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Stylianou A, Blanks KJH, Gibson RA, Kendall LK, English M, Williams S, Mehta R, Clarke A, Kanyuuru L, Aluvaala J, Darmstadt GL. Quantitative decision making for investment in global health intervention trials: Case study of the NEWBORN study on emollient therapy in preterm infants in Kenya. J Glob Health 2022; 12:04045. [PMID: 35972445 PMCID: PMC9185187 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.12.04045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Partners from an NGO, academia, industry and government applied a tool originating in the private sector – Quantitative Decision Making (QDM) – to rigorously assess whether to invest in testing a global health intervention. The proposed NEWBORN study was designed to assess whether topical emollient therapy with sunflower seed oil in infants with very low birthweight <1500 g in Kenya would result in a significant reduction in neonatal mortality compared to standard of care. Methods The QDM process consisted of prior elicitation, modelling of prior distributions, and simulations to assess Probability of Success (PoS) via assurance calculations. Expert opinion was elicited on the probability that emollient therapy with sunflower seed oil will have any measurable benefit on neonatal mortality based on available evidence. The distribution of effect sizes was modelled and trial data simulated using Statistical Analysis System to obtain the overall assurance which represents the PoS for the planned study. A decision-making framework was then applied to characterise the ability of the study to meet pre-selected decision-making endpoints. Results There was a 47% chance of a positive outcome (defined as a significant relative reduction in mortality of ≥15%), a 45% chance of a negative outcome (defined as a significant relative reduction in mortality <10%), and an 8% chance of ending in the consider zone (ie, a mortality reduction of 10 to <15%) for infants <1500 g. Conclusions QDM is a novel tool from industry which has utility for prioritisation of investments in global health, complementing existing tools [eg, Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative]. Results from application of QDM to the NEWBORN study suggests that it has a high probability of producing clear results. Findings encourage future formation of public-private partnerships for health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Stylianou
- GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK
| | | | - Rachel A Gibson
- GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Lindsay K Kendall
- GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Mike English
- Oxford Centre for Global Health Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Oxford, UK
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | | | - Lynn Kanyuuru
- Save the Children International, Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jalemba Aluvaala
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gary L Darmstadt
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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Blanks KJ, Musaba MW, Ren L, Burgoine K, Mukunya D, Clarke A, Williams S, Gebremichael T, Waiswa P, Darmstadt GL. Protocol for a scoping review of neonatal emollient therapy and massage practices throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Gates Open Res 2021; 5:142. [PMID: 35299830 PMCID: PMC8901585 DOI: 10.12688/gatesopenres.13359.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Serious infections and other complications from very low birth weight and prematurity are the leading causes of death for neonates worldwide. Infections partly result from the compromised skin barrier function in preterm neonates. Optimal skin care practices for neonates, especially in settings with limited access to adequate hygienic conditions, hold potential to reduce infection and avoid these preventable preterm neonatal deaths. The purpose of this protocol is to support a scoping review of neonatal skin care, emollient therapy and massage practices throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Protocol: The proposed review will follow a methodological framework consisting of the following five steps: (i) identifying the research question, (ii) identifying relevant studies, (iii) selection of eligible studies, (iv) charting the data, and (v) collating and summarizing the results. In addition, we will reflect on the implications of the findings for the feasibility and design of randomized controlled trials to examine the impact of emollient therapy on survival, growth, infection and neurodevelopment of very low birth weight infants in sub-Saharan Africa. We will search domestic and international databases for literature published in English between January 1, 2000, and July 12, 2021. Articles will be chosen based on standardized inclusion criteria. The primary criteria for inclusion will be a report on skin care practices administered to neonates in Africa. Conclusions: Documentation of common neonatal skin care practices throughout Africa has the potential to highlight opportunities for skin care intervention and future research on neonatal skin care practices in sub-Saharan Africa, and support the development of future emollient intervention trials for preterm and low birthweight neonates in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Milton W. Musaba
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Busitema University Faculty of Health Sciences, Pallisa, Mbale, PO Box 1460, Uganda
| | - Lily Ren
- Lane Medical Library & Knowledge Management Center, Stanford Medicine, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Drive, L109, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Kathy Burgoine
- Mbale Clinical Research Institute, Plot 29, 33 Pallisa, Mbale, Uganda
| | - David Mukunya
- Busitema University Faculty of Health Sciences, Pallisa, Mbale, PO Box 1460, Uganda
- Sanyu Africa Research Institute, Mbale, PO Box 2190, Uganda
| | - Andrew Clarke
- Global Programs, Save the Children UK, 1 St John's Ln, London, EC1M 4AR, UK
| | - Sarah Williams
- Global Programs, Save the Children UK, 1 St John's Ln, London, EC1M 4AR, UK
| | | | - Peter Waiswa
- Makerere University, University Rd, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Gary L. Darmstadt
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1701 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, Stanford, CA, 94304, USA
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McDonald E, Bailie R, Brewster D, Morris P. Are hygiene and public health interventions likely to improve outcomes for Australian Aboriginal children living in remote communities? A systematic review of the literature. BMC Public Health 2008; 8:153. [PMID: 18462504 PMCID: PMC2397399 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-8-153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2007] [Accepted: 05/08/2008] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Australian Aboriginal children living in remote communities still experience a high burden of common infectious diseases which are generally attributed to poor hygiene and unsanitary living conditions. The objective of this systematic literature review was to examine the epidemiological evidence for a relationship between various hygiene and public health intervention strategies, separately or in combination, and the occurrence of common preventable childhood infectious diseases. The purpose was to determine what intervention/s might most effectively reduce the incidence of skin, diarrhoeal and infectious diseases experienced by children living in remote Indigenous communities. Methods Studies were identified through systematically searching electronic databases and hand searching. Study types were restricted to those included in Cochrane Collaboration Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Review Group (EPOC) guidelines and reviewers assessed the quality of studies and extracted data using the same guidelines. The types of participants eligible were Indigenous populations and populations of developing countries. The types of intervention eligible for inclusion were restricted to those likely to prevent conditions caused by poor personal hygiene and poor living environments. Results The evidence showed that there is clear and strong evidence of effect of education and handwashing with soap in preventing diarrhoeal disease among children (consistent effect in four studies). In the largest well-designed study, children living in households that received plain soap and encouragement to wash their hands had a 53% lower incidence of diarrhoea (95% CI, 0.35, 0.59). There is some evidence of an effect of education and other hygiene behaviour change interventions (six studies), as well as the provision of water supply, sanitation and hygiene education (two studies) on reducing rates of diarrhoeal disease. The size of these effects is small and the quality of the studies generally poor. Conclusion Research which measures the effectiveness of hygiene interventions is complex and difficult to implement. Multifaceted interventions (which target handwashing with soap and include water, sanitation and hygiene promotion) are likely to provide the greatest opportunity to improve child health outcomes in remote Indigenous communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth McDonald
- Menzies School of Health Research, Institute of Advanced Studies, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
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Darmstadt GL, Saha SK, Ahmed ASMNU, Chowdhury MAKA, Law PA, Ahmed S, Alam MA, Black RE, Santosham M. Effect of topical treatment with skin barrier-enhancing emollients on nosocomial infections in preterm infants in Bangladesh: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2005; 365:1039-45. [PMID: 15781099 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(05)71140-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infections and complications of prematurity are main causes of neonatal mortality. Very low birthweight premature infants have compromised skin barrier function, and are at especially high risk for serious infections and mortality. Our aim was to ascertain whether topical application of emollients to enhance skin barrier function would prevent nosocomial infections in this population. METHODS We randomly assigned infants born before week 33 of gestation after admission to Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Bangladesh, to daily massage with sunflower seed oil (n=159) or Aquaphor (petrolatum, mineral oil, mineral wax, lanolin alcohol; n=157). We then compared incidence of nosocomial infections among infants in these two groups with an untreated control group (n=181) by an intention-to-treat analysis. FINDINGS 20 patients in the control group, and 22 in each of the treatment groups left the hospital early, but were included in the final analysis. Overall, infants treated with sunflower seed oil were 41% less likely to develop nosocomial infections than controls (adjusted incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.59, 95% CI 0.37-0.96, p=0.032). Aquaphor did not significantly reduce the risk of infection (0.60, 0.35-1.03, p=0.065). No adverse events were seen. INTERPRETATION Our findings confirm that skin application of sunflower seed oil provides protection against nosocomial infections in preterm very low birthweight infants. The low cost, availability, simplicity, and effect of treatment make it an important intervention for very low birthweight infants admitted to hospital in developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary L Darmstadt
- Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Darmstadt GL, Badrawi N, Law PA, Ahmed S, Bashir M, Iskander I, Al Said D, El Kholy A, Husein MH, Alam A, Winch PJ, Gipson R, Santosham M. Topically applied sunflower seed oil prevents invasive bacterial infections in preterm infants in Egypt: a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2004; 23:719-25. [PMID: 15295221 DOI: 10.1097/01.inf.0000133047.50836.6f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Because the therapeutic options for managing infections in neonates in developing countries are often limited, innovative approaches to preventing infections are needed. Topical therapy with skin barrier-enhancing products may be an effective strategy for improving neonatal outcomes, particularly among preterm, low birth weight infants whose skin barrier is temporarily but critically compromised as a result of immaturity. METHODS We tested the impact of topical application of sunflower seed oil 3 times daily to preterm infants <34 weeks gestational age at the Kasr El-Aini neonatal intensive care unit at Cairo University on skin condition, rates of nosocomial infections and mortality. RESULTS Treatment with sunflower seed oil (n = 51) resulted in a significant improvement in skin condition (P = 0.037) and a highly significant reduction in the incidence of nosocomial infections (adjusted incidence ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.81; P = 0.007) compared with infants not receiving topical prophylaxis (n = 52). There were no reported adverse events as a result of topical therapy. CONCLUSIONS Given the low cost (approximately .20 dollars for a course of therapy) and technologic simplicity of the intervention and the effect size observed in this study, a clinical trial with increased numbers of subjects is indicated to evaluate the potential of topical therapy to reduce infections and save newborn lives in developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary L Darmstadt
- Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Osrin D, Vergnano S, Costello A. Serious bacterial infections in newborn infants in developing countries. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2004; 17:217-24. [PMID: 15166824 DOI: 10.1097/00001432-200406000-00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The overwhelming majority of the world's annual 4 million neonatal deaths occur in developing countries. This review therefore briefly addresses the burden, aetiology, prevention and management of serious neonatal bacterial infections in low-income settings. RECENT FINDINGS Bacterial infection is the biggest cause of neonatal admissions to hospitals, and probably the biggest cause of morbidity in the community, but its burden is unclear. The commonest serious infections involve bacteraemia, meningitis and respiratory infection, and case fatality rates may be as high as 45%. Key pathogens are Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. The incidence of neonatal infections with group B streptococcus is highly variable, as is the spectrum of antimicrobial resistance. SUMMARY Current areas of research include the rectification of micronutrient deficiencies, neonatal skin care, appropriate breastfeeding recommendations, cleansing of the birth canal, and simplified methods of diagnosis of infection. Operational activities include the control of neonatal tetanus, the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, integrated strategies for improving pregnancy, childbirth and neonatal survival, community-based management of acute respiratory infections, and community-based management of neonatal sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Osrin
- International Perinatal Care Unit, Centre for International Child Health, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
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Mullany LC, Darmstadt GL, Tielsch JM. Role of antimicrobial applications to the umbilical cord in neonates to prevent bacterial colonization and infection: a review of the evidence. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2003; 22:996-1002. [PMID: 14614373 PMCID: PMC1317298 DOI: 10.1097/01.inf.0000095429.97172.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In developing countries umbilical cord infections constitute a major cause of neonatal morbidity and pose significant risk for mortality, whereas outbreaks of cord infections continue to occur in developed country nurseries. Cord infections in developing countries can be prevented through increasing access to tetanus toxoid immunization during pregnancy, promoting clean cord care and reducing harmful cord applications and behaviors. Interventions introduced in both developed and developing countries to reduce exposure of the cord to infectious pathogens include clean cord cutting, hand-washing before and after handling the baby, bathing of the infant with antimicrobial agents and application of antimicrobials to the cord. Despite the importance of umbilical cord care, both traditionally and medically, there have been few randomized trials investigating the impact of different cord care regimens on rates of local or systemic infections, particularly in developing countries. This review examines available data on umbilical cord care, with a particular focus on those comparing rates of bacterial colonization and/or rates of cord infection among neonates receiving different umbilical cord care regimens. Although most investigators agree that topical antimicrobials reduce bacterial colonization of the cord, a firm relationship between colonization and infection has not been established. Further research in developed countries, including follow-up beyond hospital discharge, is required before advising on "best cord care practices." The paucity of published reports from developing countries indicates the need to investigate the impact of antimicrobial applications on cord and systemic infections in a community-based, prospective manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke C Mullany
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Room W5009, Baltimore, MD 21205-2103, USA.
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