Testing is one of the commendable measures for curbing the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID‐19). But, it should be done using the most appropriate specimen and an accurate diagnostic test such as real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Therefore, a systematic review was conducted to determine the positive detection rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) in different clinical specimens using qRT‐PCR. A total of 8136 pooled clinical specimens were analyzed to detect SARS‐CoV‐2, the majority were nasopharyngeal swabs (69.6%). A lower respiratory tract (LRT) specimens had a positive rate (PR) of 71.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 60.3%‐82.3%) while no virus was detected in the urinogenital specimens. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BLF) specimen had the PR of 91.8% (95% CI: 79.9%‐103.7%), followed by rectal swabs; 87.8% (95% CI: 78.6%‐96.9%) then sputum; 68.1% (95% CI: 56.9%‐79.4%). A low PR was observed in oropharyngeal swabs; 7.6% (95% CI: 5.7%‐9.6%) and blood samples; 1.0% (95% CI: −0.1%‐2.1%) whereas no SARS‐CoV‐2 was detected in urine samples. Feces had a PR of 32.8% (95% CI:1 5.8%‐49.8%). Nasopharyngeal swab, a widely used specimen had a PR of 45.5% (95% CI: 31.2%‐59.7%). In this study, SARS‐CoV‐2 was highly detected in LRT specimens while no virus was detected in urinogenital specimens. BLF had the highest PR followed by rectal swab then sputum. Nasopharyngeal swab which is widely used had moderate PR. Low PR was recorded in oropharyngeal swab and blood samples while no virus was found in urine samples. Last, the virus was detected in feces, suggesting SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission by the fecal route.

Objective We set an experiment to determine the diagnostic performance of the Widal test and stool culture in typhoid-suspected cases attending tertiary hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania using blood culture as a golden standard. We also evaluated the agreement between Widal, stool and blood culture. Results This was a cross-sectional study conducted between June and September 2018, in three Regional Referral Hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A total of 158 typhoid-suspected cases were enrolled, after obtaining an informed consent. Of the 158 patients participated in the study, 128 (81%) tested positive for the Widal test and 17 (11%) patients were stool culture positive. Widal test recorded 81.5% sensitivity, 18.3% specificity, 10.1% positive predictive value and 89.7% negative predictive value. Stool culture showed 31.3% sensitivity, 91.5% specificity, 29% positive predictive value and 91.5% negative predictive value. In conclusion, Widal test is not reliable for diagnosis of typhoid fever since false positive and negative results are common. In addition, Widal test recorded poor agreement with the blood culture (kappa = 0.014, p < 0.05) while stool culture had strong agreement with the blood culture (kappa = 0.22, p < 0.05).

Background: Puerperal sepsis is the major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. About 94% of maternal mortality occur in low and middle-income countries including Tanzania. Objective: To estimate the prevalence, document factors and causes of puerperal sepsis among postnatal women who attended postnatal care in Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre Hospital in the year 2015. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Tanzania. A total of 183 medical records of attendance in 2015 were used for the study. Information about the isolated organism in culture was retrieved from the Laboratory Information System. Results: The prevalence of puerperal sepsis was 11.5% (21/183). The most common factors and causes of puerperal sepsis included caesarean section 66.7% (14/21), postpartum haemorrhage 57.1% (12/21), moderate to severe anaemia 61.9% (13/21), prolonged labour 76.2% (16/21) and bacterial infection 90.5% (19/21). The difference was significant at p<.05. The most bacteria species isolated among women with puerperal sepsis was Staphylococcus spp 50.0% (7/14), Escherichia 28.6% (4/14) and Streptococcus spp 21.4% (3/14). Conclusion: Puerperal sepsis is prevalent (11.5%) at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre. Staphylococcus spp was found to be a predominant isolate which causes puerperal sepsis followed by E. coli and Streptococcus spp.

Background High Immunoglobulin G (IgG) response to Plasmodium falciparum antigens is associated with partial malaria protection in sickle hemoglobin (HbS) children. However, this response has been more studied in children with heterozygous sickle cell trait (HbAS) but little explored in those with homozygous sickle cell trait (HbSS). The current study was conducted to determine the IgG responses against specific Plasmodium falciparum antigens in children with homozygous sickle cell trait (HbSS) by comparing to those with normal hemoglobin (HbAA). Methods A cross sectional study was conducted between April and July 2018 in Dar es Salaam tertiary hospitals. Parents were consented for their child to give about 5 ml of venous blood. IgG concentration from the blood plasma of 220 children (110 HbAA vs. 110 HbSS) were determined using indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Then IgG medians were compared between the groups with prism 5 software (GraphPad) using Mann Whitney U test. Where the differences in age, hemoglobin levels and body weight between the groups was analyzed using independent sample t test. Multiple linear regressions were used to control cofounding variables such as body weight, age and hemoglobin level using statistical package for social sciences software (SPSS version 23). P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The median IgG concentration to PfEBA-175, Pfg27, yPfs28C antigens were HbSS; 20.7 ng/ml (IQR; 18.1–25.6) vs. HbAA; 2.3 ng/ml (IQR; 1.21–3.04), HbSS; 2.76 ng/ml (IQR: 2.08–5.69) vs. HbAA; 1.36 ng/ml (IQR: 1.28–1.76), and HbSS; 26,592 ng/ml (IQR: 10817–41,462) vs. HbAA; 14,164 ng/ml (IQR; 3069–24,302) respectively ( p < 0.0001 for all IgG). In both groups; age, body weight and hemoglobin level had no impact on the levels of IgG responses to Plasmodium falciparum antigens except for HbAA group which showed a significant increase in IgG against Pfg27 by 0.004 ng/ml with 1 g/dl increase in Hb level ( p = 0.028). Conclusions This study found significant higher levels of specific Plasmodium falciparum IgG responses in children with homozygous sickle cell trait than those with normal hemoglobin.

Background: Dipstick test is a rapid test for diagnosis of urinary track infections (UTIs). Rapid test should be accurate so that does not give a lot of false results that may subject patients to wrong treatments especially when used alone. Therefore, this study was set to determine the diagnostic performance of dipsticks tests by comparing with a standard urine culture Methods: Microbiological investigations of urine samples suspected of UTIs were performed at Central Pathology laboratory, Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam. Dipsticks tests (leucocyte esterase and nitrite) were immediately performed from the submitted urine samples. Both positive and negative samples by dipsticks were subjected to quantitative urine culture using cysteine lactose electrolyte defi cient agar (CLED). Diagnostic performance such as sensitivity, specifi city and predictive values were determined by cross tabulation using GraphPad prisms whereas the distributions of the culture-isolated bacteria were expressed in frequency and percentage. Type 1 error for signifi cance was 0.05. Results:Overall 300 urine samples were simultaneously tested for dipsticks and urine culture. Of 300 urine samples, 218 (73%) tested dipsticks positive while 134 (45%) had signifi cant culture growth. Of 134 culture positive samples, Escherichia coli were mostly isolated by 47.4% while Proteus species were less isolated by 3.8%. Staphylococcus saprophyticus were the most isolated gram-positive bacteria by 6.3%. The sensitivity, specifi city, positive and negative predictive values of dipsticks tests were 56%[95%CI (confi dence interval); 49%-62%)], 85%(95%CI; 76%-91%), 91%(95%CI; 85%-95%) and 42%(95%CI; 35% -50%) respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of dipsticks test was 1 (p = 0.1213). Conclusion:The study found a moderate accuracy of dipsticks tests. Almost half of the patients diagnosed with UTIs by dipsticks tests were not found infected by urine cultures. The study recommends that, in resource available settings, urine culture should be done to confi rm the dipsticks tests results.