Respiratory viral and bacterial pathogen dynamics among healthcare workers and community members in Ethiopia: A prospective cohort study
7 affiliations
- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia; Clinical Trial Unit, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia
- 2Clinical Trial Unit, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia; Department of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia; CIHLMU Center for International Health, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Corresponding author: Eyob Girma Abera, Department of Public Health, Jimma University, P.O.Box 378, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia.
- 3Infectious Diseases Research and Molecular Lab, Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- 4Clinical Trial Unit, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia; School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- 5Institute of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Immunology, Infection and Pandemic Research IIP, Munich, Germany
- 6Institute of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
- 7CIHLMU Center for International Health, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Institute of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
Abstract
Objectives: Respiratory infections cause substantial morbidity, with high burden in low-resource settings where surveillance is limited. We characterized symptomatic respiratory event burden and etiologic patterns in Ethiopia. Methods: A prospective cohort of urban community members and healthcare workers (HCWs) at Jimma University Medical Center, Ethiopia, was followed from November 2022 to December 2024. Nasopharyngeal swabs from symptomatic episodes were tested for viral and bacterial pathogens using multiplex and quantitative PCR. Person-period logistic regression assessed factors for symptomatic episodes; generalized linear mixed models identified factors for pathogen detection. Results: Among 500 participants, 163 (32.6%) experienced 237 symptomatic episodes (2.08 per 100 person-months; 95% CI: 1.81-2.34). The Tsedey (September-November) season (aOR: 1.98; P < 0.001) and HIV positivity (aOR: 1.62; P = 0.044) were independently associated with symptomatic episodes. Viral pathogens were detected in 50.4% (116/230), mainly HRV, adenovirus, and SARS-CoV-2, while bacterial nucleic acid, predominantly Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilis influenzae , was detected by nasopharyngeal PCR in 60.5% (135/223) of tested episodes. The Tsedey season was associated with viral (aOR: 3.58; P = 0.004) and bacterial detection (aOR: 3.96; P = 0.002). HCWs had higher odds of viral detection (aOR: 2.29; P = 0.023). Conclusion: Pathogens were frequently detected in symptomatic individuals. Seasonality drove respiratory episodes and viral/bacterial detection. HIV increased symptom risk; HCW status increased viral but not bacterial detection. Findings support seasonal surveillance and targeted interventions.
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BibTeX
@article{gudina2026respiratory,
title = {{Respiratory viral and bacterial pathogen dynamics among healthcare workers and community members in Ethiopia: A prospective cohort study}},
author = {Esayas Kebede Gudina and Eyob Girma Abera and Solomon Ali and Wondimagegn Adissu Maleko and Amelie Hohensee and Rebecca Kisch and Kira Elsbernd and Daniel Yilma and Christof Geldmacher and Andreas Wieser and Arne Kroidl},
journal = {International Journal of Infectious Diseases},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.ijid.2026.109157},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2026.109157},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Respiratory viral and bacterial pathogen dynamics among healthcare workers and community members in Ethiopia: A prospective cohort study
AU - Esayas Kebede Gudina
AU - Eyob Girma Abera
AU - Solomon Ali
AU - Wondimagegn Adissu Maleko
AU - Amelie Hohensee
AU - Rebecca Kisch
AU - Kira Elsbernd
AU - Daniel Yilma
AU - Christof Geldmacher
AU - Andreas Wieser
AU - Arne Kroidl
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - International Journal of Infectious Diseases
DO - 10.1016/j.ijid.2026.109157
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2026.109157
AB - Objectives: Respiratory infections cause substantial morbidity, with high burden in low-resource settings where surveillance is limited. We characterized symptomatic respiratory event burden and etiologic patterns in Ethiopia. Methods: A prospective cohort of urban community members and healthcare workers (HCWs) at Jimma University Medical Center, Ethiopia, was followed from November 2022 to December 2024. Nasopharyngeal swabs from symptomatic episodes were tested for viral and bacterial pathogens using multiplex and quantitative PCR. Person-period logistic regression assessed factors for symptomatic episodes; generalized linear mixed models identified factors for pathogen detection. Results: Among 500 participants, 163 (32.6%) experienced 237 symptomatic episodes (2.08 per 100 person-months; 95% CI: 1.81-2.34). The Tsedey (September-November) season (aOR: 1.98; P < 0.001) and HIV positivity (aOR: 1.62; P = 0.044) were independently associated with symptomatic episodes. Viral pathogens were detected in 50.4% (116/230), mainly HRV, adenovirus, and SARS-CoV-2, while bacterial nucleic acid, predominantly Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilis influenzae , was detected by nasopharyngeal PCR in 60.5% (135/223) of tested episodes. The Tsedey season was associated with viral (aOR: 3.58; P = 0.004) and bacterial detection (aOR: 3.96; P = 0.002). HCWs had higher odds of viral detection (aOR: 2.29; P = 0.023). Conclusion: Pathogens were frequently detected in symptomatic individuals. Seasonality drove respiratory episodes and viral/bacterial detection. HIV increased symptom risk; HCW status increased viral but not bacterial detection. Findings support seasonal surveillance and targeted interventions.
SN - 1201-9712
SN - 1878-3511
ER -