Short reports on cutaneous leishmaniasis outbreak investigation in Ankesha-Guagsa district, Amhara region, Northwest Ethiopia.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is spreading in Ethiopia and outbreaks have been recorded at new foci. In the Ankesha-Guagsa district, from September 24 to 28, 2020, 39 suspected cases were screened, and amastigote stages were identified in lesion samples of 34 (87.2%) cases.

Prevalence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Associated Risk Factors among Patients with Wound Infection at Referral Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: The spectrums of infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus are manifold and are associated with worse outcomes. A study on the prevalence of these pathogens and their sensitivity patterns will give updated information which is very helpful for health personnel responsible in the management of patients and timely monitoring of the emergence of resistant bacteria. Hence, the study aimed at assessing the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and associated factors among patients with wound infection at Dessie Referral Hospital. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 266 patients at Dessie Referral Hospital from February to May 2016. Wound swab samples were collected aseptically using Levine's technique and transported to Dessie Regional Laboratory by using brain-heart infusion transport media. Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus was done based on cultural and biochemical profiles. Drug susceptibility test was performed using the disc diffusion technique as per the standard and interpreted based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. RESULT: Staphylococcus isolates from 266 processed wound swabs were 92 (34.58%). Of these, 26 (28.3%) were identified as methicillin-resistant S. aureus and 66 (71.7%) were methicillin-sensitive S. aureus. The overall prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus among the study population was 9.8%. The isolated methicillin-resistant S. aureus showed full resistance to penicillin (100%) followed by erythromycin and ciprofloxacin (16, 61.5%) and cotrimoxazole and gentamicin (14, 53.8%). From the total S. aureus isolates, 20 (21.7%) of them showed multidrug resistance. Of these methicillin-resistant S. aureus, 18 (69.8%) showed high multidrug resistance. Patients who are farmers in occupation (AOR = 6.1, 95% CI (1.086-33.724)), admitted in the hospital (AOR = 3.56, 95% CI (1.429-8.857)), and have low BMI (<18.5) (AOR = 13.89, 95% CI (4.919-39.192)) were among the risk factors significantly associated with wound infection due to methicillin-resistant S. aureus. CONCLUSION: All methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates were 100% resistant to penicillin and showed high multidrug resistance. Therefore, antibiotic susceptibility test should be performed prior to treatment.

Bacterial etiologic agents causing neonatal sepsis and associated risk factors in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal sepsis is a blood stream infection which is seen in the first month of life of the neonate. Bacterial profile of neonatal septicemia is constantly changing thus, current knowledge on the patterns of bacterial isolates, its antibiotic resistance profile, and associated factors, are essential to design and implement appropriate interventions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify bacterial etiologic agents, their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and associated risk factors of neonatal sepsis among neonates. METHODS: A cross- sectional study was conducted among neonates suspected to sepsis attending University of Gondar Hospital from September/2015 to May/2016. A total of 251 consecutive neonates with clinical sign and symptoms of sepsis were included in the study. Blood sample was collected and directly inoculated into Trypton soya broth bottle and incubated at 37 °C. After 24 h of incubation it was sub- cultured in to blood agar plate, chocolate agar plate, manitol salt agar and Macconkey. The bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were identified using standard microbiological methods. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify possible associated risk factors. Prior to the study ethical clearance was obtained from the School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, University of Gondar. RESULTS: Of the 251 study participants suspected of neonatal sepsis, 117 (46.6%) showed bacterial growths, of them 120 bacteria were isolated. Gram positive bacteria were commonly isolated 81 (67.5%).The commonly isolated bacterial species were S. aureus 49 (40.8%) followed by coagulase negative Staphylococci 26 (21.6%) and K. pneumoniae19 (15.8%). The overall rate of multidrug resistance isolates was 78 (65%: CI 95%: 56.7-72.5%). Multidrug resistant (MDR) among Gram positive and negative bacteria were 56 (69.1%) and 22 (56.4%), respectively. Independent risk factors for the occurrence of neonatal sepsis were; Apgar score < 7/5 min (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =0.5), birth weight < 1.5 kg (AOR = 12.37), birth weight, 1.5-2.5 kg (AOR = 2.6), gestational week <37 weeks (AOR = 9) and caesarian section delivery (AOR = 5.2). CONCLUSION: The isolation rate of bacterial pathogens in neonatal sepsis was considerably high. In addition, nearly 70% of isolates were MDR strains. Low birth weight, low Apgar score, preterm delivery and caesarian section modes of delivery were associated risk factors. Therefore, appropriate antenatal care follow up, and health education should be encouraged, especially on the importance of natural way of delivery.