There are few data available about childhood tuberculosis (TB) in rural hospitals in low-income countries. We assessed differences in epidemiological characteristics and treatment outcomes in ...children with TB aged 0-4 versus 5-14 years in rural Ethiopia.
For this retrospective cross-sectional study, we analyzed childhood TB registers from a rural Ethiopian hospital. We collected data on the number of cases, type of TB, and treatment outcomes using standard definitions. By means of binary and logistic regression analyses, data were compared from 1998 to 2015 in children aged under 5 versus those aged 5-14 years.
We included 1282 TB patients: 583 (45.5%) were under 5 years old, and 699 (54.5%) were aged 5-14 years. More than half (67.2%, n = 862) had pulmonary TB (PTB), which was more common in younger children (82.5%, 481/583) than in older ones (54.5%, 381/699; p < 0.001). Most cases of PTB (87.5%, 754/862) were smear negative, including virtually all (99.6%, 479/481) younger children and most older ones (72.2%, n = 275/381; p < 0.001). The most common types of extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) were TB adenitis (54.5%, 229/420) and bone TB (20%, 84/420). Children under five showed a lower prevalence of adenitis TB (9.9% 58/583 versus 24.5% 171/699, p < 0.001), bone TB (2.9% 17/583 versus 9.6% 69/699, p < 0.001), and abdominal TB (0.9% 5/583 versus 6.3% 44/699, p < 0.001). Most diagnoses were new cases of TB (98.2%, 1259/1282). Overall, 63.5% (n = 814) of the children successfully completed treatment (< 5 years: 56.6%, 330/583; 5-14 years: 69.2%, 489/699; p < 0.001). In total, 16.3% (n = 209) transferred to another center (< 5 years: 19.4%, 113/583; 5-14 years: 13.7%, 96/699; p = 0.006). Thirteen percent of patients (n = 167) were lost to follow-up (< 5 years: 16.0%, 93/583; 5-14 years: 10.4%, 74/699; p = 0.004). Fifty-two (4.1%) children died (no age differences). Being aged 5-14 years was independently associated with successful treatment outcomes (adjusted odds ratio 1.59; 95% confidence interval: 1.16, 1.94, p = 0.002).
We observed a very low diagnostic yield for spontaneous sputum smear in children with TB. In this rural setting in Ethiopia, very young children tend to present with new cases of smear-negative PTB. They have less EPTB than older children but more TB meningitis and show lower rates of treatment success.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
COVID-19 and geographical area of origin Norman, Francesca F.; Crespillo-Andújar, Clara; Pérez-Molina, José Antonio ...
Clinical microbiology and infection,
04/2021, Letnik:
27, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
To describe and compare the main clinical characteristics and outcome measures in hospitalized patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) according to geographical area of origin.
A ...retrospective analysis of patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 at a referral centre in Madrid, Spain, during March–May 2020 was performed. Recorded variables (age, gender, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, outcome), and geographical area of origin were compared for Europeans and non-Europeans (Latin Americans, Asians and Africans).
In total, 2345 patients with confirmed COVID-19 hospitalized during the study period were included in the study. Of these, 1956 (83.4%) were European and 389 (16.6%) were non-European (of whom over 90%, 354/389, were Latin American). Non-Europeans were significantly younger than Europeans (mean 54 (SD 13.5) versus 70.4 (SD 15.1) years, p < 0.001); the majority were male (1420/2345, 60.6%), with no significant differences in gender between Europeans and non-Europeans (1197/1956 (61.2%) male in the European group versus 223/389 (57.3%) male in the non-European group, p 0.15). In-hospital mortality overall was higher in Europeans (443/1956, 22.7%) than in non-Europeans (40/389, 10.3%) (p < 0.001), but there were no significant differences when adjusted for age/gender (OR 1.27, 95% CI 0.86–1.88). Non-Europeans were more frequently admitted to ICU (71/389, 18.3%) compared with Europeans (187/1956, 9.6%) (p < 0.001) and a difference in ICU admission rate was also found when adjusted for age/gender (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.03–1.98).
No significant differences in mortality were observed between Europeans and non-Europeans (mainly Latin Americans), but an increase in ICU admission rate was found in non-Europeans.
Approximately 6 million people worldwide are affected by Chagas disease, with many in the chronic phase of the disease (CCD). It is crucial to evaluate the effectiveness of benznidazole for CCD ...treatment.
We updated a meta-analysis published in 2009 up to February 2021, including controlled trials (RCT) and prospective observational studies (OBS) that compared benznidazole vs placebo/no-treatment (P/nT). Main outcomes evaluated were clinical progression (CP) and seroreversion with subgroup analysis performed according to study design and participants' age. Parasitological response and safety were also described. We identified 879 articles and selected nine for inclusion (corresponding to eight studies). After adding the nine articles from the previous meta-analysis, 17 studies were analyzed corresponding to 6640 patients. The odds ratio (OR) for seroreversion in children treated with benznidazole vs P/nT was 38.3 (95%CI: 10.7-137) and 34.9 (95%CI: 1.96-624.09) in RCT and OBS, respectively. In adults the OR for seroreversion in OBS was 17.1 (95%CI: 2.3-129.1). CP was only evaluated in adults, where benznidazole did not demonstrate a beneficial effect: OR 0.93 (95%CI: 0.8-1.1) and OR 0.49 (95%CI:0.2-1.2) for RCT and OBS, respectively. Most outcomes were deemed to have a low level of certainty, except for the beneficial effect in children and the low efficacy in adults (moderate certainty).
Benznidazole should be recommended for CCD in children, though this is only based on serological response and a moderate grade of evidence, while in adults benznidazole efficacy remains uncertain. More data on clinical efficacy of benznidazole in CCD is needed in both children and adults.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
A 45-year-old man from Ecuador living for the past two decades in Spain was admitted with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated acute hypoxic respiratory failure requiring low-flow oxygen ...therapy and started on dexamethasone 6 mg once daily. Past medical history was unremarkable except for several episodes of suspected allergic reactions with rash and angioedema. The last episode occurred in 2018, and the trigger remained undetermined. Screening Strongyloides serology was requested upon admission and was found to be positive on day 7. The patient's respiratory condition had improved, and he was otherwise asymptomatic. Stool agar plate culture was requested, and the patient received a single dose of ivermectin. A pruritic diffuse maculopapular rash appeared on his trunk within hours of administration of ivermectin. An allergic reaction was suspected, and thus corticosteroids were maintained with initial improvement. However, pruritus persisted, and the rash recurred on day 12. The same day, the result of stool culture was obtained, which was notable for the presence of larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis. His respiratory condition was still improving, and he denied gastrointestinal symptoms.
Purpose of Review
The alarming number of confirmed COVID-19 cases put a strain on the healthcare systems, which had to reallocate human and technical resources to respond to the emergency. Many ...urologists became integrated into multidisciplinary teams, dealing with this respiratory illness and its unknown management.
It aims to summarize the epidemiological, clinical, diagnostical, and therapeutical characteristics of COVID-19, from a practical perspective, to ease COVID-19 management to non-physician staff.
Recent Findings
We performed a narrative review of the literature regarding COVID-19, updated to May 8th, 2020, at PubMed and COVID resource platforms of the main scientific editorials.
COVID-19, characterized by fever, myalgias, dyspnea, and dry cough, varies widely from asymptomatic infection to death. Arrhythmias and thrombotic events are prevalent.
Lymphopenia and inflammatory reactant elevation on laboratory, as well as bilateral and peripheral ground-glass opacities or consolidations on X-Ray, are usually found in its assessment. Little is known about SARS-CoV-2 immunology.
To date, no therapy has demonstrated efficacy in COVID-19. Of-level or compassionate-use therapies are prescribed in the context of clinical trials. We should become familiar with specific adverse events and pharmacological interactions.
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has paralyzed the urological activity, and its long-term consequences are unpredictable.
Despite not being used to deal with respiratory diseases, the urologists become easily qualified to manage COVID-19 by following protocols and being integrated into multidisciplinary teams, helping to overcome the pandemic.
Background Ethiopia is one of the countries in the world with the highest rate of tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of the patients with TB admitted to a ...rural hospital in Ethiopia in terms of both diagnosis and clinical management. Methods A retrospective descriptive observational study was conducted. Data were collected from patients older than 13 years who were admitted to the Gambo General Hospital for TB between May 2016 and September 2017. The variables studied were age, sex, symptoms, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serology, nutritional status, presence of anemia, chest x-ray or other complementary tests, type of diagnosis (smear microscopy, Xpert MTB-RIF (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, California, USA), or clinical diagnosis), treatment received, outcome, and days of admission. Results One hundred eighty-six patients, aged 13 years and older, were admitted to the TB unit. About 51.6% were female, and the median age was 35 years (interquartile range (IQR) 25-50). Cough was the most frequent symptom on admission (88.7%), and contact with a TB patient was only recognized by 22 patients (11.8%). HIV serology was performed in 148 patients (79.6%); seven were positive (4.7%). About 69.3% met the criteria for malnutrition (body mass index (BMI) <18.5). Most patients, 173 (93%), presented with pulmonary TB and were new cases (94.1%). Patients were diagnosed by clinical parameters in 75% of cases. Smear microscopy was performed in 148 patients, of which 46 (31.1%) were positive, and Xpert MTB-RIF results were only obtained in 16 patients, of which 6 (37.5%) were positive. Chest x-rays were performed in most patients (71%) and were suggestive of TB in 111 (84.1%). The average length of hospital stay was 32 days (confidence interval (CI) 13-50.5). Women tend to be younger than men, have more extrapulmonary TB, and were admitted longer. Nineteen patients died during admission (10.2%). Patients who die were more frequently malnourished (92.9% of those who die were malnourished compared to 67.1% of those who did not die, p = 0.036), tend to be admitted for a shorter time than the survivors and receive more concomitant antibiotic treatment. Conclusions In this rural Ethiopian setting, patients admitted to the hospital for TB are often malnourished (67.1%), the main presentation is pulmonary, mortality is one in 10 admissions and very often receive antibiotics in association with TB treatment (40%).
Globalization has contributed to the emergence of specific parasitic diseases in novel geographical areas, and in these regions, these infections in travelers and immigrants may cause a considerable ...burden of disease. Timely diagnosis and treatment of protozoan infections to decrease mortality and prevent associated complications are essential. In this respect, the increased availability of specific DNA-detection procedures has improved the diagnosis of many imported parasitic infections. Travelers and immigrants with associated comorbidities or immunosuppression may pose a special challenge regarding management. An updated review of the main protozoan infections in mobile populations (malaria, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, enteric protozoan infections) is provided, focusing on the changing epidemiology of these diseases, recent developments in diagnosis and management and the possibility of local transmission of imported infections.
Background
Updated seroprevalence studies of infections in migrants may aid the design of tailored vaccination and prevention programmes. The objective of this study was to describe the ...seroprevalence rates for potentially transmissible viral infections in migrants attended at a referral centre in a major European city.
Methods
Descriptive analysis of seroprevalence of vaccine-preventable and non-vaccine-preventable infections in migrants attended at a centre in Madrid, Spain (2018–19). Recorded variables included age, gender, country of birth/continent of origin, time from arrival to Spain until first clinic visit, rubella, measles, mumps, varicella (VZV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV serology.
Results
In total, 468 patients were included, 135 females (28.8%) and 333 males (71.2%), mean age 30.4 years. The majority of patients were from Africa (52.5%, of which 88.2% from sub-Saharan Africa), followed by Latin America (38.5%) and other areas (9%). Seroprevalence for tested migrants for rubella, measles and mumps was < 95% in the group overall (91% rubella, 88% measles, 83% mumps) and lower rates were observed in migrants >20 years (compared with those ≤ 20 years). Over 10% of females were potentially susceptible (negative/indeterminate serology) to rubella (11.4%), measles (12.7%) or mumps (10.3%). Lowest rates of rubella seropositivity were in Latin American migrants (over 12% potentially susceptible); measles and mumps seropositivity was lowest in migrants from areas other than Africa/Latin America (74% and 68%, respectively). Seroprevalence rates were 91% for VZV, 90% overall for HAV, ~6% for HBV chronic infection (~50% of migrants tested susceptible), 2% for HCV and 6% for HIV.
Conclusions
Differences in seroprevalence for vaccine-preventable and transmissible infections according to gender, age range and area of origin were observed. Tailored screening, vaccination and prevention strategies in potentially vulnerable migrant groups should be designed.
To evaluate the implementation of Xpert-MTB/RIF®, as an early diagnosis technique, in a rural area of Ethiopia.
Data were retrospectively collected from those patients over 13 years of age who were ...requested to take the Xpert MTB/RIF® test in a rural hospital located 45 km from the reference laboratory, during the first 3 years of its implementation (2015, April -2018, April).
A total of 306 patients older than 13 years were evaluated, in 85 (27.8%) there was an error in the processing of the test and the result was not obtained. Of the 221 samples with results, the median time between obtaining the sample and receiving the result was 21 days and 42 of them were positive (19%, 95% CI: 14.2-24.9%). The sample with the highest diagnostic yield was adenopathy (88.8%; 8/9; p<0.001).
There are more bacteriological diagnoses with Xpert-MTB/RIF®, but with a delay in obtaining the result and its main objective, which is early diagnosis, is not achieved.
Patients with leprosy can present with systemic inflammatory complications called leprosy reactions (LR), which can be severe and cause a loss of nerve function. The treatment of choice is prolonged ...corticosteroid therapy, frequently associated with severe side effects. We have used methotrexate as a corticosteroid-sparing regimen with good results.
To evaluate the role of methotrexate in managing LR, we performed a systematic review of the literature including our cases. We evaluated studies, prospective and retrospective, in both adults and children, which included any dose/regimen of methotrexate for the treatment of LR type 1 or 2.
The systematic search revealed 261 records that yield 21 patients including our 3 cases (19 adults/two children), who were treated with methotrexate for LR type 1 and 2. There were 14 males. Median age was 35 years (P25–P75 28 to 52). Patients showed lepromatous (7), borderline lepromatous (9) or borderline tuberculoid (3) leprosy, among the 19 cases in which the type of leprosy was specified. As for the type of LR, 15 patients showed erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL), five showed LR type 1 and one showed polyarthritis and previous ENL. Methotrexate at weekly doses ranging from 7.5 mg to 20 mg (median 15 mg per week), typically administered with low-dose corticosteroids, was effective and safe as a corticosteroid-sparing agent.
Methotrexate could be a suitable ancillary treatment or alternative to corticosteroids, especially in populations who are more prone to its adverse events. However, this evidence is based only on case reports and short clinical series.
•Leprosy reactions can be severe and cause a loss of nerve function.•Treatment of choice is prolonged corticosteroid therapy, which is associated with severe side effects.•Methotrexate is effective as a corticosteroid-sparing regimen for the treatment of complex leprosy reactions.•Nevertheless, quality evidence is still lacking.
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