Indoor Air Bacterial Load and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Isolates in Operating Rooms and Surgical Wards at Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection is the second most common health care associated infection. One of the risk factors for such infection is bacterial contamination of operating rooms’ and surgical wards’ indoor air. In view of that, the microbiological quality of air can be considered as a mirror of the hygienic condition of these rooms. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the bacterial load and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of isolates in operating rooms’ and surgical wards’ indoor air of Jimma University Specialized Hospital. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted to measure indoor air microbial quality of operating rooms and surgical wards from October to January 2009/2010 on 108 indoor air samples collected in twelve rounds using purposive sampling technique by Settle Plate Method (Passive Air Sampling following 1/1/1 Schedule). Sample processing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were done following standard bacteriological techniques. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 and interpreted according to scientifically determined baseline values initially suggested by Fisher. RESULTS: The mean aerobic colony counts obtained in OR-1(46cfu/hr) and OR-2(28cfu/hr) was far beyond the set 5-8cfu/hr acceptable standards for passive room. Similarly the highest mean aerobic colony counts of 465cfu/hr and 461cfu/hr were observed in Female room-1 and room-2 respectively when compared to the acceptable range of 250-450cfu/hr. In this study only 3 isolates of S. pyogenes and 48 isolates of S. aureus were identified. Over 66% of S. aureus was identified in Critical Zone of Operating rooms. All isolates of S .aureus showed 100% and 82.8% resistance to methicillin and ampicillin respectively. CONCLUSION: Higher degree of aerobic bacterial load was measured from operating rooms’ and surgical wards’ indoor air. Reducing foot trafficking, improving the ventilation system and routine cleaning has to be made to maintain the aerobic bacteria load with in optimal level.   KEYWORDS: Indoor air, hospital environment, surgical site infection, Southwest Ethiopi

Review on Overall Status of Soil and Water Conservation System and Its Constraints in Different Agro Ecology of Southern Ethiopia

Soil erosion is one of the major challenges of Ethiopia deteriorating the productivity of land. Soil and water conservation is the only practice to reverse the threat and protect the land. Over the last three decades, different soil and water conservation activities have been undertaken. However, soil erosion still persists and become major threats of the southern regional state. This study was conducted to assess and identify major constraints existing in soil and water conservation system of the region. Lack of integrated bio-physical measures, absence of integrating indigenous practices, negative impacts of incentives, lack of considering socio-economic profile, low perception and participation of farmers, poor conservation design, mis land use, less maintenance, weak monitoring and evaluation of soil and water conservation are the major constraints exist in midlands. Synonymously, low perception, less involvement  of farmers and open grazing are the dominate constraints in lowlands. Moreover, low interest of farmers, land use change and less treatment of gully areas are major constraints at highland agro-ecology. The findings recommended that use of agronomic and integrated soil conservation measures, subsidy of agricultural inputs, efficient use of incentives, socio-economic considerations, use of effective approach in mobilizing community, adoption and dissemination of best technologies, integrating indigenous practices and policy issues should be considered in implementing soil and water conservation. In conclusion, to reduce soil erosion sustainably, different soil and water conservation options should be introduced and used considering agro ecology, socio-economic profile and climatic condition of the intervention area. Keywords: Soil and water conservation; Agro-ecology; Soil erosion; South Ethiopi

Nutritional, eco-physiological and symbiotic characteristics of rhizobia nodulating faba bean (Vicia faba L.) collected from acidic soils of Ethiopia

Characterization of root nodule bacteria is used for selecting and using them as inoculants to improve legume production. To this end, faba bean (Vicia faba L.) rhizobia were isolated from nodules collected from acidic soils of Central and Southern-Western parts of Ethiopia. A total of hundred rhizobial isolates were collected and characterized based upon their nutritional, ecophysiological and symbiotic characteristics. The isolates produced low to copious amount of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) and attain colony sizes ranging from 2 to 7 mm with generation time ranging 0.75 to 3.9 h. Most of the isolates were grown at different pH levels ranging 4.5 to 7.0 and temperatures between 4 and 45°C. They were also capable of growing on many carbon sources and most of the nitrogen sources, and showed significant variations in resisting different types of antibiotics and heavy metals. Based on symbiotic efficiency (SE), 56% of the isolates were found to be very effective when applied with both Degaga and Dosha varieties. All taken together, two isolates, HUGAVf1 and HUCDVf5 were nutritionally versatile, showed a wide range of tolerance to the stress in many of the ecophysiological characters and very effective symbiotic performance should be utilized in future faba bean inoculants production.Key words: Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar. viceae, antibiotic tolerance, carbon utilization, fast growing, heavy metals, temperature tolerance

Minimal Absorption Measurements

We show that it is not possible to discriminate two close transparencies without a certain number of photons being absorbed. We extend this to the discrimination of patterns of transparency (images).Comment: 11 pages (latex

Optical maps of plasmids as a proxy for clonal spread of MDR bacteria: A case study of an outbreak in a rural Ethiopian hospital

Objectives: MDR bacteria have become a prevailing health threat worldwide. We here aimed to use optical DNA mapping (ODM) as a rapid method to trace nosocomial spread of bacterial clones and gene elements.We believe that this method has the potential to be a tool of pivotal importance for MDR control. Methods: Twenty-four Escherichia coli samples of ST410 from three different wards were collected at an Ethiopian hospital and their plasmids were analysed by ODM. Plasmids were specifically digested with Cas9 targeting the antibiotic resistance genes, stained by competitive binding and confined in nanochannels for imaging. The resulting intensity profiles (barcodes) for each plasmid were compared to identify potential clonal spread of resistant bacteria. Results: ODM demonstrated that a large fraction of the patients carried bacteria with a plasmid of the same origin, carrying the ESBL gene blaCTX-M-15, suggesting clonal spread. The results correlate perfectly with core genome (cg)MLST data, where bacteria with the same plasmid also had very similar cgMLST profiles. Conclusions: ODM is a rapid discriminatory method for identifying plasmids and antibiotic resistance genes. Long-range deletions/insertions, which are challenging for short-read next-generation sequencing, can be easily identified and used to trace bacterial clonal spread. We propose that plasmid typing can be a useful tool to identify clonal spread of MDR bacteria. Furthermore, the simplicity of the method enables possible future application in low-and middle-income countries

Vitamin A deficiency status in Tigray Region, Ethiopia, 1996

Abstract: A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of xerophthalmia in Alaje and Samre weredas of Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia, where EPI-plus and Wereda Integrated Basic Service (WIBS) approaches are being launched to prevent and control vitamin A deficiency. A total of 5,253 preschool children (PSC) were clinically examined between October and November, 1996 for ocular signs of xerophthalmia. Blood samples were drawn from 248 PSC for serum retinol levels(SRL). The overall prevalence rates of night blindness (XN) and Bitot's spot (X B) for both weredas were 1 0.9% and 1.5%, respectively, with a higher prevalence rate in males than females (53 vs 26). Alaje wereda(EPI-plus) had XN=21(0.8%) and X B=38(1.4%), and Samre wereda (WIBS) had 1 XN=25(1.0%) and X B=41(1.7%). No sex difference was seen in the prevalence rate of corneal 1 xerosis and keratomalacia (0.4%). The most affected age groups were children between five and six years of age. Both weredas showed the distribution of serum retinol levels to be deficient in 21(16.7%) in Samre and 19(15.5%) in Alaje, and low in 60(47.6%) in Samre and 57(46.7%) in Alaje. Low SRL is found to be highest among children between five and six years of age in males and between two to three years of age in females in both weredas. The high prevalence rate of X B 1 (three times higher than the WHO cut-off point), and the low level of serum retinol value found in this study indicates the need and urgency for the continuation of the aforementioned strategies of vitamin A deficiency control program launched in the Region until their impact is further evaluated. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1999;13(2):87-91