ORCID Profile
0000-0002-0696-5140
Current Organisations
Flinders University
,
University of Gondar
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Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 14-02-2021
DOI: 10.3390/PATHOGENS10020207
Abstract: Corynebacterium accolens is the predominant species of the healthy human nasal microbiota, and its relative abundance is decreased in the context of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of C. accolens isolated from a healthy human nasal cavity against planktonic and biofilm growth of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates (CIs) from CRS patients. Nasal swabs from twenty non-CRS control subjects were screened for the presence of C. accolens using microbiological and molecular techniques. C. accolens CIs and their culture supernatants were tested for their antimicrobial activity against eight S. aureus and eight MRSA 4CIs and S. aureus ATCC25923. The anti-biofilm potential of C. accolens cell-free culture supernatants (CFCSs) on S. aureus biofilms was also assessed. Of the 20 nasal swabs, 10 C. accolens CIs were identified and confirmed with rpoB gene sequencing. All isolates showed variable antimicrobial activity against eight out of 8 S. aureus and seven out of eight MRSA CIs. Culture supernatants from all C. accolens CIs exhibited a significant dose-dependent antibacterial activity (p 0.05) against five out of five representative S. aureus and MRSA CIs. This inhibition was abolished after proteinase K treatment. C. accolens supernatants induced a significant reduction in metabolic activity and biofilm biomass of S. aureus and MRSA CIs compared to untreated growth control (p 0.05). C. accolens exhibited antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and MRSA CIs in both planktonic and biofilm forms and holds promise for the development of innovative probiotic therapies to promote sinus health.
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 2016
DOI: 10.1155/2016/9058109
Abstract: The new WHO 2011 guidelines on TB screening among HIV-infected in iduals recommend screening using four TB symptoms (current cough, fever, weight loss, and night sweats). This study aimed to assess the performance of WHO 2011 TB symptom screening algorithm for diagnosing pulmonary TB in HIV patients and identify possible risk factors for TB. Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2012 to November 2012. A total of 250 HIV-infected patients aged ≥18 years visiting the University of Gondar Hospital, ART clinic, were enrolled. Information about WHO TB clinical symptoms and other known risk factors for TB was collected using structured questionnaire. Spot-morning-spot sputum s les were collected and direct AFB microscopy, sputum culture, and RD9 molecular typing were performed. Statistical data analysis was performed using SPSS Version 20.0 software. Of 250 study participants, fever was reported in 169 (67.6%), whereas cough and night sweats were reported in 167 (66.8%) and 152 (60.8%), respectively. A total of 11 (4.4%) TB cases were identified. Of these, 82% (9/11) TB patients reported cough, so that the negative predictive value was 98%. In addition, 66% (158/239) TB negative patients reported cough, so that positive predictive value of cough was 5%. According to the new WHOTB symptom screening algorithm, out of 250 HIV-infected persons, 83% (5/6) have been investigated by TB symptom screening and AFB smear microscopy. Therefore, the 2011 WHO TB symptom screening tool for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB is likely to reduce the diagnostic delay and lower TB morbidity and mortality rate particularly in HIV prevalent settings.
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 03-06-2018
DOI: 10.1155/2018/6031594
Abstract: Background . Diarrheal disease remains one of the principal causes of morbidity and mortality in infants and children in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Risk factors for diarrhea vary by settings and have important implications for developing intervention strategies to reduce the burden of the disease. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess diarrhea prevalence and sociodemographic factors among under-five children in rural areas of North Gondar Zone. Methods . A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2016 among 736 randomly selected households with one child under five years old. A structured questionnaire was used for collecting information on sociodemographic characteristics and diarrheal occurrence. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. The bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to determine the association between risk factors and diarrheal occurrence, and a p value 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results . A total of 736 under-five children and their respondents were enrolled during the study period. Almost all respondents were biological mothers 96.4% (709/736), married 94.2% (693/736), and house wives 86% (632/736). The overall prevalence of diarrheal disease among under-five children was 22.1% (163/743). Of these, children with age group of less than one year old, 7.7 % (57/736), were commonly infected with diarrheal diseases. Children less than or equal to one year [AOR=1.82, 95% CI= (1.39, 4.63)], guardians [AOR=4.37, 95% CI= (1.73, 11.1)], and children with no breast feeding practice [AOR=3.13, 95% CI= (1.62, 6.03)] were the major risk factors for the occurrence of diarrhea. Conclusion . Childhood diarrhea remains an important health concern in the study area. Occurrence of diarrhea was statistically associated with child age less than or equal to one year, educational status of mother/guardians, and breast feeding. To minimize the magnitude childhood diarrhea, various designing and implementing strategies, such as health education, child care, breast feeding, and weaning practice, integrated with the existing national health extension are quite essential.
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 18-07-2018
DOI: 10.1155/2018/4753460
Abstract: Background . Enterococci are becoming the most important public health concern and emerging as multidrug-resistant organisms around the world including Africa particularly in Ethiopia where there is a lack of availability of effective antimicrobial drugs. However, there is a paucity of data on the prevalence and associated risk factors of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in Ethiopia. Objective . This study was aimed to assess the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci and its associated risk factors among HIV-positive and -negative clients. Methods . A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May, 2017, on 300 participants at Dessie Referral Hospital. Data were gathered using a pretested structured questionnaire, stool s les were collected and inoculated on to bile esculin agar, and presumptive colonies were inoculated in brain-heart infusion broth containing 6.5% NaCl for selective identification of enterococci. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were done using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 software package. Results . A total of 300 study participants were enrolled in this study, of which 57.7% were females with a mean age of 34.4, a range of 19–73 years. The overall prevalence of enterococci was 37.3%. The prevalence of VRE was 6.3%. From all isolates, the prevalence of VRE among HIV-positive and -negative clients was 5.9% and 7.4%, respectively. Resistance gentamicin, icillin, penicillin, and erythromycin was 37.5%, 34.8%, 34.8%, and 22.3%, respectively. Prevalence of multidrug resistance was (29.5%). Being low in hemoglobin content was significantly associated with VRE. Conclusion . The high prevalence of VRE and multidrug-resistant enterococci in this study signals the emergence of VRE. Detection of VRE in this study indicates decreased antibiotic treatment options of multidrug-resistant enterococci. Therefore, there should be a need to perform continuous surveillance, rational use of antibiotics, and more detailed study using phenotypic and genotypic methods.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.MICRES.2021.126927
Abstract: Corynebacterium accolens strains are increasingly recognized as beneficial bacteria that can confer a health benefit on the host. In the current study, the probiotic potential of three C. accolens strains, C779, C781 and C787 derived from a healthy human nasal cavity were investigated. These strains were examined for their adhesion to HNECs, competition with Staphylococcus aureus for adhesion, toxicity, induction of IL-6, antibiotic susceptibility and the presence of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. Furthermore, the safety and efficacy of strains were evaluated in vivo using Caenorhabditis elegans. The adhesion capacity of C. accolens to HNECs was strain-dependent. Highest adhesion was observed for strain C781. None of the C. accolens strains tested caused cell lysis. All strains were able to outcompete S. aureus for cell adhesion and caused a significant decrease of IL-6 production by HNECs co-exposed to S. aureus when compared to the control groups. All strains were sensitive or showed intermediate sensitivity to 10 different antibiotics. Whole Genome Sequence analysis showed C. accolens C781 and C787 did not possess antibiotic resistance genes whereas strain C779 harboured 5 genes associated with resistance to Aminoglycoside, Chlor henicol and Erythromycin. In addition, no virulence genes were detected in any of the 3 strains. Moreover, the tested strains had no detrimental effect on worm survival and induced protection from S. aureus-mediated infection. Taken all together, C. accolens strains, C781 and C787 displayed probiotic potential and hold promise for use in clinical applications for combating dysbiosis in chronic rhinosinusitis.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-11-2020
DOI: 10.1002/ALR.22730
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 26-05-2020
DOI: 10.1155/2020/3168325
Abstract: Background. The spectrums of infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus are manifold and are associated with worse outcomes. A study on the prevalence of these pathogens and their sensitivity patterns will give updated information which is very helpful for health personnel responsible in the management of patients and timely monitoring of the emergence of resistant bacteria. Hence, the study aimed at assessing the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and associated factors among patients with wound infection at Dessie Referral Hospital. Method . A cross-sectional study was conducted among 266 patients at Dessie Referral Hospital from February to May 2016. Wound swab s les were collected aseptically using Levine’s technique and transported to Dessie Regional Laboratory by using brain-heart infusion transport media. Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus was done based on cultural and biochemical profiles. Drug susceptibility test was performed using the disc diffusion technique as per the standard and interpreted based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Result . Staphylococcus isolates from 266 processed wound swabs were 92 (34.58%). Of these, 26 (28.3%) were identified as methicillin-resistant S. aureus and 66 (71.7%) were methicillin-sensitive S. aureus . The overall prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus among the study population was 9.8%. The isolated methicillin-resistant S. aureus showed full resistance to penicillin (100%) followed by erythromycin and ciprofloxacin (16, 61.5%) and cotrimoxazole and gentamicin (14, 53.8%). From the total S. aureus isolates, 20 (21.7%) of them showed multidrug resistance. Of these methicillin-resistant S. aureus , 18 (69.8%) showed high multidrug resistance. Patients who are farmers in occupation (AOR = 6.1, 95% CI (1.086–33.724)), admitted in the hospital (AOR = 3.56, 95% CI (1.429–8.857)), and have low BMI ( .5) (AOR = 13.89, 95% CI (4.919–39.192)) were among the risk factors significantly associated with wound infection due to methicillin-resistant S. aureus . Conclusion . All methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates were 100% resistant to penicillin and showed high multidrug resistance. Therefore, antibiotic susceptibility test should be performed prior to treatment.
Location: Ethiopia
No related grants have been discovered for Martha Alemayehu Menberu.