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Yasabe Leykun,1 Chalachew Genet,1 Wondemagegn Mulu1,2 1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, BelgiumCorrespondence: Wondemagegn Mulu Tel +251918706921Email wondem_32@yahoo.comBackground: Group B streptococci (GBS) is an important pathogen involved in stillbirths, neonatal deaths and neurological defects, and the occurrence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) is an alarming issue. This study determined the prevalence of GBS colonization in pregnant women and newborns, the proportion of vertical transmission, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of isolates, and the factors associated with colonization and vertical transmission.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021, at selected health facilities of Bahir Dar city. Vaginal-recto swabs from 292 pregnant women and pooled ear, nasal and umbilical swabs from 292 newborns were collected. GBS were identified following standard microbiological protocols. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using modified Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method and interpreted by the accepted 2020 CLSI M100 guidelines. Logistic regression analysis was computed.Results: Overall, 54 (18.5%) of pregnant women and 22 (7.5%) of newborns had GBS colonization. The proportion of GBS vertical transmission was 22 (40.7%). Group B Streptococcus isolates scored susceptibility to penicillin, ampicillin and vancomycin with 88.9%, 90.7%, and 96.3% for pregnant women and 86.4%, 90.9% and 95.9% for newborns, respectively. A high percentage of non-susceptibility was found for clindamycin and erythromycin with 33.3% and 25.9% for pregnant women and 31.8% and 22.7% from newborns, respectively. Besides, 19 (35.2%) GBS from pregnant women and 8 (36.4%) from newborns were MDR. Group B streptococci colonization was significantly associated with delivery before 37th week of gestation (AOR=2.77, 95% CI 1.14– 6.68) and history of stillbirth (AOR=3.13, 95% CI 1.13– 8.70).Conclusion: Pregnant women vaginal-recto GBS colonization and transmission to newborns connected with MDR are a matter of concerns. Although non-susceptible GBS isolates are obtained, penicillin and vancomycin are relatively effective. The use of clindamycin, erythromycin and ceftriaxone should be guided by antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Genetic analysis is recommended to exactly identify the epidemiology of GBS strains, vertical transmission and antimicrobial resistance at the country level.Keywords: group B streptococci, vaginal-recto colonization, vertical transmission, pregnant women, newborns, MDR, Ethiopia

Litegebew Yitayeh,1 Addisu Gize,2 Melkayehu Kassa,2 Misrak Neway,1 Aschalew Afework,1 Mulugeta Kibret,3 Wondemagegn Mulu4 1GAMBY Teaching General Hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Microbiology, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 3Department of Biology, Science College, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; 4Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Addisu Gize Email addisu.gize@sphmmc.edu.etBackground: Infections with multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria are serious threats to many low-income countries associated with overuse and misuse of antibiotics. This study determined the antibiogram profiles of bacteria isolated from different body site infections among patients admitted to GAMBY Teaching General Hospital, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia.Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was done between November 2015 and May 2018. Various clinical specimens were sampled from patients and analyzed for aerobic bacterial isolation and Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility testing. Chi-square test was calculated to see association among variables, and P-value < 0.05 was taken as a cutoff value for statistical significance.Results: From the 716 clinical specimens processed, 134 (18.7%) were culture-positive for aerobic bacterial pathogens. Culture-confirmed positivity was higher in ear discharge (27.3%) and urine (26.3%) samples. The prevalence of infection was significantly highest among females (P = 0.001). Escherichia coli 63 (47.4%) and 10 (7.4%) of Klebsiella spp. from Gram-negative bacteria were the predominant bacterial isolates, while Staphylococcus saprophyticus 17 (12.6%) and S. aureus 14 (10.4%) were from Gram-positive bacteria. Overall, 61.8% of the isolates were found to be MDR. The proportion of MDR among Klebsiella spp., S. aureus and E. coli isolates was 90.9%, 60.9% and 50%, respectively. Gram-positive bacteria demonstrated 20%, 48.6% and 100% of resistance against norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin and clindamycin, respectively. Gram-negative bacteria also revealed from 20% resistance for the antibiotic nitrofurantoin and 100% of resistance for ampicillin and penicillin.Conclusion: Infections with bacterial isolates resistant to the majority of antibiotics are a major issue in the study area. Most of the identified bacteria were resistant to the routinely used antibiotics, and MDR isolates are alarmingly high. Therefore, clinicians should practice rational choice of antibiotics and treatment should be guided by antimicrobial susceptibility testing.Keywords: bacterial isolates, antibiogram, clinical specimen, GAMBY, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Mekonnen Alebel,1 Feleke Mekonnen,2 Wondemagegn Mulu2 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Chagni Hospital, Chagni, Ethiopia; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Wondemagegn MuluDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P. O. Box: 79, Bahir Dar, EthiopiaEmail wondem_32@yahoo.comBackground: Owing to the specific risk profile of its residents, intensive care units (ICUs) are the best place for selection pressure and the epicenter for resistance development and dissemination. Infections with β-lactamase releasing Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) at ICUs are an emerging global threat. This study dogged the magnitude of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase releasing Gram-negative bacilli infections and associated factors among patients in the ICUs of Felegehiwot Referral Hospital, Ethiopia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was done through February to June 2020. Wound swabs, urine, blood and sputum samples were collected from patients in the ICUs symptomatic for infections while excluding those under coma and shock. Bacterial species were verified using standard microbiological methods. Carbapenemase and ESBL production were identified using modified carbapenem inactivation and combined disk diffusion methods, respectively. Multivariable analysis was calculated for factors associated with ESBL production. P-value < 0.05 was taken as cut-off for statistical significance.Results: Out of 270 patients in the ICU, 67 (24.8%) and 14 (5.2%) had infections with ESBL and carbapenemase releasing GNB, respectively. The most frequent ESBL producing isolates were P. aeruginosa (100%), E. cloacae (100%), K. pneumoniae (82.8%) and E. coli (64%). The predominant carbapenemase producer isolates were K. pneumoniae (27.6%) and E. cloacae (33.3%). Overall, 77 (81.1%) of species were multi-drug resistant. All GNB species were 100% resistant to tetracycline and ampicillin. They are also resistant to cefuroxime, ceftazidime, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and cefotaxime. Prior hospitalization (AOR = 5.5, CI = 2.63– 11.46), support with medical care devices (AOR = 23.7, CI = 4.6– 12) and arterial intravenous catheterization (AOR = 2.7, CI = 1.3– 5.3) had significant association with β-lactamase producing GNB infection.Conclusion: Infection with ESBL and carbapenemase producing Gram-negative bacilli linked with an alarming degree of multi-drug resistant isolates is a major healthcare threat among patients in ICUs. Hence, strict adherence to infection prevention practices and wise use of antibiotics are recommended to slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance.Keywords: ICU, GNB, ESBL, carbapenemase, multi-drug resistance, FHRH, Ethiopia