Background. Streptococcus pneumoniae is part of the normal flora of the upper respiratory tract of humans. Colonization of the upper respiratory tract (carriage of pneumococcus) by S. pneumoniae is considered a prerequisite for pneumococcal infection. It is the major cause of respiratory tract infection and frequent cause of physician visits, hospitalization, and death among old-aged patients because of their low immunity status. However, data on S. pneumoniae among old-aged patients in eastern Ethiopia are limited. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and associated factor of S. pneumoniae colonization among old-aged patients. Method. A health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 March to 15 April 2020, at Sheik Hassan Yebere Referral and Karamara General Hospitals, Jigjiga, eastern Ethiopia. A total of 188 individuals greater than or equal to 60 years suspected of both upper and lower respiratory tract infections were included. Sociodemographic, behavioral, living conditions, and clinical data were collected by trained data collectors. Sputum samples were collected and examined for S. pneumoniae using the culture and biochemical tests as per the standard procedures. The Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method was used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The data were entered on Epi-data version 3.1, and frequencies, crude odds ratio, and adjusted odds ratio were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results. The prevalence of S. pneumoniae colonization rate among old-aged patients was 13.8% (26/188) (95% CI: 9.6–19.1). Smoking (AOR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.3–8.3), upper airway problems (AOR = 4.1; 95% CI: 1.1–15), and asthma disease (AOR = 3.1; 95% CI: 1.1–8.9) were the factors associated with S. pneumoniae colonization. The isolated organisms showed high antimicrobial resistance to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (n = 12, 46.2%), tetracycline (n = 11, 42.3%), and ampicillin (n = 9, 34.6%). Conclusion. This study showed that high prevalence of S. pneumoniae and antimicrobial resistance for trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, tetracycline, and ampicillin when compared to similar studies. Cigarette smoking, having upper airway problem, and asthma disease were factors associated with S. pneumoniae colonization. The provision of pneumococci conjugate vaccination and avoiding smoking are highly recommended for old aged in the community.

Background. External ocular infection is a global public health problem. Frequently, bacteria cause an ocular infection that ranges from morbidity to loss of vision. The increasing bacterial resistance in ocular infections leads to the risk of treatment failure with possibly serious consequences. Objective. The study aimed to assess the bacterial profile of external ocular infections, their associated factors, and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among patients admitted to Karamara hospital, Jigjiga, Eastern Ethiopia. Method. Institutional-basedcross-sectional study was conducted on 288 conveniently selected patients among patients admitted to Karamara hospital from May 1 to June 30, 2020. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The ocular sample was collected and cultured in the appropriate culture media and identified using a series of biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of isolates was performed by using the disk diffusion method. Data were double entered onto EpiData version 3.1 then exported to SPSS version 20 and analyzed to calculate descriptive frequency and odds ratio, and p value ≤0.05 was taken as the significant value. Result. The prevalence of bacterial infection in external ocular samples was 62.2% (95% CI: 56.6%, 68.4%). Out of the 179 isolates, the majority of the bacterial isolates (87.7%) were Gram-positive. Staphylococcus aureus (53.1%) was the predominant isolate. Using soap for washing the face (AOR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.29, 0.95), having diabetes mellitus (AOR = 3.11; 95% CI: 1.45, 6.75), and history of hospitalization (AOR = 2.82; 95% CI: 1.44, 5.54) were significantly associated with external ocular infection. Most (95.5%) of the Gram-positive bacteria showed resistance to penicillin, but they were susceptible to vancomycin, clindamycin, and ciprofloxacin. Conclusion. The study showed a high prevalence of bacterial infections with the predominant isolate was S. aureus. Penicillin-resistant bacteria were identified among Gram-positive bacterial isolates. Soap usage, hospitalization, and diabetes mellitus were associated with the infection. Antibiotics that were susceptible to the specific bacteria should be used as a drug of choice and using soap for washing the face is advisable to protect against external ocular infection.

Background Pneumonia is inflammation of the lung. The Streptococcus pneumoniae ( S. pneumoniae ) is commensal in the upper airway and can cause infection to under-five children. The bacteria is gram-positive diplococci, catalase negative, and optochin sensitive. The bacteria is the leading cause of bacterial pneumonia among under-five children. No similar data is reported from the current study area. Objective To determine prevalence, antimicrobial drug resistance and associated factors of S. pneumoniae infection among under-five children with acute lower respiratory tract infection attending Sheck Hassan Yebere Referral Hospital from March 1 to April 30, 2021 Jig-Jiga, Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 374 study participants selected by convenience sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect child data. Nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs were collected and diagnosed to isolate S. pneumoniae by using culture then identified by biochemical examination. Later antimicrobial drug resistance testing was performed by Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. All data were entered on epi-data 3.1 then exported to SPSS version 22 to calculate analysis. Statistically significant value was found by calculating an adjusted odds ratio with p-value ≤ 0.05 in a multivariate logistic regression model. Results Among 374 under-five children, 180 (48.1%) were males and 109 (29.2%) were from low income families. The overall prevalence of S. pneumoniae infection in the study was 18% (95% CI 14.4–22.2). No window (AOR=2.8 CI 1.1–7.6), no/non-exclusive breast-feeding (AOR= 2.1 CI 1.1–4.1), and previous URTI (AOR= 3.2 CI 1.7–6.1) were significantly associated with S. pneumoniae infection. The isolated organism showed drug resistance for Cotrimoxazole (35%), and Tetracycline (34%). Conclusion The prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in this study were comparatively high. No window, non-exclusive breast-feeding and previous URTI were associated with S. pneumoniae infection. The isolated S. pneumoniae showed high drug resistance to cotrimoxazole and tetracycline.