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Background: Bacterial otitis media (OM) is a common infection among the pediatric community worldwide and is the first reason for prescribing antibiotics in pediatric practices. However, if not promptly diagnosed and appropriately treated, it may persist and cause severe intra- and extra-cranial hard-to-cure complications. Hence, knowing the magnitude, etiology, and antibiotic susceptibility profile is very important for the proper management., Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 312 pediatrics (1 to 18 years) attending the Ear Nose Throat outpatient departments of the two title hospitals from 25 February to 30th August 2022. Patients were chosen through a systematic random sampling method. Data were obtained by means of a semi-structured questionnaire. Samples were collected to identify the causative bacteria as per microbiological guidelines. The antibiotic susceptibility test was done according to the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion; SPSS version 25 was used for the analysis., Results: The overall prevalence of otitis media was 67.3% (n=210); CSOM showed a slight preponderance (n=107) Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria were present in 59.8% (n=137) and 40.1% (n=92), respectively. Otitis media was predominantly caused by S. aureus (n=52, 56.5%), followed by Proteus spp. (n=33, 24%). Gram-negative bacteria were highly resistant to co-trimoxazole, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, piperacillin, and tetracycline, whereas their positive counterparts were considerably penicillin and co-trimoxazole resistant. Overall, 61.5 and 19.2% of the isolates were MDR and XDR, respectively. MRSA, MR-CoNs, and VRE were 38.4% (n=20), 17.1% (n=5), and 58.3% (n=12), respectively; 19.7% (n=25) of Gram-negative bacteria produced ESBL, and 7% (n=9) were carbapenem-resistant. History of exposure to loud noise [AOR=3.4; CI=1.14-10.23; P-value=0.028] and family history of smoking at home [AOR=2.9; CI=1.18-7.25; P-value=0.020] have the greatest odds of otitis media., Conclusion: Overall, the prevalence of otitis media is showing an upward trend, and MDR among bacterial isolates is increasing alarmingly., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2023 Henok et al.)

Background: In people living with the human immunodeficiency virus, haematological abnormalities have been linked to an increased risk of disease progression and mortality. Hematological parameters may have a positive or negative impact on antiretroviral therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the immuno-haematological abnormalities of HIV-infected patients before and after the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy in the antiretroviral therapy clinics of six health facilities in Dessie, Northeast Ethiopia., Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 30, 2021, at the antiretroviral therapy clinics of six health facilities in Dessie Town. A total of 378 HIV-infected patients taking highly active antiretroviral treatment for at least 6 months by using a consecutive sampling technique were included. A well-organized questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and clinical information. Immune-haematological parameters were tested using a Mindray BS-300 hematology analyzer and a BD FACS count CD4 analyzer. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25 statistical software. Statistical significance was defined as a P-value of 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval., Results: Leukopenia was found in 26.7% and 16.5%, neutropenia in 16.5% and 9.4%, lymphopenia in 20% and 3.1%, and thrombocytopenia in 25.9% and 7.1% of HIV patients before and after HAART initiation, respectively. There was a significant difference in total white blood cell, absolute neutrophil, red blood cell, hemoglobin value, mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin concentration, red cell distribution width, platelet and CD4+ T cell counts in HIV patients before and after the initiation of HAART with P < 0.05., Conclusion and Recommendation: Anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia were the most common haematological abnormalities found in this study before and after HAART initiation. The prevalence of thrombocytopenia, immunosuppression, and viral load was reduced considerably after starting HAART., Competing Interests: The authors state that they have no conflicts of interest in this research work., (© 2022 Tilahun et al.)

Acinetobacter species, particularly Acinetobacter baumannii , is the first pathogen on the critical priority list of pathogens for novel antibiotics to become a "red-alert" human pathogen. Acinetobacter baumannii is an emerging global antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria that most typically causes biofilm-associated infections such as ventilator-associated pneumonia and catheter-related infection, both of which are resistant to antibiotic therapy. A. baumannii's capacity to develop antibiotic resistance mechanisms allows the organism to thrive in hospital settings, facilitating the global spread of multidrug-resistant strains. Although Acinetobacter infections are quickly expanding throughout hospital environments around the world, the highest concentration of infections occurs in intensive care units (ICUs). Biofilms are populations of bacteria on biotic or abiotic surfaces that are encased in the extracellular matrix and play a crucial role in pathogenesis, making treatment options more difficult. Even though a variety of biological and environmental elements are involved in the production of A. baumannii biofilms, glucose is the most important component. Biofilm-mediated A. baumannii infections are the most common type of A. baumannii infection associated with medical equipment, and they are extremely difficult to treat. As a result, health care workers (HCWs) should focus on infection prevention and safety actions to avoid A. baumannii biofilm-related infections caused by medical devices, and they should be very selective when using treatments in combination with anti-biofilms. Therefore, this review discusses biofilm formation in A. baumannii , its role in disease pathogenesis, and its antimicrobial resistance mechanism., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (© 2021 Gedefie et al.)

Intoduction: Patient-care equipment and inanimate objects contaminated with bacteria are a persistent problem in countries like Ethiopia, and remain overlooked. This study aimed to elucidate the magnitude of contaminations, diversity, and antimicrobial-susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates from selected wards of Arba Minch General Hospital, Ethiopia., Methods: Samples were inoculated into bacteriological media and identified by biochemical characterization, followed by antimicrobial-susceptibility tests., Results: Of the 99 inanimate objects and items of patient-care equipment examined, 71 (71.7%) showed contamination: 26 (76.4%) from the surgical ward and 22 (66.6%) and 23 (71.8%), respectively, from the pediatric ward and neonatal intensive care unit. In the case of Gram-positive bacteria, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS; 52.2%) were predominant, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (47.7%), whereas common Gram-negative counterparts were Acinetobacter spp. (28.5%) and Klebsiella spp. (23.8%). Antibiograms of S. aureus and CoNS showed 100% and 78% resistance, respectively, against penicillin. Isolates of Acinetobacter spp. showed 100% resistance to ceftriaxone and ampicillin, whereas those of Klebsiella spp. displayed complete resistance against ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. All isolates of Citrobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli , and Serratia spp. exhibited 100% resistance to amoxicillin, ampicillin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Overall prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria was 57.7%., Conclusion: A stringent infection-vigilance program comprising routine sampling from equipment and inanimate objects combined with antimicrobial-resistance surveillance and decontamination efforts must be instituted promptly., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (© 2021 Birru et al.)

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are major health problems in many developing countries. School children between the ages of 5 and 15 years suffer the highest infection rate and parasitic burden that are attributed to poor sanitation and hygiene. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of IPIs among school children is high (ranging from 66.7% to 83.8%)., Methods: School-based cross-sectional study was conducted in two primary schools at Harbu Town, Northeast Ethiopia from February to May, 2018. Systematic random sampling technique was employed to select study participants from the two school compounds. The sample size was determined by a single population proportion statistical formula and the minimum numbers of study participants defined were 400 school children. Socio-demographic and risk factor-related information were collected using structured questionnaire. Data about detection and identification of intestinal parasites were obtained from laboratory examination of stool specimen by using wet mount and formol-ether concentration techniques. Stool specimen from each study participant was collected using clean, properly labeled and leak-proof stool cup. The data were processed and analyzed using SPSS version 20 software., Results: Out of a total of 400 study participants, 86 (21.5%) were found with one or more IPIs. Six different types of intestinal parasites were identified, Entamoeba histolytica was the most 33 (8.3%) detected parasite followed by Hymenolopis nana 19 (4.8%) and Schistosoma mansoni 19 (4.8%). The least identified parasite was Giardia lamblia , detected only from four study participants. Male study participants showed 2.42 times risk (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.25-4.7, P = 0.009) of acquiring parasitic infection than female. Presence of water body near to home and having contact with water bodies showed 7.64 (AOR= 7.64, 95% CI= 3.3-17.8, P= 0.000) and 4.6 (AOR=4.6, 95% CI: 2.04-10.57, P= 0.000) times risk of infection with parasitic infection among school children, respectively., Conclusion: IPIs were highly prevalent health problem among the two primary school children in Harbu Town. Sex, availability of water bodies near to house and contact with water bodies were having significant association with the prevalence of IPIs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2020 Gebretsadik et al.)

Background: Adolescence is the period of most rapid growth second to childhood. The physical and physiological changes that occur in adolescents place a great demand on their nutritional requirements and make them more vulnerable to anemia. Anemia in the adolescence causes reduced physical and mental capacity and diminished concentration in work and educational performance, and also poses a major threat to future safe motherhood in girls. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among school adolescents in Bonga Town, southwest Ethiopia., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 408 school adolescents in Bonga Town, southwest Ethiopia, from March 15, 2014 to May 25, 2014. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and other data. A total of 7 mL of venous blood and 4 g of stool samples were collected from each study participant. Blood and stool samples were analyzed for hematological and parasitological analyses, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20 software for Windows., Results: The overall prevalence of anemia was 15.2% (62/408), of which 83.9% comprised mild anemia. The proportion of microcytic, hypochromic anemia was 53% (33/62). Being female (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =3.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) =1.41-6.57), household size ≥5 (AOR =2.58, 95% CI =1.11-5.96), father's illiteracy (AOR =9.03, 95% CI =4.29-18.87), intestinal parasitic infection (AOR =5.37, 95% CI =2.65-10.87), and low body mass index (AOR =2.54, 95% CI =1.17-5.51) were identified as determinants of anemia among school adolescents., Conclusion: This study showed that anemia was a mild public health problem in this population. School-based interventions on identified associated factors are important to reduce the burden of anemia among school adolescents.