Bacteria isolate distribution and factors associated with cultures in Hakim Gizaw Hospital, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia

Tizazu Zenebe
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Debre Berhan University

Yosef Temesgen
Department of Surgery, Debre Berhan University

Biniam Mekonnen
Department of Pediatrics, Debre Berhan University

Getachew Bizuneh
Department of Internal Medicine, Berhan University University

Abstract

Background: Bacterial infections are linked to one in eight global deaths. In low-income countries like in Ethiopia with conflict affected settings, due to the presence of many barriers to infection prevention and control, bacterial infection problem is more severe and there is scarce epidemiological data to inform better preventive and treatment strategies. The present study aimed to determine distribution of bacterial isolates and associated factors among patients presented to Hakim Gizaw Hospital (HGH).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in HGH, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia, between January and December 2024. All patients presented to HGH with diagnosed bacterial infections were eligible for the study. Socio-demographic data and clinical data were collected using standardized questionnaire. Following standard operating procedure, all collected clinical samples were investigated in microbiology laboratory. All the data generated were analyzed using BM SPSS Statistics version 27.0.

Results: A total of 252 participants, majority living in rural area of Debre Berhan were included in the analysis. The mean age of the study participants was 28.9 (with median age 28) with almost equal distribution for male (50.8%) and female (49.2%). A total of 280 clinical samples (224 single-type and 28 two types of samples (11.1%)) were included in the laboratory analysis. Among 252 participants, only 103 (103/252, 40.9%) with 95% CI =0.348, 0.470 were culture positive, regardless of positive for one or two bacterial isolates. Gram positive bacteria (65/115, 56.5%) were the predominant compared to Gram negative bacteria (50/115, 43.5%). Occupational status [AOR: 6.771 (1.414, 32.427)] and chief complaints [AOR: 0.101 (0.023, 0.432)] showed association with culture positivity.

Conclusion: A high bacterial infection was found in the present study. High concerns and timely tailored public health interventions are urgently required for minimizing the problems.

Keywords: Bacterial infections; Bacterial isolates; Culture positivity; Antimicrobial resistance; Hakim Gizaw Hospital; Ethiopia.