HIV rapid test performance among health facilities enrolled in HIV rapid test quality improvement initiative (RTQII) in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: As the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) rapid testing services expanded to reach the global target that 95% of people living with the virus will know their status by 2030, ensuring the quality of those services becomes critical. This study was conducted to assess the performance of HIV Rapid testing at sites in health facilities that were enrolled in the Rapid Test Quality Improvement Initiative (RTQII) in Ethiopia. METHODS: Characterized HIV proficiency testing (PT) panels of Dried Tube Specimen (DTS) were prepared, verified, and distributed to testing sites from August to December 2019. In addition on-site evaluation of HIV testing sites (HTSs) was conducted using a checklist to assess testing conditions. For proficiency testing, the study included 159 HIV testing sites (HTSs) in 41 Health facilities (HFs) in five administrative regions and two city administrations. The collected data was analyzed by SPSS version 20 and chi-square test was applied to identify the association between acceptable performance and contributing factors. Testing sites with 100% PT score as well as conducting the test with adherence to the National HIV Testing Algorithm were considered acceptable. RESULTS: The overall acceptable performance (100% PT score with the correct algorithm followed) was found to be 62% while 12% scored 80% and 11% scored between 20 and 60%. The rest 15% were not considered as acceptable due to failure to adhere to the National HIV Testing Algorithm. Testing sites that participated in External Quality Assessment/Proficiency Testing schemes have shown better performance than those that did not participate with 70% and 56% performance respectively (p = 0.057).

Species distribution and antibiotic susceptibility profile of bacterial uropathogens among patients complaining urinary tract infections.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infection is the second most common type of infection and the problem is further compounded by the emergence of drug resistance in bacterial uropathogens. The aim of this study was to determine the spectrum of bacterial uropathogens and their drug resistant pattern. METHODS: A single institutional cross-sectional study was carried out at Arsho Advanced Medical laboratory from September 2015 to May 2016. A total of 712 urine samples were collected, inoculated onto primary isolation culture media, incubated at 37 °C for 18-24 h, and significant bacteriuria was determined. Identification and the antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacteria were determined by using the automated VITEK 2 compact system. RESULTS: Out of 712 urine samples processed, 256 (36%) yielded significant bacteriuria of which 208 (81.25%) were obtained from female and 48 (18.75%) from male patients. Age group of 25-44 were more affected with the infection. Of 256 bacterial isolates recovered, Escherichia coli, was the dominant bacterium. Ampicillin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole were the least effective drugs while piperacillin/tazobactam was the most effective drug against Gram-negative bacteria. Erythromycin was the least effective drug while vancomycin was the most active drug against Gram-positive bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: Observation of many bacterial species causing UTI in this study warrants, a continuous epidemiological survey of UTI in health institutions across the country. High level of drug resistance to the commonly prescribed drugs necessitates a search for other options.