Genetic and clinical risk factors for anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury: insights from a prospective cohort study in central Ethiopia.

Purpose: Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a relevant adverse event of tuberculosis treatment (TBT) especially in sub-Saharan Africa, but data remains limited. Genetic hepatic transport proteins polymorphisms (HTPP) are potential contributors. This study aimed to assess frequency and timing of DILI, identify risk factors, and explore the association of HTPP with DILI risk in Ethiopian TBT-patients.

Longitudinal effects of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection on imprinting of neutralizing antibody responses.

Background: The impact of the infecting SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC) and the vaccination status was determined on the magnitude, breadth, and durability of the neutralizing antibody (nAb) profile in a longitudinal multicentre cohort study.

Methods: 173 vaccinated and 56 non-vaccinated individuals were enrolled after SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Delta, or Omicron infection and visited four times within 6 months and nAbs were measured for D614G, Alpha, Delta, BA.1, BA.

Whole Blood Assay with Dual Co-Stimulation for Antigen-Specific Analysis of Host Immunity to Fungal and Viral Pathogens.

Rapid and resource-efficient sample processing, high throughput, and high robustness are critical for effective scientific and clinical application of advanced antigen-specific immunoassays. Traditionally, such immunoassays, especially antigen-specific T-cell analysis by flow cytometry or enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assays, often rely on the isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. This process is time-consuming, subject to many pre-analytic confounders, and requires large blood volumes.

Antigen-specific T helper cells and cytokine profiles predict intensity and longevity of cellular and humoral responses to SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccination.

Introduction: Pre-existent pools of coronavirus-specific or cross-reactive T cells were shown to shape the development of cellular and humoral immune responses after primary mRNA vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. However, the cellular determinants of responses to booster vaccination remain incompletely understood. Therefore, we phenotypically and functionally characterized spike antigen-specific T helper (Th) cells in healthy, immunocompetent individuals and correlated the results with cellular and humoral immune responses to BNT162b2 booster vaccination over a six-month period.

Hybrid immunity by two COVID-19 mRNA vaccinations and one breakthrough infection provides a robust and balanced cellular immune response as basic immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

This longitudinal prospective controlled multicenter study aimed to monitor immunity generated by three exposures caused by breakthrough infections (BTI) after COVID-19-vaccination considering pre-existing cell-mediated immunity to common-corona-viruses (CoV) which may impact cellular reactivity against SARS-CoV-2. Anti-SARS-CoV-2-spike-IgG antibodies (anti-S-IgG) and cellular reactivity against Spike-(S)- and nucleocapsid-(N)-proteins were determined in fully-vaccinated (F) individuals who either experienced BTI (F+BTI) or had booster vaccination (F+Booster) compared to partially vaccinated (P+BTI) and unvaccinated (U) from 1 to 24 weeks post PCR-confirmed infection. High avidity anti-S-IgG were found in F+BTI compared to U, the latter exhibiting increased long-lasting pro-inflammatory cytokines to S-stimulation.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis-how common and how severe is it as a complication of malaria? Retrospective case series and review of the literature.

Background: Infection-associated secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) is a potentially life-threatening hyperinflammatory condition caused by various infectious diseases. Malaria has rarely been described as trigger. The aim of this study is to collect data on frequency, clinical spectrum, and outcome of sHLH induced by malaria.

Cerebral abscess due to infection in silent diabetes mellitus: Case presentation, treatment and patient outcome.

Introduction: Invasive listeriosis most often presents as bacteremia or neurolisteriosis. Cerebral infection mostly manifests as meningitis or meningoencephalitis, but cerebral abscesses are a rare manifestation.

Case Presentation: We present the rare case of a 51-year old patient with progressive right sided hemiparesis caused by a cerebral abscess due to infection.

Fatal cases after Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 infection: Results of an autopsy study.

Objectives: Omicron lineages BA.1/2 are considered to cause mild clinical courses. Nevertheless, fatal cases after those infections are recognized but little is known about risk factors.

Prevalence of among asymptomatic HIV-positive and negative individuals in Central Ethiopia and efficacy of eradication therapy.

Objectives: is a widespread pathogen and major contributor to dyspeptic disease and gastric cancer. Although the interaction between HIV and infection is not well investigated, previous studies have suggested a decreased prevalence of and limited efficacy of eradication therapy in HIV-positive individuals. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence of infection according to HIV status and analyze the efficacy of eradication therapy in Ethiopia.

Risk-adjusted active tuberculosis case finding strategy in central Ethiopia.

Background: The World Health Organization recommends active case finding for tuberculosis (TB). Our study evaluated the targeted screening of household contacts (HHCs) of patients with contagious pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Central Ethiopia.

Methods: The HHCs of patients with microbiologically confirmed PTB were screened for TB symptoms and risk factors for TB transmission.

Recurrent parvovirus B19 viremia resulting in two episodes of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Background: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a hyperinflammatory condition with uncontrolled activation of lymphocytes and macrophages. Besides a primary (genetic) form, HLH can also be triggered by malignant, autoimmune and infectious diseases. HLH recurrences are rarely described, usually only in primary HLH.

The implementation of the Kinyoun staining technique in a resource-limited setting is feasible and reveals a high prevalence of intestinal cryptosporidiosis in patients with HIV.

Objectives: In resource-limited settings, intestinal Cryptosporidial or coccidian infections are common causes of chronic diarrhea but usually remain undiagnosed by routine stool investigation. Here, the addition of the Kinyoun staining technique after stool concentration was evaluated as an easy and inexpensive method for diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infection in patients with HIV.

Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated patients with HIV with diarrhea and randomly selected patients with HIV without diarrhea as controls.

Prevalence and characterization of antimicrobial resistance among gram-negative bacteria isolated from febrile hospitalized patients in central Ethiopia.

Background: Infectious diseases are among the leading causes of death in many low-income countries, such as Ethiopia. Without reliable local data concerning causative pathogens and antimicrobial resistance, empiric treatment is suboptimal. The objective of this study was to characterize gram-negative bacteria (GNB) as pathogens and their resistance pattern in hospitalized patients with infections in central Ethiopia.

TIPS and splenorenal shunt for complications of portal hypertension in chronic hepatosplenic schistosomiasis-A case series and review of the literature.

Background: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and shunt surgery are established treatment options for portal hypertension, but have not been systematically evaluated in patients with portal hypertension due to hepatosplenic schistosomiasis (HSS), one of the neglected tropical diseases with major impact on morbidity and mortality in endemic areas.

Methods: In this retrospective case study, patients with chronic portal hypertension due to schistosomiasis treated with those therapeutic approaches in four tertiary referral hospitals in Germany and Italy between 2012 and 2020 were included. We have summarized pre-interventional clinical data, indication, technical aspects of the interventions and clinical outcome.

Characterization of HIV-1 drug resistance among patients with failure of second-line combined antiretroviral therapy in central Ethiopia.

Background: As a consequence of the improved availability of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) in resource-limited countries, an emergence of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) has been observed. We assessed the prevalence and spectrum of HIVDR in patients with failure of second-line cART at two HIV clinics in central Ethiopia.

Methods: HIV drug resistance was analysed in HIV-1-infected patients with virological failure of second-line cART using the geno2pheno application.

Tick species from cattle in the Adama Region of Ethiopia and pathogens detected.

Ticks will diminish productivity among farm animals and transmit zoonotic diseases. We conducted a study to identify tick species infesting slaughter bulls from Adama City and to screen them for tick-borne pathogens. In 2016, 291 ticks were collected from 37 bulls in Adama, which were ready for slaughter.

Clinical and microbiological characterization of sepsis and evaluation of sepsis scores.

Background: Despite the necessity of early recognition for an optimal outcome, sepsis often remains unrecognized. Available tools for early recognition are rarely evaluated in low- and middle-income countries. In this study, we analyzed the spectrum, treatment and outcome of sepsis at an Ethiopian tertiary hospital and evaluated recommended sepsis scores.

Medical Advice for Travelers.

Background: In 2019, 1.5 billion international tourist trips were counted worldwide. Germany, with 70.

Variation of vital signs with potential to influence the performance of qSOFA scoring in the Ethiopian general population at different altitudes of residency: A multisite cross-sectional study.

Introduction: The physiological range of different vital signs is dependent on various environmental and individual factors. There is a strong interdependent relationship between vital signs and health conditions. Deviations of the physiological range are commonly used for risk assessment in clinical scores, e.

Carriage of ESBL-producing Gram-negative bacteria by flies captured in a hospital and its suburban surroundings in Ethiopia.

Background: Local data from the Asella Teaching and Referral Hospital in the town of Asella, Ethiopia reveal a high prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase- (ESBL) producing Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) in clinical isolates. To investigate a possible route of transmission, we determined the proportions ESBL-producing GNB in isolates from flies caught in the hospital and in the town of Asella.

Methods: Flies were collected in August 2019 from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the orthopedic ward, the hospital's waste disposal area, and from a butchery situated 1.

Correction to: High rate of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing gram-negative infections and associated mortality in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.