Conjunctivitis outbreak among children in Central zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia 2023

Abstract

Introduction: Bacteria are the second most common cause of infectious conjunctivitis after viral cause. Conjunctivitis is not a reportable disease, in Tigray and in September 2022 conjunctivitis cases showed an increment among children, but the disease outbreak and drug sensitivity test were not assessed. An investigation started in December 22, 2022 using a multidisciplinary team aimed to investigate the epidemics of conjunctivitis in Tigray from December 22, 2022 to January 20, 2023. Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was used to recruit participants in January 2023 using a convenient sampling technique. Data were collected using questionnaire prepared by the investigators, entered into Epi-data, and analyzed using SPSS-22. The laboratory samples from the affected conjunctiva of the children were collected for laboratory diagnosis. The data were presented using tables, figures, and statements. Results: A total of 56 children were enrolled and 50% of them were male. The median age was 18 (7.25-36) months and the majority (94.6%) of individuals reported complaints in both eyes, including inflammation and discharge. From the 24 children collected laboratory sample, five gram-positive and two gram-negative bacteria were identified using the gram stain, and Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 3/7 (42%) participants using culture. The isolated Staphylococcus aureus was susceptible to tetracycline, gentamycin, and ciprofloxacin, but resistant to chloramphenicol in two participants. Conclusion: The outbreak of conjunctivitis was confirmed and was caused by staphylococcus-aureus a gram-positive bacterium with a few children infected with gram-negative bacteria. In addition, the bacteria are not resistant to the most commonly prescribed antibiotics for conjunctivitis. Therefore, better to apply selective treatment with pathogen-susceptible antibiotics.