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Recent Submissions
Antimicrobial resistance profiles and detection of mecA, blaCTX-M-1, and blaSHV genes in bacteria among diabetic foot ulcer patients from selected referral hospitals in Uganda
(Springer Nature Link, 2025-11-04) Namatovu, Alice; Vahwere, Mumbere Beinfait; Ntulume, Ibrahim; Ssebuufu, Robinson; Nalubega, Rebecca; Pius, Theophilus; Sikakulya, K Franck; Agaba, Gidio; Seremba, Emmanuel; Kyamanywa, Patrick; Nasinyama, George William
Effective management of Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) requires timely treatment of infections with
appropriate antibiotics based on culture and susceptibility results. However, challenges in diagnostic testing persist
and consequently, data on prevalent bacteria, their antimicrobial resistance profiles and genes remains scanty. This
study profiled the prevalent bacteria in Diabetic foot infection (DFI), their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and
associated resistance genes.
A multi-center cross sectional study was conducted from November 2021-January 2022, involving
117 patients with DFU, attending selected referral hospitals (Kiruddu, Jinja, Kampala International Teaching Hospital,
Kitagata, Mbarara, Fort Portal and Hoima). Wound swabs were aseptically collected and placed in Stuart transport
medium, then pre-enriched prior to inoculation onto Blood, MacConkey and Chocolate Agar to isolate aerobic
microorganisms. Bacteria identification was based on colony morphology, Gram stain, conventional biochemical tests
and Antibiotic susceptibility testing using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method were performed. Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE) were
identified phenotypically. mecA gene in selected MRSA, and blaCTX-M-1 and blaSHV-1 in ESBL-PE were detected
using Uniplex PCR and electrophoresed using 1.5% agarose gel. Data was analyzed using MS Excel version 15 and
Stata version 15 (Stata Corp®).
Microbiologically confirmed infection was observed in 89.7% (105/117) of DFU cases, yielding 144 bacterial
isolates. Poly-microbial infections were detected in 23.8% of patients. Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 55.6%
(80/144) of isolates. Staphylococcus aureus (36.1% (52/144)) and Proteus spp (13.9% (20/144)) were the most prevalent
Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively. Notably, 98.6% (142/144) of the isolates were multidrug
resistant organisms (MDR). Staphylococcus aureus sensitivity was highest for Gentamycin and Ciprofloxacin (48% each) and lowest for Cefoxitin (2%). Proteus spp sensitivity was highest for Imipenem (87%) and lowest for Tetracycline,
Ampicillin and Amoxiclav (0%). mecA gene was identified in 56% (5/9) of MRSA. Among the selected MDR Gram
negative isolates, 60% had blaCTX-M-1, 20% had blaSHV and both blaCTX-M-1 and blaSHV in one Klebsiella
pneumoniae.
The high prevalence of MDR bacteria in DFI underscores the need for culture and sensitivity testing
guided treatment. Detection of resistance genes calls for sustained surveillance efforts, stringent infection prevention
and control, and alternative therapy exploration.
Wildlife–vehicle collisions in South-central Uganda: implications for biodiversity conservation
(MDPI, 2025-05-29) Tayebwa, Gilbert; Nyadoi, Priscilla; Turyasingura, Benson; Engoru, Patrick; Aine-Omucunguzi, Adalbert
Vehicle collisions with wild animals are a significant cause of wild animal mortality. This impacts their population and spatiotemporal distribution within the ecosystem. Data on the impact of road kills on wild animals, particularly in the south-central part of Uganda, are not present. This study aimed to investigate the number of species involved in road kills in South-Central Uganda and their spatial and temporal distribution within South-Central Uganda. Three transects, each 40 km in length, were surveyed. In both wet and dry seasons, surveys were conducted monthly in the morning and afternoon from November 2019 through April 2024. The findings showed that 161 wildlife–vehicle accidents were detected within a four-and-a-half-year period, with 178 animal species involved. These incidents belonged to 12 mammals, five reptiles, two amphibians, and 32 avian families. Our study adds to a better understanding of the impact of roads on wildlife in Africa and is an essential starting point regarding conservation efforts to mitigate these effects. It provides a first summary of species that are frequently found as roadkill in this area of south-central Uganda. This acts as a reference point for future studies.
Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its association with adverse obstetric outcomes among pregnant women in Uganda: a cross- sectional study
(PubMed Central, 2025-01-09) Reverzani, Cristina; Zaake, Daniel; Nansubuga, Faridah; Ssempewo, Herman; Manirakiza, Leonard; Kayiira, Anthony; Tumwine, Gilbert
The study was conducted on 351 pregnant women aged ≥18 years who consented to participate in the study, who had a single intrauterine pregnancy and a gestational age greater than 26 weeks, and who delivered at St. Francis Hospital, Nsambya. We excluded pregnant women admitted to the hospital longer than 1 week before delivery; pregnant women with self-reported pre-existing kidney diseases, liver diseases, or gut or malabsorption disorders and pregnant women with severe pregnancy-unrelated comorbidities requiring intensive care unit admission before delivery.
Maternal venous blood was collected at admission, and serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured by an electrochemiluminescence binding assay.
Maternal sociodemographic characteristics and obstetric-medical factors, and adverse maternal and foetal outcomes were captured by using a data collection form. The data were analysed by logistic regression analysis at the univariate, bivariate and multivariate levels.
The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, defined as a serum 25(OH)D concentration less than 20 ng/mL, was 40.2%. This was seen more among the Muslims (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.33 to 4.43, p value 0.004), members of the Banyankore tribe (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.02 to 4.36, p value 0.043) and primigravidae (OR 0.6 for women with parity of 1–4 compared with primigravidity, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.94, p value 0.028). Among adverse maternal outcomes, vitamin D deficiency was associated with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.16 to 4.10, p value <0.001), in particular gestational hypertension (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.21 to 4.94, p value 0.014), and pre-eclampsia/eclampsia/haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets syndrome (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.45 to 6.08, p value 0.003), with increased preterm birth (OR of 4.0, 95% CI 1.78 to 10.84, p value<0.001) and with delivery of babies with low birth weight (OR 4.2, 95% CI 2.63 to 13.62, p value 0.001).
The study found a high prevalence (40.2%) of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women delivering at St. Francis Hospital, Nsambya. Additionally, vitamin D deficiency was linked with adverse maternal and foetal outcomes such as hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, preterm birth and low birth weight.
Translation and cultural adaptation of the FertiQoL questionnaire into Luganda: a comprehensive report
(African Journals Online (AJOL), 2025-06-23) Makumbi, Douglas; Kayiira, Anthony; Tumwine, Gilbert; Byaruhanga, N Romano; Zaake, Daniel
The FertiQoL questionnaire is globally recognized to assess quality of life (QoL) among infertile individuals. To make this tool accessible to Luganda-speaking populations in Uganda, it was necessary to translate the questionnaire into Luganda, ensuring cultural relevance and linguistic accuracy. The translation process followed a rigorous forward-backward translation methodology. Two separate translations were performed by native Luganda speakers. The unified version was translated back into English to find discrepancies. Experts validated the translated questionnaire, showing high agreement on most items, confirming its cultural and linguistic suitability. The translated questionnaire was pilot tested on 20 infertile patients at St. Francis Nsambya Hospital to assess the clarity and comprehensibility. The pilot study indicated that most items were understood, with no significant difficulties reported. However, four items required minor modifications. The Luganda FertiQoL questionnaire effectively measures the quality of life in individuals experiencing infertility in Uganda.
Le questionnaire FertiQoL est mondialement reconnu pour évaluer la qualité de vie (QdV) des personnes infertiles. Afin de rendre
cet outil accessible aux populations lugandaphones en Ouganda, il a été nécessaire de le traduire en luganda, garantissant ainsi sa pertinence culturelle et sa précision linguistique. Le processus de traduction a suivi une méthodologie rigoureuse de traduction aller-retour. Deux traductions distinctes ont été réalisées par des locuteurs natifs du luganda. La version unifiée a été retraduite en anglais afin d'identifier les divergences. Des experts ont validé le questionnaire traduit, montrant une forte concordance sur la plupart des items, confirmant ainsi sa pertinence culturelle et linguistique. Le questionnaire traduit a été testé auprès de 20 patients infertiles à l'hôpital St. Francis Nsambya afin d'évaluer sa clarté et sa compréhensibilité. L'étude pilote a montré que la plupart des items étaient compris, sans difficulté majeure signalée. Cependant, quatre items ont nécessité des modifications mineures. Le questionnaire FertiQoL en luganda mesure efficacement la qualité de vie des personnes souffrant d'infertilité en Ouganda.
Congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome: a rare case
(Science Direct, Elsevier Ltd., 2025-02) Namata, Tushabe Tracy; Tumusiime, Crescent Max; Nabaweesi, Josephine; Sebunya, Robert