Lung diseases at necropsy in African children dying from respiratory illnesses: a descriptive necropsy study

Frequency of fungal pathogens in autopsy studies of people who died with HIV in Africa: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Fungal infections are common in HIV-infected individuals and significantly contribute to mortality. However, a substantial number of cases are undiagnosed before death.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of fungal pathogens in autopsy studies of people who died with HIV in Africa.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review of autopsy studies conducted in Africa.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Google Scholar, and African Journal Online.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The review encompasses studies published from inception to September 2023, and no language restrictions were imposed during the search process. We included studies that reported histopathological or microbiological evidence for the diagnosis of fungal infections and other pathogens.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Data were summarized using descriptive statistics and no meta-analysis was performed.

RESULTS

We examined 30 articles reporting studies conducted between 1991 and 2019, encompassing a total of 13 066 HIV-infected decedents across ten African countries. In five studies, the autopsy type was not specified. Among those studies with specified autopsy types, 20 involved complete diagnostic autopsies, whereas 5 were categorized as partial or minimally invasive autopsies. There were 2333 pathogens identified, with 946 (40.5%) being mycobacteria, 856 (36.7%) fungal, 231 (3.8%) viral, 208 (8.9%) parasitic, and 92 (3.9%) bacterial. Of the 856 fungal pathogens identified, 654 (28.0%) were Cryptococcus species, 167 (7.2%) Pneumocystis jirovecii, 16 (0.69%) Histoplasma species, 15 (0.64%) Aspergillus species, and 4 (0.17%) Candida species. Other major non-fungal pathogens identified were cytomegalovirus 172 (7.37%) and Toxoplasma gondii 173 (7.42%).

CONCLUSIONS

Invasive fungal infections occur in over one-third of people who succumb to HIV in Africa. In addition to cryptococcosis and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, integrating other priority fungal pathogen detection and management strategies into the broader framework of HIV care in Africa is recommended. This involves increasing awareness regarding the impact of fungal infections in advanced HIV disease and strengthening diagnostic and treatment capacity.

Biomarker-confirmed suboptimal adherence to isoniazid preventive therapy among children with HIV in western Kenya

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the level and correlates of biomarker-confirmed adherence to isoniazid (INH) preventive therapy (IPT) among children with HIV (CLHIV).

DESIGN

This prospective cohort study assessed adherence among CLHIV on IPT in public sector HIV clinics from 2019 through 2020.

METHODS

Adherence was assessed by pill counts or caregiver or self-reports, and urine biomarkers (in-house dipstick and Isoscreen). Both urine biomarker tests detect INH metabolites within 48 h of ingestion. Consistent adherence was defined as having positive results on either biomarker at all visits. Correlates of biomarker-confirmed nonadherence at each visit were evaluated using generalized estimating equations. The in-house dipstick was validated using Isoscreen as the reference.

RESULTS

Among 97 CLHIV on IPT with adherence assessments, median age was 10 years (IQR 7-13). All were on ART at IPT initiation (median duration 46 months [IQR 4-89]); 81% were virally suppressed (<1000 copies/ml). At all visits, 59% ( n  = 57) of CLHIV reported taking at least 80% of their doses, while 39% ( n  = 38) had biomarker-confirmed adherence. Viral nonsuppression (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] = 1.65; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.09-2.49) and the sixth month of IPT use (aRR = 2.49; 95% CI 1.34-4.65) were independent correlates of biomarker-confirmed nonadherence at each visit. Sensitivity and specificity of the in-house dipstick were 98.1% ( 94.7 - 99.6%) and 94.7% ( 88.1 - 98.3%) , respectively, versus Isoscreen.

CONCLUSION

Biomarker-confirmed adherence to IPT was sub-optimal and was associated with viral nonsuppression and duration of IPT. Urine dipstick testing may be useful in assessing adherence to IPT in clinical care.

The hard part we often forget: providing care to children and adolescents with advanced HIV disease

INTRODUCTION

Many children and adolescents living with HIV still present with severe immunosuppression with morbidity and mortality remaining high in those starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) when hospitalized.

DISCUSSION

The major causes of morbidity and mortality in children living with HIV are pneumonia, tuberculosis, bloodstream infections, diarrhoeal disease and severe acute malnutrition. In contrast to adults, cryptococcal meningitis is rare in children under 5 years of age but increases in adolescence. In 2021, the World Health Organizations (WHO) consolidated guidelines for managing HIV disease and rapid ART included recommendations for children and adolescents. In addition, a WHO technical brief released in 2020 highlighted the various interventions that are specifically related to children and adolescents with advanced HIV disease (AHD). We discuss the common clinical presentations of children and adolescents with AHD with a focus on diagnosis, prevention and treatment, highlight some of the challenges in the implementation of the existing package of care, and emphasize the importance of additional research to address the needs of children and adolescents with AHD.

CONCLUSIONS

There are limited data informing these recommendations and an urgent need for further research on how to implement optimal strategies to ensure tailored approaches to prevent and treat AHD in children and adolescents. Holistic care that goes beyond a simple choice of ART regimen should be provided to all children and adolescents with AHD.

Bacterial Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Respiratory Specimens of Children with Pneumonia in Hainan, China

Purpose

To investigate the bacterial species and antimicrobial susceptibility of respiratory specimens of children with pneumonia in Hainan, China.

Methods

A total of 5017 specimens, including 4986 sputum samples, 19 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples and 12 tracheal tube tip samples from hospitalized children with pneumonia from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022 were studied. All the bacterial isolates were identified and confirmed with the VITEK 2 system. Antimicrobial susceptibility of all isolates was determined using the Kirby-Bauer method or the VITEK 2 Compact automatic system, following the breakpoints recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.

Results

A total of 996 bacterial isolates were collected and classified into 24 species. The top 10 most frequent species were Haemophilus influenzae (356 isolates, 35.7%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (128, 12.9%), Moraxella catarrhalis (114, 11.5%), Escherichia coli (89, 8.9%), Staphylococcus aureus (89, 8.9%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (82, 8.2%), Acinetobacter baumannii (31, 3.1%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (28, 2.8%), Enterobacter cloacae (18, 1.8%), and Streptococcus agalactiae (13, 1.3%). 70.5% strains had the resistant (R) and/or intermediate (I) phenotypes to at least one of the tested drugs, with a large proportion (54.6%) showing resistance to two or more commonly used antibiotics. In addition, 60.5% (69/114) of M. catarrhalis strains and 42.9% (153/356) of H. influenzae strains produced β-lactamases while 19.1% (17/89) E. coli and 6.1% (5/82) K. pneumoniae strains produced extended-spectrum β-lactamases.

Conclusion

A diversity of pathogenic bacteria were isolated from the respiratory tract of children with pneumonia in Hainan, China. High-frequency resistance to first-line antimicrobial drugs was observed in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including 544 isolates resistant to at least two antibiotics. Rapid identification and susceptibility testing should be implemented for children with bacterial pneumonia in Hainan before drug treatment is recommended.

The dilemma of improving rational antibiotic use in pediatric community-acquired pneumonia

Pneumonia is the number one cause of disease and deaths in children under five years old, outside the neonatal period, with the greatest number of cases reported from resource-limited settings. The etiology is variable, with not much information on the local etiology drug resistance profile in many countries. Recent studies suggest an increasing contribution from respiratory viruses, also in children with severe pneumonia, with an increased relative contribution in settings that have good vaccine coverage against common bacterial pathogens. Respiratory virus circulation was greatly reduced during highly restrictive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 but rebounded once COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed. We conducted a comprehensive literature review of the disease burden, pathogens, case management and current available prevention of community acquired childhood pneumonia, with a focus on rational antibiotic use, since the treatment of respiratory infections is the leading cause of antibiotic use in children. Consistent application of revised World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance that children presenting with coryzal symptoms or wheeze can be managed without antibiotics in the absence of fever, will help to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, as will increased availability and use of bedside inflammatory marker tests, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) in children with respiratory symptoms and fever.

Incidental Tuberculosis in sudden, unexpected, and violent deaths in the community Lusaka, Zambia - A descriptive forensic post-mortem examination study

OBJECTIVES

Tuberculosis remains a global emergency. In Zambia only 55% of tuberculosis cases are diagnosed. We performed a study to determine incidental cases of tuberculosis seen at forensic autopsy of individuals who died suddenly and unexpectedly in the community in Lusaka, Zambia.

METHODS

Whole-body autopsies were performed according to Standard Operating Procedures. Representative samples obtained from relevant organs were subjected to pathological examination. Information on circumstances surrounding the death was obtained. Data on patient demographics, gross and microscopic pathological findings, and cause(s) of death were analysed.

RESULTS

Incidental tuberculosis was found in 52 cases (45 male, 7 female, age range 14-66) out of 4286 whole-body autopsies. 41/52 (80%) were aged 21-50 years. One was a 14-year old boy who died during a football match. 39/52 (75%) deaths were attributable specifically to tuberculosis only. Other deaths were due to acute alcohol intoxication(4), violence(7), ruptured ectopic pregnancy(1), bacterial meningitis (1). All the cases were from poor socio-economic backgrounds and lived in high-density areas of Lusaka.

CONCLUSIONS

Incidental cases of active tuberculosis undiagnosed antemortem seen at forensic autopsy reflects major gaps in the national TB control programs. More investments into proactive screening, testing, treatment activities, and accurate data collection are required.

A systematic review of clinical, epidemiological and demographic predictors of tuberculosis in children with pneumonia

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) can present as acute, severe pneumonia in children, but features which distinguish TB from other causes of pneumonia are not well understood. We conducted a systematic review to determine the prevalence and to explore clinical and demographic predictors of TB in children presenting with pneumonia over three decades.

Methods

We searched for peer-reviewed, English language studies published between 1990 and 2020 that included children aged between 1 month and 17 years with pneumonia and prospectively evaluated for TB. There were 895 abstracts and titles screened, and 72 full text articles assessed for eligibility.

Results

Thirteen clinical studies, two autopsy studies and one systematic review were included in analyses. Majority of studies were from Africa (12/15) and included children less than five years age. Prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed TB in children with pneumonia ranged from 0.2% to 14.8% (median = 3.7%, interquartile range (IQR) = 5.95) and remained stable over the three decades. TB may be more likely in children with pneumonia if they have a history of close TB contact, HIV infection, malnutrition, age less than one year or failure to respond to empirical antibiotics. However, these features have limited discriminatory value as TB commonly presents as acute severe pneumonia – with a short duration of cough, and clinical and radiographic features indistinguishable from other causes of pneumonia. Approximately half of patients with TB respond to initial empirical antibiotics, presumably due to bacterial co-infection, and follow-up may be critical to detect and treat TB.

Conclusion

TB should be considered as a potential cause or comorbidity in all children presenting with pneumonia in high burden settings. Clinicians should be alert to the presence of known risk factors for TB and bacteriological confirmation sought whenever possible. Quality data regarding clinical predictors of TB in childhood pneumonia are lacking. Further, prospective research is needed to better understand predictors and prevalence of TB in childhood pneumonia, particularly in TB endemic settings outside of Africa and in older children. Children of all ages with pneumonia should be included in research on improved, point-of-care TB diagnostics to support early case detection and treatment.

Drop-offs in the isoniazid preventive therapy cascade among children living with HIV in western Kenya, 2015-2019

INTRODUCTION

Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) can reduce the risk of tuberculosis (TB) in children living with HIV (CLHIV), but data on the outcomes of the IPT cascade in CLHIV are limited.

METHODS

We evaluated the IPT cascade among CLHIV aged <15 years and newly enrolled in HIV care in eight HIV clinics in western Kenya. Medical record data were abstracted from September 2015 through July 2019. We assessed the proportion of CLHIV completing TB symptom screening, IPT eligibility assessment, IPT initiation and completion. TB incidence rate was calculated stratified by IPT initiation and completion status. Risk factors for IPT non-initiation and non-completion were assessed using Poisson regression with generalized linear models.

RESULTS

Overall, 856 CLHIV were newly enrolled in HIV care, of whom 98% ([95% CI 97-99]; n = 841) underwent screening for TB symptoms and IPT eligibility. Of these, 13 (2%; 95% CI 1-3) were ineligible due to active TB and 828 (98%; 95% CI 97-99) were eligible. Five hundred and fifty-nine (68%; 95% CI 64-71) of eligible CLHIV initiated IPT; median time to IPT initiation was 3.6 months (interquartile range [IQR] 0.5-10.2). Overall, 434 (78%; 95% CI 74-81) IPT initiators completed. Attending high-volume HIV clinics (aRR = 2.82; 95% CI 1.20-6.62) was independently associated with IPT non-initiation. IPT non-initiation had a trend of being higher among those enrolled in the period 2017-2019 versus 2015-2016 (aRR = 1.91; 0.98-3.73) and those who were HIV virally non-suppressed (aRR = 1.90; 95% CI 0.98-3.71). Being enrolled in 2017-2019 versus 2015-2016 (aRR = 1.40; 1.01-1.96) was independently associated with IPT non-completion. By 24 months after IPT screening, TB incidence was four-fold higher among eligible CLHIV who never initiated (8.1 per 1000 person years [PY]) compared to CLHIV who completed IPT (2.1 per 1000 PY; rate ratio [RR] = 3.85; 95% CI 1.08-17.15), with a similar trend among CLHIV who initiated but did not complete IPT (8.2/1000 PY; RR = 4.39; 95% CI 0.82-23.56).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite high screening for eligibility, timely IPT initiation and completion were suboptimal among eligible CLHIV in this programmatic cohort. Targeted programmatic interventions are needed to address these drop-offs from the IPT cascade by ensuring timely IPT initiation after ruling out active TB and enhancing completion of the 6-month course to reduce TB in CLHIV.

Empirical treatment against cytomegalovirus and tuberculosis in HIV-infected infants with severe pneumonia: study protocol for a multicenter, open-label randomized controlled clinical trial

Background

Pneumonia is the primary cause of death among HIV-infected children in Africa, with mortality rates as high as 35–40% in infants hospitalized with severe pneumonia. Bacterial pathogens and Pneumocystis jirovecii are well known causes of pneumonia-related death, but other important causes such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and tuberculosis (TB) remain under-recognized and undertreated.

The immune response elicited by CMV may be associated with the risk of developing TB and TB disease progression, and CMV may accelerate disease caused both by HIV and TB. Minimally invasive autopsies confirm that CMV and TB are unrecognized causes of death in children with HIV. CMV and TB may also co-infect the same child.

The aim of this study is to compare the impact on 15-day and 1-year mortality of empirical treatment against TB and CMV plus standard of care (SoC) versus SoC in HIV-infected infants with severe pneumonia.

Methods

This is a Phase II-III, open-label randomized factorial (2 × 2) clinical trial, conducted in six African countries. The trial has four arms. Infants from 28 to 365 days of age HIV-infected and hospitalized with severe pneumonia will be randomized (1:1:1:1) to (i) SoC, (ii) valganciclovir, (iii) TB-T, and (iv) TB-T plus valganciclovir. The primary endpoint of the study is all-cause mortality, focusing on the short-term (up to 15 days) and long-term (up to 1 year) mortality. Secondary endpoints include repeat hospitalization, duration of oxygen therapy during initial admission, severe and notable adverse events, adverse reactions, CMV and TB prevalence at enrolment, TB incidence, CMV viral load reduction, and evaluation of diagnostic tests such as GeneXpert Ultra on fecal and nasopharyngeal aspirate samples and urine TB-LAM.

Discussion

Given the challenges in diagnosing CMV and TB in children and results from previous autopsy studies that show high rates of poly-infection in HIV-infected infants with respiratory disease, this study aims to evaluate a new approach including empirical treatment of CMV and TB for this patient population. The potential downsides of empirical treatment of these conditions include toxicity and medication interactions, which will be evaluated with pharmacokinetics sub-studies.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03915366, Universal Trial Number U111-1231-4736, Pan African Clinical Trial Registry PACTR201994797961340.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-022-06203-1.

Priority Activities in Child and Adolescent Tuberculosis to Close the Policy-Practice Gap in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Over the past 15 years, and despite many difficulties, significant progress has been made to advance child and adolescent tuberculosis (TB) care. Despite increasing availability of safe and effective treatment and prevention options, TB remains a global health priority as a major cause of child and adolescent morbidity and mortality—over one and a half million children and adolescents develop TB each year. A history of the global public health perspective on child and adolescent TB is followed by 12 narratives detailing challenges and progress in 19 TB endemic low and middle-income countries. Overarching challenges include: under-detection and under-reporting of child and adolescent TB; poor implementation and reporting of contact investigation and TB preventive treatment services; the need for health systems strengthening to deliver effective, decentralized services; and lack of integration between TB programs and child health services. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant negative impact on case detection and treatment outcomes. Child and adolescent TB working groups can address country-specific challenges to close the policy–practice gaps by developing and supporting decentral ized models of care, strengthening clinical and laboratory diagnosis, including of multidrug-resistant TB, providing recommended options for treatment of disease and infection, and forging strong collaborations across relevant health sectors.

Cytomegalovirus pneumonia of infants in Africa: a narrative literature review

Cytomegalovirus pneumonia has repeatedly been described in the context of HIV-exposed uninfected and HIV-infected infants. Despite its significant role in the etiology of childhood pneumonia, there is still a paucity of literature generally, and specifically in Africa, suggesting that it might be a neglected disease. Emerging evidence highlights the importance of postnatal transmission through breastmilk. The pathogenetic significance of the multiplicity of strains acquired through repeated re-infections in early infancy is unknown. The development of cheap, accurate diagnostic tools and safe, effective antivirals and the maintenance of effective prevention and treatment of pediatric HIV are needed to manage cytomegalovirus pneumonia in low-resource settings.

The Etiology of Pneumonia in HIV-infected Zambian Children: Findings From the Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health (PERCH) Study

BACKGROUND

Despite recent declines in new pediatric HIV infections and childhood HIV-related deaths, pneumonia remains the leading cause of death in HIV-infected children under 5. We describe the patient population, etiology and outcomes of childhood pneumonia in Zambian HIV-infected children.

METHODS

As one of the 9 sites for the Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health study, we enrolled children 1-59 months of age presenting to University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, with World Health Organization-defined severe and very severe pneumonia. Controls frequency-matched on age group and HIV infection status were enrolled from the Lusaka Pediatric HIV Clinics as well as from the surrounding communities. Clinical assessments, chest radiographs (CXR; cases) and microbiologic samples (nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs, blood, urine, induced sputum) were obtained under highly standardized procedures. Etiology was estimated using Bayesian methods and accounted for imperfect sensitivity and specificity of measurements.

RESULTS

Of the 617 cases and 686 controls enrolled in Zambia over a 24-month period, 103 cases (16.7%) and 85 controls (12.4%) were HIV infected and included in this analysis. Among the HIV-infected cases, 75% were <1 year of age, 35% received prophylactic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 13.6% received antiretroviral therapy and 36.9% of caregivers reported knowing their children's HIV status at time of enrollment. A total of 35% of cases had very severe pneumonia and 56.3% had infiltrates on CXR. Bacterial pathogens [50.6%, credible interval (CrI): 32.8-67.2], Pneumocystis jirovecii (24.9%, CrI: 15.5-36.2) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (4.5%, CrI: 1.7-12.1) accounted for over 75% of the etiologic fraction among CXR-positive cases. Streptococcus pneumoniae (19.8%, CrI: 8.6-36.2) was the most common bacterial pathogen, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (12.7%, CrI: 0.0-25.9). Outcomes were poor, with 41 cases (39.8%) dying in hospital.

CONCLUSIONS

HIV-infected children in Zambia with severe and very severe pneumonia have poor outcomes, with continued limited access to care, and the predominant etiologies are bacterial pathogens, P. jirovecii and M. tuberculosis.

Spectrum of common Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphomas subtypes in Zambia: a 3-year records review

BACKGROUND

Lymphomas usually present with different occurrence patterns across different geographical locations, but their epidemiology in Zambia is yet to be extensively explored.

OBJECTIVES

To study the spectrum of lymphoma subtypes prevalent within the Zambian population.

METHODS

Histopathological records with suspected lymphoma at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka from the year 2014 to 2016, diagnosed based on the 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) criteria were reviewed. The analysis was done in terms of type, sex, age, and site of biopsy; and Fisher's exact test was used for significance testing.

RESULTS

During the study period (2014-2016), there were more B cell neoplasms {222 (92.5%)} than T cell neoplasms {18 (7.5%)}. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) was seen in 191 (79.6%) whereas classic Hodgkin's lymphoma (CHL) was seen in 39 (16.3%). Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) and diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) showed equal proportions {17.5% of all lymphoma cases (42/240) each}, as the most prevalent subtypes of NHL whereas marginal zone B cell lymphoma was the rarest subtype with 1.4% (4/240). For CHL, mixed cellularity and lymphocyte rich subtypes (4.6% of all lymphoma cases) were the most common subtypes. There was a statistically significant difference in the occurrences of lymphoma subtypes across different age categories (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Zambia has a diverse lymphoma subtypes population, affecting a relatively young population. The data from this study will serve as a baseline for improved health care provision and more robust future studies.

The Deep Learning LSTM and MTD Models Best Predict Acute Respiratory Infection among Under-Five-Year Old Children in Somaliland

The most effective techniques for predicting time series patterns include machine learning and classical time series methods. The aim of this study is to search for the best artificial intelligence and classical forecasting techniques that can predict the spread of acute respiratory infection (ARI) and pneumonia among under-five-year old children in Somaliland. The techniques used in the study include seasonal autoregressive integrated moving averages (SARIMA), mixture transitions distribution (MTD), and long short term memory (LSTM) deep learning. The data used in the study were monthly observations collected from five regions in Somaliland from 2011–2014. Prediction results from the three best competing models are compared by using root mean square error (RMSE) and absolute mean deviation (MAD) accuracy measures. Results have shown that the deep learning LSTM and MTD models slightly outperformed the classical SARIMA model in predicting ARI values.

Tuberculosis in persons with sudden unexpected death, in Cape Town, South Africa

BACKGROUND

Globally, tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the leading causes of death from a single infectious agent, but there has been little work to estimate mortality before the diagnosis of TB. We investigated the burden of diagnosed and undiagnosed TB in adult and child sudden unexpected deaths (SUDs) evaluated at Tygerberg Forensic Pathology Services, South Africa.

METHODS

In a retrospective descriptive study spanning 2016, we identified all SUDs where active TB was detected at post-mortem and matched with routine health service data to differentiate decedents who were diagnosed or undiagnosed with TB before death. A patient pathway analysis of the health service activities preceding SUD in adults with active TB was conducted.

RESULTS

Active TB was identified at post-mortem in 6.2% (48/770) of SUDs and was undiagnosed before death in 91.7% (44/48). The prevalence of active TB was 8.1% in adult SUDs (90.1% undiagnosed before SUD) and 1.8% in children (none diagnosed before SUD). Patient pathway analysis was possible for 15 adult SUDs, and this documented primary health care clinic attendances and hospital admissions in the six months preceding death and missed opportunities for TB investigations.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of TB among SUDs in the Eastern Metro of Cape Town is high. Most active TB at post-mortem was undiagnosed before death, and multiple missed opportunities for TB investigation and diagnosis were noted. The systematic evaluation of all SUDs for TB could improve the reporting of undiagnosed TB and support risk mitigation for healthcare workers involved with the post-mortem process.

The evolution of minimally invasive tissue sampling in postmortem examination: a narrative review

BACKGROUND

Because of low acceptance rates and limited capacity, complete diagnostic autopsies (CDAs) are seldom conducted in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). There have been growing investments in less-invasive postmortem examination methodologies, including needle-based autopsy, known as minimally invasive autopsy or minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS). MITS has been shown to be a feasible and informative alternative to CDA for cause of death investigation and mortality surveillance purposes.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this narrative review is to describe historical use and evolution of needle-based postmortem procedures as a tool to ascertain the cause of death, especially in LMICs.

METHODS

Key word searches were conducted in PubMed and EBSCO in 2018 and 2019. Abstracts were reviewed against inclusion and exclusion criteria. Full publications were reviewed for those abstracts meeting inclusion criteria and a start set was established. A snowball search methodology was used and references for all publications meeting inclusion criteria were manually reviewed until saturation was reached.

RESULTS

A total of 1,177 publications were initially screened. Following an iterative review of references, 79 publications were included in this review. Twenty-nine studies, published between 1955 and 2019, included MITS as part of postmortem examination. Of the publications included, 76% (60/79) have publication dates after 2010. More than 60% of all publications included addressed MITS in LMICs, and a total of nine publications compared MITS with CDA.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there is evidence of less-invasive postmortem sampling starting in the 1800s, more structured needle-based postmortem examination publications started to appear in the mid-twentieth century. Early studies were mostly conducted in high-income countries but starting in 2010 the number of publications began to increase, and a growing number of studies were conducted in LMICs. Initial studies in LMICs were disease-specific but since 2015 have evolved to include more expansive postmortem examination.

Tuberculosis symptom screening for children and adolescents living with HIV in six high HIV/TB burden countries in Africa

OBJECTIVES

The WHO recommends that children and adolescents living with HIV (CALHIV) complete TB symptom screening at every clinical encounter but evidence supporting this recommendation is limited. We evaluated the performance of the recommended TB symptom screening in six high-burden TB/HIV countries.

DESIGN

Retrospective longitudinal cohort.

METHODS

We extracted data from electronic medical records of CALHIV receiving care from clinics in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda from January 2014 to June 2017. We defined incident TB cases as those prescribed TB treatment within 30 days of TB diagnosis. We analyzed the most recent symptom screen preceding a TB diagnosis. In accordance with WHO guidelines, positive screens were defined as current fever, cough, poor weight gain, or recent TB contact. Odds of TB disease was modeled by screen result and age at which screening was conducted.

RESULTS

Twenty thousand seven hundred and six patients collectively had 316 740 clinic visits, of which 240 161 (75.8%) had documented TB symptom screens. There were 35 701 (14.9%) positive TB symptom screens, and 1212 incident TB diagnoses. Sensitivity and specificity of the TB symptom screen to diagnose TB were 61.2% (95% CI 58.4--64.0) and 88.8% (95% CI 88.7--88.9), respectively. Log odds of documented TB for positive or negative screens was statistically different only for screens conducted at ages 7--17.

CONCLUSION

Although specificity was high, the sensitivity of the TB symptom screen to detect TB in CALHIV was low. More accurate screening approaches are needed to optimally identify TB disease in CALHIV.

Conceptual frameworks for understanding the acceptability and feasibility of the minimally invasive autopsy to determine cause of death: Findings from the CADMIA Study in western Kenya

Establishing the cause of death (CoD) is critical to better understanding health and prioritizing health investments, however the use of full post-mortem examination is rare in most low and middle-income counties for multiple reasons. The use of minimally invasive autopsy (MIA) approaches, such as needle biopsies, presents an alternate means to assess CoD. In order to understand the feasibility and acceptability of MIA among communities in western Kenya, we conducted focus groups and in-depth interviews with next-of-kin of recently deceased persons, community leaders and health care workers in Siaya and Kisumu counties. Results suggest two conceptual framework can be drawn, one with facilitating factors for acceptance of MIA due to the ability to satisfy immediate needs related to interest in learning CoD or protecting social status and honoring the deceased), and one framework covering barriers to acceptance of MIA, for reasons relating to the failure to serve an existing need, and/or the exacerbation of an already difficult time.

Agreement between the Clinical and Autopsy Results of Children Who Died with Pneumonia in Pediatric Intensive Care

This study aimed to measure the agreement between the clinical and anatomopathological results of children who died with pneumonia from two pediatric intensive care units. Pediatric patients chosen were those who died between January 2008 and December 2015. The agreement was tested with Kappa. A total of 111 autopsies were included. Upon autopsy, 58 had pneumonia, 33 had it clinically and pathologically, 24 only clinically, and one only in autopsy. The Kappa agreement was 0.5 (95% confidence interval of 0.4 to 0.7). The level of agreement between the clinic and the autopsy is moderate. However, the consistency in cases of clinical pneumonia is low.

Pathology and Telepathology Methods in the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance Network

This manuscript describes the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) network approach to pathologic evaluation of minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) specimens, including guidelines for histopathologic examination and further diagnostics with special stains, immunohistochemistry, and molecular testing, as performed at the CHAMPS Central Pathology Laboratory (CPL) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as techniques for virtual discussion of these cases (telepathology) with CHAMPS surveillance locations. Based on review of MITS from the early phase of CHAMPS, the CPL has developed standardized histopathology-based algorithms for achieving diagnoses from MITS and telepathology procedures in conjunction with the CHAMPS sites, with the use of whole slide scanners and digital image archives, for maximizing concurrence and knowledge sharing between site and CPL pathologists. These algorithms and procedures, along with lessons learned from initial implementation of these approaches, guide pathologists at the CPL and CHAMPS sites through standardized diagnostics of MITS cases, and allow for productive, real-time case discussions and consultations.

Using community health workers for facility and community based TB case finding: An evaluation in central Mozambique

BACKGROUND

Mozambique has one of the highest incidence rates of both TB and HIV in the world and an estimated tuberculosis (TB) treatment coverage of only 57% in 2018. Numerous approaches are being tested to reduce existing gaps in coverage and the estimated number of missing cases.

METHODS

Thirty Community Healthcare Workers (CHWs) were tasked with increasing TB notifications by performing verbal facility-based TB screening of all people presenting for care and TB contact tracing in the community. Using routine National TB Program data, we analyzed trends in TB notifications in five intervention districts and seven control districts in Manica province the year before this project and during a one-year intervention period.

RESULTS

In the four quarters before the study, the intervention districts notified 5,219 individuals with all forms of TB, and the control districts notified 2,248 TB cases. During the study 5,982 all forms of people with TB were notified in the intervention area, an increase of 763 (14.6%) over the baseline, whereas the control districts notified 1,877 persons with TB, a decrease of -371 (-16.5%). The CHW screening activities yielded 1,502 notified and treated individuals with TB.

CONCLUSIONS

Employing CHWs to promote facility-based TB screening and household contact tracing may lead to an overall increase in TB notification.

The Incidence of Tuberculosis in Infants, Siaya District, Western Kenya

BACKGROUND

Infants are a target population for new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines. TB incidence estimates are needed to guide the design of trials. To determine the TB incidence and cohort retention among young children using comprehensive diagnostic methods in a high burden area.

METHODS

Infants 0-42 days were enrolled. Through 4 monthly follow-up and unscheduled (sick) visits up to the age of 2 years, infants with presumptive TB based on a history of contact, TB symptoms or pre-determined hospitalization criteria were admitted to a case verification ward. Two induced sputa and gastric aspirates were collected for culture and GeneXpert. Mantoux and HIV tests were done. Clinical management was based on the Keith Edwards score. Cases were classified into microbiologically confirmed or radiologic, diagnosed by blinded expert assessment. Cox regression was used to identify risk factors for incident TB and study retention.

RESULTS

Of 2900 infants enrolled, 927 (32%) developed presumptive TB, 737/927 (80%) were investigated. Sixty-nine TB cases were diagnosed (bacteriologic and radiologic). All TB incidence was 2/100 person-years of observation (pyo) (95% CI: 1.65-2.65). Nine were bacteriologic cases, incidence 0.3/100 pyo. The radiologic TB incidence was 1.82/100 pyo. Bacteriologic TB was associated with infant HIV infection, higher Keith Edwards scores. Completeness of 4-month vaccinations and HIV infection were positively associated with retention.

CONCLUSIONS

TB incidence was high. An all TB endpoint would require a sample size of a few thousand children, but tens of thousands, when limited to bacteriologic TB.

Priorities for Decreasing Morbidity and Mortality in Children With Advanced HIV Disease

Early mortality and morbidity remain high in children initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART), especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Many children still present with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. Tuberculosis, pneumonia, and severe bacterial infections are the main causes of hospital admission in HIV-infected children. In contrast to adults with advanced HIV disease, cryptococcal disease is not common in childhood, although there is a peak in infancy and adolescence. Interventions such as TB screening in symptomatic children, and isoniazid and cotrimoxazole prophylaxis should be implemented. There is evidence suggesting that rapid initiation (within 1 week) of ART in children with severe malnutrition or those with advanced HIV disease admitted to hospital is not beneficial and should be delayed until their condition has been stabilized. Research informing the prevention of severe bacterial infections, the management of pediatric immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, and other potential strategies to decrease morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected children are urgently needed.

AIDS-defining causes of death from autopsy findings for HIV-positive individuals in sub-Saharan Africa in the pre- and post-ART era: A systematic review and meta-analyses

Background: The lack of representative data on causes of death in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) hampers our understanding of the regional burden of HIV and impact of interventions. In spite of the roll-out of antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs, HIV-infected individuals are still dying from complications of AIDS in SSA. We reviewed autopsy findings in SSA to observe whether the prevalence of 14 AIDS-defining illnesses changed from the pre-ART era to the post-ART era. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of autopsy findings in SSA using Medline, CINAHL, Evidence Based Medicine, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and abstracts from the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, for literature published between January 1, 1990 and September 30, 2018. We focused on 14 AIDS-defining illnesses as causes of death. Results: In total, 33 studies were identified, including 9 from South Africa, 4 from the Ivory Coast, and the rest from eastern regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Of these, 18 studies were included in the meta-analyses for each of the AIDS-defining illnesses for adults. A ‘mixed group’ of studies that included adults and children was used for separate meta-analyses. Most opportunistic infections (OIs) showed a decrease in prevalence, with the notable exception of tuberculosis (TB), which showed a 13% increase in adult deaths and a 5% increase in mixed population group deaths. Kaposi’s sarcoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma both showed a notable increase in prevalence, and liver disease showed a 10% increase in prevalence in the adult group. Conclusions: Even though ART has reduced the contribution of OIs to causes of death for people infected with HIV in SSA, targeted and strategic efforts are needed in order to strengthen existing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of TB. More research is required to understand the complex role ARTs have on liver and kidney diseases.

Examining the Complex Relationship Between Tuberculosis and Other Infectious Diseases in Children

Millions of children are exposed to tuberculosis (TB) each year, many of which become infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Most children can immunologically contain or eradicate the organism without pathology developing. However, in a minority, the organism overcomes the immunological constraints, proliferates and causes TB disease. Each year a million children develop TB disease, with a quarter dying. While it is known that young children and those with immunodeficiencies are at increased risk of progression from TB infection to TB disease, our understanding of risk factors for this transition is limited. The most immunologically disruptive process that can happen during childhood is infection with another pathogen and yet the impact of co-infections on TB risk is poorly investigated. Many diseases have overlapping geographical distributions to TB and affect similar patient populations. It is therefore likely that infection with viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa may impact on the risk of developing TB disease following exposure and infection, although disentangling correlation and causation is challenging. As vaccinations also disrupt immunological pathways, these may also impact on TB risk. In this article we describe the pediatric immune response to M. tuberculosis and then review the existing evidence of the impact of co-infection with other pathogens, as well as vaccination, on the host response to M. tuberculosis. We focus on the impact of other organisms on the risk of TB disease in children, in particularly evaluating if co-infections drive host immune responses in an age-dependent way. We finally propose priorities for future research in this field. An improved understanding of the impact of co-infections on TB could assist in TB control strategies, vaccine development (for TB vaccines or vaccines for other organisms), TB treatment approaches and TB diagnostics.

Brief Report: Cofactors of Mortality Among Hospitalized HIV-Infected Children Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy in Kenya

OBJECTIVES

Identifying factors associated with mortality among acutely ill HIV-infected children presenting with advanced HIV disease may help clinicians optimize care for those at highest risk of death.

DESIGN

Using data from a randomized controlled trial (NCT02063880), we determined baseline sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory cofactors of mortality among HIV-infected children in Kenya.

METHODS

We enrolled hospitalized, HIV-infected, antiretroviral therapy-naive children (0-12 years), initiated antiretroviral therapy, and followed up them for 6 months. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for death and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Of 181 enrolled children, 39 (22%) died. Common diagnoses at death were pneumonia or suspected pulmonary tuberculosis [23 (59%)] and gastroenteritis [7 (18%)]. Factors associated with mortality in univariate analysis included age <2 years [HR 3.08 (95% CI: 1.50 to 6.33)], orphaned or vulnerable child (OVC) [HR 2.05 (95% CI: 1.09 to 3.84)], weight-for-age Z score <-2 [HR 2.29 (95% CI: 1.05 to 5.00)], diagnosis of pneumonia with hypoxia [HR 5.25 (95% CI: 2.00 to 13.84)], oral thrush [HR 2.17 (95% CI: 1.15 to 4.09)], persistent diarrhea [HR 3.81 (95% CI: 1.89 to 7.69)], and higher log10 HIV-1 viral load [HR 2.16 (95% CI: 1.35 to 3.46)] (all P < 0.05). In multivariable analysis, age <2 years and OVC status remained significantly associated with mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Young age and OVC status independently predicted mortality. Hypoxic pneumonia, oral thrush, and persistent diarrhea are important clinical features that predict mortality. Strategies to enhance early diagnosis in children and improve hospital management of critically ill HIV-infected children are needed.

Current antimicrobial management of community-acquired pneumonia in HIV-infected children

INTRODUCTION

Community-acquired pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality amongst HIV-infected infants and children. Polymicrobial infection is common and, due to the difficulties in confirming the etiology of pneumonia, empiric broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy is frequently used.

AREAS COVERED

The author based this article on literature identified from PubMed. The author's search terms included: pneumonia, community-acquired pneumonia, HIV, children. The articles reviewed included original studies, recent review articles and current guidelines on the management of pneumonia in HIV-infected children. The microbiological etiology and the empiric and pathogen-specific antimicrobial therapy of community-acquired pneumonia in HIV-infected and HIV-exposed infants and children are also discussed.

EXPERT OPINION

There are many changing epidemiological factors impacting antimicrobial management of community-acquired pneumonia in the context of HIV infection in infants and children. These include vaccination strategies, antimicrobial prophylaxis, emerging drug-resistant pathogens, and recognition of the importance of viruses and tuberculosis in the etiology of community-acquired pneumonia. Further research is needed on optimal amtimicrobial management strategies in HIV-exposed uninfected children, and HIV-infected children receiving antiretroviral therapy.

Determining the Cause of Death Among Children Hospitalized With Respiratory Illness in Kenya: Protocol for Pediatric Respiratory Etiology Surveillance Study (PRESS)

BACKGROUND

In sub-Saharan Africa, where the burden of respiratory disease-related deaths is the highest, information on the cause of death remains inadequate because of poor access to health care and limited availability of diagnostic tools. Postmortem examination can aid in the ascertainment of causes of death. This manuscript describes the study protocol for the Pediatric Respiratory Etiology Surveillance Study (PRESS).

OBJECTIVE

This study protocol aims to identify causes and etiologies associated with respiratory disease-related deaths among children (age 1-59 months) with respiratory illness admitted to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), the largest public hospital in Kenya, through postmortem examination coupled with innovative approaches to laboratory investigation.

METHODS

We prospectively followed children hospitalized with respiratory illness until the end of clinical care or death. In case of death, parents or guardians were offered grief counseling, and postmortem examination was offered. Lung tissue specimens were collected using minimally invasive tissue sampling and conventional autopsy where other tissues were collected. Tissues were tested using histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and multipathogen molecular-based assays to identify pathogens. For each case, clinical and laboratory data were reviewed by a team of pathologists, clinicians, laboratorians, and epidemiologists to assign a cause of and etiology associated with death.

RESULTS

We have enrolled pediatric cases of respiratory illness hospitalized at the KNH at the time of this submission; of those, 14.8% (140/945) died while in the hospital. Both analysis and interpretation of laboratory results and writing up of findings are expected in 2019-2020.

CONCLUSIONS

Postmortem studies can help identify major pathogens contributing to respiratory-associated deaths in children. This information is needed to develop evidence-based prevention and treatment policies that target important causes of pediatric respiratory mortality and assist with the prioritization of local resources. Furthermore, PRESS can provide insights into the interpretation of results using multipathogen testing platforms in resource-limited settings.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/10854.

Cytomegalovirus Disease in HIV-infected Children-A Single-Centre Clinical Experience over 23 Years

BACKGROUND

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) results in significant morbidity and mortality in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected individuals. There is paucity of literature on paediatric CMV disease, especially from developing countries.

METHODS

A retrospective review of records of all HIV-infected children with evidence of CMV disease was done.

RESULTS

A total of 15 children were found to have CMV disease (retinitis in all, pneumonia in two and invasive gastrointestinal disease in one). Median CD4+ T cell count and percentage at diagnosis of CMV disease was 64.5 cells/µl and 3.6%, respectively. Intravenous ganciclovir was used in patients with active CMV disease. Of the 15 children, three died while two were lost to follow-up. Symptomatic patients had poor visual outcome and almost all children who were diagnosed on active screening attained normal vision.

CONCLUSION

Retinitis is the most common CMV disease in HIV-infected children. Early detection by active screening and initiation of systemic ganciclovir reduces the morbidity.

Perspectives for personalized therapy for patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tuberculosis is the leading cause of death attributed to a single microbial pathogen worldwide. In addition to the large number of patients affected by tuberculosis, the emergence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug-resistance is complicating tuberculosis control in many high-burden countries. During the past 5 years, the global number of patients identified with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), defined as bacillary resistance at least against rifampicin and isoniazid, the two most active drugs in a treatment regimen, has increased by more than 20% annually. Today we experience a historical peak in the number of patients affected by MDR-TB. The management of MDR-TB is characterized by delayed diagnosis, uncertainty of the extent of bacillary drug-resistance, imprecise standardized drug regimens and dosages, very long duration of therapy and high frequency of adverse events which all translate into a poor prognosis for many of the affected patients. Major scientific and technological advances in recent years provide new perspectives through treatment regimens tailor-made to individual needs. Where available, such personalized treatment has major implications on the treatment outcomes of patients with MDR-TB. The challenge now is to bring these adances to those patients that need them most.

Childhood Tuberculosis in Nigeria: Disease Presentation and Treatment Outcomes

Objectives

Understanding the factors that influence tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes in children is key to designing interventions to address them. This study aimed to determine the case category distribution of childhood TB in Nigeria and assess which clinical and demographic factors are associated with different treatment outcomes in childhood TB.

Materials and methods

This was a retrospective cohort study involving a review of medical records of children (0-14 years) with TB in 3 states in Nigeria in 2015.

Results

Of 724 childhood TB cases registered during the review period, 220 (30.4%) were aged 0-4 years. A high proportion of patients had pulmonary TB 420/724 (58.0%), new TB infection 713/724 (98.5%), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection 108/724 (14.7%). About 28% (n = 201) were bacteriologically diagnosed. The proportion of TB treatment success was 601/724 (83.0%). Treatment success was significantly higher in children aged 5-14 years than those 0-4 years (85.3% vs 77.7%, P = .01). Factors associated with unsuccessful outcomes in patients aged 0-4 years are male sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.2), HIV-positive status (aOR: 1.2), and clinical method of diagnosis (aOR: 5.6).

Conclusions

Efforts should be made to improve TB treatment outcomes in children by ensuring early and accurate diagnosis, focused training of health workers on childhood TB-HIV care, and effective adherence counseling of caregivers.

Burden of disease and risk factors for death among children treated for tuberculosis in Malawi

SETTING

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of childhood death. Patient-level data on pediatric TB in Malawi that can be used to guide programmatic interventions are limited.

OBJECTIVE

To describe pediatric TB case burden, disease patterns, treatment outcomes, and risk factors for death and poor outcome.

DESIGN

We conducted a retrospective cohort study utilizing routine data. Odds ratios (ORs) for factors associated with poor outcome and death were calculated using generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS

Children represented 8% (371/4642) of TB diagnoses. The median age was 7 years (interquartile range 2.8-11); 32.8% (113/345) were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected. Of these, 54.0% were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the time of anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT) initiation, 21.2% started ART during ATT, and 24.8% had no documented ART. The treatment success rate was 77.3% (11.2% cured, 66.1% completed treatment), with 22.7% experiencing poor outcomes (9.5% died, 13.2% were lost to follow-up). Being on ART at the time of ATT initiation was associated with increased odds of death compared to beginning ART during treatment (adjusted OR 2.75, 95%CI 1.27-5.96).

CONCLUSION

Children represent a small proportion of diagnosed TB cases and experience poor outcomes. Higher odds of death among children already on ART raises concerns over the management of these children. Further discussion of and research into pediatric-specific strategies is required to improve case finding and outcomes.

Stool Xpert MTB/RIF and urine lipoarabinomannan for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in hospitalized HIV-infected children

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) causes substantial morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected children. Sample collection and the paucibacillary nature of TB in children makes diagnosis challenging. Rapid diagnostic tools using easily obtained specimens are urgently needed.

METHODS

Hospitalized, HIV-infected children aged 12 years or less enrolled in a randomized controlled trial (NCT02063880) comparing urgent to post-stabilization antiretroviral therapy initiation in Kenya underwent TB evaluation. At enrollment, sputum or gastric aspirates were collected for TB culture and Xpert, stool for Xpert, and urine for lipoarabinomannan (LAM). When possible, a second sputum/gastric aspirate for culture was obtained. Stool Xpert and urine LAM performance were compared to reference sputum/gastric aspirate culture.

RESULTS

Among 165 HIV-infected children, median age was 24 months [interquartile range (IQR) 13-58], median CD4% was 14.3 (IQR 8.9-22.0%), and 114 (69.5%) had severe immunosuppression. Thirteen (7.9%) children had confirmed TB (positive culture and/or Xpert). Sputum/gastric aspirate Xpert, stool Xpert, and urine LAM sensitivities were 60% [95% confidence interval (CI) 26-88%], 63% (95% CI 25-92%), and 43% (95% CI 10-82%), respectively. Specificity was 98% (95% CI 94-100%) for sputum/gastric aspirate Xpert, 99% (95% CI 95-100%) for stool Xpert, and 91% (95% CI 84-95%) for urine LAM. Stool Xpert and urine LAM sensitivity increased among children with severe immunosuppression [80% (95% CI 28-100) and 60% (95% Cl 15-95%)].

CONCLUSION

Stool Xpert had similar performance compared with sputum/gastric aspirate Xpert to detect TB. Urine LAM had lower sensitivity and specificity, but increased among children with severe immunosuppression. Stool Xpert and urine LAM can aid rapid detection of TB in HIV-infected children using easily accessible samples.

The Effect of Detectable HIV Viral Load among HIV-Infected Children during Antiretroviral Treatment: A Cross-Sectional Study

The RNA viral load of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is initially used to determine the status of the HIV infection. The goal of therapy following treatment failure is to achieve and maintain virologic suppression. A detectable viral load may relate to the progression of HIV infection. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January 2013 to December 2014 at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute, Thailand. The aim was to determine the prevalence of detectable HIV viral load (dVL) and analyze the factors associated with post-dVL conditions that occur independently of a switch to a new antiretroviral agent. The prevalence of dVL was 27% (27 of 101). The mean ages of dVL and non-dVL children were 12.0 and 12.3 years, respectively. Age, sex, body mass index for age z-scores, previous tuberculosis disease history and parental tuberculosis history of both groups were not significantly different (p > 0.05). The prevalence of poor adherence (<95%), influenza-like illness (ILI) and opportunistic infections were higher in dVL than non-dVL children (p < 0.05). The mean nadir CD4 cell count during the study was lower in dVL than non-dVL children (646 compared to 867, respectively; p < 0.05). Other factors were not significant (all p > 0.05). In multivariable analysis, dVL was significantly associated with ILI (odds ratio (OR) = 9.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3–69.4), adherence (OR = 0.195, 95% CI = 0.047–0.811) and nadir CD4 during the study (OR = 1.102, 95% CI = 1.100–1.305). The prevalence of dVL was 27% with this dVL among HIV-infected children found to be associated with ILI, poor adherence and lower nadir CD4 during the study.

Trend and outcome of notified children with tuberculosis during 2011-2015 in Kampala, Uganda

Background

The road map for childhood tuberculosis launched in 2013 provided strong renewed efforts focused towards zero deaths due to tuberculosis in children. From 2010, there were efforts to improve childhood tuberculosis diagnosis in Kampala and this study aimed to document the trend and outcome of tuberculosis in children over the period.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of tuberculosis data for Kampala city for the period 2011–2015. We extracted data from the unit TB registers in the 52 Diagnostic and treatment units (DTUs) in the Kampala. We report on data for children 0 to 14 years.

Results

We accessed 33,221 TB patient records of which 2333 (7.0% 95% CI 6.7 to 7.3) were children. The proportion of children with pulmonary TB was 80% (1870/2333) (95% CI 76.7 to 83.7 and extra-pulmonary TB accounted for 20% (463/2333) (CI 18.3 to 21.5). Among pulmonary TB cases, the clinically diagnosed were 82% (1530/1870) (95% CI 80.0 to 83.5) while the bacteriologically confirmed were 18% (340/1870) (95% CI 16.5 to 20.0). Among the bacteriologically confirmed, 45% (154/340) (95% CI 40.1 to 50.6) were smear positive. During the study period 2011 through 2015, the childhood TB notification rate declined as follows; 105, 76, 72, 88, and 74 per 100,000 respectively. The treatment success rate increased from 78% in 2011 to 83% in 2015.

Conclusions

The TB notification rate among children in Kampala city showed a large decline during the period 2011 to 2015. There was a slight improvement in the treatment success rate among the children.

Childhood tuberculosis is associated with decreased abundance of T cell gene transcripts and impaired T cell function

The WHO estimates around a million children contract tuberculosis (TB) annually with over 80 000 deaths from dissemination of infection outside of the lungs. The insidious onset and association with skin test anergy suggests failure of the immune system to both recognise and respond to infection. To understand the immune mechanisms, we studied genome-wide whole blood RNA expression in children with TB meningitis (TBM). Findings were validated in a second cohort of children with TBM and pulmonary TB (PTB), and functional T-cell responses studied in a third cohort of children with TBM, other extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) and PTB. The predominant RNA transcriptional response in children with TBM was decreased abundance of multiple genes, with 140/204 (68%) of all differentially regulated genes showing reduced abundance compared to healthy controls. Findings were validated in a second cohort with concordance of the direction of differential expression in both TBM (r2 = 0.78 p = 2x10-16) and PTB patients (r2 = 0.71 p = 2x10-16) when compared to a second group of healthy controls. Although the direction of expression of these significant genes was similar in the PTB patients, the magnitude of differential transcript abundance was less in PTB than in TBM. The majority of genes were involved in activation of leucocytes (p = 2.67E-11) and T-cell receptor signalling (p = 6.56E-07). Less abundant gene expression in immune cells was associated with a functional defect in T-cell proliferation that recovered after full TB treatment (p<0.0003). Multiple genes involved in T-cell activation show decreased abundance in children with acute TB, who also have impaired functional T-cell responses. Our data suggest that childhood TB is associated with an acquired immune defect, potentially resulting in failure to contain the pathogen. Elucidation of the mechanism causing the immune paresis may identify new treatment and prevention strategies.

Xpert MTB/RIF on Stool Is Useful for the Rapid Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Young Children With Severe Pulmonary Disease

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to result in high morbidity and mortality in children from resource-limited settings. Diagnostic challenges, including resource-intense sputum collection methods and insensitive diagnostic tests, contribute to diagnostic delay and poor outcomes in children. We evaluated the diagnostic utility of stool Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) compared with bacteriologic confirmation (combination of Xpert and culture of respiratory samples).

METHODS

In a hospital-based study in Cape Town, South Africa, we enrolled children younger than 13 years of age with suspected pulmonary TB from April 2012 to August 2015. Standard clinical investigations included tuberculin skin test, chest radiograph and HIV testing. Respiratory samples for smear microscopy, Xpert and liquid culture included gastric aspirates, induced sputum, nasopharyngeal aspirates and expectorated sputum. One stool sample per child was collected and tested using Xpert.

RESULTS

Of 379 children enrolled (median age, 15.9 months, 13.7% HIV infected), 73 (19.3%) had bacteriologically confirmed TB. The sensitivity and specificity of stool Xpert versus overall bacteriologic confirmation were 31.9% [95% confidence interval (CI): 21.84%-44.50%] and 99.7% (95% CI: 98.2%-100%), respectively. A total of 23/51 (45.1%) children with bacteriologically confirmed TB with severe disease were stool Xpert positive. Cavities on chest radiograph were associated with Xpert stool positivity regardless of age and other relevant factors [odds ratios (OR) 7.05; 95% CI: 2.16-22.98; P = 0.001].

CONCLUSIONS

Stool Xpert can rapidly confirm TB in children who present with radiologic findings suggestive of severe TB. In resource-limited settings where children frequently present with advanced disease, Xpert on stool samples could improve access to rapid diagnostic confirmation and appropriate treatment.

The Burden and Clinical Presentation of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Adults With Severe Respiratory Illness in a High Human Immunodeficiency Virus Prevalence Setting, 2012-2014

Background

Understanding the burden and clinical presentation of tuberculosis in patients with severe respiratory illness (SRI) has important implications for anticipating treatment requirements.

Methods

Hospitalized patients aged ≥15 years with SRI at 2 public teaching hospitals in periurban areas in 2 provinces (Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal Province and Tshepong Hospital in Klerksdorp, North West Province) were enrolled prospectively from 2012 to 2014. Tuberculosis testing included smear microscopy, culture, or Xpert MTB/Rif.

Results

We enrolled 2486 individuals with SRI. Of these, 2097 (84%) were tested for tuberculosis, 593 (28%) were positive. Tuberculosis detection rate was 18% (133 of 729) in individuals with acute (≤14 days) presentation and 34% (460 of 1368) in those with chronic (>14 days) presentation. Among laboratory-confirmed tuberculosis cases, those with acute presentation were less likely to present with cough (88% [117 of 133] vs 97% [447 of 460]; ajusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.1–0.5), night sweats (57% [75 of 132] vs 73% [337 of 459]; aOR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.3–0.7), or be started on tuberculosis treatment on admission (63% [78 of 124] vs 81% [344 of 423]; aOR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.3–0.7), but they were more likely to be coinfected with pneumococcus (13% [16 of 124] vs 6% [26 of 411]; aOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3–5.3) than patients with chronic presentation. Annual incidence of acute and chronic tuberculosis-associated SRI per 100000 population was 28 (95% CI = 22–39) and 116 (95% CI = 104–128), respectively.

Conclusions

In this setting, tuberculosis, including acute presentation, is common in patients hospitalized with SRI.

Provision of critical care services to HIV-infected children in an era of advanced intensive care and availability of combined antiretroviral therapy

Intensive care facilities are always in demand in the public sector and there is constant competition for beds. Appropriate allocation of children to these resources is based on the ethical principles of distributive justice and beneficence that is determined on the presumed short-term outcome of the acute illness, long-term outcome of the underlying chronic disease and the overall demand for these facilities. At the onset of the HIV epidemic in South Africa, HIV-infected children were refused admission to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) on the basis of poor ICU outcomes and the lack of provision of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) for survivors. The recent significant improvement in outcome in these patients through early recognition and treatment of HIV-related opportunistic infections, the provision of advanced organ support and the routine availability of cART suggests that the previous policy requires review. Ethical principles, the Paediatric Index of Mortality Score for each request, the quality and disability-adjusted life years and cost-effectiveness of care are all important considerations in deciding which patients should be allowed access to these limited and expensive resources. With the improved long-term outcome in HIV-infected children on cART, admission of these cases to a PICU should now be based on the prognosis of the acute illness, as with any other chronic disease such as asthma or diabetes. Withholding and withdrawing advanced life support should accord with standard protocols applied to any condition for which a child is admitted to the PICU.

The Enduring Challenge of Determining Pneumonia Etiology in Children: Considerations for Future Research Priorities

Pneumonia kills more children each year worldwide than any other disease. Nonetheless, accurately determining the causes of childhood pneumonia has remained elusive. Over the past century, the focus of pneumonia etiology research has shifted from studies of lung aspirates and postmortem specimens intent on identifying pneumococcal disease to studies of multiple specimen types distant from the lung that are tested for multiple pathogens. Some major challenges facing modern pneumonia etiology studies include the use of nonspecific and variable case definitions, poor access to pathologic lung tissue and to specimens from fatal cases, poor diagnostic accuracy of assays (especially when testing nonpulmonary specimens), and the interpretation of results when multiple pathogens are detected in a given individual. The future of childhood pneumonia etiology research will likely require integrating data from complementary approaches, including applications of advanced molecular diagnostics and vaccine probe studies, as well as a renewed emphasis on lung aspirates from radiologically confirmed pneumonia and postmortem examinations.

Tuberculosis caseload in children with severe acute malnutrition related with high hospital based mortality in Lusaka, Zambia

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children pose a major treatment and care challenge in high HIV burden countries in Africa. We investigated the prevalence of Tuberculosis notifications among hospitalised under-five children with severe acute malnutrition. A retrospective review of medical records for all children aged 0-59 months admitted to the University Teaching Hospital from 2009 to 2013 was performed. Descriptive statistics were employed to estimate TB caseload. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of the TB caseload.

RESULTS

A total of (n = 9540) under-five children with SAM were admitted over the period reviewed. The median age was 16 months (IQR 11-24) and the proportion diagnosed with TB was 1.58% (95% CI 1.3, 1.8) representing 151 cases. Of these, only 37 (25%) were bacteriologically confirmed cases. The HIV seroprevalence of children with SAM and TB was 46.5%. Children with SAM and TB were 40% more likely to die than children with SAM and without TB.

CONCLUSIONS

Tuberculosis contributes to mortality among children with SAM in high TB and HIV prevalence settings. The under detection of cases and association of TB with HIV infection in malnutrition opens up opportunities to innovate integrative case finding approaches beyond just HIV counselling and testing within existing mother and child health service areas to include TB screening and prevention interventions, as these are critical primary care elements.

Delayed diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in a 13-year-old Malawian boy

Childhood tuberculosis (TB) is a significant global health burden. There are more than 1 million new cases of childhood TB annually. Despite this, many national TB control programs largely focus on identification and treatment of smear positive adults. Early case detection is essential if childhood TB is to be controlled and eradicated.Delayed diagnosis of TB is associated with more advanced disease and worse treatment outcomes. Younger children who go undiagnosed for long periods are at risk of developing severe pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease, such as meningitis. Additionally, advanced childhood TB is a common respiratory cause of death in TB-endemic areas. Undoubtedly, delayed diagnosis contributes significantly to TB-related morbidity and mortality.Diagnostic delay may be divided into patient delay, the duration between development of symptoms and presentation to healthcare provider, and healthcare provider delay, the duration between presentation and initiation of appropriate treatment.

Viral Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

Lower respiratory tract infections in children are often viral in origin. Unfortunately in this time of significant antimicrobial resistance of infectious organisms, especially bacteria, there is still a tendency for clinicians to manage a child who coughs with antibiotics. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) has defined “pneumonia” as a condition that only occurs in children who have “fast breathing or chest wall indrawing”. That would delineate upper respiratory tract infections from those in the lower airway. However, in addition to pneumonia another important entity exists in the lower respiratory tract that is almost always viral in origin. This condition is acute viral bronchiolitis. The concept of “acute lower respiratory tract infection” (ALRTI) has emerged and it is becoming increasing evident from a number of studies that the infectious base of both acute pneumonia (AP) and acute bronchiolitis in children has a mixed etiology of microorganisms. Therefore, whilst certain clinical phenotypes do not require antibiotics the actual microbial etiology is much less distinct.

Hospitalization for Culture-confirmed Pulmonary Tuberculosis in the Era of Childhood Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Immunization

BACKGROUND

Children hospitalized with culture-confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) frequently present with acute symptoms, possibly because of superimposed pneumococcal pneumonia. We undertook a time-series analysis to determine whether routine immunization of children with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) was temporally associated with changes in the incidence of hospitalization for PTB in South African children.

METHODS

PCV was introduced in the South African public immunization program in April 2009, with coverage for the third dose of PCV of 10%, 64% and 89% in 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively. Quarterly incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for culture-confirmed PTB were reported and compared between the pre-PCV era (2005-2008), the transitional-PCV era (2009-2010) and the established-PCV era (2011-2012), stratified by age and HIV status.

RESULTS

Overall, the quarterly IRR within the pre-PCV period was 0.918 (P < 0.01) for all age-groups combined and IRR 0.919 (P < 0.01) in HIV-infected children. In infants, the quarterly IRR was 0.888 (P < 0.001) within the pre-PCV era, 0.937 (P = 0.360) within the transitional and 1.26 (P = 0.014) within the established-PCV era. In HIV-infected infants, the quarterly IRR was 0.872 (P < 0.001) within the pre-PCV era, 0.877 (P = 0.263) within the transitional and 0.975 (P = 0.886) within the established-PCV era. Comparing the pre-PCV era with established-PCV era, there was no additional effect on the incidence of hospitalization for PTB in all age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of hospitalization for PTB declined significantly before the implementation of PCV and further declines in the PCV era could not be attributed to childhood immunization with PCV.

[A case-series analysis of tuberculosis in pediatric patients treated in a tertiary level hospital]

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a challenge because severe forms occur most frequently in children under 5 years of age and the diagnosis is complex. The objective of this paper was to describe the clinical presentation, frequency, diagnostic methods used and response to treatment in children with TB treated at a tertiary level hospital.

METHODS

The study was retrospective and descriptive of a cohort of consecutive cases treated from January 2010 to December 2013. Ninety-three medical records of children diagnosed with TB according to the definition of the NOM-006-SSA2-2013 were reviewed. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis.

RESULTS

From 93 children, 58% were male (mean age of 7 years), 97% with a history of BCG vaccination, and 6% had contact with a TB case. The most frequent clinical forms were pulmonary (30.1%), lymph node (24.7%), miliary/disseminated (16.1%), meningeal (13%), and osteal TB (7.5%). The most common symptoms were fever and weight loss (50% and 40%, respectively). BAAR and culture were positive in 26% and 7% of all cases, respectively. The histopathological study was conclusive in 90% of the cases. The treatment was successful in 94.6%, with not associated mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The association of clinical symptoms with alterations in chest radiography and positive PPD are useful in establishing the presumptive diagnosis and an early and appropriate treatment.

Community-acquired pneumonia in children - a changing spectrum of disease

Pneumonia remains the leading cause of death in children outside the neonatal period, despite advances in prevention and management. Over the last 20 years, there has been a substantial decrease in the incidence of childhood pneumonia and pneumonia-associated mortality. New conjugate vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae type b and Streptococcus pneumoniae have contributed to decreases in radiologic, clinical and complicated pneumonia cases and have reduced hospitalization and mortality. The importance of co-infections with multiple pathogens and the predominance of viral-associated disease are emerging. Better access to effective preventative and management strategies is needed in low- and middle-income countries, while new strategies are needed to address the residual burden of disease once these have been implemented.

Child pneumonia - focus on the Western Pacific Region

Worldwide, pneumonia is the leading cause of death in infants and young children (aged <5 years). We provide an overview of the global pneumonia disease burden, as well as the aetiology and management practices in different parts of the world, with a specific focus on the WHO Western Pacific Region. In 2011, the Western Pacific region had an estimated 0.11 pneumonia episodes per child-year with 61,900 pneumonia-related deaths in children less than 5 years of age. The majority (>75%) of pneumonia deaths occurred in six countries; Cambodia, China, Laos, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Viet Nam. Historically Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae were the commonest causes of severe pneumonia and pneumonia-related deaths in young children, but this is changing with the introduction of highly effective conjugate vaccines and socio-economic development. The relative contribution of viruses and atypical bacteria appear to be increasing and traditional case management approaches may require revision to accommodate increased uptake of conjugated vaccines in the Western Pacific region. Careful consideration should be given to risk reduction strategies, enhanced vaccination coverage, improved management of hypoxaemia and antibiotic stewardship.

Clinical utility of bronchoalveolar lavage cytomegalovirus viral loads in the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus pneumonitis in infants

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonitis is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality of children in Africa. The current practice for diagnosing CMV pneumonitis in this setting is based on interpretation of clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings. There is a need for a sensitive and specific laboratory test to objectively distinguish between patients with CMV pneumonitis and those with CMV infection, and non‐CMV pneumonia. In this study, we compared plasma and non‐bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (NBBAL) CMV viral loads in patients with CMV pneumonitis and those with CMV infection and non‐CMV pneumonia. Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis was used to establish a threshold and assess utility of viral loads in the diagnosis of CMV pneumonitis. We assessed the urea dilution method, and expression of viral loads relative to the total amount of extracted nucleic acids in correcting for NBBAL dilution. CMV quantification in NBBAL specimens was more predictive of CMV pneumonitis than blood CMV quantification. The threshold of 4.03 log IU/ml in NBBAL specimens has good predictive value and can be used to guide management of infants with suspected CMV pneumonitis. Adjusting for dilution of NBBAL specimens by using the urea dilution method or by expressing the viral load relative to the total nucleic acids extracted did not provide additional analytical benefits. J. Med. Virol. 89:1080–1087, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.