Hepatitis B virus infection is one of the leading causes of liver disease in the world. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of HBV infection and associated risk factors among pregnant women in Northern Ethiopia using a cross-sectional study design. A total of 328 pregnant women were included in this study. Clinical and socio-demographic data of the pregnant women were collected using a structured questionnaire by nurses or midwives during their ANC visit. For the detection of HBsAg, 5 mL of venous blood was collected from the pregnant women; serum was separated in the health facilities from the whole blood and was transported to Tigray Public Health Research Institute for analysis using. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20.0. (IBM). Association of variables with HBV infection was determined with multivariate analysis and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean age of the study participants was 25.45 ± 5.067. The overall prevalence rate of HBV infection among the pregnant women was 5.5%. A statistical association of HBV infection with risk factors was seen on participants, who were making unprotected sexual practices with multiple partners (AoR = 6.4, 95%CI, 2-21, P = 0.03), on those who had HBV-infected person in their family (AoR = 8, 95%CI, 1-58, P = 0.02), and on those who had undergone surgical procedures (AoR = 6.8, 95%CI, 1-32, P = 0.022).

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among janitors working at Mekelle University, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia.ResultThe overall prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA in the present study were 17.97% (69/384) and 6.25% (24/384) respectively. Although not statistically significant, the prevalence of MRSA among janitors working in the medical area (9.7%, 10/103) was two times higher than the non-medical area (4.9%, 14/281). Janitors who had more service year and who were unable to read and write were found with high isolates of MRSA. Nasal carriage of MRSA among janitors who work in the hospital and who were hospitalized in the last 3 months and those who had exposure to wastes and body fluids were 13 (37.1%) and 10 (38.5%) respectively. Majority of the isolates of S. aureus were sensitive to ciprofloxacin (67; 97%), doxycycline (56; 81%), erythromycin (54; 78%), chloramphenicol (50; 72.5%) and cefoxitin (45; 65.2%). Sixty-seven of the 69 (97%) were resistant to penicillin. Of the 69 isolates of S. aureus, 22 (31.9%) showed multidrug resistant. Fourteen were resistant to three antimicrobials, 2 were resistant to four antimicrobials, and 7 were resistant to five antimicrobials.

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility test of Listeria monocytogenes among pregnant women in Tigray region, Ethiopia. Results The overall prevalence of L. monocytogenes among pregnant women was found to be (8.5%; 12/141). With regard to the socio-demographic characteristics, a high prevalence of L. monocytogenes was observed in the age group of 20–24 years (18.6%; 8/43), rural dwellers (10%; 3/30), secondary school (9.6%; 5/52), and housewives (11.4%;10/88). A high drug resistance rate was observed to penicillin G (66.7%), clindamycin (66.7%), amoxicillin (50%) and vancomycin (50%). However, isolates were relatively sensitive to ciprofloxacin (75%), erythromycin (75%), trimethoprim/sulphamethaxazole (66.7%) and chloramphenicol (60%).

Background Globally, Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the second most common cause of bacterial sexually transmitted diseases. The prominent predicament of this bacterium is its complications, non-susceptibility for many drugs, and aggravated transmission of other sexually transmitted infections. There is limited information about the prevalence, antibiotic resistance, and risk factors of N. gonorrhoeae in Tigrai, Ethiopia. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence, antibiotic resistance, and risk factors of N. gonorrhoeae among patients attending non-profitable private clinics in Mekelle, Tigrai, Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study among 229 patients was conducted from February to June 2018. The socio-demographic data and associated factors were gathered using structured questionnaire, and swabs were taken from urethra and cervix of males and females, respectively. Specimens were inoculated on standard bacteriological culture media and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique following the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 21. The level of significance at p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The overall prevalence of N. gonorrhoeae was 23 (10.04%). High prevalence rates of N. gonorrhoeae were observed in females, urban residents and married ones. N. gonorrhoeae had shown statistically significant association with HIV positive, previous history of STIs, shisha users, Khat ( Catha edulis ) users, condom non-users and having more than two sexual partners. All isolates showed resistance to penicillin followed by tetracycline 16 (69.6%) and ciprofloxacin 8 (34.8%). Four isolates (7.4%) exhibited resistance to azithromycin with no resistance to ceftriaxone. Twelve (52.2%) isolates showed multidrug resistance (MDR). Conclusions The prevalence of N. gonorrhoeae and drug resistance, including multidrug resistance, was high in the study. Multiple factors were associated with the acquisition of N. gonorrhoeae . Therefore, behavioral change and communication should be strengthened.

Objective Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most frequent disease encounters in pregnant mothers, and the most drug resistant, biofilm and hemagglutinin producer Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the major etiologic agent. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the association between the antimicrobial resistance, and biofilm and hemagglutinin production of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli . Results UTI among the study participants was 27.3%; and UPEC was found the major etiologic agent followed by coagulase negative staphylococcus. Risk factors, previous history of catheterization and previous history of UTI were found significantly associated with UTI, recurrent UTI, drug resistance and biofilm formation. Of the tested antibiotics, nitrofurantoin was the most effective drug for UPEC. Nearly 100% of the biofilm producers were resistant to norfloxacin, cotrimoxazole, and gentamicin.