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Performance of Four Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) in the Diagnosis of Malaria in North Central Nigeria
Ijezie Ntomchukwu Simon,
Matur Bernard Malau,
Malann Yoila David,
Njab Jean Emile
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 4, December 2020
Pages:
106-111
Received:
27 August 2020
Accepted:
14 September 2020
Published:
7 October 2020
Abstract: The study on the performance of four rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits (Global, LabAcon, SD Bioline and CareStart kits) in the diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum was carried in North Central Nigeria for a period of twelve months to evaluate the performance of the kits using samples of symptomatic patients attending clinic. The performance of the kits was compared with that of microscopy as standard. Result of the sensitivity of the four RDT kits revealed that Global, LabAcon, SD Bioline and CareStart recorded 86.50%, 84.90%, 86.50% and 83.70% respectively while their level of specificity was 95.40%, 95.30%, 95.80% and 96.00% respectively. The four kits recorded no significant difference in sensitivity and specificity (p>0.005). SD Bioline, however, demonstrated the highest accuracy of 92.90% while LabAcon had the lowest accuracy (92.10%). The positive predictive values and negative predictive values of the four kits were; Global (87.80% and 94.10%), SD Bioline (87.80% and 94.30%), LabAcon (86.20% and 94.10%) and CareStart (85.00% and 94.60%). There was no significant difference in either the accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the four kits (p >0.005). The overall performance of the four kits was also insignificantly different (p>0.005). The performance of the four kits was statistically different compared with microscopy test (p<0.005), so the RDT kits cannot replace microscopy, being the gold standard but can, however, be used for malaria diagnoses for ease of analysis.
Abstract: The study on the performance of four rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits (Global, LabAcon, SD Bioline and CareStart kits) in the diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum was carried in North Central Nigeria for a period of twelve months to evaluate the performance of the kits using samples of symptomatic patients attending clinic. The performance of the kit...
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The Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) Experience in a Referral Hospital in South Carolina
Julie Coursen,
Prerana Roth,
Christopher Schrank,
John Schrank
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 4, December 2020
Pages:
112-117
Received:
20 September 2020
Accepted:
29 September 2020
Published:
13 October 2020
Abstract: Several studies have established outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) as an alternative to prolonged inpatient stays to reduce healthcare expenditure, decrease hospital admission times, and increase patient satisfaction. However, studies have also shown significant adverse events occurring while receiving treatment outpatient. We collected retrospective data through electronic medical record review on all patients discharged on IV antibiotics whose OPAT was managed by the infectious disease specialists at Greenville Health System between 1/1/17 and 6/30/17. There were a total of 336 individual patients discharged on OPAT during the 6 month period. Bacteremia (25.4%), osteomyelitis (14.9%), and diabetic foot infections (12.8%) were the most common indications for OPAT with methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) being the most common organism targeted (22.5%). 11% of patients had a medication change during their treatment course. The most common reasons were nausea/malaise (26%) and acute kidney injury (26%). Our hospital re-admission rate was 8.7%. Statistical analysis of the data indicated that home infusion was significantly more likely to result in re-admission compared to the infusion center (p=0.02). Also receiving antibiotics for osteomyelitis was more likely to result in re-admission compared to other diagnoses (p=0.048). Our data indicates that self-administration of antibiotics at home results in higher re-admission rates compared to administration at infusion centers. Factors that may contribute to this difference such as compliance, co-morbidities, or frequency of nurse assessments warrant further exploration to optimize the safety of OPAT, especially in rural South Carolina.
Abstract: Several studies have established outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) as an alternative to prolonged inpatient stays to reduce healthcare expenditure, decrease hospital admission times, and increase patient satisfaction. However, studies have also shown significant adverse events occurring while receiving treatment outpatient. We collect...
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Clinical Course and Outcome of 395 Covid 19 Patients Admitted to One Hospital in Jeddah- Saudi Arabia
Samar Assem Badreddine,
Mohammed Zammo,
Abdullah Abdelfattah Elhosiny,
Mohanna Walid Alhomsy,
Yasser Aldabbagh,
Abdullah Sameer Mansouri,
Sara Hesham Taha,
Reem Yahya ALQuraa,
Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Nahdi,
Ayman Eissa,
Hanan Mohammed Faruqui,
Nehal Ahmed,
Ahmad Alzahrani,
Nezar Bahabri
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 4, December 2020
Pages:
118-126
Received:
17 September 2020
Accepted:
9 October 2020
Published:
17 October 2020
Abstract: Background: Since the first case of SARS-CoV 2 has been reported from Wuhan China back in December 2019, the virus has spread all over the world and has so far infected more than 35 million humans and led to more than one million deaths woldwide. We describe in this paper the clinical characteristics and outcome of PCR confirmed Covid 19 patients that were admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Retrospective review of patients that had positive PCR on nasopharyngeal swab for SARS Cov2 and that were admitted and discharged from a tertiary care hospital in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between March and July 2020. Epidemiological, demographic, and clinical data were collected. The clinical course of patients was reviewed. Risk factors for involvement of lower respiratory tract (Pneumonia), for need for ICU and for death were analyzed. Results: The records of total of 395 patients were reviewed. 15% of Covid 19 patients in our population were completely asymptomatic, one quarter of which had abnormalities on chest imaging. Among the patients with one or more Covid 19 symptoms, 75% had lower respiratory tract involvement and one quarter had normal chest imaging. One third of all patients developed leukopenia and around 2 thirds had lymphocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia was not common (occurred in 15%), 29% of our patients had CRP>10 and 25.1% had elevated ALT (not exceeding 5 times upper normal). Nine percent of our patients needed ICU admission, 3.8% needed mechanical ventilation. 9 patients (2.3%) in our population died. Advancing age, increasing BMI, and smoking history were significantly associated with increased mortality. Developing abnormalities on chest imaging (Pneumonia) was significantly associated with increasing BMI, advancing age, not receiving BCG vaccination at birth, history of smoking and presence of co-morbidities (p value less 0.05 with all these variables). Blood group and presence of co-morbidities was significantly associated with need for ICU care but not with mortality. In our population neither ethnicity, nor gender, had significant association with hospital course or outcome, and no one younger than 45 years and no one with BMI less than 24 died. Conclusion: Advancing age, increasing BMI and history of smoking were found to be significant risk factors for mortality in our population. History of Bacille calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccination was significantly associated with less involvement of lower respiratory tract but had no significant association with final outcome. Asymptomatic Covid 19 is more of a silent active infection rather than a silent inactive carrier state.
Abstract: Background: Since the first case of SARS-CoV 2 has been reported from Wuhan China back in December 2019, the virus has spread all over the world and has so far infected more than 35 million humans and led to more than one million deaths woldwide. We describe in this paper the clinical characteristics and outcome of PCR confirmed Covid 19 patients t...
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Purulent Meningitis in Children: A Retrospective Study of 70 Cases in Senegal
Idrissa Basse,
Papa Moctar Faye,
Amadou Sow,
Marie Acakpo,
Ndiogou Seck,
Lamine Thiam,
Ndieme Ndiaye,
Dina Obambi,
Djibril Boiro,
Aliou Abdoulaye Ndongo,
Ndeye Ramatoulaye Diagne Gueye,
Ousmane Ndiaye
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 4, December 2020
Pages:
127-130
Received:
15 October 2020
Accepted:
27 October 2020
Published:
4 November 2020
Abstract: Introduction: Despite much progress, purulent childhood meningitis (PCM) remains a public health problem. The objective of this work was to determine the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary profile of purulent meningitis in children. Methods: Based on retrospective work carried out over a 4-year period (01 January 2014 to 31 December 2017), we studied the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects of cases of purulent meningitis hospitalized in the pediatric ward of the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio. Included were all children from 29 days to 15 years of age in whom the diagnosis of purulent meningitis was confirmed by the laboratory. Results: The hospital frequency was 1.9%. The mean age of the patients was 41.0 months. Among the affected children, 68.6% were fully vaccinated. The main germ was Neisseria meningitidis W135 (58.8%). Third generation cephalosporins were the antibiotics of choice (97.1%). No resistance was found to them. The cure rate with sequelae was 5.7%. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the germ responsible for 50% of the objective sequelae. The mortality rate was 7.1%. Conclusion: Neisseria meningitidis W135 is the main germ of purulent meningitis in our study. It is not included in the national routine immunization. It is imperative to adapt vaccination to the epidemiological fluctuation of pathogens in our regions.
Abstract: Introduction: Despite much progress, purulent childhood meningitis (PCM) remains a public health problem. The objective of this work was to determine the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary profile of purulent meningitis in children. Methods: Based on retrospective work carried out over a 4-year period (01 January 2014 to 31 Dec...
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Syphilis and Chlamydia trachomatis in Males from Northern Mexico with HIV-AIDS
Ivonne Urraza-Robledo,
Alberto Alejandro Miranda-Perez,
Pablo Ruiz-Flores,
Maria Elena Gutierrez-Perez,
Adria Imelda Prieto-Hinojosa,
Javier Moran-Martinez,
Francisco Carlos Lopez-Marquez
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 4, December 2020
Pages:
131-135
Received:
6 November 2020
Accepted:
21 November 2020
Published:
30 November 2020
Abstract: Introduction: Subjects with HIV, particularly those with high-risk sexual practices, such as men who have sex with men (MSM), frequently present concurrent infections of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Therefore, in this study, we determined the frequency of Syphilis, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infections in a group of HIV-seropositive males in HIV control and surveillance programs of the Region Laguna, Mexico. Methods: Ninety-seven HIV-seropositive males were included, with whom a peripheral blood sample was taken to determine infection by syphilis, in addition to a urethral-scrape sample for the detection of infections due to CT, NG, and UU. A questionnaire was applied to all participants to take their sociodemographic variables, and also their clinical files were reviewed to obtain their historical antecedents of other STIs. Results: The subjects included in the study, 69% were MSM. The results indicated that 12.36% of the samples were positive for STIs, which 10.3% were infections because of syphilis and 2.06% due to CT; none of the samples were positive for NG or UU. Conclusions: The results reflect the relevance of evaluating the frequency of STI in subjects infected with HIV in this population, in that co-infections can lead to an unfavorable evolution.
Abstract: Introduction: Subjects with HIV, particularly those with high-risk sexual practices, such as men who have sex with men (MSM), frequently present concurrent infections of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Therefore, in this study, we determined the frequency of Syphilis, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and Ureaplasma ur...
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Clinical Manifestations of Myocardial Injury Associated with the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease in Chinese Population: A Meta-analysis
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 4, December 2020
Pages:
136-144
Received:
21 November 2020
Accepted:
4 December 2020
Published:
11 December 2020
Abstract: Background: Evidence about COVID-19 on cardiac injury was insufficient. Objectives: To summarize available data on clinical manifestations of acute cardiac injury during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: A systematic literature search from December 1, 2019 to April, 12, 2020 was made of those databases: Pubmed, Embase, wanfang, CKNI, to identify all observational studies that reported presentation of cardiac injury, including acute cardiac injury, cardiac symptoms, cardiac failure, shock, arrhythmia. A random-effects model was used to pool results. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's test. Results: 3863 confirmed COVID-19 infected patients from 22 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Among the patients, the incidence rate of acute cardiac injury was 18% [95%CI 12–23], chest pain (4% [95%CI 2–5]), chest distress (31% [95%CI 16–47]), and palpitations (4% [95%CI 0–7]) were the most common clinical symptoms related to acute cardiac injury. The incidence with heart failure was 22% [95%CI 17–28], the incidence with shock was 9% [95%CI 3–14], and the incidence with arrhythmia was 13% [95%CI 8–19]. Conclusions: Acute cardiac injury without clinical symptoms should be paid more attention among the confirmed COVID-19 infected patients. In addition, this highlights the need to effectively monitor heart health to prevent the cardiac complications (cardiac failure, shock, arrhythmia) in patients infected with COVID-19.
Abstract: Background: Evidence about COVID-19 on cardiac injury was insufficient. Objectives: To summarize available data on clinical manifestations of acute cardiac injury during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: A systematic literature search from December 1, 2019 to April, 12, 2020 was made of those databases: Pubmed, Embase, wanfang, CKNI, to identify all ...
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The Intervening Effect of Preventive Use of Antibacterials During the Perioperative Period in Neurosurgery
Lianfang Xue,
Suishan Qiu,
Qinai Zhu,
Hui Liu
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 4, December 2020
Pages:
145-148
Received:
10 October 2020
Accepted:
22 October 2020
Published:
16 December 2020
Abstract: Objective: Surgical site infections (SSI) is a serious complication of surgery. Perioperative antibacterial prophylaxis is one of the most effective methods to prevent SSI. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of interventions on perioperative antibacterial prophylaxis in neurosurgery. Method: We intervened and assessed the perioperative antibacterial prophylaxis from adult patients with a neurological surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University (Guangzhou, China) between May 2014 and December 2014. A total of 279 neurosurgical cases were chosen among which 145 cases were before intervention and 134 after intervention. This study discussed the indications, selection of varieties, timing of the first dose, and application time of antibacterial drugs before and after intervention. Results: Investigation and analysis were performed in the perioperative antibacterial prophylaxis. Compared with the pre-intervention phase, rationalities of perioperative antibiotics prophylaxis in the post-intervention phase were significantly increased. The rational drug selection and the rational timing of using antibacterial after intervention were significantly increased. In addition, the average duration of antibiotic prophylaxis in the post-intervention phase was significantly shorter than the pre-intervention phase. Conclusion: The intervention of perioperative antibiotics prophylaxis was effective and feasible. It contributed to promoting the rational use of perioperative antibiotics prophylaxis in neurosurgery.
Abstract: Objective: Surgical site infections (SSI) is a serious complication of surgery. Perioperative antibacterial prophylaxis is one of the most effective methods to prevent SSI. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of interventions on perioperative antibacterial prophylaxis in neurosurgery. Method: We intervened and assessed the perioperativ...
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