Azithromycin for Bacterial Watery Diarrhea: A Reanalysis of the AntiBiotics for Children With Severe Diarrhea (ABCD) Trial Incorporating Molecular Diagnostics.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial pathogens cause substantial diarrhea morbidity and mortality among children living in endemic settings, yet antimicrobial treatment is only recommended for dysentery or suspected cholera. METHODS: AntiBiotics for Children with severe Diarrhea was a 7-country, placebo-controlled, double-blind efficacy trial of azithromycin in children 2-23 months of age with watery diarrhea accompanied by dehydration or malnutrition. We tested fecal samples for enteric pathogens utilizing quantitative polymerase chain reaction to identify likely and possible bacterial etiologies and employed pathogen-specific cutoffs based on genomic target quantity in previous case-control diarrhea etiology studies to identify likely and possible bacterial etiologies. RESULTS: Among 6692 children, the leading likely etiologies were rotavirus (21.1%), enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli encoding heat-stable toxin (13.3%), Shigella (12.6%), and Cryptosporidium (9.6%). More than one-quarter (1894 [28.3%]) had a likely and 1153 (17.3%) a possible bacterial etiology. Day 3 diarrhea was less common in those randomized to azithromycin versus placebo among children with a likely bacterial etiology (risk difference [RD]likely, -11.6 [95% confidence interval {CI}, -15.6 to -7.6]) and possible bacterial etiology (RDpossible, -8.7 [95% CI, -13.0 to -4.4]) but not in other children (RDunlikely, -0.3% [95% CI, -2.9% to 2.3%]). A similar association was observed for 90-day hospitalization or death (RDlikely, -3.1 [95% CI, -5.3 to -1.0]; RDpossible, -2.3 [95% CI, -4.5 to -.01]; RDunlikely, -0.6 [95% CI, -1.9 to .6]). The magnitude of risk differences was similar among specific likely bacterial etiologies, including Shigella. CONCLUSIONS: Acute watery diarrhea confirmed or presumed to be of bacterial etiology may benefit from azithromycin treatment. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT03130114.

Five-year cross-sectional study to determine the burden of Candida spp. infections of the urinary tract system among patients attending tertiary hospital in Northwestern Tanzania.

OBJECTIVE: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) stand as a prominent global health concern. This study entails a 5-year retrospective analysis, using a cross-sectional study design to examine microbiology laboratory data of individuals clinically diagnosed with UTIs at Bugando Medical Centre to gain insights into the prevalence and factors linked to candiduria. METHODOLOGY: Data extracted were meticulously cleaned and coded in an MS Excel sheet, subsequently transferred to STATA V.15 for analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with candiduria. A probability value below 0.05 at a 95% CI was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Urine samples for culture and sensitivity comprised 33.4% (20755) of the total biological samples (62335). The median age of the patients stood at 19 years. A slight majority were female, accounting for 52.8% (10051), and two-thirds sought treatment at outpatient departments (67.5%, 12843). Among patients with significant pathogenic growth, the prevalence of candiduria was 4.6% (221 out of 4772). Notably, inpatients exhibited a higher incidence of candiduria compared with outpatients, with rates of 9.4% (1882) versus 1.6% (2890), p value of 0.000. Non-albicans Candida spp. (NAC) remained the most prevalent pathogen. Factors significantly associated with candiduria included being female (OR=1.7, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.3) and hospital admission (OR=6.6, 95% CI 4.7 to 9.2). In conclusion, candiduria affect 5 out of every 100 UTI-diagnosed patients, predominantly among females and those admitted to the hospital. Clinicians at tertiary hospitals should consider urinary candidiasis as a potential diagnosis for patients at risk who present with UTI-like symptoms.

Implementation research for promoting access and rational use of antibiotics for children: lessons learnt from Tanzania.

Implementation research (IR) has proved to be a potential catalyst in facilitating the uptake of evidence-based innovations into routine practices and thereby maximizing public health outcomes. IR not only focuses on the effectiveness of the innovations but also identifies and addresses the barriers and facilitators to maximize their uptake into routine practices. This article describes the processes undertaken to implement a research project aimed at promoting access and rational use of antibiotics for children (PARAC). It also provides an overview of the lessons learnt during its implementation in Tanzanian hospital and community settings.

Aetiology of ear infection and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among patients attending otorhinolaryngology clinic at a tertiary hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the aetiological pathogens causing ear infections and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among patients with ear complaints at a tertiary hospital in Dar es Salaam. DESIGN: Hospital-based cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: Otorhinolaryngology clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. PARTICIPANTS: Patients presenting with signs and symptoms of ear infection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Bacteria and fungi isolated from ear swab specimens of patients presenting with signs and symptoms of ear infection; and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of isolated bacteria. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty-five participants were enrolled, with a median age of 31 years and an IQR of 15-49. Otitis externa was the predominant type of ear infection, accounting for 45.1%. We observed positive bacteria culture in 53.3% of study participants, in which 41% of isolates were obtained from patients with chronic suppurative otitis media. Moreover, Staphylococcus aureus (27.3%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (24.2%) were the most frequently isolated bacteria, while Candida spp, 12 (63.8%) and Aspergillus spp, 9 (36.2%) were the only isolated fungi. Furthermore, we report that 93% of isolated Enterobacterales were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and 73% were resistant to ceftazidime. In addition, we detected 34.4% extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE) and 44.4% methicillin-resistance S. aureus (MRSA). We also found that 22% of the bacteria isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, a primary topical antibiotic used in managing ear infections. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study reveal that the leading aetiological agent of ear infection is bacteria. Furthermore, our findings show a significant proportion of ESBL-PE and MRSA-causing ear infections. Hence, detecting multidrug-resistant bacteria is crucial to improving ear infection management.

Predominance of non-Candida albicans species oral colonisation among patients on anticancer therapy: findings from a cross-sectional study in Tanzania.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the oral carriage prevalence of Candida species and identify factors associated with the carriage of Candida species among patients with cancer on treatment. DESIGN: A hospital-based cross-sectional study. SETTING: The study was conducted at a tertiary-level cancer hospital Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. PARTICIPANTS: We enrolled 196 participants who consented to join the study. Oral swabs were collected from all participants and inoculated onto Sabouraud dextrose agar supplemented with 50 mg/mL gentamicin and 50 mg/mL chloramphenicol, and chromogenic agar for phenotypic identification of Candida species. PRIMARY OUTCOME: The study reported the high prevalence of oral carriage of Candida species among patients with cancer on treatment at the tertiary-level cancer hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. RESULTS: A total of 196 participants were enrolled in the study. The overall oral carriage of Candida species was 37.8% (74/196). The prevalence was higher among patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy (44.4%) than those in monotherapy (13.3% chemotherapy, 20% radiotherapy). Candida krusei was the most common isolated species, 48.6% (36/74). Head and neck (adjusted OR (aOR) 15.09, 95% CI 3.05 to 74.59, p=0.00), gastrointestinal (aOR 14.14, 95% CI 2.25 to 88.63, p=0.00) malignancies and diabetes (aOR 3.18, 95% CI 1.03 to 9.77, p=0.04) were factors independently associated with oral carriage of Candida species. CONCLUSION: The oral carriage of Candida species among patients with cancer receiving treatment at ORCI is high, mainly due to C. krusei species. This is alarming since C. krusei has intrinsic resistance to fluconazole, a common antifungal agent used to manage adult fungal infections. Therefore, efforts should be put into conducting regular check-ups for such opportunistic pathogens as they can lead to subsequent infections. Furthermore, studies conducted to determine the antifungal profile of the causative agents are warranted since different causative agents might have different profiles.

Fluoroquinolone resistance among fecal extended spectrum ßeta lactamases positive Enterobacterales isolates from children in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Fluoroquinolones have been, and continue to be, routinely used for treatment of many bacterial infections. In recent years, most parts of the world have reported an increasing trend of fluoroquinolone resistant (FQR) Gram-negative bacteria. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2017 and July 2018 among children admitted due to fever to referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Rectal swabs were used to screen for carriage of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE). ESBL-PE isolates were tested for quinolone resistance by disk diffusion method. Randomly selected fluroquinolone resistant isolates were characterized by using whole genome sequencing. RESULTS: A total of 142 ESBL-PE archived isolates were tested for fluoroquinolone resistance. Overall phenotypic resistance to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and moxifloxacin was found in 68% (97/142). The highest resistance rate was seen among Citrobacter spp. (100%, 5/5), followed by Klebsiella. pneumoniae (76.1%; 35/46), Escherichia coli (65.6%; 42/64) and Enterobacter spp. (31.9%; 15/47). Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on 42 fluoroquinolone resistant-ESBL producing isolates and revealed that 38/42; or 90.5%, of the isolates carried one or more plasmid mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes. The most frequent PMQR genes were aac(6')-lb-cr (74%; 31/42), followed by qnrB1 (40%; 17/42), oqx, qnrB6 and qnS1. Chromosomal mutations in gyrA, parC and parE were detected among 19/42 isolates, and all were in E. coli. Most of the E. coli isolates (17/20) had high MIC values of > 32 µg/ml for fluoroquinolones. In these strains, multiple chromosomal mutations were detected, and all except three strains had additional PMQR genes. Sequence types, ST131 and ST617 predominated among E. coli isolates, while ST607 was more common out of 12 sequence types detected among the K. pneumoniae. Fluoroquinolone resistance genes were mostly associated with the IncF plasmids. CONCLUSION: The ESBL-PE isolates showed high rates of phenotypic resistance towards fluoroquinolones likely mediated by both chromosomal mutations and PMQR genes. Chromosomal mutations with or without the presence of PMQR were associated with high MIC values in these bacteria strains. We also found a diversity of PMQR genes, sequence types, virulence genes, and plasmid located antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes towards other antimicrobial agents.

Profiling of antimicrobial dispensing practices in accredited drug dispensing outlets in Tanzania: a mixed-method cross-sectional study focusing on pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: The emergency of antimicrobial resistance due to irrational antimicrobial use has put public health under threat. Accredited Drug Dispensing Outlets (ADDOs) play an important role in enhancing availability and accessibility of antimicrobials, however, there is a scarcity of studies assessing antimicrobial dispensing practices in these outlets, focusing on children in Tanzania. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess the antimicrobial dispensing practices among ADDO dispensers and explore the factors influencing the use of antimicrobials for children in Tanzania. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study utilizing both qualitative (interviews) and quantitative (simulated clients) methods was conducted between June and September 2020 in seven zones and 14 regions in Tanzania. RESULTS: The study found inappropriate dispensing and use of antimicrobials for children, influenced by multiple factors such as patient's and dispenser's knowledge and attitude, financial constraints, and product-related factors. Only 8% (62/773) of dispensers asked for prescriptions, while the majority (90%) were willing to dispense without prescriptions. Most dispensers, 83% (426/513), supplied incomplete doses of antimicrobials and only 60.5% (345/570) of the dispensers gave proper instructions for antimicrobial use to clients. Over 75% of ADDO dispensers displayed poor practice in taking patient history. CONCLUSION: ADDO dispensers demonstrated poor practices in dispensing and promoting rational antimicrobial use for children. Training, support, and regulatory interventions are required to improve antimicrobial dispensing practices in community drug outlets.

Implementation of antibiotic stewardship programmes in paediatric patients in regional referral hospitals in Tanzania: experience from prescribers and dispensers.

Background: In 2017, Tanzania launched the National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance (NAPAR), 2017-2022 and implementation of antibiotic stewardship programmes (ASPs) was one of the agendas. Since the launch of the National Action Plan, no study has been done to assess its implementation. Objectives: To explore the experiences of prescribers and dispensers on implementing ASPs among paediatric patients attending Regional Referral Hospitals (RRHs) in Tanzania. Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted among key informants, in 14 RRHs in Tanzania between July and August 2020. A total of 28 key informants, 14 dispensers in charge of pharmacies and 14 medical doctors in charge of paediatric departments (prescribers), were interviewed. A hybrid thematic analysis was conducted on the gathered information. Results: Most of the study participants were not conversant with the term 'antibiotic stewardship'. Some had heard about the programmes but were not aware of the activities involved in the programme. Those who were knowledgeable on ASPs mentioned the lack of existence of such programmes in their settings. They further added that absence or limited knowledge of the stewardship concepts may have influenced the current poor practices. Barriers to the implementation of ASPs mentioned were lack of laboratory facilities to support culture and susceptibility tests, lack of materials and reagents, management pressure to prevent loss or to generate income, patients' influence and limited training opportunities. Conclusions: Despite launching the NAPAR in 2017, we found limited implementation of ASPs in the management of paediatric patients. This study highlighted some barriers and identified possible intervention points.

Predictors of Surgical Site Infections among Patients Undergoing Open Urological Surgery at a Tertiary Hospital, Tanzania: A Cross Sectional Study.

Background: Surgical Site Infection (SSI) is one of the major hospital acquired infections, highly associated with prolonged hospitalisation, morbidity and mortality. In open urological surgeries, little is known on magnitude and factors associated with development of SSI. Methods and Materials: The intervention was a cross-sectional prospective observational study performed between August 2015 and March 2016 at Muhimbili National hospital (MNH), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Patients who underwent open urological surgery at MNH during the study period and met inclusion criteria were consecutively enrolled, and followed up for 30 days. Patients' and operative characteristics were recorded using standard structured questionnaires. Wound/pus swabs were collected from patients with clinical evidence of SSI for bacteriological processing. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. Results: Of 182 patients who underwent open urological surgery, 22% (40/182) developed SSI. Pre-operative urinary tract infection (aOR 9.73, 95%CI 3.93-24.09, p<.001) and contaminated wound class (aOR 24.997, 95%CI 2.58-242.42, p = .005) were independent predictors for development of SSI. Shaving within 30 hrs before surgical procedure was found to be protective for developing SSI (aOR 0.26, 95%CI 0.09-0.79, p=.02). Escherichia coli (20/40) was the most predominant pathogen in SSI followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (7/40) and S. aureus (6/40). Gram-negative bacteria were highly resistant to ceftriaxone, gentamicin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole. Conclusion: Surgical Site Infection was high in open urological interventions. Pre-operative urinary tract infection and contaminated wound class predicted SSI. Bacteria causing SSI were highly resistant to commonly used antibiotics.

Drivers of irrational use of antibiotics among children: a mixed-method study among prescribers and dispensers in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Misuse of antibiotics has been associated with poor knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP). Therefore, this study aimed to assess if KAP of prescribers and dispensers could drive irrational use of antibiotics among children in Tanzania. METHODS: A convergent parallel mixed-methods study design that employed quantitative and qualitative approaches was conducted in 14 regional referral hospitals (RRHs). A total of 108 participants, prescribers [54] and dispensers [54] working with the pediatric population in the respective regions participated in a quantitative survey, by filling the standard questionnaire while 28 key informant interviews were conducted with in-charges of units from the pharmacy and pediatric departments. Two key informants (prescriber and dispenser) were selected from each RRH. RESULTS: Overall, among prescribers and dispensers, there was adequate knowledge; 81.5% and 79.6%, p = 0.53, those with positive attitudes were 31.5% and 81.5%, p < 0.001 and poor practices were among 70.4% and 48% p = 0.0312 respectively. Among prescribers, 14.8% agreed and strongly agreed that prescribing antibiotics that a patient did not need does not contribute to resistance. Moreover 19% disagreed to prescribe antibiotics according to local guidelines. Among dispensers, a-quarter of the dispensers thought individual efforts to implement antibiotic stewardship would not make a difference, 17% agreed and strongly agreed that antibiotics can treat viral infection and 7% agreed and strongly agreed antibiotics can be stopped upon resolution of symptoms. From qualitative interviews, both participants displayed an adequate understanding of multi-contributors of antibiotic resistance (AR) including polypharmacy, community self-medication, among others. Regardless, both professions declared to prescribed and dispensed antibiotics according to the antibiotics available in stock at the facility. Furthermore, prescribers perceived laboratory investigation took a long time, hence wasting their time. On the other hand, Dispensers reported not to provide adequate instruction to the patients, after dispensing antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: Both prescribers and dispensers had adequate knowledge, few prescribers had positive attitudes and the majority had poor practices. Few dispensers had poor attitude and practice. These findings highlight the need to provide adequate training on antimicrobial stewardship and enforce regulation that foster appropriate medical practice.

Gastrointestinal colonization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing bacteria among children below five years of age hospitalized with fever in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

OBJECTIVES: Gastrointestinal colonization of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) is of concern because prior colonization increases risk for subsequent infections. To date, the link between ESBL-PE faecal carriage and the risk of subsequent ESBL-PE infection has not been well established, and information on carriage of such pathogens among children with invasive infections such as bloodstream infections (BSI) remains to be explored worldwide. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among children under the age of 5 years admitted for febrile illness in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, between March 2017 and July 2018. We used rectal swabs to screen for ESBL-PE using selective media, ChromID ESBL. Bacterial isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF. Blood cultures were drawn from all children. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done using a disk diffusion method. ESBL alleles were identified by real-time PCR and sequencing. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of ESBL-PE carriage was 56% (112/200) and was highest among children 4 to 6 months old (17/21, 81%) (P = 0.05). Children with BSI had high ESBL-PE carriage (78.4%) compared to those without BSI (53.1%) (P = 0.02; aOR 3.4, 95% confidence interval 1.20-9.58). The most common isolate was E. coli (64/112, 45%). Sixteen pairs of ESBL-PE isolates (from the gut and from blood) had a similar antimicrobial susceptibility profile. We detected blaCTX-M gene in 97% of all phenotypically detected ESBL-PE; among those, blaCTX-M-15 was dominant (99%). CONCLUSION: We report a high prevalence of ESBL-PE faecal carriage among children with BSI in Tanzania. Colonization of ESBL-PE was a risk factor for ESBL-BSI.

Colonization of Extended-spectrum ß-lactamase producing Enterobacterales and meticillin-resistant S. aureus in the intensive care unit at a tertiary hospital in Tanzania: Implications for Infection control and prevention.

Background: Multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria pose a major global threat to public-health and are of particular concern to hospitalized intensive care unit (ICU) patients. This study aimed at addressing the burden of MDR and the associated factors at admission to ICU. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the ICU of a tertiary hospital in Tanzania. Rectal and anterior nares swabs were collected within 48 hours of ICU admission to screen for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE) and meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), respectively. Results: The proportion of fecal carriage for ESBL-PE at admission to ICU was 54.54% (95% CI, 47.52-61.39), and nasal carriage for MRSA was 9.32% (95%CI, 5.67-14.93). The nasal MRSA colonization (OR = 1.52) and fecal carriage for ESBL-PE (OR=1.38) were more likely in participants who had received antibiotics before ICU admission than not, but association was not statistically significant. Hospitalization for ≥2 days (OR=1.18) was associated with fecal carriage of ESBL-PE, though not statistically significant. Overall, 66% and 73.5% of patients received antibiotics before and upon admission to ICU, respectively. Ceftriaxone, metronidazole and meropenem were commonly prescribed antibiotics. More than 84% of Enterobacterales were resistant to ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and 2.90% were resistant to meropenem. MRSA isolates showed a high rate of resistance to gentamicin and erythromycin. Conclusion: MDR bacteria are common in patients admitted to ICU. To reduce the risk associated with MDR, we recommend use of simple screening methods to screen for MDR at ICU admission as part of infection control and prevention.

Determinants of misuse of antibiotics among parents of children attending clinics in regional referral hospitals in Tanzania.

Parents are the important implementers on appropriate/inappropriate use of antibiotics, especially in the pediatric population. Limited studies have associated poor knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among parents with antibiotics misuse. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the parents' KAP and factors associated with inappropriate use of antibiotics among Tanzanian children. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 14 regional referral hospitals (RRHs) in Tanzania between June and September 2020. KAP was estimated using a Likert scale, whereas KAP factors were determined using logistic regression models. A total of 2802 parents were enrolled in the study. The median age (interquartile range) of parents was 30.0 (25-36) years where 82.4% (n = 2305) were female parents. The majority of the parents had primary education, 56.1% (n = 1567). Of 2802 parents, only 10.9% (n = 298) had good knowledge about antibiotics, 16.4% (n = 455) had positive attitude whereas 82.0% (n = 2275) had poor practice on the appropriate use of antibiotics. Parents' education level, i.e., having a university degree (aOR: 3.27 95% CI 1.62-6.63, p = 0.001), good knowledge (aOR: 1.70, 95% CI 1.19-2.23, p = 0.003) and positive attitudes (aOR: 5.56, 95% CI 4.09-7.56, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with the appropriate use of antibiotics in children. Most parents had poor knowledge, negative attitude, and poor practice towards antibiotics use in children. Parents' education level, employment status, knowledge on antibiotic use, and good attitude contributed to the appropriate use of antibiotics in children attending clinics at RRHs.

First identification of bla NDM-5 producing Escherichia coli from neonates and a HIV infected adult in Tanzania.

Introduction. Carbapenem-resistant members of the family Enterobacteriaceae are emerging as a global public-health threat and cause substantial challenges in clinical practice.Gap Statement. There is a need for increased and continued genomic surveillance of antimicrobial resistance genes globally in order to detect outbreaks and dissemination of clinically important resistance genes and their associated mobile genetic elements in human pathogens.Aim. To describe the resistance mechanisms of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli.Methods. Rectal swabs from neonates and newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected adults were collected between April 2017 and May 2018 and screened for faecal carriage of carbapenamases and OXA-48 producing members of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Bacterial isolates were identified using matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by E-test. Whole genomes of carbapenem-resistant E. coli were investigated using a hybrid assembly of Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing reads.Results. Three carbapenem-resistant E. coli were detected, two from neonates and one from an HIV infected adult. All three isolates carried bla NDM-5. Two E. coli from neonates belonged to ST167 and bla NDM-5 co-existed with bla CTX-M-15 and bla OXA-01, and all were carried on IncFIA type plasmids. The E. coli from the HIV infected adult belonged to ST2083, and carried bla NDM-5 on an IncX3 type plasmid and bla CMY-42 on an IncI type plasmid. All bla NDM-5 carrying plasmids contained conjugation related genes. In addition, E. coli from the HIV infected adult carried three more plasmid types; IncFIA, IncFIB and Col(BS512). One E. coli from a neonate also carried one extra plasmid Col(BS512). All three E. coli harboured resistance genes to fluoroquinolone, aminoglycosides, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, macrolides and tetracycline, carried on the IncFIA type plasmid. Furthermore, E. coli from the neonates carried a chloramphenicol resistance gene (catB3), also on the IncFIA plasmid. All three isolates were susceptible to colistin.Conclusion. This is the first report, to our knowledge, from Tanzania detecting bla NDM-5 producing E. coli. The carbapenemase gene was carried on an IncFIA and IncX3 type plasmids. Our findings highlight the urgent need for a robust antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance system to monitor and rapidly report on the incidence and spread of emerging resistant bacteria in Tanzania.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasmosis among HIV infected women of child-bearing age attending care and treatment clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Background: Toxoplasmosis in HIV-infected women of child-bearing age (HIV-WCB) increases the risk for congenital toxoplasmosis, leading to many complications. However, its magnitude is unknown in this population. Objectives: The study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with toxoplasmosis among HIV-WCB. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from July to August 2020 among HIV- WCB attending care and treatment clinic (CTC) at Muhimbili National Hospital and Mnazi Mmoja hospital. Questionnaire and TORCH rapid test were used to obtain data and serological testing respectively. Data analysis was done using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results: Overall, 29.7% of the study participants were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG, whereas none tested positive for IgM. Multivariate analysis showed that the probability of being infected with T. gondii increased by 57.1% for participants who consumed raw vegetables (p=0.005, aOR=0.43, 95%CI = 1.24-8.77). Other common risk factors such as undercooked meat consumption, source of drinking water, and cat ownership at home showed no association. Conclusion: A high number of HIV-WCB have not developed immunity to T. gondii in the study area. Introduction of routine screening during antenatal visits for pregnant women and further epidemiological studies are warranted in the country.

Seroprevalence of Human Herpesvirus Infections in Newly Diagnosed HIV-Infected Key Populations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Human herpesvirus (HHV) infections can significantly increase the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and accelerate disease progression. In the population at high risk of HIV infection, also termed as key populations (female sex workers (FSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), and people who inject drugs (PWID)), and their sexual partners, HHV infections can potentially compromise the efforts to prevent and control HIV infection. Here, we investigated the seroprevalence of HHV infections among HIV-infected key populations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methodology. We analyzed 262 archived serum samples of HIV-infected key populations from the integrated biobehavioral surveillance (IBBS) study conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine IgG and IgM titers for cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2. RESULTS: The overall seropositivity of HHV IgG was 92% (95% CI: 87.7-95.3%). HHV IgM was not detected in any of the samples. The most seroprevalent coinfection was CMV at 69.1% (181/262), followed by HSV-2 33.2% (87/262) and HSV-1 32.1% (84/262). HSV-2 infection differed by key population groups; it accounted for FSW (46.3%) (p=0.0001) compared to PWID (21.6%) and MSM (22.7%). In contrast, seroprevalence for CMV and HSV-1 was comparable across the key population groups; whereby, CMV was 62%, 75.3%, and 75% and HSV-1 was 26.4%, 39.2%, and 31.8% for FSW, MSM, and PWID, respectively. We also observed that multiple coinfections with CMV-HSV-2 (p=0.042) and CMV-HSV-1-HSV-2 (p=0.006) were significantly associated with key population aged above 40 years. CONCLUSION: The IgG seroprevalence of CMV, HSV-1, and HSV-2 was high among HIV-positive key populations. These findings indicate that these individuals are prone to recurrence of HHV infections and may harbor replicating viruses that subsequently may affect HIV disease progression. Therefore, this warrants concerted efforts for integrated HIV and sexually transmitted infection prevention programs targeting key populations.

Fecal carriage and factors associated with extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae among pregnant women at the tertiary referral hospital, Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Infections due to extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) are increasing worldwide. Evidence indicates that fecal carriage of ESBL-E in pregnancy predisposes women to potential life-threatening urinary tract infections and subsequently increasing the risk of neonatal infections. There is limited data regarding fecal carriage of ESBL-E and associated factors among pregnant women in Tanzania. We aimed to address the gap by determining the proportion of pregnant women with ESBL-E fecal carriage and identify the related factors. METHODOLOGY: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A total of 182 pregnant women at the gestational age of 37 weeks and above were enrolled. Participants' socio-demographic, clinical, and hygienic information were collected by using a well-structured questionnaire. Rectal swabs were collected and processed for isolation of ESBL-E. The extended-spectrum ß-lactamase production and antibiotic susceptibility test (AST) were performed using a double-disc synergy test and Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 117 (64.3%) pregnant women were found to carry ESBL-E. Factors such as self-prescription of antibiotic medication during pregnancy, low education level, and toilet sharing were independently associated with ESBL-E fecal carriage. Five ESBL-E species that were isolated include Escherichia coli (84.6%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (8.9%), Klebsiella oxytoca (3.3%), Citrobacter spp. (1.6%), and Enterobacter spp. (1.6%). ESBL-E isolates demonstrated high resistance to aztreonam and sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim. CONCLUSION: This study has revealed a relatively high fecal carriage of ESBL-E among pregnant women, suggesting that there is a need for routine screening among that population. We recommend further studies to explore comprehensively the factors associated with high fecal carriage of ESBL-E in pregnancy and the potential transmission kinetics to their newborn babies.

High fecal carriage of extended Beta Lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae among adult patients admitted in referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Multi-drug resistance pathogens such as Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) are of great global health concern, since they are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Even in the absence of infections caused by these pathogens, colonization is a great threat and can lead to cross transfer among hospitalized patients. To date data on carriage of these pathogens is still limited in Tanzania. Therefore, this study aimed to determine ESBL-PE fecal carriage rate and associated factors among hospitalized patients at Referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam. METHODS: This was a cross sectional study conducted from May to July 2017 among patients admitted in three referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Rectal swabs were collected and screened for ESBL production using MacConkey agar supplemented with Ceftazidime 2 µg/ml. Phenotypic confirmation of ESBL-PE was done by double disk diffusion method. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPPS) software version 20. RESULTS: Of the 196 enrolled participants, 59.7% (117/196) were confirmed to carry ESBL-PE. Diarrheic patients (57/79) had statistically significant high prevalence of ESBL colonization compared to those without diarrhea (60/117) (p = 0.01). A total of 131 ESBL-PE were isolated from 117 patients, whereby, Escherichia coli accounted for 68.7%, Klebsiella pneumoniae 28.2% and Citrobacter species 0.8%. ESBL-PE carriage was significantly higher in patients with diarrhea compared to those without diarrhea (72% vs 53.1%, p = 0.01). Recent antibiotic use was independently associated with carriage of ESBL-PE (aOR 14.65, 95%CI 3.07-69.88, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of fecal carriage of ESBL-PE was observed in patients admitted in tertiary hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The use of antibiotics was associated with carriage of ESBL producers among the study population.

Multi-drug resistant bacteria predict mortality in bloodstream infection in a tertiary setting in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Bloodstream infections (BSI) are serious and life-threatening, associated with high mortality and morbidity. In resource-limited settings, there is a paucity of data on predictors of outcome in patients with BSI. This study aimed at examining the predictors of mortality in patients with BSI as well as bacteria causing BSI. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital between April and May 2018. Blood culture results from all inpatients at the clinical microbiology laboratory were recorded and clinical information was retrieved retrospectively from the files. Bacteria from positive blood culture were identified and antimicrobial susceptibility was performed. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of BSI was, 46/402 (11.4% 95% CI 8.6-15), with a case fatality rate of 37%. There was a significantly high rate of BSI in patients who had died (19.5%) compared to those who survived (9.2%) p = 0.008. Gram-negative bacteria (74%) were the common cause of BSI, with a predominance of Enterobacteriaceae (22), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11). The majority of bacteria (70.5%) isolated from patients with BSI were Multi-drug resistant (MDR). Forty-six percent of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were resistant to meropenem while 68% (15/22) of Enterobacteriaceae were extended-spectrum ß lactamase producers. Carbapenemase production was detected in 27% (3/11) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and one Proteus mirabilis. Forty percent of Staphylococcus aureus were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Positive blood culture (aOR 2.24, 95%CI 1.12-4.47, p 0.02) and admission to the intensive care unit (aOR 3.88, 95%CI 1.60-9.41, p = 0.003) were independent factors for mortality in suspected BSI. Isolation of MDR bacteria was an independent predictor for mortality in confirmed BSI (aOR 15.62, 95%CI 1.24-161.38, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of BSI was 11.4%, with the majority of bacteria in BSI were MDR. Positive blood culture, admission to the ICU and MDR were predictors for mortality.

Seroprevalence of Brucella infection and associated factors among pregnant women receiving antenatal care around human, wildlife and livestock interface in Ngorongoro ecosystem, Northern Tanzania. A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals, animal products or consumption of infected dairy products. Brucella infection during pregnancy is of special interest due to association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study determined the seroprevalence and factors associated with Brucella infection among pregnant women around the human-wildlife-livestock interface area in Ngorongoro ecosystem, Northern Tanzania. METHODS: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted between May and June 2018 at six health facilities that provide antenatal services. Pregnant women receiving antenatal care were invited to participate. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics in addition to behavior and practices related to the occurrence of human brucellosis. The presence of serum immunoglobulin against Brucella was determined using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT). The positive samples were further assayed for the presence of IgG and IgM using The enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay. Bivariate analysis was conducted to determine the variables associated with Brucella seropositivity. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the factors independently associations with Brucella seropositivity after adjustment for other explanatory variables. RESULTS: A total of 313 participants were enrolled in the study. The overall seroprevalence of Brucella infection was 10.9% (34/313) determined by Rose Bengal plate test. Of 34 positive individuals, 27(79.4%) and 8(23.5%) were positive in the ELISA specific for IgG and IgM Brucella antibodies respectively. Regular contact with manure (AOR 3.16, 95%CI 1.27-7.83) and preference for animal fresh milk (AOR 3.80, 95% CI 1.23-11.69), raw meat (AOR 2.58, 95% CI 1.14-5.81) and raw animal blood (AOR 2.71, 95% CI 1.15-6.35) increased the odds of being Brucella seropositive. Contact with the animal placenta were not associated with Brucella seropositivity after adjustment. CONCLUSION: This study has found that brucellosis is an important public health problem among pregnant women in areas with interactions of humans; livestock and wildlife. The risk of infection increased with the regular contact with manure and preference of raw foodstuffs like animal blood, meat, and milk. We emphasize the need for interventional strategies to reduce the risk of exposure.