Browsing by Author "Opollo, Marc Sam"

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    Blood Culture Testing Outcomes among Non-Malarial Febrile Children at Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Sites in Uganda, 2017–2018
    (Tropical medicine & infectious disease, 2018) Kisame, Rogers; Najjemba, Robinah; Griensven, Johan van; Kitutu, Freddy Eric; Takarinda, Kudakwashe; Thekkur, Pruthu; Delamou, Alexandre; Walwema, Richard; Kakooza, Francis; Mugerwa, Ibrahim; Sekamatte, Musa; Robert, Kimera; Katairo, Thomas; Opollo, Marc Sam; Otita, Morgan; Lamorde, Mohammed
    Blood culture (BC) processes are critical to the utility of diagnostic testing, bloodstream infection (BSI) management, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance. While Uganda has established BC guidelines, often laboratory practice does not meet the desired standards. This compromises pathogen recovery, reliability of antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and diagnostic test utility. This study assessed laboratory BC process outcomes among non-malarial febrile children below five years of age at five AMR surveillance sites in Uganda between 2017 and 2018. Secondary BC testing data was reviewed against established standards. Overall, 959 BC specimens were processed. Of these, 91% were from female patients, neonates, infants, and young children (1–48 months). A total of 37 AMR priority pathogens were identified; Staphylococcus aureus was predominant (54%), followed by Escherichia coli (19%). The diagnostic yield was low (4.9%). Only 6.3% of isolates were identified. AST was performed on 70% (18/26) of identified AMR priority isolates, and only 40% of these tests adhered to recommended standards. Interventions are needed to improve laboratory BC practices for effective patient management through targeted antimicrobial therapy and AMR surveillance in Uganda. Further research on process documentation, diagnostic yield, and a review of patient outcomes for all hospitalized febrile patients is needed.
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    Factors associated with utilization of cervical cancer screening services among HIV-positive women aged 18 to 49 years at Lira regional referral hospital, Northern Uganda
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2024-02) Layet, Florence; Murungi, Tom; Ashaba, Nasser; Kigongo, Eustes; Opollo, Marc Sam
    Abstract Background Women with HIV have a higher risk of getting cervical cancer due to induced immunosuppression. Though this burden could be avoided through early identification and appropriate management, there is a paucity of information about the utilization of cervical cancer screening (CCS) services in Lira City, Uganda. This study investigated the level and factors associated with the utilization of cervical cancer screening services among HIVpositive women aged 18 to 49 years at Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Lira City, Uganda. Methods We conducted a facility-based cross-sectional study employing quantitative techniques. We used consecutive sampling to recruit 297 HIV-positive women at the ART clinic of Lira Regional Referral Hospital. A structured researcher-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics were performed to summarize the data. A modified Poisson regression using robust standard errors was performed to ascertain the factors associated with the utilization of cervical cancer screening. Prevalence ratios at 95% confidence intervals were reported. Results Out of 297 respondents, 175(58.9%) utilized cervical cancer screening in this study. The factors found to be associated with CCS were; having ever heard of CCS (Adjusted Prevalence Ratio [PR] 1.80, 95% CI 1.31–2.49, p<0.001), knowing where CCS is done (Adjusted PR 1.99, 95% CI 1.42–2.81, p<0.001), fear of CCS outcomes (Adjusted PR 0.67, 95% CI 0.54–0.84,p<0.001), not knowing whether CCS is beneficial or not (Adjusted PR 0.39, 95% CI 0.20– 0.75,p=0.005) and having friends/relatives who screened for cervical cancer (Adjusted PR 1.31, 95% CI 1.09–1.59, p=0.005). Conclusion The level of utilization of cervical cancer screening services among HIV-positive women was suboptimal. Implementation of structured interventions aimed at improving cervical cancer screening awareness among HIVpositive women is crucial. Additionally, to increase opportunities for screening and knowledge on cervical cancer prevention, screening programs can target HIV-positive women during their routine clinic visits.
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    Infection Prevention and Control at Lira University Hospital, Uganda: More Needs to Be Done
    (Tropical Medicine & Infection Disease, 2021) Opollo, Marc Sam; Otim, Tom Charles; Kizito, Walter; Thekkur, Pruthu; Kumar, Ajay M. V.; Kitutu, Freddy Eric; Kisame, Rogers; Zolfo, Maria
    Globally, 5–15% of hospitalized patients acquire infections (often caused by antimicrobialresistant microbes) due to inadequate infection prevention and control (IPC) measures. We used the World Health Organization’s (WHO) ‘Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Framework’ (IPCAF) tool to assess the IPC compliance at Lira University hospital (LUH), a teaching hospital in Uganda. We also characterized challenges in completing the tool. This was a hospital-based, crosssectional study conducted in November 2020. The IPC focal person at LUH completed the WHO IPCAF tool. Responses were validated, scored, and interpreted per WHO guidelines. The overall IPC compliance score at LUH was 225/800 (28.5%), implying a basic IPC compliance level. There was no IPC committee, no IPC team, and no budgets. Training was rarely or never conducted. There was no surveillance system and no monitoring/audit of IPC activities. Bed capacity, water, electricity, and disposal of hospital waste were adequate. Disposables and personal protective equipment were not available in appropriate quantities. Major challenges in completing the IPCAF tool were related to the detailed questions requiring repeated consultation with other hospital stakeholders and the long time it took to complete the tool. IPC compliance at LUH was not optimal. The gaps identified need to be addressed urgently.