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Background The comparatively straightforward and cheaper light-emitting diode fluorescent microscope (LEDFM) was suggested by WHO to replace conventional microscope in tuberculosis (TB) laboratories. However, the comparable efficacy of each of those techniques differs from laboratory to laboratory. We investigated the efficacy of LEDFM for the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis (TBLN) patients. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 211 samples from clinically suspected tuberculous lymphadenitis patients. Three smears were prepared from FNA on microscope slides for cytomorphology study, Auramine O (AO), and for Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining. The left-over samples were inoculated onto Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) media. Statistical analysis was done using STATA version 11. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated by considering the culture results as the gold standard using a 95% confidence interval. Results Among 211 samples 49.7% (105) were positive by cytomorphology, 32.7% (69) by LEDFM, 23.69% (50) by LJ culture, and 13.7% (29) by ZN. Compared to the gold standard sensitivity of ZN, LEDFM, and cytomorphology were 30% [95% CI: 17.9–44.6], 66% [95% CI: 51.2–78.8] 78% [95% CI: 64–88.5], respectively. The specificity of ZN, LEDFM, and cytomorphology was 91.3% [95% CI: 85.8–95.2], 77.6% [95% CI: 70.4–83.8], 58.8% [95% CI: 50.7–66.5], respectively. Conclusion LED fluorescence microscopy gives a legitimate option in contrast to conventional ZN techniques in terms of its higher sensitivity, a bit lower specificity, time-saving, and minimal effort.

Background Ethiopia lies in the high-risk corridor of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in East Africa, where individuals with this malignancy often do not report established risk factors, suggesting unidentified etiologies. Here, we report the prevalence of mucosal human papillomavirus (HPV) and of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) detection in endoscopy-obtained esophageal and gastroesophageal junction biopsies and in oral cell specimens taken at the time of esophageal cancer diagnosis in a case–control study in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods DNA extraction was performed from fresh frozen tissue and oral cell pellets obtained with saline solution gargling subsequently fixed with ethanol. Mucosal HPV and H. pylori DNA was detected using highly sensitive assays that combine multiplex polymerase chain reaction and bead-based Luminex technology. The proportions of specimens testing positive were expressed as percentages, with binomial 95% confidence intervals. Agreement of results between tissue biopsy and oral cell specimens was estimated using the kappa statistic. Comparison of study participants’ characteristics by test results was done using the Pearson chi-square test. Results HPV DNA was detected in 1 of 62 tumor specimens (2, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0–9%), corresponding to HPV16 type. HPV DNA was detected in the oral cavity of 7 cases (11, 95% CI: 5–22%) and 4 of 56 matched healthy controls (7, 95% CI: 2–17%), with multiple HPV types detected. Detection of H. pylori DNA was 55% (95% CI: 42–68%), and 20 of 34 H. pylori-positive specimens (59, 95% CI: 41–75%) were positive for the cagA gene. Agreement of detection rates between tissue and oral cells in cases was poor for HPV and for H. pylori. Conclusions The prevalence of mucosal-type HPV was very low, whereas H. pylori was more commonly detected, with a high proportion testing positive for the pro-inflammatory gene cagA. These novel findings remain to be replicated in larger studies and with the addition of serological determinations to better understand their biological significance in the context of esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancers.

The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of nosocomial infection and isolate the bacterial aetiologic agents in a tertiary hospital. A total of 215 patients admitted to surgical wards and intensive care unit were followed prospectively. Specimens from patients were determined using standard techniques. Of the patients observed, 77 (35.8%) had 84 (39.1%) nosocomial infections. The overall incidence of nosocomial infections was 35.8/100 patients. Surgical site, urinary tract and blood stream infections comprised 38 (49.4%), 23 (29.8%) and 16 (20.8%), respectively. Of the bacterial isolates, 58/84 (69.0%) were Gram negative and 26/84 (31.0%) Gram positive. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22.7%) and Escherichia coli (45.8%) were the major causes of surgical site and urinary tract infections, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 37.5% of the blood stream infections. The incidence of nosocomial infection in the hospital was high. There is a need to reduce the problem with continuous surveillance and the implementation of infection prevention strategies.