Immunological and virological discordance among people living with HIV on highly active antiretroviral therapy in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with immuno-virological discordant responses are at an increased risk to develop acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and severe non AIDS events which are risk factors for death. This study was aimed to assess prevalence of immuno- virological discordant responses and associated risk factors among highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) users in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted from September to December 30, 2016 on 260 people living with HIV who started first line HAART from January 2008 to March 2016 at Mekelle hospital and Ayder comprehensive specialized hospital. Baseline and follow-up clinical data and CD4+ result were collected from patient charts. Besides, socio-demographic data and blood samples for CD4 + count and viral load measurement were collected during data collection period. Fisher's exact test, bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used for data analysis. P-value < 0.05 with 95% CI was considered as statistically significant. RESULT: Among the 260 study participants, 8.80% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) =8.77-8.84%) and 2.70% (95% CI = 2.68-2.72%) had virological and immunological discordant responses, respectively with an overall immuno-virological discordance response of 11.50% (95% CI = 11.46-11.54%). The median age of the study participants at HAART initiation was 35 (IQR: 28-44 years). More than half (58.1%) of the study participants were females. Age at or below 35 years old at HAART initiation (AOR ((95% CI) = 4.25(1.48-12.23), p = 0.007)), male gender ((Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) (95% CI) =1.71(1.13-1.10), p = 0.029)), type of regimen given ((AOR(95% CI) = 0.30 (0.10-0.88), p = 0.028)) and good treatment adherence ((AOR (95% CI) = 0.12 (0.030-0.0.48), p = 0.003)) were associated risk factors for virological discordant response. Likewise, immunological discordant response was associated with tuberculosis co-infections (p = 0.016), hepatitis B virus co-infections (p = 0.05) and low CD4+ count (≤100 cells/µl) at baseline (p = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: Over all, immuno-virological discordance response was 11.5% in the study area. Males, low baseline CD4+ count, poor/fair treatment adherence, and TB and HBV co-infections were significantly associated with higher immuno-virological discordance. We recommend that decision of patient treatment outcome, regimen change and patient management response should be done using trends of both viral load and CD4+ count concurrently.

Intestinal parasitosis, anaemia and risk factors among pre-school children in Tigray region, northern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) and anaemia are major health problems. This study assessed the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections, anaemia and associated factors among pre-school children in rural areas of the Tigray region, northern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 610 pre-school children in rural communities of Northern Ethiopia from June 2017 to August 2017. Stool specimens were examined for the presence of trophozoites, cysts, oocysts, and ova using direct, formal-ethyl acetate concentration, Kato-Katz, and Ziehl-Neelsen techniques. Haemoglobin was measured using a HemoCue spectrometer. RESULTS: Among the 610 participating pre-school children in the study, the prevalence of IPIs and anaemia were 58% (95% conference interval (CI): 54.1-61.9%) and 21.6% (95% CI: 18.5-25.1%), respectively. Single, double, and triple parasitic infections were seen in 249 (41, 95% CI: 37-45%), 83 (14, 95% CI: 11-17%), and 22 (3.6, 95% CI: 2.4-5.4%) children, respectively. Of the seven intestinal parasitic organisms recorded from the participants, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar was the most prevalent 220 (36.1%) followed by Giardia lamblia 128 (20.1%), and Hymenolepis nana 102 (16.7%). Mixed infections were common among G. lamblia, E. histolytica/dispar and Cryptosporidium spp. oocyst. Intestinal parasitic infection prevalence increased from 47% in children aged 6-11 months to 66% in those aged 48-59 months; the prevalence ratio (PR) associated with a one-year increase in age was 1.08 (95% CI: 1.02-1.14, p = 0.009). Age-adjusted prevalence was higher in children who had been dewormed (PR = 1.2; 95% CI: 1.00-1.4, p = 0.045), and lower in households having two or more children aged under five (PR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.61-0.95, p = 0.015). Anaemia rose from 28% in children aged 6-11 months to 43% in those aged 12-23 months, then fell continuously with age, reaching 7% in those aged 48-59 months. Age adjusted, anaemia was more prevalent in households using proper disposal of solid waste (PR = 1.5, 95% CI: 0.1-2.10, p = 0.009) while eating raw meat (PR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.45-0.54, p = 0.000), any maternal education (PR = 0.64 95% CI: 0.52-0.79, p = 0.000), and household water treatment (PR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.56-1.0, p = 0.044) were associated with lower prevalence of anaemia. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of the children were infected with intestinal parasites, while anaemia prevalence was concentrated in the 12-23 month age group. This study has identified a number of potentially modifiable risk factors to address the significant prevalence of IPIs and anaemia in these children. Improvements in sanitation, clean water, hand hygiene, maternal education could address both short and long-term consequences of these conditions in this vulnerable population.

Virological and immunological failure of HAART and associated risk factors among adults and adolescents in the Tigray region of Northern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome associated morbidity and mortality has reduced significantly since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy. As a result of increasing access to highly active antiretroviral therapy, the survival and quality of life of the patients has significantly improved globally. Despite this promising result, regular monitoring of people on antiretroviral therapy is recommended to ensure whether there is an effective treatment response or not. This study was designed to assess virological and immunological failure of highly active antiretroviral therapy users among adults and adolescents in the Tigray region of Northern Ethiopia, where scanty data are available. METHODS: A retrospective follow up study was conducted from September 1 to December 30, 2016 to assess the magnitude and factors associated with virological and immunological failure among 260 adults and adolescents highly active antiretroviral therapy users who started first line ART between January 1, 2008 to March 1, 2016. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and clinical data. SPSS Version21 statistical software was used for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated to virological and immunological failure. Statistical association was declared significant if p-value was ≤ 0.05. RESULT: A total of 30 (11.5%) and 17 (6.5%) participants experienced virological and immunological failure respectively in a median time of 36 months of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Virological failure was associated with non-adherence to medications, aged < 40 years old, having CD4+ T-cells count < 250 cells/µL and male gender. Similarly, immunological failure was associated with non-adherence, tuberculosis co-infection and Human immunodeficiency virus RNA ≥1000 copies/mL. CONCLUSIONS: The current result shows that immunological and virological failure is a problem in a setting where highly active antiretroviral therapy has been largely scale up. The problem is more in patients with poor adherence. This will in turn affect the global targets of 90% viral suppression by 2020. This may indicate the need for more investment and commitment to improving patient adherence in the study area.

Sero-prevalence and associated risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection among voluntary counseling testing and anti retroviral treatment clinic attendants in Adwa hospital, northern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major health concern where about 3% of the world's population is infected globally. In Ethiopia the prevalence ranges from 0.9 to 1.3% in the general populations. Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) patients due to their weak immune response are heavily affected by the virus. There is no data on magnitude and associated risk factors for HCV infection among voluntary counseling, testing center and anti retroviral treatment clinic Attendants in the study area. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the sero-prevalence and associated risk factors for HCV infection among voluntary counseling testing and anti retroviral treatment clinic attendants Adwa general hospital. METHODS: Cross sectional study was carried out among 302 participants (151 HIV-negative from VCT and 151 HIV-positive from ART follow up) clinics of Adwa hospital from September to December, 2014. About 5 ml of venous blood samples were collected from study participants for anti HCV antibody tests. Univariate analyses were used to identify associated variables with anti HCV positivity. Variables having p < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant association. RESULTS: Out of the total 302 participants, 52.6% of them were females and 47.4% males. The mean age of the participants was 34.1 year (SD ± 10.5). The overall sero-prevalence of HCV in this study was 4.3%. The prevalence HCV (6.6%) was higher among the ART clinic attendants than the VCT (2%) clinic attendants. History of hospitalization (p = 0.001), tooth extraction (p = 0.018) and blood transfusion (p = 0.041) showed statistically significant association with anti-HCV antibody. CONCLUSION: HCV sero-prevalence in this study was high. The prevalence was three fold higher among HIV positive patients than their counter parts. Thus, screening of HCV should be done among HIV patients for close monitoring and better management in HIV patients.

Gastrojejunocolic fistula after gastrojejunostomy in Ayder referral hospital Northern Ethiopia: A report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Gastrojejunocolic fistula (GJCF) is a late and severe complication of a stomal ulcer after gastrojejunostomy, which develops as a result of inadequate resection of stomach or incomplete vagotomy. The occurrence of perforation in a GJCF is even more a rare complication because long evolution time or latent period is required for its appearance. Patients with this condition usually present with diarrhea, weight loss, feculent vomiting, under-nutrition and features of peritonitis that require immediate surgical intervention. CASE PRESENTATION: We described two cases of gastrojejunocolic fistula in men aged 60 and 40, first cases of gastrojejunocolic fistula seen in our referral hospital and in the whole region following more than a decade after gastrojejunostomy. Both patients initially presented with watery diarrhea, vomiting of fecal materials, poor appetite and weight loss. Upper GI series or barium enema studies allowed a conclusive diagnosis to be made. Both patients underwent one-stage en bloc resection, and their postoperative course and outcome was one cure and one death. CONCLUSION: As it is rare phenomenon, high clinical suspicion is very important in the diagnosis of GJCF on patients who manifest with chronic diarrhea, vomiting of fecal matter, abdominal pain and features of malnutrition. Careful preoperative preparation is mandatory before any type of surgical procedure is carried out. Pre-operative nutritional status should be evaluated in patients undergoing corrective surgery. Adequate resection of the stomach after Gastrojejunostomy and complete vagotomy is important to prevention development of GJCF.

Aerobic bacteria in post surgical wound infections and pattern of their antimicrobial susceptibility in Ayder Teaching and Referral Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Post surgical wound infections are global problem in the field of surgery associated with long hospital stay, higher treatment expenditure, morbidity and mortality. Hence to address the limited data in Ethiopia on post surgical wound infections, we conducted this research to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of aerobic bacteria in post-surgical wound infected patients in Ayder teaching and referral hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia. METHODS: Hospital based prospective cross sectional study was carried-out in 128 patients who had undergone surgery in general surgery and orthopaedic wards, and showed symptoms of infection clinically from January to June 2012. Standard bacteriological methods were used for bacterial isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. RESULTS: A total of 128 patients (98 male and 30 female) with clinical signs of post surgical wound infections were enrolled. The age of the patients ranged from 15-79 years (with mean 35.95 ± 19.01 years). Out of the 128 wound swabs taken, 96/128 (75%) were culture positive aerobically, yielding 123 bacterial isolates. Out of these the predominant bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus 44 (35.77%), Klebsiella species 29 (22.76%) and Coagulase negative Staphylococci (CoNS) 18 (14.63%). No bacterial isolates was found to be sensitive to all antibiotics tested. Isolated bacteria showed 102/123 (82.92%) multi drug resistance to the commonly used antibiotics in the hospital. However, 54/ 65 (83.1%) of Gram negative and 58/58 (100%) of Gram positive isolates were sensitive to Gentamicin and Vancomycin, respectively. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of was Post-operative wound infections rate in this current study was 75% and multi drug resistance was seen in 102/123(82.92%) of the isolates leaving clinicians with few choices of drugs for the treatment of post surgical wound infected patients. This underscores for periodic surveillance of etiologic agent and antibiotic susceptibility to prevent further emergence and spread of resistant bacteria pathogens.