Perception Towards COVID-19 Related Symptoms and Traditional Medicine Used for Their Management Among Patients and Their Attendants in Ethiopian Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Since the beginning of the pandemic, scientists and researchers are highly engaged in the discovery and production of vaccines and specific treatments for COVID-19. In China, the National Health Commission has declared the use of herbal medicine combined with Western medicine as a treatment for COVID-19 and has issued many guidelines on herbal medicine-related therapies. Ethiopians have a variety of medicinal herbs to treat various viral diseases. Hence, this study aimed to assess the perception of the respondent towards COVID-19 related symptoms and traditional medicine practice for their management. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was done among 423 patients and patient attendants at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from August 6 to 27, 2021. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and the data were entered into Epi Info 7 and then analyzed with SPSS 20. The association between the independent and dependent variables was explained using chi-square test. Results: A total of 423 respondents participated in the study; 414 (97.9%) participants heard about COVID-19 and responded correctly to the chief clinical symptoms. Fever is the most perceived symptom, reported by 378 (91.3) respondents, and the least reported symptom was loss of taste and smell by 30 (7.2%) respondents. This study showed that home remedies were practiced by 323 of the total respondents, and herbal medicines were the second most and practiced by 316 respondents. Monthly income and perceived knowledge about chief symptoms were statistically significantly associated (p < 0.05) with the use of complementary and alternative medicine for the management of COVID-19 related symptoms. Conclusion: This study found that most of the respondents have knowledge about the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and the traditional medicine is being practiced by most of the study participants as a management for COVID-19 and related symptoms.

High prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Gram-negative pathogens from patients attending Felege Hiwot Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Bahir Dar, Amhara region.

BACKGROUND: Infections caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) producing Gram-negative bacteria has emerge as a global threat in clinical practices. The treat is more serious in developing countries due to inappropriate use, poor adherence, use of counterfeit, sub-standard antibiotics and poor infection control practices. Data on ESBL producing Gram-negative bacteria are limited in developing countries including Ethiopia. The aim of this study was therefore, to describe the burden of ESBL producing Gram negative pathogens isolated from patients attending at Felege Hiwot Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Bahir Dar, Amhara region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 532 clinical samples of blood, urine, stool, wound, abscess, ear discharge, nasal discharge, cervical discharge and body fluid specimens were aseptically collected and bacteriologically processed. Identification of the bacterial species was performed using an automated system (Vitek-2 Compact 27530, USA) and antibiotic susceptibility test was determined by disk diffusion method and selection of antibiotics were in accordance with CLSI guidelines. The MDR pattern of the Gram-negative pathogens was assessed using phenotypic methods of ESBL and carbapenemase production following standard procedure. RESULT: A total of 532 samples were processed and 263 pathogens were isolated. Of these, 185 (70.3%) were Gram-negative and 78 (29.7%) Gram-positive. Of the Gram-negative bacteria the high proportion of the isolates were identified from blood 146/185 (78.9%) and 29/185 (15.7%) were from urine cultures. The most common isolate in all clinical samples was Klebsiella pneumoniae 97/185 (52.4%) followed by Escherichia coli 23/185 (12.4%), Acinetobacter baumannii 15/185 (17.6%) and Enterobacter aerogenes 12/185(6.5%). Of the total Gram negatives, the prevalence of MDR was 148/185 (80.0%). Of the MDR isolates the prevalence of ESBL producers were, 127/148 (85.8%) and 24/148 (16.2%) were carbapenemase producers. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Prevalence of MDR and ESBL producing Gram-negative pathogens in this hospital is alarmingly high. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the problem with effective infection prevention and careful selection of empirical therapy are warranted in the study area.

Consistent condom use in HIV/AIDS patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in northwestern Ethiopia: implication to reduce transmission and multiple infections.

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is one of the greatest public health problems of sub-Saharan African countries. Consistent condom use, among others, remains the most effective barrier method against HIV transmission. However, existing reports on frequency of consistent condom use have targeted the general public, rather than HIV/AIDS patients due, to the assumption that condom use is not important in HIV-infected persons. Since consistent condom use among HIV/AIDS patients is vital, to prevent the virus transmission from the infected to noninfected as well as to prevent multiple infections among already infected persons, its frequency and determining factors need to be investigated. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2013 to May 2013 among 317 randomly selected patients who were currently taking antiretroviral therapy (ART). Logistic regressions were performed to examine predictors of consistent condom use. RESULTS: A total of 317 HIV/AIDS patients who were currently receiving ART participated in the study, and the mean age of the study population was 31.4 (standard deviation [SD] 10.5) years. Overall, 250 (78.9%) participants reported consistent condom use in the past 6 months. Of these, 140 (88.6%) were males and 110 (69.1%) females. Multivariate analysis indicated that respondents with an advanced level of education were more likely to report regular use of condoms (odds ratio [OR] 8.98; 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.06-14.45) compared with illiterate participants. Being male (OR 6.87; 95% CI 3.84-11.22), living in or around a town (OR 4.65; 95% CI 3.09-9.11), and taking ART for longer time (OR 3.91; 95% CI 2.07-6.25) were also positively associated with consistent condom use. CONCLUSION: Females, patients living in rural areas, uneducated groups, and new ART users were less likely to use condoms consistently. The importance of consistent condom use should be well-addressed in HIV/AIDS patients, to prevent transmission and multiple infections of HIV.

In vivo antimalarial activity of a labdane diterpenoid from the leaves of Otostegia integrifolia Benth.

In Ethiopian traditional medicine, the leaves of Otostegia integrifolia Benth. are used for the treatment of several diseases including malaria. In an ongoing search for effective, safe and cheap antimalarial agents from plants, the 80% methanol leaf extract O. integrifolia was tested for its in vivo antimalarial activity, in a 4-day suppressive assay against Plasmodium berghei. Activity-guided fractionation of this extract which showed potent antiplasmodial activity resulted in the isolation of a labdane diterpenoid identified as otostegindiol. Otostegindiol displayed a significant (P < 0.001) antimalarial activity at doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg with chemosuppression values of 50.13, 65.58 and 73.16%, respectively. Acute toxicity studies revealed that the crude extract possesses no toxicity in mice up to a maximum dose of 5000 mg/kg suggesting the relative safety of the plant when administered orally. The results of the present study indicate that otostegindiol is among the antimalarial principles in this medicinal plant, and further support claims for the traditional medicinal use of the plant for the treatment of malaria.