Visit www.etphla.orgEPHLA Newsletter - Volume 3: Number 1, September 2015

NEWSLETTER

Ethiopian Public Health Laboratory Association (EPHLA)

EPHLA Core Values

Volume 3 Number 1, September 2015

I. Professionalism: Maintain and promote high standard practices and endeavor to apply the best possible skills, knowledge and experi-ence to the service we provide to all our clients.II. Diversity and Inclusiveness: Respect andvalue diversity in all walks of life by nurturing an inclusive environment for all.III. Collaboration: Foster activities that facilitateinformation sharing and exchange of experience among various stakeholders and partake and encourage joint initiatives and projects. IV. Accountability: Willingness to take respon-sibility for action and outcome, and obligation to demonstrate that work has been conducted in compliance with agreed rules and standards including performance measures.V. Transparency: Openness to all undertak-ings and procedures of implementation.

News & BriefsBIOSAFETY TRAININGS ORGANIZED BY EPHLAThe laboratory environment poses potential risk to the well-being of people and the ecosystem as a result of infectious microorganisms and hazardous chemicals that are handled and processed. Virtually every common laboratory techniques, practices or procedures carry different risk of exposure or mechanical injury. Good laboratory practice, presence of safety equipment, appropriate facility design and most of all awareness creation are indispensible for the protection of laboratory personnel, the environment, and the community at large and for the safety of the products. Cognizant of the importance of establishing and maintaining a safe working environment through capacity building of the relevant professionals and

hence improving public health laboratory services, EPHLA has organized and conducted several trainings on bio-safety and bio-security. Recently three similar trainings were delivered in Hawassa, Bahir Dar, and Adama this year between March and June. All the trainings were conducted in collaboration with the respective Regional chapter offices of EPHLA and Regional laboratories (SNNPR Health Bureau Public Health Laboratory, Bahir Dar Regional health research laboratory center and Afar regional Health research and laboratory service). Eighty eight laboratory professionals with a gender mix of males (77%) and females (23%) participated and benefitted from the training. Since many of the participants were selected from facilities that are enrolled in SLMTA/SLIPTA program, the training would be of enormous help in optimizing the implementation of the program.

Visit www.etphla.orgEPHLA Newsletter - Volume 3: Number 1, September 2015

A general consensus was also reached by all participants to establish and maintain safe working environment in their laboratory and to roll out the concept to the rest of their colleagues in their respective institutions. The regional laboratories also pledged to support the laboratories and oversee the implementation of bio-safety practices in their domain.

More members add more capacity to EPHLA in its endeavor of promoting quality standards to our public health laboratories. One of the spin-offs of such training is thus the recruitment of more EPHLA members.CLINICAL LABORATORY COLOR ATLASConsistent with its commitment to promote quality laboratory standards through various mechanisms, EPHLA has recently published full color laboratory atlas to help laboratory personnel, especially those that have very little or no access to internet or published reference materials, in the identification and/or diagnosis of pathological symptoms and the major and wide-spread pathogenic organisms in the country. Over one thousand copies have already been distributed to all regional states with higher number of copies being allocated to the five emerging regions (Somali, Benshangul-Gumuz, Afar, Gambella and Dire Dawa). We are also glad to be able to support through donations of some copies of the atlas to private health facility owners association of Amhara Region. It is the sincere belief of EPHLA that our colleagues in the laboratory profession and others in the health care delivery services are able to recognize the importance and value of the atlas and therefore render all the care it deserves as a reference source. EPHLA is keen to produce subsequent updated and expanded version of the atlas depending on the positive feedback we receive from the end users of the atlas and our esteemed EPHLA members.

EPHLA’S CHAPTER OFFICES EVALUATION MEETINGAs part of its strategic effort in strengthening and expanding its accessibility in different regions of Ethiopia, EPHLA has conducted the existing chapter offices evaluation meeting on 29th May 2015 at EPHLA office, Addis Ababa. Chapter office representatives from Haramaya University, Hawassa University, Mekele University, Nekemte and Bahir Dar Regional chapter offices, EPHLA’s board members ,chief executive director, general assembly president and secretory attended the meeting.

Discussion on the accomplishments and challenges of the chapter offices and strengthening mechanisms of chapter offices with Regional Health Bureaus were the core agenda of the meeting. Major accomplishments of the EPHLA chapter offices presented by each representatives and in general also presented by Dr Dawit Abebe, executive director of EPHLA. Among the achievements noted; over 600 members recruited, database of members established, numerous trainings including 2 TOTs for about 450 lab professionals organized and conducted, website of association regular review and updating underway, a number of publications produced, additional chapter offices established, MOU signed with university hospitals in different areas of support. Besides to the accomplishments different challenges and the way forward presented and discussed in depth. Among the recommended directions captured by the EPHLA office; project M&E against the strategic goals, opening more chapter offices and recruiting and engaging many more professionals all over the country, identify key areas of collaboration and work together with

Visit www.etphla.orgEPHLA Newsletter - Volume 3: Number 1, September 2015

sister associations through creating common forum/activities such as celebrating “lab day” together, mechanisms on raising the financial capacity of chapter offices and separate budget allocation, upraising professionalism concept among professionals in different trainings and conferences of the association, strengthening of the communication system between the head office and the chapter offices were included.

MERS (MIDDLE EAST RESPIRATORY SYNDROME)MERS also termed as Camel flu is an illness caused by a virus (more specifically, a corona virus) called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus (MERS-CoV). The origins of the vi-rus are not fully understood. But, according to the analysis of different virus genomes, it is believed that it originated in bats and was transmitted to camels sometime in the distant past. Strains of MERS-CoV that are identical to human strains have been isolated from camels in several countries, including Egypt, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/fact-sheets/mers-cov/en/MERS affects the respiratory system (lungs and breathing tubes). Most MERS patients devel-oped severe acute respiratory illness with symp-toms of fever, cough and shortness of breath. About 3-4 out of every 10 patients reported with MERS have died.Health officials first reported the disease in Saudi Arabia in September 2012. Through retrospec-tive investigations, health officials later identified that the first known cases of MERS occurred in Jordan in April 2012. So far, all cases of MERS have been linked to countries in and near the Arabian Peninsula. The most recent outbreak was in South Korea with over 120 reported cases and 10 deaths as of 11 June and over 2300 placed under quar-antine, making it the largest outbreak outside Saudi Arabia (http://www.reuters.com/ar-ticle/2015/06/11/us-health-mers-southko-rea-idUSKBN0OQ2U820150611).MERS-CoV has spread from ill people to others through close contact, such as caring for or liv-

ing with an infected person. MERS can affect anyone. MERS patients have ranged in age from younger than 1 to 99 years old.Information for laboratoriesMost laboratories in the affected states are ap-proved to test for Middle East Respiratory Syn-drome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) using CDC’s rRT-PCR assay. However, they should coordi-nate with CDC for specimen testing since wide-ly available diagnostic tests are not suitable. For short periods (≤ 72 hours) most specimens should be held at 2-8°C rather than frozen. For delays exceeding 72 hours, freeze specimens at -70°C as soon as possible after collection. Label each specimen container with the patient’s ID number, specimen type and the date the sample was collected. There are different specimen types for the di-agnosis of MERS-CoV1. Respiratory Specimens A. Lower respiratory tract: Broncheoalveolar lavage, tracheal aspirate, pleural fluid and Spu-tumB. Upper respiratory tract: Nasopharyngeal AND oropharyngeal swabs (NP/OP swabs)2. Blood ComponentsA. Serum (for serologic testing)B. Serum (for rRT-PCR testing)C. EDTA blood (plasma)3. StoolContent source: National Center for Immuniza-tion and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral DiseasesGENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT SALMONELLA ENTERIC SEROTYPES ISOLATED FROM POULTRY IN CAIRO, EGYPTThe detection rates of Salmonella were 60%, 64% and 62% in chicken parts, skin, and faeces, respectively, whereas the egg yolks and eggshells were uniformly negative. Salmonella kentucky and S. enteritidis serotypes comprised 43.6% and 2.6% of the isolates, respectively, whilst S. typhimurium was absent. Variable resistance rates were observed against 16 antibiotics; 97% were resistant to sulfamethoxazole, 96% to nalidixic acid and tetracycline and 76% to ampicillin. Multidrug resistance was detected in 82% (64/78) of the isolates and ESBL production

Research Updates

Visit www.etphla.orgEPHLA Newsletter - Volume 3: Number 1, September 2015

Editor: Abdi Dereje

Contributors: Abrham TesfayeKirubel EshetuDr Dawit AbebeBisrat Nigussie

Lay-out:Robert-Jan ten Hove

The EPHLA Newsletter is a biannual newsletter. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the EPHLA.Please direct suggestions, or comments to EPHLA office, P.O. Box: 629/1250, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Email: info@etphla.orgWeb: www.etphla.org

Upcoming Events in Public Health and Laboratory Medicine

1. Biosafety training, Benshagul, Ethiopia, November 20152. 8th EPHLA annual conference; February 20163. ASCP 2015 Annual meeting,California,October 28-30,2015

Upcomming Eventswas detected in 8% (6/78). The β-lactamase blaTEM-1 gene was detected in 57.6% and blaSHV-1 in 6.8% of the isolates, whilst the blaOXA gene was absent. The sul1 gene was detected in 97.3% and the sul2 gene in 5.3% of the isolates. Sixty-four of the 78 isolates (82%) were positive for the integrase gene (int I) from class 1 integrons, whilst int II was absent.A relatively high prevalence of Salmonella-con-taminated poultry products, with S. kentucky the most prevalent serotype, in poultry markets in Cairo, Egypt. In addition, this study revealed significant MDR rates, particularly carried by S. Kentucky serovar strains, against the β-lactam and fluoroquinolone (e.g., ciprofloxacin) classes of antibiotics. Ultimately, these trends may limit treatment options and contribute to treatment failure and increased death rates.Source: M.A-M. (Global Disease Detection and Response Pro-gram, US Naval Medical Research Unit) developed the concept, processed the samples and participated in writing the manu-script.

HEALTH TIPAround one third of cancer deaths are due to the five leading behavioral and dietary risks: high body mass index, low fruit & vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco and alcohol use. www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/

Oh dear! Maybe they faked the stain too.But I am proud mother of an astute

laboratoran like youon whose quick wit we rely most for better and

effective patient care in the face of numerous adverse challenges