Research from sub-Saharan Africa that contributes to our understanding of the 2022 mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) global outbreak is insufficient. Here, we describe the clinical presentation and ...predictors of severe disease among patients with mpox diagnosed between Feb 1, 2022, and Jan 30, 2023 in Nigeria.
We did a cohort study among laboratory-confirmed and probable mpox cases seen in 22 mpox-treatment centres and outpatient clinics across Nigeria. All individuals with confirmed and probable mpox were eligible for inclusion. Exclusion criteria were individuals who could not be examined for clinical characterisation and those who had unknown mortality outcomes. Skin lesion swabs or crust samples were collected from each patient for mpox diagnosis by PCR. A structured questionnaire was used to document sociodemographic and clinical data, including HIV status, complications, and treatment outcomes from the time of diagnosis to discharge or death. Severe disease was defined as mpox associated with death or with a life-threatening complication. Two logistic regression models were used to identify clinical characteristics associated with severe disease and potential risk factors for severe disease. The primary outcome was the clinical characteristics of mpox and disease severity.
We enrolled 160 people with mpox from 22 states in Nigeria, including 134 (84%) adults, 114 (71%) males, 46 (29%) females, and 25 (16%) people with HIV. Of the 160 patients, distinct febrile prodrome (n=94, 59%), rash count greater than 250 (90, 56%), concomitant varicella zoster virus infection (n=48, 30%), and hospital admission (n=70, 48%) were observed. Nine (6%) of the 160 patients died, including seven (78%) deaths attributable to sepsis. The clinical features independently associated with severe disease were a rash count greater than 10 000 (adjusted odds ratio 26·1, 95% CI 5·2-135·0, p<0·0001) and confluent or semi-confluent rash (6·7, 95% CI 1·9-23·9). Independent risk factors for severe disease were concomitant varicella zoster virus infection (3·6, 95% CI 1·1-11·5) and advanced HIV disease (35·9, 95% CI 4·1-252·9).
During the 2022 global outbreak, mpox in Nigeria was more severe among those with advanced HIV disease and concomitant varicella zoster virus infection. Proactive screening, management of co-infections, the integration and strengthening of mpox and HIV surveillance, and preventive and treatment services should be prioritised in Nigeria and across Africa.
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Healthcare workers (HCWs) are disproportionately infected with SARS-CoV-2 when compared to members of the general public; estimating the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody and SARS-CoV-2 infection ...rate among HCWs is therefore crucial. This study was carried out in four health facilities in Lagos Nigeria to determine the prevalence of IgG antibodies (seroprevalence) and SARS-CoV-2 active infection rate via a positive rtPCR result, the cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2020 and July 2021. Nasopharyngeal and blood samples were collected from HCWs and screened for SARS-CoV-2 infection using the rtPCR technique and antibody using the Abbott anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG CMIA assay, respectively. Demographic and occupational exposures data were obtained and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, variables significant via inferential statistics were subjected to a multivariate analysis. A total of 413 participants were enrolled, with a mean age in years of 38.4±11.0. The seroprevalence was 30.9% (115/372) while 63/395 (15.9%) were actively infected with the virus. HCWs whose job role had direct contact with patients had a higher percentage of SARS-CoV-2 infection when compared with those not in direct contact, also being a health care worker was significantly associated with getting a positive COVID-19 PCR result. In conclusion the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence seen in this study was higher than national serosurvey estimates indicating HCWs are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection when compared to the general public. Vaccination and effective implementation of infection control measures are important to protect HCWs.
To investigate epidemiology of and risk factors for laboratory-confirmed mpox during the 2022 outbreak in Nigeria, we enrolled 265 persons with suspected mpox. A total of 163 (61.5%) were confirmed ...to have mpox; 137 (84.0%) were adults, 112 (68.7%) male, 143 (87.7%) urban/semi-urban dwellers, 12 (7.4%) self-reported gay men, and 3 (1.8%) female sex workers. Significant risk factors for adults were sexual and nonsexual contact with persons who had mpox, as well as risky sexual behavior. For children, risk factors were close contact with an mpox-positive person and prior animal exposure. Odds of being mpox positive were higher for adults with HIV and lower for those co-infected with varicella zoster virus (VZV). No children were HIV-seropositive; odds of being mpox positive were higher for children with VZV infection. Our findings indicate mpox affects primarily adults in Nigeria, partially driven by sexual activity; childhood cases were driven by close contact, animal exposure, and VZV co-infection.To investigate epidemiology of and risk factors for laboratory-confirmed mpox during the 2022 outbreak in Nigeria, we enrolled 265 persons with suspected mpox. A total of 163 (61.5%) were confirmed to have mpox; 137 (84.0%) were adults, 112 (68.7%) male, 143 (87.7%) urban/semi-urban dwellers, 12 (7.4%) self-reported gay men, and 3 (1.8%) female sex workers. Significant risk factors for adults were sexual and nonsexual contact with persons who had mpox, as well as risky sexual behavior. For children, risk factors were close contact with an mpox-positive person and prior animal exposure. Odds of being mpox positive were higher for adults with HIV and lower for those co-infected with varicella zoster virus (VZV). No children were HIV-seropositive; odds of being mpox positive were higher for children with VZV infection. Our findings indicate mpox affects primarily adults in Nigeria, partially driven by sexual activity; childhood cases were driven by close contact, animal exposure, and VZV co-infection.
Abstract
Background
Acute respiratory failure, a major cause of death in COVID-19, is managed with high-flow oxygen therapy via invasive mechanical ventilation. In resource-limited settings like ...Nigeria, the shortage of ventilators and oxygen supply makes this option challenging. Evidence-based non-invasive alternatives to mechanical ventilation such as the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices exist, but there have been concerns that non-invasive ventilation may expose healthcare workers to infection from aerosolized dispersion of SARS-CoV-2. We propose to evaluate the feasibility, adaptability and acceptability of a CPAP/O
2
helmet solution for non-invasive ventilation among patients with COVID-19 and health workers in eight COVID-19 treatment and isolation centers in Nigeria.
Methods
The study will occur in 4 stages: (1) convene a Steering Committee of key stakeholders and recruit implementation sites; (2) use the integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARiHS) framework to guide a needs assessment of treatment centers’ capacity to use high-flow oxygen therapy to treat COVID-19 patients and utilize the findings to develop an implementation strategy for the use of a CPAP/O
2
helmet solution; (3) build infrastructure to support training and data monitoring processes and to develop implementation protocols to evaluate the adaptability of the strategy for the use of the CPAP/O
2
helmet; and (4) train health workers, distribute a CPAP/O
2
helmet solution for non-invasive ventilation, pilot test the implementation strategy, and assess feasibility of its use and acceptability that includes monitoring altered risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers.
Discussion
The CPAP/O
2
helmet solution for non-invasive ventilation in Nigeria can serve as a scalable model for resource-poor countries, and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, has the potential to be deployed for the treatment of pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.
Trial registration
NCT04929691. Registered June 18, 2021—retrospectively registered,
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04929691
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are disproportionately infected with SARS-CoV-2 when compared to members of the general public; estimating the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody and SARS-CoV-2 infection ...rate among HCWs is therefore crucial. This study was carried out in four health facilities in Lagos Nigeria to determine the prevalence of IgG antibodies (seroprevalence) and SARS-CoV-2 active infection rate via a positive rtPCR result, the cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2020 and July 2021. Nasopharyngeal and blood samples were collected from HCWs and screened for SARS-CoV-2 infection using the rtPCR technique and antibody using the Abbott anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG CMIA assay, respectively. Demographic and occupational exposures data were obtained and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, variables significant via inferential statistics were subjected to a multivariate analysis. A total of 413 participants were enrolled, with a mean age in years of 38.4±11.0. The seroprevalence was 30.9% (115/372) while 63/395 (15.9%) were actively infected with the virus. HCWs whose job role had direct contact with patients had a higher percentage of SARS-CoV-2 infection when compared with those not in direct contact, also being a health care worker was significantly associated with getting a positive COVID-19 PCR result. In conclusion the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence seen in this study was higher than national serosurvey estimates indicating HCWs are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection when compared to the general public. Vaccination and effective implementation of infection control measures are important to protect HCWs.
This study modeled geophysical derived parameters and multi-critically synthesized their themes based on geospatial and analytical hierarchy processes (AHP) approaches for groundwater potentiality ...prediction mapping. These methodologies were investigated in a typical hard rock geologic terrain, southwestern, Nigeria. Considering the spatially acquired 96 vertical electrical sounding (VES) data in the area, geoelectric sections revealing five subsurface layers including the topsoil, laterite, weathered layer, fractured basement and fresh basement rock were produced mindful of the 2-D resistivity structure subsurface imaging data interpreted results. The correlative results of the 2-D resistivity structure images and VES data interpretation results delineated major low resistivity vertical discontinuity typical of fractured zones characterized with width range of 25–40 m, while the depth vary from about 40 to > 60 m. Themes of groundwater potential conditioning factors (GPCFs), namely: regolith, bedrock relief, hydraulic head, coefficient of anisotropy, aquifer resistivity and aquifer thickness were prepared from the re-analyzed hydrogeological and geophysical data. The produced themes were appropriately weighted in the context of AHP data mining technique. The groundwater potential prediction index (GPPI) mathematical modeling equation for the area was established via applying the weight linear average algorithm involving the AHP weightage results. The synthesized results of the applied GPPI model equation on the GPCFs’ hydrogeologic themes give GPPI values in the range 1.59–3.65 for the study area. The geospatial modeling of the GPPI estimated values result produced groundwater potential prediction index map for the area. The produced GPPI model map zoned the area into low (1.59–2.30), medium (2.30–2.61), medium–high (2.61–3.02) and high (3.02–3.65) groundwater potential classes. The area analysis of the GPPI map indicates that more than 70% of the study area has ‘low to medium groundwater potential. The GPPI map result verification using reacting operating characteristics technique results gave 86% and 81% success and prediction rates, respectively. The findings of this study are useful to water managers and decision-makers for locating appropriate positions of new productive wells in the study area and other areas with similar geologic settings.
This research investigates methods to improve the desalination performance of stepped solar stills, a design known for its high productivity but limited commercial viability. The study proposes ...modifications using nano-enhanced phase change material (NPCM) and a condenser to enhance water production. Two configurations were built and tested under identical weather conditions: a conventional stepped solar still (CSSS) and a modified stepped solar still (MSSS). Results indicated a significant increase in both productivity and efficiency for MSSS over CSSS. MSSS achieved a desalination yield of 4800 mL/m2.day, a 60 % improvement over the 3000 mL/m2.day yield of the CSSS. Further advancements were observed with the integration of NPCM. The MSSS with NPCM reached a yield of 5150 mL/m2.day, while the CSSS with NPCM remained lower at 2700 mL/m2.day (90 % improvement). The most notable enhancement (110 %) was achieved by combining the MSSS with NPCM and a condenser. This configuration yielded 5950 mL/m2.day, compared to 2850 mL/m2.day for the CSSS with NPCM and condenser. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of NPCM and condenser integration in significantly boosting the desalination performance of stepped solar stills, potentially paving the way for their wider commercial adoption. Furthermore, the annual CO₂ emissions for both MSSS + NPCM and MSSS + NPCM + condenser is approximated to be 31.9 & 30.8 tons/year, severally. Additionally, the enviroeconomic arguments are valued at 462.5 & 446.6 a year for MSSS + NPCM and MSSS + NPCM + condenser forms, individually.
•Performance of modified stepped solar still is investigated.•Influence of using nano-enhanced phase change material (NPCM) and condenser to enhance water production is examined.•The maximum productivity rise of modified stepped still is 110 %.•The highest thermal efficiency of the modified stepped still was 50 %.
In 2019-2020, one round of antibiotic mass drug administration (MDA) was implemented for trachoma elimination purposes in Donga, Gashaka, and Ussa local government areas (LGAs) of Taraba State, ...Nigeria, following baseline surveys in 2009 (Donga and Gashaka) and 2013-2014 (Ussa). Here, trachoma prevalence post-MDA in these three LGAs is reported.
In 2019 (Gashaka and Ussa) and 2020 (Donga), population-based, cross-sectional surveys were conducted following World Health Organization (WHO) guidance. A two-stage cluster sampling strategy was used. All residents of selected households aged ≥1 year were examined by Tropical Data-certified graders for trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) and trachomatous trichiasis (TT) using the WHO simplified trachoma grading scheme. Data on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) access were also collected.
A total of 1,883 households participated. From these households, 4,885 children aged 1-9 years were enumerated, and 4,866 (99.6%) examined. There were 5,050 eligible adults (aged ≥15 years) enumerated in the same households, of whom 4,888 (96.8%) were examined. Age-adjusted TF prevalence in children aged 1-9 years was 0.22% (95% CI: 0.00-0.65) in Donga, 0.0% in Gashaka, and 0.19% (95% CI: 0.00-0.44) in Ussa. The age- and gender-adjusted TT prevalence unknown to the health system in adults aged ≥15 years was 0.08% (95% CI: 0.00-0.19) in Donga, 0.02% (95% CI: 0.00-0.06) in Gashaka, and 0.10% (95% CI: 0.01-0.18) in Ussa. In Donga, Gashaka, and Ussa, respectively, 66%, 49% and 63% of households had access to an improved drinking water source, and 68%, 56% and 29% had access to an improved latrine.
In all LGAs, the elimination thresholds for TF and TT unknown to the health system have been attained in the target age groups. These LGAs should be re-surveyed after 2 years to show that reductions in TF prevalence have been sustained in the absence of MDA. Health authorities should continue to improve WASH facilities to reduce the risk of later recrudescence.
Purpose
The data economy mainly relies on the surveillance capitalism business model, enabling companies to monetize their data. The surveillance allows for transforming private human experiences ...into behavioral data that can be harnessed in the marketing sphere. This study aims to focus on investigating the domain of data economy with the methodological lens of quantitative bibliometric analysis of published literature.
Design/methodology/approach
The bibliometric analysis seeks to unravel trends and timelines for the emergence of the data economy, its conceptualization, scientific progression and thematic synergy that could predict the future of the field. A total of 591 data between 2008 and June 2021 were used in the analysis with the Biblioshiny app on the web interfaced and VOSviewer version 1.6.16 to analyze data from Web of Science and Scopus.
Findings
This study combined findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR) data and data economy and contributed to the literature on big data, information discovery and delivery by shedding light on the conceptual, intellectual and social structure of data economy and demonstrating data relevance as a key strategic asset for companies and academia now and in the future.
Research limitations/implications
Findings from this study provide a steppingstone for researchers who may engage in further empirical and longitudinal studies by employing, for example, a quantitative and systematic review approach. In addition, future research could expand the scope of this study beyond FAIR data and data economy to examine aspects such as theories and show a plausible explanation of several phenomena in the emerging field.
Practical implications
The researchers can use the results of this study as a steppingstone for further empirical and longitudinal studies.
Originality/value
This study confirmed the relevance of data to society and revealed some gaps to be undertaken for the future.
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