Potency of commonly retailed antibiotics in pharmacies found in Adama, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Antibiotics are commonly used for the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections. The potency of antibiotics can be affected by factors such as temperature, light, moisture, and storage conditions. Inappropriate storage and transportation of antibiotics may lead to loss of potency earlier than the expiry date. The aim of this study was to determine the potency and associated factors of commonly retailed antibiotics. METHOD: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on commonly retailed antibiotics in pharmacies that are available in Adama, Ethiopia from March 2018 to June 2018. This study focused on commonly ordered antibiotics such as amoxicillin, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone. Antibiotics to be tested were selected by using a simple random sampling technique. Socio-demographic and related data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the disc diffusion method as described in the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute guideline. RESULTS: Mean inhibition zones of amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, and ceftriaxone were 14.2 ± 4 mm, 30.9 ± 4.2 mm, 17.47 ± 3.83 mm, and 32.7±1.8 respectively. Out of 164 antibiotics tested, 61% passed the potency test. The potency of antibiotics varies across different countries in which 53.7% and 54.6 of antibiotics from India and Ethiopia passed the potency test. All ceftriaxone tested in this study passed the potency test. Factors such as air condition of pharmacy (X2 = 4.27; p = 0.039), source of all antibiotics (X2 = 5.41; p = 0.02), and source of amoxicillin (X2 = 4.73; p = 0.03) were significantly associated with potency of antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: About 40% of antibiotics tested in the current study did not pass the potency test; this warrants further investigation to identify the magnitude of the problem and its causes at a large scale.

Burden of Healthcare-Associated Infections and Associated Risk Factors at Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Oromia, Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) is a type of infection that is acquired while receiving healthcare services in a hospital or other healthcare settings. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of HCAI and associated factors at Adama Hospital Medical College (AHMC), Adama city, Ethiopia. METHOD: A hospital-based longitudinal study was conducted among 300 participants at AHMC from February to May 2017. The study participants' clinical characteristics were collected using a structured interview and clinical evaluations. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS software version 20. Various clinical samples collected from participants were processed and bacteria were isolated by using standard microbiological methods recommended by the World Health Organization. RESULT: The total incidence rate of HCAI was 9.7 [95% CI: 7.1-12.9] cases per 1000 persons-days. Specific incidence rates were as follows: 8 cases per 1000 person-days [95% CI: 08.74, 20.66] for surgical site infections; 60.2 cases per 1000 device-days [95% CI: 33.47, 100.3] for catheter-associated urinary tract infections; 1.4 cases per 1000 device-days [95% CI: 0.06752, 6.656] for catheter-associated bloodstream infections; 14.1 cases per 1000 device-days [95% CI: 0.7047, 69.46] for ventilator-associated pneumonia; 73.5 cases per 1000 person-days [95% CI: 26.94, 163] for non-surgical skin break infections and 0.6 cases per 1000 person-days [95% CI: 0.02906, 2.864] for antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Most of the infections were caused by Gram-negative bacteria. Renal disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus were significantly associated with HCAI (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: HCAI was predominant in this study. The major contributing factors for HCAI at AHMC were renal disease and type 2diabetes mellitus.