Background: Puerperal sepsis is a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality and is usually within the first 42 days after child birth and it’s the second cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the resource poor countries.

Objective:The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of septicemia, its Bacterial isolates drug susceptibility patterns and associated factors among suspected women attending delivery at Dil-chora referral hospital, Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia from May 1 to July 30 /2016.

Method: Cross sectional study was conducted with a sample size of 441 women of the age group 15-49 years at Dil-chora hospital, Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia from May 1 to July 30 /2016. Socio-demographic and clinical data variables were collected using structured interview questionnaire. Blood was collected aseptically and inoculated aerobically for 48 hours. Antimicrobial susceptibility patternof isolated bacteria was determined by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Data analyzed using SPSS version 16; Binary logistic regression was used to measure the association. Significant variables were further adjusted using multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: The prevalence of septicemia was 12.9%. Coagulase negative staphylococci and E. coli were the predominant isolated bacteria. Most of bacterial isolates were resistant against commonly used antibiotics such as ampicillin, amoxicillin and tetracycline.

Key word: Septicemia, Puerperal sepsis, maternal septicemia, Antimicrobial resistance.

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is commonly caused by bacteria and common in women. Eemergence of multi-drug resistant urinary tract infections are serious health issue with significant maternal morbidity and mortality.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of multi-drug resistant bacteria and associated factors among urinary tract infection among suspected reproductive aged women.

Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted from April to August 2016 on 424 study subjects in Jimma University Specialized Hospital. Data was collected by using pre-tested questionnaire and morning midstream urine samples were collected and processed according to standard operating procedures. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done following Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute 2014. Cell surface hydrophobicity, biofilm production, extended spectrum beta-lactamases & carbapenemases productions were tested.

Results: The prevalence of UTI among suspected reproductive aged women was 22.9%. E. coli was the most frequent isolates with a rate of 57% among isolated bacteria followed by Klebsiella species (24.7%). Over 90% of the isolates were multi-drug resistant. Resistance pattern for ampicillin was 100% followed by ticarcillin (92.4%) and colistin (86%) but less resistance rate for imipenem (13%). Multivariate analysis revealed that risck factos such as previous history of hospitalization, extended spectrum beta-lactamases production and strong biofilm production were significaltly associated with multidrug resistance at p-value <0.05

Background: Pediatric patients are at increased risk of nosocomial infections (NIs) with multi-drugresistant (MDR) pathogens, which are more prevalent in the hospital environment.  The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of NIs, antibiotic resistance pattern of bacterial isolates and associated factors in pediatric patients at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted from March to August, 2016. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected among patients clinically suspected of developing NI using a structured questionnaire. Bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test were done with standard microbiological methods. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 20 and p value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. 

Conclusion: The high prevalence of NIs with MDR bacteria suggests the need for proper implementation of the NI prevention and control measures.

Background: Bacteria are major causative agents that frequently cause infections in the eyes and loss of vision. Resistance of bacteria isolated from the ocular to antimicrobial agents is a global concern.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of bacterial isolates and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern patients with external ocular infections with associated risk factors.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted from May 11, 2015 to August 24, 2015. A total of 288 samples were collected, the samples thus collected were and processed for bacterial culture according the standard procedures. Presumptive isolates were further identified by a series of biochemical tests. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates were determined by disk diffusion method. The data were entered and analyzed using SPSS software version 20.

Conclusion: The prevalence of bacterial pathogens among external ocular samples was high. Most of the isolates were drug resistance for commonly used antibiotics. Gentamicin and Ciprofloxacin was the most effective antimicrobial agents for both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Keywords: external ocular infections, antimicrobial agents, susceptibility pattern.