Browsing by Author "Atuheire, Collins"

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    Contamination of Microbial Pathogens and their Antimicrobial Pattern in Operating Theatres of Peri-Urban Eastern Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study
    (BMC infectious diseases, 2018) Matinyi, Sandra; Muwanguzi, Enoch; Akia, Deborah; Byaruhanga, Valentine; Masereka, Edson; Ekeu, Isaac; Atuheire, Collins
    Microbial contamination of hospital environment, especially in operating theatres (OT) and other specialized units has greatly contributed to continuous and multiple exposure to nosocomial infections by patients and the public. We purposed to assess microbial contamination of operating theatres and antibacterial sensitivity pattern of bacteria isolated from theatres of Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, Eastern Uganda.
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    Effect of Antiretroviral Drugs on the Renal Function of HIV Seropositive Patients attending ISS Clinic of Mulago Hospital, Uganda
    (Ann Biotechnol, 2018) Kateregga, John N.; Atuheire, Collins; Nalunga, Justine; James, Ndukui G.
    Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) consisting of at least three active drugs against HIV infection has improved HIV/AIDS management since their inception. However, alterations of lipid metabolism due to HAART can result into secondary diabetic and hypertensive renal damage. This study was carried out to assess the effect of antiretroviral drugs on the renal function of HIV seropositive patients by determining the serum levels of Creatinine, Urea and Electrolytes (Na, K, and Cl) of the patients on treatment.
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    Health Education is a Key Pillar in Reducing Prevalence of Typhoid among Febrile Patients in Peri-Urban Western Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study
    (International Journal of Scientific Study, 2017) Kiwungulo, Benard; Pius, Theophillus; Nabaasa, Saphurah; Kiconco, Ritah; Amanya, Geofrey; Amongi, Christine; Tamale, Andrew; Ruhinda, Nathan; Blessing, Yashim J. S.; Atuheire, Collins
    Typhoid has remained a public health burden leading to several morbidities and despite many attempts. Health education targeted to patients receiving care in health centers may significantly reduce burden of typhoid among febrile patients in Uganda. Material and Methods: We consecutively sampled 283 participants presenting with febrile symptoms. Consent/assent was administered and after fully understanding the study, blood samples were collected using a 2 ml syringe and transferred into red top vacutainer before laboratory tests. We carried out centrifugation at 1000 rpm for 15 min. We performed slide agglutination test to identify presence of Salmonella typhi antibodies followed by tube agglutination for quantification. Titers of <1:160 were considered positive for typhoid. Data were analyzed descriptively as medians and proportions using STATA 14. Robust Poisson regression was carried out to obtain both crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) for bivariate and multivariate analysis, respectively. Results: The median age for participants was 25 years. The seroprevalence of typhoid was 26.5% (95%, confidence interval [CI]: 21.7-32.0). Teenagers were 3 times more likely to be tested positive for typhoid compared to those below 13 years; (crude prevalence ratio = 2.76, 95%, CI: 1.11-6.83). Participants who reported to have received health education over past 2 months were 58% less likely to suffer from typhoid compared to those that reported no recent health education (aPR = 0.42; 95%, CI: 0.26-0.69). Having history of typhoid over the past 2 months was positively associated with reoccurrence of typhoid (aPR = 1.75, 95%, CI: 1.12-2.72). Conclusion: Burden of typhoid still persists in rural communities especially among teenagers. Lack of health education predisposes communities. People who have had typhoid in the past 2 months are mostly likely to have a reoccurrence of the disease.
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    Inorganic Pollutants in Edible Grasshoppers (Ruspolia Nitidula) of Uganda and their Major Public Health Implications
    (African Health Sciences, 2019) Kasozi, Keneth Iceland; Namazi, Catherine; Basemera, Elizabeth; Atuheire, Collins; Odwee, Ambrose; Majalija, Samuel; Kateregga, John N.
    Inorganic contamination of food products is associated with adverse health effects, however, information on grasshoppers in Africa is sparse. The objective of the study was to determine antioxidant, heavy metal and food safety status of edible grasshoppers of Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted in central and southwestern Uganda, in which a questionnaire was administered to grasshopper harvesters. Grasshopper samples were collected from each harvesting point and analyzed in the laboratory for antioxidant and heavy metal content i.e. Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr), Zinc (Zn) and Cadmium (Cd) using atomic absorbance spectrometric (AAS) method on the heads and abdomen of the insects. Major antioxidants were Catalase > Glutathione > Glutathione peroxidase. In addition concentrations of heavy metals were in the order of Pb > Cr > Zn > Cd in the heads and abdomens of the grasshoppers. Pb concentrations were found to be higher in the heads than the abdomens and the carcinogenic potential of the grasshoppers was over 10 times over the recommended levels. Grasshoppers were found not to be safe especially in children due to their small body weight in comparison to adults. Pb poisoning in the Ugandan children would be propagated through contaminated grasshoppers.
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    Risk factors, person, place and time characteristics associated with Hepatitis E Virus outbreak in Napak District, Uganda
    (BMC infectious diseases, 2017) Amanya, Geofrey; Kizito, Samuel; Nabukenya, Immaculate; Kalyango, Joan; Atuheire, Collins; Nansumba, Hellen; Akena Abwoye, Stephen; Opio, Denis Nixon; Kibuuka, Edrisa; Karamagi, Charles
    Hepatitis E is self-limiting, but can cause death in most at risk groups like pregnant women and those with preexisting acute liver disease. In developing countries it presents as epidemic, in 2014 Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) outbreak was reported in Napak district Uganda. The role of factors in this setting that might have propagated this HEV epidemic, including host, agent, and environmental characteristics, were still not clear. This study was therefore conducted to investigate the risk factors, person, place and time characteristics, associated with the hepatitis E virus (HEV) epidemic in Napak district. Methods: Review of line lists data for epidemiological description and matched case control study on neighborhood and age in the ratio of 1:2 were used to assess risk factors for HEV outbreak in Napak. Cluster and random sampling were used to obtain a sample size of 332, (111 cases, 221 controls). Possible interaction and confounding was assessed using conditional logistic regression. Results: Over 1359 cases and 30 deaths were reported during 2013/2014 HEV outbreak. The mean age of patients was 29 ± years, 57.9% of cases were females. Overall case Fatality Ratio was 2.2% in general population but 65.2% in pregnant women. More than 94% of the cases were reported in the sub counties of Napak, 5.7% of cases were reported in the outside neighboring districts. The epidemic peaked in January 2014 and gradually subsided by December 2014. Risk factors found to be associated with HEV included drinking untreated water (OR 6.69, 95% CI 3.15–14.16), eating roadside food (OR 6.11, 95% CI 2.85–13.09), reported not cleaning utensils (OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.55–1.76), and being a hunter (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03–12.66). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the virus is transmitted by the feco-oral route through contaminated water. They also suggest that active surveillance and appropriate measures targeting community and routine individual health actions are important to prevent transmission and decrease the deaths.
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    Sputum quality and diagnostic performance of GeneXpert MTB/RIF among smear-negative adults with presumed tuberculosis in Uganda
    (PLoS ONE, 2017) Meyer, Amanda J.; Atuheire, Collins; Worodria, William; Kizito, Samuel; Katamba, Achilles; Sanyu, Ingvar; Andama, Alfred; Ayakaka, Irene; Cattamanchi, Adithya; Bwanga, Freddie; Huang, Laurence; Davis, J. Lucian
    Introduction of GeneXpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) assay has constituted a major breakthrough for tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics. Several patient factors may influence diagnostic performance of Xpert including sputum quality. Objective We carried out a prospective, observational, cross-sectional study to determine the effect of sputum quality on diagnostic performance of Xpert among presumed TB patients in Uganda. Methods We collected clinical and demographic information and two sputum samples from participants. Staff recorded sputum quality and performed LED fluorescence microscopy and mycobacterial culture on each sample. If both smear examinations were negative, Xpert testing was performed. We calculated diagnostic yield, sensitivity, specificity, and other indicators for Xpert for each stratum of sputum quality in reference to a standard of mycobacterial culture. Results Patients with salivary sputum showed a trend towards a substantially higher proportion of samples that were Xpert-positive (54/286, 19%, 95% CI 15±24) compared with those with all other sputum sample types (221/1496, 15%, 95% CI 13±17). Blood-stained sputum produced the lowest sensitivity (28%; 95% CI 12±49) and salivary sputum the highest (66%; 95% CI 53±77). Specificity didn't vary meaningfully by sample types. Salivary sputum was significantly more sensitive than mucoid sputum (+13%, 95% CI +1 to +26), while bloodstained sputum was significantly less sensitive (-24%, 95% CI -42 to -5). Conclusions Our findings demonstrate the need to exercise caution in collecting sputum for Xpert and in interpreting results because sputum quality may impact test yield and sensitivity. In particular, it may be wise to pursue additional testing should blood-stained sputum test negative while salivary sputum should be readily accepted for Xpert testing given its higher sensitivity and potentially higher yield than other sample types. These findings challenge conventional recommendations against collecting salivary sputum for TB diagnosis and could inform new standards for sputum quality.