as Asella Town. The aim of this study was to assess the status of SWM in Asella town.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was used to assess the status of improper SWM and associated factors in Asella town.

Blood culture result profile and antimicrobial resistance pattern: a report from neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Asella teaching and referral hospital, Asella, south East Ethiopia.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major public health emergencies worldwide, and this trend didn't spare developing countries like Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to evaluate patterns of bacterial isolates and local antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in neonatal sepsis.

Methods: A hospital based observational study was conducted from April 2016 to May 2017 in Asella teaching and referral hospital (ATRH).

Outbreak of Louse-Borne Relapsing Fever among Urban Dwellers in Arsi Zone, Central Ethiopia, from July to November 2016.

We report epidemiological and clinical aspects of an outbreak of louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) in Asella in Arsi Zone, central Ethiopia, from July to November 2016. A total of 63 LBRF cases were reported. The overall case fatality rate was 13% among treated patients.

Inadequacy of High-Dose Fluconazole Monotherapy Among Cerebrospinal Fluid Cryptococcal Antigen (CrAg)-Positive Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Persons in an Ethiopian CrAg Screening Program.

A total of 817 human immunodeficiency virus-infected Ethiopians with CD4 <150 cells/mL underwent plasma cryptococcal antigen (CRAG) screening. CRAG prevalence was 6.2%.

Prevalence and impact of sexually transmitted infections in pregnant women in central Ethiopia.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be a major global public health issue and omnipresent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) increase the risk of HIV acquisition. Moreover, STIs and HIV in pregnant women can harm the unborn child. In this study, we systematically investigated the prevalence of HIV, relevant STIs and vaginal group B streptococcus colonization among pregnant women presenting at Asella Teaching Hospital in central Ethiopia and their effect on perinatal mortality.