Introduction Proper measures to combat antimicrobial resistance development and spread in Sub Saharan Africa are very crucial bearing in mind the projected burden of antimicrobial resistance which is expected to be increase by 2050. Training of medical doctor and pharmacy students in antimicrobial stewardship is vital to combat antimicrobial resistance. This study was designed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and perception of final year medical and pharmacy students on antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance at three universities in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Methodology A cross-sectional survey was carried out among final year undergraduate medical and pharmacy students at three universities in East Africa. A Self-administered questionnaire was developed which included dichotomous questions and questions using a 4-point Likert scale. The questions were based on knowledge and attitude about antibiotics, and preparedness to use antibiotics in clinical scenarios. Data were analyzed using STATA version 16 following the objective of the study. Results Three hundred and twenty-eight final year students participated in the survey from MUK 75, MKU 75 and CUHAS 178. Slightly majority of participants were male 192(58.5%) and their median age was 25 [23 – 27] years. In general, 36.6% (120/328) of students had good overall total knowledge. More students at MUK had good knowledge compared to MKU, and CUHAS (72% vs, 40% vs. 20.2%; p<0.001). The mean scores for overall good total knowledge, general knowledge about antibiotics, knowledge about antibiotic resistance, and knowledge about antibiotic use in clinical scenarios were 58% (CI: 57%– 60%), 95% (CI: 94%– 97%), 54% (CI: 52% - 56%), and 46% (CI:44% - 48%) respectively. More pharmacy students compared to medical students had a good attitude and perception on antibiotic use (79.6% vs. 68.4%; p = 0.026). The students at CUHAS perceived being more prepared to use antibiotic in district hospitals compared to MKU and MUK (75.3% vs. 62.7% vs. 65.3%; p = 0.079). While two hundred and seventy (82.3%) students perceived knowing when to start antimicrobial therapy, 112 (34.2%) did not know how to select the appropriate antibiotic (p<0.0001), 97 (29.6%) did not know the antibiotic dose to give (p<0.0001), and 111 (33.8%) did not know when to switch form an intravenous antibiotic to oral regimen (p<0.0001). Conclusion Final year students have low scores in knowledge about antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use in clinical scenarios. This has exposed gaps in practical training of students, while they may feel confident, are not fully prepared to prescribe antibiotics in a hospital setting. A multidisciplinary and practical approach involving medical schools across the East African region should be undertaken to train final year undergraduate students in antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship programs. Antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship courses should be introduced into the curriculum of final year medicine and pharmacy programs.

Background:Clinical Laboratory testing is a highly complex process that entails numerous procedures. Although it has been known that laboratory testing services are safe, it is increasingly becoming a common knowledge that they are not that safe. Studies have indicated that there are a number of errors that occur due to laboratory testing processes. These errors may not be realized easily during the testing process, but they make significant impact on the results given. Aims and Objective: To determine the levels of pre-analytical, analytical, and post analytical errors found in the analysis of Clinical chemistry Laboratory specimen. Materials and Methods: A prospective and Descriptive study was carried out at Clinical Chemistry a total of 346 request forms, specimens/samples and dispatched results were scrutinized and errors documented as per the different variables in the different phases, over a period of three months and the findings were analyzed. Results: Results of the study showed that Preanalytical errors were most common with a frequency of 148(42.8%), followed by analytical errors 114 (32.9%) and post analytical errors 84 (24.3%), respectively. Conclusions:The study concludes that pre-analytical, analytical, and post analytical errors are errors that compromise the quality of laboratory service delivery, which impacts on the patient management and diagnosis. Clinical laboratory errors can be minimized if due diligence and professionalism is adhered in the laboratory. The major mistakes in laboratory diagnostics arise during patient preparation, sample collection, sample preparation and sample storage. Most of these errors are due to the initial procedures of the testing process carried out by the healthcare personnel outside the laboratory walls and outside the direct control of the Clinical laboratory. A laboratory error is defined as a defect occurring at any part of the laboratory cycle, from ordering tests to reporting results and appropriately interpreting and reacting in these. According to these concepts, some practical considerations should be made in order to reduce errors in laboratory medicine and improve patient safety. 1 MATERIAL AND METHODSA total of 346 request forms, specimens/samples and dispatch of results were scrutinized and errors documented as per the different variables in the different phases, over a period of three months prospective study at the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory. RESULTSThe study findings indicate that the pre-analytical phase of the Clinical laboratory testing process had 148 errors which were 42.8% of the total number of errors captured during the study period. 74.3% (110) of the pre-analytical errors were attributed to: request forms lacking address (40, 27.0%); test not done in biochemistry lab (24, 16.2%); specimen drawn in wrong tube (20, 13.5%); specimen without request forms (10, 6.8%); unlabeled specimen (8, 5.4%); and inadequate/insufficient sample after centrifugation (8, 5.4%). The remaining 25.7% (38) of the pre-analytical phase errors are associate...

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Introduction: Worldwide tuberculosis was top ten cause of death alongside, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in 2018; 10.0 million people became ill with tuberculosis with 1.2 million deaths occurring among HIV negative people while an additional 251,000 were HIV positive. Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT), intensified case finding, and infection control have been widely recommended to reduce the burden of TB in people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV). IPT works synergistically but independently of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to reduce the morbidity, mortality and incidence of tuberculosis among PLHIV, but its uptake has been slow in most developing countries.Objective: This study sought to find the effect of isoniazid preventive therapy on prevalence of tuberculosis among HIV patients attending Bahati comprehensive care centre. Materials and Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted over a seven month period among consented 346 people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) residing in Makadara Nairobi County, attending Bahati comprehensive care centre with signs and symptoms of TB. Sampled sputa from the participants were analyzed for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay and culture by BACTEC MGIT 960. Socio demographic and laboratory data was collected and the data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.Results: Of the three hundred and forty six sputa sampled and analyzed, 10(6.5%) and 67(35.1%) IPT and non-IPT patients had Mycobacterium tuberculosis detected respectively; P=0.001. On the other hand 57(18.2%) and 20(60.6%) new and retreatment patients had Mycobacterium tuberculosis detected respectively.