Background. Postexposure chemoprophylaxis can prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in risk health care workers; however routine adoption of these practices by the workers has been limited. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 311 health care workers of Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital between February and March 2016. Data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire and analysed using STATA 12. Results. In all, 83% of the participants had adequate knowledge of postexposure prophylaxis for HIV. All the respondents had heard about postexposure prophylaxis for HIV; however, only 37 (22.4%) workers know the definition of the postexposure prophylaxis. Among study participants, the majority of them, 272 (87.5%), knew the preferable time to initiate postexposure chemoprophylaxis. A significant number of the workers (43.4%) had an unfavorable attitude towards postexposure prophylaxis. Among 53 workers with a potential exposure to HIV, 38 (71.7%) took postexposure chemoprophylaxis and only 26 (44.8%) completed taking postexposure prophylaxis correctly. Conclusion. In all, most of the health care workers had adequate knowledge about postexposure prophylaxis against HIV/AIDS. The result shows that a significant number of individuals had a negative attitude and poor practice with regard to postexposure prophylaxis. Therefore, formal training that aims to improve attitudes and support to improve postexposure prophylaxis implementation and completion are needed. We would recommend the establishment of appropriate guidelines and the supply chain to ensure the availability of postexposure prophylaxis drugs for the protection of healthcare workers with potential high risk exposure to HIV.

Objective The high incidence and substantial morbidity and mortality associated with community-acquired pneumonia necessitate an accurate assessment and appropriate management of patients. This observational prospective study aimed to evaluate the physicians’ adherence to the Ethiopian Standard Treatment Guideline for assessment and an empiric antibiotic selection for Community-acquired pneumonia. Results The study indicated that the pneumonia severity assessment tool, CURB-65 score, was never used. Of 141 patients referred to an admitting diagnosis of severe community-acquired pneumonia, only 50 were subsequently found to satisfy the guideline criteria, over-diagnosis of 41.9%. Large proportions of the participants (130, 60%) were prescribed antibiotics in the last three months. The most commonly prescribed single antibiotic was Ceftriaxone (47, 21.7%), while ceftriaxone plus azithromycin was the most common combination, 110 (50.7%). In general, the extent of non-adherence to the national guideline for the use of antibiotics was 36.4%. In conclusion, the use of CRB65 scores was uncommon in the study setting. Poor adherence to Ethiopian Standard Treatment Guideline regarding the decision of hospital admission (41.9%) and the antimicrobial selection (36.4%) was determined.

Objective: Mortality of HumanImmunodefi ciency Virus (HIV)-infected patients have been reduced substantially since the introduction of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). However, many studies have shown high mortality. But the factors associated with this high mortality are poorly characterized. So this retrospective cohort study aims to determine mortality and identify predictors of it among patients on ART at Hiwotfana specialized university Hospital (HFSUH). Result: A total of 61 (11.9%) deaths were observed giving an overall mortality rate of 2.8 per 100 person years. Advanced WHO stages (hazard ratio (HR) =3.44, 95% CI: 1.73-6.85), baseline CD4 count less than 200cells/mm3 (HR=3.18, 955 CI: 1.671-6.06), regimen changed (HR=23.62, 95% CI: 9.95-56.05), and being anemic (HR=3.23, 95% CI: 1.71-6.11) were the independent predictors of mortality. Patients who started AZT based initial regimen had a lower risk of mortality (HR=0.29, 95% CI=0.13-0.64) when compared with the D4T based regimen.

Background Collaboration is the way to deliver the desired health outcome for the patients or service users in the healthcare. Inter-professional collaboration can improve medication safety, patient outcome and minimize healthcare costs. This study aimed to explore the degree of collaboration and factors influencing collaboration between physicians and pharmacists within the public hospitals of Jigjiga town, Somali National Regional State, Ethiopia, 2020. Methods A cross-sectional study qualitative was conducted among 149 participants in the two governmental hospitals of the Jigjiga town with a response rate of 79.87%. The collaborative working relationship model and the physician-pharmacist collaborative instrument with three main exchange domains (trustworthiness, role specification, and relationship initiation) and collaborative care items were used. An independent sample t-test was used to compute the differences of the mean scores of physician-pharmacist collaborative instrument domains and collaborative care. Separate multiple regression was employed to assess factors influencing collaborative care for pharmacists and physicians. Results This study showed that pharmacists reported higher mean of collaborative care (10.66 ± 4.75) than physicians (9.17 ± 3.92). The multiple regression indicated that area of practice influence both professionals’ collaborative practice. A significant association between collaborative care and the two PPCI domains (trustworthiness and relationship initiation for the physicians; role specification and relationship initiation for pharmacists) was established. Conclusions The study showed that the collaboration between the physicians and pharmacists was sub-optimal and the exchange variables had a significant influence on their collaboration. Recommendation Physicians and pharmacists need to exert more efforts to enhance this collaboration. Further qualitative study might be needed to search for factors affecting, barriers and how to develop collaborative practice.