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Rautman LH, Eibach D, Boateng FO, Akenten CW, Hanson H, Maiga-Ascofaré O, May J, Krumkamp R. Modeling pediatric antibiotic use in an area of declining malaria prevalence. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16431. [PMID: 39014068 PMCID: PMC11252319 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67492-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
In malaria-endemic areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, overlap of clinical symptoms between malarial and non-malarial febrile illnesses can lead to empiric use of antibiotics among children. Our study aimed to illustrate the potential impact of decreasing malaria prevalence from malaria control efforts on antibiotic use. We constructed a probabilistic decision tree model representing antibiotic prescription in febrile children < 5 years. This model was used to predict change in absolute antibiotic use compared to baseline under levels of decreasing malaria prevalence. Model parameters were based on data from a hospital study in Ghana and validated via literature review. The baseline prevalence of malaria diagnoses was 52% among all hospitalized children. For our main results, we reported outcomes for a scenario representing a 50% decrease in malaria prevalence. Compared to baseline, absolute antibiotic prescription decreased from a baseline of 639 doses (95% CI 574-694) to 575 (95% CI 502-638). This reflected a 10% (95% CI 7%-13%) decrease in absolute antibiotic use. Our findings demonstrate that effective malaria control can reduce pediatric antibiotic use. However, until substantial progress is made in developing accurate diagnostics for non-malarial febrile illnesses, further reductions in antibiotic use will remain a challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Helen Rautman
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany.
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
- German Center for Infection Research, Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Daniel Eibach
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Felix Osei Boateng
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Henry Hanson
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Oumou Maiga-Ascofaré
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Jürgen May
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Krumkamp
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Str 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
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Kukula VA, Odopey S, Arthur E, Odonkor G, Awini E, Adjei A, Salami O, Nkeramahame J, Horgan P, Olliaro P, Williams J, Baiden R. Understanding Health Worker and Community Antibiotic Prescription-Adherence Practices for Acute Febrile Illness: A Nested Qualitative Study in the Shai-Osudoku District of Ghana and the Development of a Training-and-Communication Intervention. Clin Infect Dis 2023; 77:S182-S190. [PMID: 37490740 PMCID: PMC10368414 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim was to explore behavioral factors relating to the prescription and communication of prescription-adherence messages for patients with acute febrile illness, from which to develop a training-and-communication (T&C) intervention to be delivered as part of a clinical trial. METHODS The study undertook a content analysis of primary, qualitative data collection using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, informed by the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation (COM-B) theory of behavior, the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), and Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) approach, in health facilities (39 health workers) and communities (66 community members) in the Shai-Osudoku District of Ghana. RESULTS Health workers perceive that prescribers' and dispensers' communication with patients is influenced by the following factors: patient's educational level, existing disease conditions, health worker's workload, patient's religion, language barrier between health worker and patient, outcome of laboratory results, and medicine availability. Community members' adherence to prescription was influenced by the availability of money and affordability of medicine (outside of provision by the national health insurance scheme), the severity of the condition, work schedule, and forgetfulness. CONCLUSIONS Our study contributes to knowledge on nesting qualitative methods in a clinical trial and reveals factors that affect the antibiotic prescription communication process. Tailored messages for patient-specific needs can shape antibiotic prescription adherence behavior and ultimately contribute to decreasing the incidence of antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vida Ami Kukula
- Social Science Department, Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dodowa, Ghana
| | - Selase Odopey
- Social Science Department, Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dodowa, Ghana
| | - Emmanuel Arthur
- Social Science Department, Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dodowa, Ghana
| | - Gabriel Odonkor
- Social Science Department, Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dodowa, Ghana
| | - Elizabeth Awini
- Social Science Department, Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dodowa, Ghana
| | - Alexander Adjei
- Social Science Department, Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dodowa, Ghana
| | | | | | - Philip Horgan
- Department of Medicine, FIND, Geneva, Switzerland
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Medical Affairs, Evidence and Impact Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Piero Olliaro
- Department of Medicine, FIND, Geneva, Switzerland
- International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium, Pandemic Sciences Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - John Williams
- Social Science Department, Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dodowa, Ghana
| | - Rita Baiden
- Social Science Department, Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dodowa, Ghana
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Nantongo H, Kiguba R, Batwala V, Mukonzo J. An Evaluation of Antibiotic Prescription Rationality at Lower Primary Healthcare Facilities in Three Districts of South-Western Uganda. J Multidiscip Healthc 2022; 15:2249-2259. [PMID: 36225858 PMCID: PMC9549792 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s384297] [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] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Antimicrobial resistance is now one of the leading five causes of death globally. This study evaluated the rationality of antibiotic prescriptions at lower primary care levels in three districts of Southwestern Uganda. Methods This prospective cross-sectional study reviewed 9899 antibiotic prescriptions at 39 health centers following a drug delivery cycle by National Medical Stores in three phases (19 days each on average). Phase 1 started 3 days after delivery, mid-way (Phase 2) and towards the end (Phase 3). The proportion of rationally prescribed antibiotics was determined using a modified criterion by Badar and in reference to Uganda Clinical Guidelines (UCG). Using multivariate logistic regression, the factors associated with rational prescription were determined with 95% confidence intervals. Results Seven of every 10 antibiotic prescriptions were irrational. Half the prescriptions were made by unauthorized personnel (nurses) and many of the pediatric prescriptions (916, 46.5%) did not bear body weight measurements to guide appropriate dosing. Also, the proportion of rational prescriptions in reference to UCG, 2016 was very low (3387, 34.2%). However, a high proportion of antibiotic prescriptions were legibly written (9462, 95.7%), prescribed by generic names (9083, 91.8%) and had a diagnosis (9677, 97.8%) indicated. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that; availability of medicines (phase 1) (phase 2 AOR=1.14, 95% CI:1.02-1.28, phase 3, AOR=1.23, 95% CI:1.1-1.38), legibly written prescription (AOR=0.61, 95% CI: 0.47-0.78), indication of a date on the prescription (AOR=0.56, 95% CI0.38-0.81) and being a medical officer were factors associated with rational antibiotic prescription. Conclusion We observed a high rate of irrational prescription in the study sites and the majority of these were by unauthorized personnel. A review of antibiotic use policies and focused interventions is crucial in these settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanifah Nantongo
- Department of Nursing, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Makerere University, Makerere, Uganda,Correspondence: Hanifah Nantongo, P.O Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda, Tel +256 773 413926, Email
| | - Ronald Kiguba
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Makerere University, Makerere, Uganda
| | - Vincent Batwala
- Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda,Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Jackson Mukonzo
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Makerere University, Makerere, Uganda
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Siribhadra A, Ngamprasertchai T, Rattanaumpawan P, Lawpoolsri S, Luvira V, Pitisuttithum P. Antimicrobial Stewardship in Tropical Infectious Diseases: Focusing on Dengue and Malaria. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7080159. [PMID: 36006251 PMCID: PMC9412681 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7080159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute undifferentiated febrile illness (AUFI) is the presenting symptom of various tropical and infectious diseases. Viral infection is generally the most common cause of AUFI, accounting for 8–11.8% of cases; thus, antibiotics might be unnecessary. Dengue and malaria are common tropical infectious diseases requiring effective supportive treatment and antimalarial agents, respectively. The uncertainty of early diagnosis results in widespread empirical antimicrobial treatment in high -income as well as in low-and middle-income countries. Although rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have been shown to limit antibiotic prescriptions in dengue and malaria, we observed a wide range of antibiotic prescriptions for 13–92.7% of cases in previous literature, particularly in RDT-negative malaria cases. Given several RDT limitations, antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) appears to be an effective strategy for controlling unnecessary antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) prevention. This program should be endorsed by a multidisciplinary team in tropical diseases to control collateral damage of inappropriate antimicrobial use. Empirical antibiotic treatment should be administered based on clinical judgement, microbiological evidence, and local epidemiological data. Rapid termination of antibiotic therapy, including disease control or elimination, is the mainstay of AMS in tropical diseases. Local and international sectors should implement an AMS programme to reduce AMR in the Tropics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Siribhadra
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (A.S.); (V.L.); (P.P.)
| | - Thundon Ngamprasertchai
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (A.S.); (V.L.); (P.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Pinyo Rattanaumpawan
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand;
| | - Saranath Lawpoolsri
- Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
| | - Viravarn Luvira
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (A.S.); (V.L.); (P.P.)
| | - Punnee Pitisuttithum
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (A.S.); (V.L.); (P.P.)
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Abeja CJ, Niyonzima V, Byagamy JP, Obua C. Antibiotic prescription rationality and associated in-patient treatment outcomes in children under-five with severe pneumonia at Bwizibwera health center IV, Mbarara District, South-Western Uganda. Pneumonia (Nathan) 2022; 14:3. [PMID: 35462551 PMCID: PMC9036735 DOI: 10.1186/s41479-022-00095-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pneumonia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children under five. Antibiotic treatment must be started immediately in children with pneumonia. The irrational use of antibiotics may increase morbidity and mortality in children with pneumonia. Pneumonia accounted for approximately 16% of the 5.6 million under-five deaths word wide in 2016. In Uganda, it kills approximately 2,400 children per year. Early diagnosis and appropriate case management with rational use of antibiotics remain the most effective intervention to reduce pneumonia-related mortality. This study aimed at determining antibiotic prescription rationality and associated in-patient treatment outcomes in children aged 2–59 months with severe community-acquired pneumonia at Bwizibwera Health Centre IV from 1st May 2018 to 30th April 2019. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study design; data were collected from in-patient records of all children aged 2–59 months with severe community-acquired pneumonia who met the eligibility criteria for a period of one year. Data abstraction template was used for data collection. Health care records of children aged 2–59 months who had other co-morbidities and were on medication that could influence or impact on in-patient treatment outcomes from 1st May 2018 to 30th April 2019 were excluded. Data was entered and analyzed using Epi-info v 7.2 and STATA v 13.0 respectively, Descriptive statistics were reported and Chi-square test was used to compare the proportions. Results Of the total records of children retrieved and screened (N = 847), 229 prescription records of children fulfilled inclusion criteria, 57 (24.9%) had rational prescriptions with good outcomes and 172 (75.1%) had irrational prescriptions with 10 (4.4%) having unfavorable outcomes. The majority (73.7%) of those who received rational prescription were on treatment with a combination of benzyl penicillin plus gentamycin while (26.3%) were on ampicillin plus gentamycin. The majority (32.4%) of patients with good treatment outcomes were aged 6 – 11 months. This age category also doubled as the group that experienced the highest percentage (40.0%) of unfavorable outcomes. There were no statistically significant associations between patient characteristics and treatment outcomes. Conclusion In conclusion, the majority of children had irrational antibiotic prescriptions and 40 percent of children aged 6–11 Months had unfavorable treatment outcomes with 20 percent death. This study also found out that majority of antibiotic prescription among children under five was irrational and it’s against Uganda clinical guideline for treatment of severe pneumonia among children under five.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Joy Abeja
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Lira University, Lira, Uganda. .,Department of Nursing, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.
| | - Vallence Niyonzima
- Department of Nursing, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | | | - Celestino Obua
- Office of the Vice Chancellor, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
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Krezanoski PJ, Roh ME, Rek J, Nankabirwa JI, Arinaitwe E, Staedke SG, Nayiga S, Hsiang MS, Smith D, Kamya M, Dorsey G. Marked reduction in antibiotic usage following intensive malaria control in a cohort of Ugandan children. BMC Med 2021; 19:294. [PMID: 34844601 PMCID: PMC8630830 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-021-02167-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intensive malaria control may have additional benefits beyond reducing the incidence of symptomatic malaria. We compared antibiotic treatment of children before and after the implementation of highly effective malaria control interventions in Tororo, a historically high transmission area of Uganda. METHODS Two successive cohorts of children, aged 0.5 to 10 years, were followed from September 2011 to October 2019 in a dedicated study clinic. Universal distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets was conducted in 2013 and 2017. Sustained indoor residual spraying of insecticide (IRS) was initiated in December 2014. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to compare the incidence of antimalarial and antibiotic treatments before and after vector control measures were implemented. RESULTS Comparing the period prior to the implementation of IRS to the period after IRS had been sustained for 4-5 years, the adjusted incidence of malaria treatments decreased from 2.68 to 0.05 per person-year (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.02, 95% CI 0.01-0.03, p < 0.001), and the adjusted incidence of antibiotic treatments decreased from 4.14 to 1.26 per person-year (IRR = 0.30, 95% CI 0.27-0.34, p < 0.001). The reduction in antibiotic usage was primarily associated with fewer episodes of symptomatic malaria and fewer episodes of fever with sub-microscopic parasitemia, both of which were frequently treated with antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS In a historically high transmission setting, the implementation of highly effective vector control interventions was followed by a marked reduction in antibiotic treatment of children. This added benefit of malaria control could have important implications for antibiotic prescribing practices, efforts to curtail antimicrobial resistance, and health system costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Krezanoski
- University of California, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA.
| | - Michelle E Roh
- University of California, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA
| | - John Rek
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Joaniter I Nankabirwa
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Susan Nayiga
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Michelle S Hsiang
- University of California, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA
| | | | - Moses Kamya
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Grant Dorsey
- University of California, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA
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Loosli K, Davis A, Muwonge A, Lembo T. Addressing antimicrobial resistance by improving access and quality of care-A review of the literature from East Africa. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009529. [PMID: 34292932 PMCID: PMC8297743 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Universal access to healthcare, including quality medicines, is a fundamental human right but is still out of reach for many in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). An existing framework capturing variability of access to healthcare in low-resource settings includes the 5 dimensions: availability, accessibility, affordability, adequacy, and acceptability. This framework encompasses key components, including health infrastructure and means to access it as well as service organisation, costs, and factors that influence users' satisfaction. However, in reality, the effectiveness of accessed healthcare is measured by the likelihood of a positive outcome. We therefore propose an expansion of this framework to include an additional dimension, "aspects of quality," incorporating quality, which critically influences the ability of the accessed services to generate optimal health outcomes. Within this framework, we explore literature from East Africa likely relevant to a range of LMIC contexts, mainly focusing on the provision of widely used antimicrobials such as antimalarials and antibiotics. We argue that major inadequacies exist across all 6 dimensions of access and quality of drugs and their provision. While the global focus is on curbing excessive antimicrobial use to tackle the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis, major constraints around access shape patients' health-seeking decisions leading to potentially problematic practices that might exacerbate the AMR problem. We advocate for a holistic approach to tackling these inadequacies, encompassing all dimensions of access and quality of healthcare in order to improve health outcomes while simultaneously counteracting the AMR crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Loosli
- The Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Alicia Davis
- School of Social and Political Sciences/Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian Muwonge
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Tiziana Lembo
- The Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Opoku MM, Bonful HA, Koram KA. Antibiotic prescription for febrile outpatients: a health facility-based secondary data analysis for the Greater Accra region of Ghana. BMC Health Serv Res 2020; 20:978. [PMID: 33109158 PMCID: PMC7590657 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-020-05771-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Misguided prescription of antibiotics is an important contributor towards the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. The absence of effective interventions to control antibiotic use leads to increased consumption beyond the needed requirements. Antibiotic stewardship interventions must be appropriately targeted and assessed to enhance the controlled use of antibiotics. The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with antibiotic prescription to febrile outpatients who seek care in health facilities within the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Methods Secondary data obtained from the medical records of 2519 febrile outpatients, consecutively sampled at the outpatient department of 6 health facilities in 3 municipalities during the baseline survey of a quasi-experiment in 2015 was used. The primary outcome was prescription of any antibiotic. Independent variables included patients’ demographics, symptoms, laboratory investigations (blood film microscopy, malaria rapid diagnostic test, full blood count, urine and stool routine examinations), diagnoses, and prescribers’ demographics. Crude and adjusted logistic regression analyses were used to determine the factors associated with antibiotic prescription. Results The prevalence of antibiotic prescription was 70.1% (95% CI: 67.7–72.4). Prescribers with more years of practice (> 5 years) were more likely to prescribe antibiotics compared to those with less than 3 years of practice (p < 0.001). Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI) training was associated with a 2.3 (95% CI: 1.54, 3.53, p < 0.001) fold odds of antibiotic prescribing. Patients aged 5 years or more were 60% less likely to receive antibiotics compared with those under 5 years (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.32, 0.51; p < 0.001). Patients referred for laboratory investigations were 29% less likely to be prescribed antibiotics than those not referred. The presence of cough as a presenting symptom was associated with a 3.5 (95% CI: 2.54, 4.92) fold odds of antibiotic prescription. Conclusion Prescription of antibiotics to febrile outpatients was high. Promoting laboratory testing can potentially reduce irrational antibiotic prescription. Prescribing antibiotics for children under five and the prescribing practices of prescribers with longer years of practice should be targeted with interventions to reduce high use of antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Mireku Opoku
- Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Harriet Affran Bonful
- Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
| | - Kwadwo Ansah Koram
- Department of Epidemiology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
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Kalule JB, Tomusange J, Namatovu T. Serological detection of brucellosis among febrile, malaria-negative children and domesticated dogs in an urban African setting. Afr J Lab Med 2020; 9:864. [PMID: 33102165 PMCID: PMC7564948 DOI: 10.4102/ajlm.v9i1.864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Childhood brucellosis and malaria are co-endemic febrile illnesses in some sub-Saharan African countries. Malaria and brucellosis co-infection or brucellosis sole infections are often missed due to an over emphasis on malaria and the lack of appropriate diagnostic infrastructure. Brucellosis in dogs is usually overlooked and yet there is extensive contact between humans and their pets. Objective This study investigated brucellosis in children and dogs using a confirmatory serological testing series that screens for three Brucella sp. Methods Residual blood samples from malaria smear-negative febrile children were collected and tested for Brucella sp and malaria parasite. During the same period, residual blood samples presented to a veterinary microbiology laboratory in the same area were tested for brucellosis using the same approach. Results A total of 105 human and 80 canine blood samples were tested for brucellosis antibodies. The seroprevalence of brucellosis was 22.86% (25/105) in children and 1.3% (1/80) in dogs using the Card, buffered acidified plate antigen, and standard plate agglutination tests but was 0% using the rivanol precipitation plate agglutination test. Conclusion Given that brucellosis can be caused by both smooth and rough colony strains, there is a need to modify the current serological surveillance strategy (targeted at only Brucella abortus and other smooth colony Brucella strains) to figure out the relative contribution of rough colony Brucella strains (B. ovis and B. canis). Since Uganda is endemic for brucellosis there is a need to modify the brucellosis surveillance strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- John B Kalule
- Department of Biotechnical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources Animal and Biosecurity, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Joseph Tomusange
- Department of Biotechnical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources Animal and Biosecurity, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Teddy Namatovu
- Department of Biotechnical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources Animal and Biosecurity, Kampala, Uganda
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Knowles R, Sharland M, Hsia Y, Magrini N, Moja L, Siyam A, Tayler E. Measuring antibiotic availability and use in 20 low- and middle-income countries. Bull World Health Organ 2020; 98:177-187C. [PMID: 32132752 PMCID: PMC7047034 DOI: 10.2471/blt.19.241349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To assess antibiotic availability and use in health facilities in low- and middle-income countries, using the service provision assessment and service availability and readiness assessment surveys. Methods We obtained data on antibiotic availability at 13 561 health facilities in 13 service provision assessment and 8 service availability and readiness assessment surveys. In 10 service provision assessment surveys, child consultations with health-care providers were observed, giving data on antibiotic use in 22 699 children. Antibiotics were classified as access, watch or reserve, according to the World Health Organization's AWaRe categories. The percentage of health-care facilities across countries with specific antibiotics available and the proportion of children receiving antibiotics for key clinical syndromes were estimated. Findings The surveys assessed the availability of 27 antibiotics (19 access, 7 watch, 1 unclassified). Co-trimoxazole and metronidazole were most widely available, being in stock at 89.5% (interquartile range, IQR: 11.6%) and 87.1% (IQR: 15.9%) of health facilities, respectively. In contrast, 17 other access and watch antibiotics were stocked, by fewer than a median of 50% of facilities. Of the 22 699 children observed, 60.1% (13 638) were prescribed antibiotics (mostly co-trimoxazole or amoxicillin). Children with respiratory conditions were most often prescribed antibiotics (76.1%; 8972/11 796) followed by undifferentiated fever (50.1%; 760/1518), diarrhoea (45.7%; 1293/2832) and malaria (30.3%; 352/1160). Conclusion Routine health facility surveys provided a valuable data source on the availability and use of antibiotics in low- and middle-income countries. Many access antibiotics were unavailable in a majority of most health-care facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Knowles
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, England
| | - Mike Sharland
- Paediatric Infectious Disease Research Group, St George's University London, London, England
| | - Yingfen Hsia
- Paediatric Infectious Disease Research Group, St George's University London, London, England
| | - Nicola Magrini
- Department of Essential Medicines and Health Products, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lorenzo Moja
- Department of Essential Medicines and Health Products, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Amani Siyam
- Data Analytics and Delivery for Impact Division, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Elizabeth Tayler
- Global Coordination and Partnerships Group, Antimicrobial Resistance Division, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva 27, 1211, Switzerland
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Mushi MF, Alex VG, Seugendo M, Silago V, Mshana SE. C - reactive protein and urinary tract infection due to Gram-negative bacteria in a pediatric population at a tertiary hospital, Mwanza, Tanzania. Afr Health Sci 2019; 19:3217-3224. [PMID: 32127899 PMCID: PMC7040338 DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v19i4.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Gram-negative bacteria are the major cause of urinary tract infections (UTI) in children. There is limited data on UTI systemic response as measured using C-reactive protein (CRP). Here, we report the association of CRP and UTI among children attending the Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between May and July 2017. Urine and blood were collected and processed within an hour of collection. Data were analyzed using STATA version 13. Results Of 250 enrolled children, 76(30.4%) had significant bacteriuria with 56(22.4%, 95%CI; 11.5–33.3) having gram-negative bacteria infection. There was dual growth of gram-negative bacteria in 3 patients. Escherichia coli (32.2%, 19/59) was the most frequently pathogen detected. A total of 88/250(35.2%) children had positive CRP on qualitative assay. By multinomial logistic regression, positive CRP (RRR=4.02, 95%CI: 2.1–7.7, P<0.001) and age ≤ 2years (RRR=2.4, 95%CI: 1.23–4.73, P<0.01) significantly predicted the presence of significant bacteriuria due to gram-negative enteric bacteria. Conclusion C-reactive protein was significantly positive among children with UTI due to gram-negative bacteria and those with fever. In children with age ≤ 2 years, positive CRP indicates UTI due to gram-negative enteric bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha F Mushi
- Department of Microbiology/Immunology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Science
| | - Vaileth G Alex
- Department of Microbiology/Immunology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Science
| | - Mwanaisha Seugendo
- Department of Pediatric and Child Health, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and child health
| | - Vitus Silago
- Department of Microbiology/Immunology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Science
| | - Stephen E Mshana
- Department of Microbiology/Immunology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Science
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12
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Treatment practices of households and antibiotic dispensing in medicine outlets in developing countries: The case of Ghana. Res Social Adm Pharm 2018; 14:1180-1188. [PMID: 29428578 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2018.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Antibiotic resistance, associated with inappropriate drug use, is a global public health threat. The pharmaceutical sectors in developing countries are poorly regulated leading to antibiotic sales and use without a prescription. The study documents the treatment of acute illnesses in households and the antibiotic dispensing practices of medicine sales outlets in Eastern region, Ghana. METHOD Twice-weekly illness recall visits were made to 12 households in three rural communities over eight consecutive weeks. Detailed fieldnotes were taken and analysed using a thematic approach. Quantitative counts of health events and treatment were also conducted. Dispensing practices were systematically observed and documented in three rural and three urban medicine outlets for analysis. RESULT Fever, abdominal, and respiratory symptoms were the most common causes of ill-health in the 12 households. Most (65%) medicine-use events involved self-treatment with pharmaceuticals; 40% of medicine-use events involved antibiotics, often without a prescription. Although the number of antibiotic transactions without prescription in rural medicine outlets (n = 139, 27.4%) was statistically significantly more than in urban pharmacies (n = 140, 13.5%); z = 6.7, p < .0001), the volume of antibiotics sold in pharmacies was higher. Penicillins were the most commonly dispensed antibiotics constituting 30% of antibiotic sales in urban medicine outlets and 46% in rural ones. The lack of controls in the dispensing of antibiotics, community knowledge and use of antibiotics in ways inconsistent with biomedical recommendations, poverty and perceived barriers to formal healthcare were factors that influenced the inappropriate use of antibiotics. CONCLUSION Self-medication, including antibiotic self-prescription, constitutes an integral part of healthcare in the study settings and the qualitative data provides a contextual understanding of over-the-counter antibiotic acquisition and use. Inappropriate antibiotic use is apparent in the study settings. Stricter regulation of the pharmaceutical sector, training of dispensers and evidence-based treatment guidelines, and public education are potential interventions.
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13
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Robinson ML, Manabe YC. Reducing Uncertainty for Acute Febrile Illness in Resource-Limited Settings: The Current Diagnostic Landscape. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2017; 96:1285-1295. [PMID: 28719277 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractDiagnosing the cause of acute febrile illness in resource-limited settings is important-to give the correct antimicrobials to patients who need them, to prevent unnecessary antimicrobial use, to detect emerging infectious diseases early, and to guide vaccine deployment. A variety of approaches are yielding more rapid and accurate tests that can detect more pathogens in a wider variety of settings. After decades of slow progress in diagnostics for acute febrile illness in resource-limited settings, a wave of converging advancements will enable clinicians in resource-limited settings to reduce uncertainty for the diagnosis of acute febrile illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L Robinson
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yukari C Manabe
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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14
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Masika WG, O’Meara WP, Holland TL, Armstrong J. Contribution of urinary tract infection to the burden of febrile illnesses in young children in rural Kenya. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174199. [PMID: 28323886 PMCID: PMC5360311 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The clinical features of UTI in young children may not localize to the urinary tract and closely resemble other febrile illnesses. In malaria endemic areas, a child presenting with fever is often treated presumptively for malaria without investigation for UTI. Delayed or inadequate treatment of UTI increases the risk of bacteremia and renal scarring in young children and subsequently complications as hypertension and end stage renal disease in adulthood. METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried out in a hospital in western Kenya. Inpatients and outpatients 2 months to five years with axillary temperature ≥37.5°C and no antibiotic use in the previous week were enrolled between September 2012 and April 2013. Urine dipstick tests, microscopy, and cultures were done and susceptibility patterns to commonly prescribed antibiotics established. UTI was defined as presence of pyuria (a positive urine dipstick or microscopy test) plus a positive urine culture. RESULTS A total of 260 subjects were recruited; 45.8% were female and the median age was 25months (IQR: 13, 43.5). The overall prevalence of UTI was 11.9%. Inpatients had a higher prevalence compared to outpatients (17.9% v 7.8%, p = 0.027). UTI co-existed with malaria but the association was not significant (OR 0.80, p = 0.570). The most common organisms isolated were Escherichia coli (64.5%) and Staphylococcus aureus (12.9%) and were sensitive to ciproflaxin, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, gentamycin and nitrofurantoin but largely resistant to more commonly used antibiotics such as ampicillin (0%), amoxicillin (16.7%), cotrimoxazole (16.7%) and amoxicillin-clavulinate (25%). CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates UTI contributes significantly to the burden of febrile illness in young children and often co-exists with other infections. Multi-drug resistant organisms are common therefore choice of antimicrobial therapy should be based on local sensitivity pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wechuli Geoffrey Masika
- Department of Family Medicine, Webuye Sub-County Hospital, Webuye, Kenya
- Department of Family Medicine, Kabarak University, Kabarak, Kenya
| | - Wendy Prudhomme O’Meara
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- School of Public Health, Moi University College of Health Sciences, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Thomas L. Holland
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Janice Armstrong
- Department of Family Medicine, Webuye Sub-County Hospital, Webuye, Kenya
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15
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Kabwama SN, Bulage L, Nsubuga F, Pande G, Oguttu DW, Mafigiri R, Kihembo C, Kwesiga B, Masiira B, Okullo AE, Kajumbula H, Matovu JKB, Makumbi I, Wetaka M, Kasozi S, Kyazze S, Dahlke M, Hughes P, Sendagala JN, Musenero M, Nabukenya I, Hill VR, Mintz E, Routh J, Gómez G, Bicknese A, Zhu BP. A large and persistent outbreak of typhoid fever caused by consuming contaminated water and street-vended beverages: Kampala, Uganda, January - June 2015. BMC Public Health 2017; 17:23. [PMID: 28056940 PMCID: PMC5216563 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-4002-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background On 6 February 2015, Kampala city authorities alerted the Ugandan Ministry of Health of a “strange disease” that killed one person and sickened dozens. We conducted an epidemiologic investigation to identify the nature of the disease, mode of transmission, and risk factors to inform timely and effective control measures. Methods We defined a suspected case as onset of fever (≥37.5 °C) for more than 3 days with abdominal pain, headache, negative malaria test or failed anti-malaria treatment, and at least 2 of the following: diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, constipation, fatigue. A probable case was defined as a suspected case with a positive TUBEX® TF test. A confirmed case had blood culture yielding Salmonella Typhi. We conducted a case-control study to compare exposures of 33 suspected case-patients and 78 controls, and tested water and juice samples. Results From 17 February–12 June, we identified 10,230 suspected, 1038 probable, and 51 confirmed cases. Approximately 22.58% (7/31) of case-patients and 2.56% (2/78) of controls drank water sold in small plastic bags (ORM-H = 8.90; 95%CI = 1.60–49.00); 54.54% (18/33) of case-patients and 19.23% (15/78) of controls consumed locally-made drinks (ORM-H = 4.60; 95%CI: 1.90–11.00). All isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone. Water and juice samples exhibited evidence of fecal contamination. Conclusion Contaminated water and street-vended beverages were likely vehicles of this outbreak. At our recommendation authorities closed unsafe water sources and supplied safe water to affected areas. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-4002-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Ndugwa Kabwama
- Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Field Epidemiology Track, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Lilian Bulage
- Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Field Epidemiology Track, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Fred Nsubuga
- Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Field Epidemiology Track, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Gerald Pande
- Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Field Epidemiology Track, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - David Were Oguttu
- Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Field Epidemiology Track, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Richardson Mafigiri
- Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Field Epidemiology Track, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Christine Kihembo
- Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Field Epidemiology Track, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Benon Kwesiga
- Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Field Epidemiology Track, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ben Masiira
- Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Field Epidemiology Track, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Allen Eva Okullo
- Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Field Epidemiology Track, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Henry Kajumbula
- Makerere University College of Health Science Microbiology Laboratory, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Issa Makumbi
- Public Health Emergency Operations Center, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Milton Wetaka
- Public Health Emergency Operations Center, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Sam Kasozi
- Public Health Emergency Operations Center, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Simon Kyazze
- Public Health Emergency Operations Center, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Melissa Dahlke
- Public Health Emergency Operations Center, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Monica Musenero
- Epidemiology and Surveillance Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Vincent R Hill
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Eric Mintz
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Janell Routh
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Gerardo Gómez
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Amelia Bicknese
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Bao-Ping Zhu
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kampala, Uganda
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16
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Saweri OPM, Hetzel MW, Mueller I, Siba PM, Pulford J. The treatment of non-malarial febrile illness in Papua New Guinea: findings from cross sectional and longitudinal studies of health worker practice. BMC Health Serv Res 2017; 17:10. [PMID: 28056949 PMCID: PMC5217620 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-016-1965-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Papua New Guinea Department of Health recently shifted from a presumptive to a ‘test and treat’ malaria case management policy. This shift was supported by the widespread introduction of malaria rapid diagnostic tests in health facilities across the country. Health workers received training and job-aids detailing how to conduct and interpret a malaria rapid diagnostic test and how to treat test positive cases; however, little instruction on treating non-malaria febrile cases was provided. Accordingly, this study examined health worker case management of non-malarial febrile patients in the 12-month period immediately following the introduction of the revised malaria case management policy. Methods Data were collected from a country-wide cross-sectional survey of febrile case management at randomly selected health facilities and from longitudinal surveillance at sentinel health facilities. Analysis was restricted to febrile patients who tested negative for malaria infection by rapid diagnostic test (N=303 and 5705 outpatients, respectively). Results and Discussion 96.8% of non-malarial febrile patients received a diagnosis in the longitudinal sample, compared to 52.4% of the cross-sectional sample. Respiratory tract infections were the most commonly reported diagnoses. Over 90% of patients in both samples were prescribed one or more medications, most commonly an analgesic (71.3 & 72.9% of the longitudinal and cross-sectional samples, respectively), some form of antibiotic (72.7 & 73.4%, respectively) and/or an anthelminthic (17.9 & 16.5%, respectively). Prescribing behaviour was adherent with the recommendations in the standard treatment guidelines in fewer than 20% of cases (longitudinal sample only). Conclusion Many non-malarial febrile patients are not provided with a diagnosis. When diagnoses are provided they are typically some form of respiratory tract infection. Antibiotics and analgesics are widely prescribed, although medications prescribed rarely adhere to the Papua New Guinea standard treatment guidelines. These findings indicate that Papua New Guinea health workers require support for non-malarial febrile illness case management. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12913-016-1965-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga P M Saweri
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR), PO Box 60, Goroka, EHP 441, Papua New Guinea
| | - Manuel W Hetzel
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, PO Box, 4002, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4003, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ivo Mueller
- Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain.,Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Peter M Siba
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR), PO Box 60, Goroka, EHP 441, Papua New Guinea
| | - Justin Pulford
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR), PO Box 60, Goroka, EHP 441, Papua New Guinea. .,Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
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17
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Dittrich S, Tadesse BT, Moussy F, Chua A, Zorzet A, Tängdén T, Dolinger DL, Page AL, Crump JA, D’Acremont V, Bassat Q, Lubell Y, Newton PN, Heinrich N, Rodwell TJ, González IJ. Target Product Profile for a Diagnostic Assay to Differentiate between Bacterial and Non-Bacterial Infections and Reduce Antimicrobial Overuse in Resource-Limited Settings: An Expert Consensus. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161721. [PMID: 27559728 PMCID: PMC4999186 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute fever is one of the most common presenting symptoms globally. In order to reduce the empiric use of antimicrobial drugs and improve outcomes, it is essential to improve diagnostic capabilities. In the absence of microbiology facilities in low-income settings, an assay to distinguish bacterial from non-bacterial causes would be a critical first step. To ensure that patient and market needs are met, the requirements of such a test should be specified in a target product profile (TPP). To identify minimal/optimal characteristics for a bacterial vs. non-bacterial fever test, experts from academia and international organizations with expertise in infectious diseases, diagnostic test development, laboratory medicine, global health, and health economics were convened. Proposed TPPs were reviewed by this working group, and consensus characteristics were defined. The working group defined non-severely ill, non-malaria infected children as the target population for the desired assay. To provide access to the most patients, the test should be deployable to community health centers and informal health settings, and staff should require <2 days of training to perform the assay. Further, given that the aim is to reduce inappropriate antimicrobial use as well as to deliver appropriate treatment for patients with bacterial infections, the group agreed on minimal diagnostic performance requirements of >90% and >80% for sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Other key characteristics, to account for the challenging environment at which the test is targeted, included: i) time-to-result <10 min (but maximally <2 hrs); ii) storage conditions at 0–40°C, ≤90% non-condensing humidity with a minimal shelf life of 12 months; iii) operational conditions of 5–40°C, ≤90% non-condensing humidity; and iv) minimal sample collection needs (50–100μL, capillary blood). This expert approach to define assay requirements for a bacterial vs. non-bacterial assay should guide product development, and enable targeted and timely efforts by industry partners and academic institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Dittrich
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), 9 Chemin des Mines, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Birkneh Tilahun Tadesse
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), 9 Chemin des Mines, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
- Special Programme for Research & Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland
- Hawassa University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Francis Moussy
- World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland
| | - Arlene Chua
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anna Zorzet
- ReAct Europe, Uppsala University, Box 256, 751 05, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Thomas Tängdén
- ReAct Europe, Uppsala University, Box 256, 751 05, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - David L. Dolinger
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), 9 Chemin des Mines, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
- World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anne-Laure Page
- Epidemiology and Population Health, Epicentre, Paris, France
| | - John A. Crump
- Centre for International Health, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
- Duke Global Health Institute, Box 90519, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Box 102359, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, United States of America
| | - Valerie D’Acremont
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ambulatory Care and Community Medicine, University of Lausanne, Bugnon 44, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Quique Bassat
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic—Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Yoel Lubell
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Paul N. Newton
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Vientiane, Lao PDR
| | - Norbert Heinrich
- Division for Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Center of the University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research, Munich partner site, Leopoldstr 5, D-80802, Munich, Germany
| | - Timothy J. Rodwell
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), 9 Chemin des Mines, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Iveth J. González
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), 9 Chemin des Mines, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
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18
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Johansson EW, Selling KE, Nsona H, Mappin B, Gething PW, Petzold M, Peterson SS, Hildenwall H. Integrated paediatric fever management and antibiotic over-treatment in Malawi health facilities: data mining a national facility census. Malar J 2016; 15:396. [PMID: 27488343 PMCID: PMC4972956 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1439-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There are growing concerns about irrational antibiotic prescription practices in the era of test-based malaria case management. This study assessed integrated paediatric fever management using malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) guidelines, including the relationship between RDT-negative results and antibiotic over-treatment in Malawi health facilities in 2013–2014. Methods A Malawi national facility census included 1981 observed sick children aged 2–59 months with fever complaints. Weighted frequencies were tabulated for other complaints, assessments and prescriptions for RDT-confirmed malaria, IMCI-classified non-severe pneumonia, and clinical diarrhoea. Classification trees using model-based recursive partitioning estimated the association between RDT results and antibiotic over-treatment and learned the influence of 38 other input variables at patient-, provider- and facility-levels. Results Among 1981 clients, 72 % were tested or referred for malaria diagnosis and 85 % with RDT-confirmed malaria were prescribed first-line anti-malarials. Twenty-eight percent with IMCI-pneumonia were not prescribed antibiotics (under-treatment) and 59 % ‘without antibiotic need’ were prescribed antibiotics (over-treatment). Few clients had respiratory rates counted to identify antibiotic need for IMCI-pneumonia (18 %). RDT-negative children had 16.8 (95 % CI 8.6–32.7) times higher antibiotic over-treatment odds compared to RDT-positive cases conditioned by cough or difficult breathing complaints. Conclusions Integrated paediatric fever management was sub-optimal for completed assessments and antibiotic targeting despite common compliance to malaria treatment guidelines. RDT-negative results were strongly associated with antibiotic over-treatment conditioned by cough or difficult breathing complaints. A shift from malaria-focused ‘test and treat’ strategies toward ‘IMCI with testing’ is needed to improve quality fever care and rational use of both anti-malarials and antibiotics in line with recent global commitments to combat resistance. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1439-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily White Johansson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, International Maternal and Child Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Katarina Ekholm Selling
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, International Maternal and Child Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Humphreys Nsona
- Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) Unit, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Bonnie Mappin
- Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Peter W Gething
- Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Max Petzold
- The Sahlgrenska Academy, Center for Applied Biostatistics, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Stefan Swartling Peterson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, International Maternal and Child Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Global Health-Health Systems and Policy Research Group, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Helena Hildenwall
- Global Health-Health Systems and Policy Research Group, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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19
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Pulford J, Smith I, Mueller I, Siba PM, Hetzel MW. Health Worker Compliance with a 'Test And Treat' Malaria Case Management Protocol in Papua New Guinea. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0158780. [PMID: 27391594 PMCID: PMC4938505 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Department of Health introduced a ‘test and treat’ malaria case management protocol in 2011. This study assesses health worker compliance with the test and treat protocol on a wide range of measures, examines self-reported barriers to health worker compliance as well as health worker attitudes towards the test and treat protocol. Data were collected by cross-sectional survey conducted in randomly selected primary health care facilities in 2012 and repeated in 2014. The combined survey data included passive observation of current or recently febrile patients (N = 771) and interviewer administered questionnaires completed with health workers (N = 265). Across the two surveys, 77.6% of patients were tested for malaria infection by rapid diagnostic test (RDT) or microscopy, 65.6% of confirmed malaria cases were prescribed the correct antimalarials and 15.3% of febrile patients who tested negative for malaria infection were incorrectly prescribed an antimalarial. Overall compliance with a strictly defined test and treat protocol was 62.8%. A reluctance to test current/recently febrile patients for malaria infection by RDT or microscopy in the absence of acute malaria symptoms, reserving recommended antimalarials for confirmed malaria cases only and choosing to clinically diagnose a malaria infection, despite a negative RDT result were the most frequently reported barriers to protocol compliance. Attitudinal support for the test and treat protocol, as assessed by a nine-item measure, improved across time. In conclusion, health worker compliance with the full test and treat malaria protocol requires improvement in PNG and additional health worker support will likely be required to achieve this. The broader evidence base would suggest any such support should be delivered over a longer period of time, be multi-dimensional and multi-modal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Pulford
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Iso Smith
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
| | - Ivo Mueller
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia
- Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Peter M. Siba
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
| | - Manuel W. Hetzel
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Altaras R, Nuwa A, Agaba B, Streat E, Tibenderana JK, Strachan CE. Why do health workers give anti-malarials to patients with negative rapid test results? A qualitative study at rural health facilities in western Uganda. Malar J 2016; 15:23. [PMID: 26754484 PMCID: PMC4709931 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-1020-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2015] [Accepted: 11/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The large-scale introduction of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) promises to improve management of fever patients and the rational use of valuable anti-malarials. However, evidence on the impact of RDT introduction on the overprescription of anti-malarials has been mixed. This study explored determinants of provider decision-making to prescribe anti-malarials following a negative RDT result. METHODS A qualitative study was conducted in a rural district in mid-western Uganda in 2011, ten months after RDT introduction. Prescriptions for all patients with negative RDT results were first audited from outpatient registers for a two month period at all facilities using RDTs (n = 30). Facilities were then ranked according to overall prescribing performance, defined as the proportion of patients with a negative RDT result prescribed any anti-malarial. Positive and negative deviant facilities were sampled for qualitative investigation; positive deviants (n = 5) were defined ex post facto as <0.75% and negative deviants (n = 7) as >5%. All prescribing clinicians were targeted for qualitative observation and in-depth interview; 55 fever cases were observed and 22 providers interviewed. Thematic analysis followed the 'framework' approach. RESULTS 8344 RDT-negative patients were recorded at the 30 facilities (prescription audit); 339 (4.06%) were prescribed an anti-malarial. Of the 55 observed patients, 38 tested negative; one of these was prescribed an anti-malarial. Treatment decision-making was influenced by providers' clinical beliefs, capacity constraints, and perception of patient demands. Although providers generally trusted the accuracy of RDTs, anti-malarial prescription was driven by perceptions of treatment failure or undetectable malaria in patients who had already taken artemisinin-based combination therapy prior to facility arrival. Patient assessment and other diagnostic practices were minimal and providers demonstrated limited ability to identify alternative causes of fever. Provider perceptions of patient expectations sometimes appeared to influence treatment decisions. CONCLUSIONS The study found high provider adherence to RDT results, but that providers believed in certain clinical exceptions and felt they lacked alternative options. Guidance on how the RDT works and testing following partial treatment, better methods for assisting providers in diagnostic decision-making, and a context-appropriate provider behaviour change intervention package are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Altaras
- Malaria Consortium, Plot 25 Upper Naguru East Road, PO Box 8045, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Anthony Nuwa
- Malaria Consortium, Plot 25 Upper Naguru East Road, PO Box 8045, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Bosco Agaba
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Elizabeth Streat
- Malaria Consortium, Plot 25 Upper Naguru East Road, PO Box 8045, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - James K Tibenderana
- Malaria Consortium, Plot 25 Upper Naguru East Road, PO Box 8045, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Clare E Strachan
- Malaria Consortium, Plot 25 Upper Naguru East Road, PO Box 8045, Kampala, Uganda.
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Baiden F, Malm K, Bart-Plange C, Hodgson A, Chandramohan D, Webster J, Owusu-Agyei S. Shifting from presumptive to test-based management of malaria - technical basis and implications for malaria control in Ghana. Ghana Med J 2015; 48:112-22. [PMID: 25667560 DOI: 10.4314/gmj.v48i2.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The presumptive approach was the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended to the management of malaria for many years and this was incorporated into syndromic guidelines such as the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI). In early 2010 however, WHO issued revised treatment guidelines that call for a shift from the presumptive to the test-based approach. Practically, this implies that in all suspected cases, the diagnosis of uncomplicated malaria should be confirmed using rapid test before treatment is initiated. This revision effectively brings to an end an era of clinical practice that span several years. Its implementation has important implications for the health systems in malaria-endemic countries. On the basis of research in Ghana and other countries, and evidence from program work, the Ghana National Malaria Control Program has issued revised national treatment guidelines that call for implementation of test-based management of malaria in all cases, and across all age groups. This article reviews the evidence and the technical basis for the shift to test-based management and examines the implications for malaria control in Ghana.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Baiden
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Ghana
| | - K Malm
- National Malaria Control Program, Ghana Health Service, Ghana
| | - C Bart-Plange
- National Malaria Control Program, Ghana Health Service, Ghana
| | - A Hodgson
- Health Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Ghana
| | - D Chandramohan
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, U.K
| | - J Webster
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, U.K
| | - S Owusu-Agyei
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Ghana
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Ndhlovu M, Nkhama E, Miller JM, Hamer DH. Antibiotic prescribing practices for patients with fever in the transition from presumptive treatment of malaria to 'confirm and treat' in Zambia: a cross-sectional study. Trop Med Int Health 2015; 20:1696-706. [PMID: 26311240 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate antibiotic use among patients presenting to primary healthcare facilities with febrile illness in Zambia. METHODS We analysed data from a 2011 nationwide cross-sectional health facility survey of routine malaria case management in Zambia. Patient consultation observation and medical record charts were used to calculate the proportion of febrile patients who were prescribed antibiotics, stratified by symptoms, health workers' diagnosis and malaria test results. Logistic regression was used to identify factors affecting antibiotic prescribing behaviour. RESULTS Of 872 patients presenting with fever, 651 (74.6%) were tested for malaria. Among those tested, 608 (93.4%) had analysable results; 230 (37.8%) had positive results. Antibiotics were prescribed to 69/230 (30.0%), 247/378 (65.3%) and 132/221 (59.7%) of those who tested positive, negative and those 'not tested', respectively. Furthermore, antibiotics were prescribed to 36/59 (61.0%) and 242/322 (75.1%) of those diagnosed with diarrhoea and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), respectively. Among patients prescribed any antibiotic, concurrent antimalarial prescribing occurred in 66/69 (95.6%), 32/247 (12.9%) and 19/132 (14.4%) for those with positive results, negative results and 'not tested', respectively. Respiratory symptoms, diagnosis of URTI, malaria or skin disease and level of health care in the health delivery system were associated with antibiotic prescribing. CONCLUSIONS Testing positive for malaria or receiving a malaria diagnosis was associated with reduced antibiotic prescribing, while testing negative, not being tested or a diagnosis of URTI resulted in higher rates of antibiotic prescribing. There is a need for improving diagnostic capacity for non-malaria causes of febrile illness at healthcare delivery points and limiting antibiotic use to patients with definite bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emmy Nkhama
- Chainama College of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - John M Miller
- PATH Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa, National Malaria Control Centre, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Davidson H Hamer
- Zambia Center for Applied Health Research & Development, Lusaka, Zambia.,Center for Global Health & Development, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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New Algorithm for Managing Childhood Illness Using Mobile Technology (ALMANACH): A Controlled Non-Inferiority Study on Clinical Outcome and Antibiotic Use in Tanzania. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132316. [PMID: 26161535 PMCID: PMC4498627 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The decline of malaria and scale-up of rapid diagnostic tests calls for a revision of IMCI. A new algorithm (ALMANACH) running on mobile technology was developed based on the latest evidence. The objective was to ensure that ALMANACH was safe, while keeping a low rate of antibiotic prescription. Methods Consecutive children aged 2–59 months with acute illness were managed using ALMANACH (2 intervention facilities), or standard practice (2 control facilities) in Tanzania. Primary outcomes were proportion of children cured at day 7 and who received antibiotics on day 0. Results 130/842 (15∙4%) in ALMANACH and 241/623 (38∙7%) in control arm were diagnosed with an infection in need for antibiotic, while 3∙8% and 9∙6% had malaria. 815/838 (97∙3%;96∙1–98.4%) were cured at D7 using ALMANACH versus 573/623 (92∙0%;89∙8–94∙1%) using standard practice (p<0∙001). Of 23 children not cured at D7 using ALMANACH, 44% had skin problems, 30% pneumonia, 26% upper respiratory infection and 13% likely viral infection at D0. Secondary hospitalization occurred for one child using ALMANACH and one who eventually died using standard practice. At D0, antibiotics were prescribed to 15∙4% (12∙9–17∙9%) using ALMANACH versus 84∙3% (81∙4–87∙1%) using standard practice (p<0∙001). 2∙3% (1∙3–3.3) versus 3∙2% (1∙8–4∙6%) received an antibiotic secondarily. Conclusion Management of children using ALMANACH improve clinical outcome and reduce antibiotic prescription by 80%. This was achieved through more accurate diagnoses and hence better identification of children in need of antibiotic treatment or not. The building on mobile technology allows easy access and rapid update of the decision chart. Trial Registration Pan African Clinical Trials Registry PACTR201011000262218
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Gendrin M, Rodgers FH, Yerbanga RS, Ouédraogo JB, Basáñez MG, Cohuet A, Christophides GK. Antibiotics in ingested human blood affect the mosquito microbiota and capacity to transmit malaria. Nat Commun 2015; 6:5921. [PMID: 25562286 PMCID: PMC4338536 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria reduction is most efficiently achieved by vector control whereby human populations at high risk of contracting and transmitting the disease are protected from mosquito bites. Here, we identify the presence of antibiotics in the blood of malaria-infected people as a new risk of increasing disease transmission. We show that antibiotics in ingested blood enhance the susceptibility of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes to malaria infection by disturbing their gut microbiota. This effect is confirmed in a semi-natural setting by feeding mosquitoes with blood of children naturally infected with Plasmodium falciparum. Antibiotic exposure additionally increases mosquito survival and fecundity, which are known to augment vectorial capacity. These findings suggest that malaria transmission may be exacerbated in areas of high antibiotic usage, and that regions targeted by mass drug administration programs against communicable diseases may necessitate increased vector control. The gut microbiota of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes contributes to the insects’ resistance to the parasite. Here, Gendrin et al. show that antibiotics in ingested human blood alter the mosquito gut microbiota and increase the insect’s survival, fecundity and susceptibility to the parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Gendrin
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Faye H Rodgers
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Rakiswendé S Yerbanga
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, 01 BP 545, Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso
| | - Jean Bosco Ouédraogo
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, 01 BP 545, Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso
| | - María-Gloria Basáñez
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Anna Cohuet
- 1] Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, 01 BP 545, Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso [2] Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unité MIVEGEC, 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - George K Christophides
- 1] Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK [2] The Cyprus Institute, 2121 Nicosia, Cyprus
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Feleke SM, Animut A, Belay M. Prevalence of malaria among acute febrile patients clinically suspected of having malaria in the Zeway Health Center, Ethiopia. Jpn J Infect Dis 2014; 68:55-9. [PMID: 25420658 DOI: 10.7883/yoken.jjid.2013.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Malaria diagnosis is a common challenge in developing countries with limited diagnostic services. Common febrile illnesses were assessed in 280 malaria-suspected patients, and each case was subjected to clinical and laboratory examinations for malaria, relapsing fever, typhoid fever, typhus, and brucellosis. Data were entered and analyzed using Epi Info version 3.1 software. Malaria accounted for 17% (CI, 12.6-21.4%) of febrile illnesses. The remaining cases were associated with typhoid fever (18.5%; CI, 13.95-23.05%), typhus (17.8%; CI, 13.32-22.28%), brucellosis (1%; CI, -0.17-2.17%), relapsing fever (2%; CI, 0.36-3.64%), and unknown causes (44%). Approximately 7% of patients had coinfections, and 2% of patients treated as monoinfections. Approximately 1.4% of the nonmalarial patients received antimalarial treatment. The sensitivity and specificity of the CareStart Pf/pan rapid diagnostic tests in comparison with those of microscopy were 100% and 91%, respectively, with positive- and negative-predictive values of 94% and 100%, respectively. Compared with microscopy, the positive-predictive value of each malaria symptom was much lower than that of the symptoms combined: fever, 17%; sweating, 30%; headache, 18%; general body ache, 22%; loss of appetite, 21%. The study findings revealed a high proportion of nonmalarial illnesses were clinically categorized as malaria. Parasite-based diagnosis is recommended for the management of malarial and nonmalarial cases.
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Sahu R, Walker LA, Tekwani BL. In vitro and in vivo anti-malarial activity of tigecycline, a glycylcycline antibiotic, in combination with chloroquine. Malar J 2014; 13:414. [PMID: 25336038 PMCID: PMC4216846 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 10/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several antibiotics have shown promising anti-malarial effects and have been useful for malarial chemotherapy, particularly in combination with standard anti-malarial drugs. Tigecycline, a semi-synthetic derivative of minocycline with a unique and novel mechanism of action, is the first clinically available drug in a new class of glycylcycline antibiotics. METHODS Tigecycline was tested in vitro against chloroquine (CQ)-sensitive (D6) and resistant strains (W2) of Plasmodium falciparum alone and in combination with CQ. Tigecycline was also tested in vivo in combination with CQ in Plasmodium berghei-mouse malaria model for parasitaemia suppression, survival and cure of the malaria infection. RESULTS Tigecycline was significantly more active against CQ-resistant (W2) than CQ-susceptible (D6) strain of P. falciparum. Tigecycline potentiated the anti-malarial action of CQ against the CQ-resistant strain of P. falciparum by more than seven-fold. Further, treatment of mice infected with P. berghei with tigecycline (ip) produced significant suppression in parasitaemia development and also prolonged the mean survival time. Treatment with as low as 3.7 mg/kg dose of tigecycline, once daily for four days, produced 77-91% suppression in parasitaemia. In vivo treatment with tigecycline in combination with subcurative doses of CQ produced complete cure in P. berghei-infected mice. CONCLUSION Results indicate prominent anti-malarial action of tigecycline in vitro and in vivo in combination with CQ and support further evaluation of tigecycline as a potential combination candidate for treatment of drug-resistant cases of malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Babu L Tekwani
- National Center for Natural Product Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA.
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Webster J, Baiden F, Bawah J, Bruce J, Tivura M, Delmini R, Amenga-Etego S, Chandramohan D, Owusu-Agyei S. Management of febrile children under five years in hospitals and health centres of rural Ghana. Malar J 2014; 13:261. [PMID: 25008574 PMCID: PMC4114131 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2014] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The case management of febrile children in hospitals' and health centres' pre-roll out of the new WHO policy on parasitological diagnosis was assessed. The delivery of artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) at these two levels of the health system was compared. METHODS Structured observations and exit interviews of 1,222 febrile children attending five hospitals and 861 attending ten health centres were conducted in six districts of the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. Effectiveness of delivery of case management of malaria was assessed. Proportions of children receiving ACT, anti-malarial monotherapy and antibiotics were described. Predictors of: a febrile child being given an ACT, a febrile child being given an antibiotic and of carers knowing how to correctly administer the ACT were assessed using logistic regression models stratified by hospitals and health centres. RESULTS The system's effectiveness of delivering an ACT to febrile children diagnosed with malaria (parasitologically or clinically) was 31.4 and 42.4% in hospitals and health centres, respectively. The most ineffective process was that of ensuring that carers knew how to correctly administer the ACT. Overall 278 children who were not given an ACT were treated with anti-malarial monotherapy other than quinine. The majority of these children, 232/278 were given amodiaquine, 139 of these were children attending hospitals and 93 attending health centres. The cadre of health staff conducting consultation was a common predictor of the outcomes of interest. Presenting symptoms and examinations conducted were predictive of being given an ACT in hospitals and antibiotic in hospitals and health centres but not of being given an ACT in health centres. Treatment-seeking factors were predictive of being given an ACT if it was more than seven days since the fever began and an antibiotic in hospitals but not in health centres. CONCLUSION Interventions to improve adherence to negative parasitological tests are needed, together with guidance on dispensing of antibiotics, but improving the education of carers on how to administer ACT will lead to the greatest immediate increase in the effectiveness of case management. Guidance is needed on implementation of the new test-based treatment for malaria policy in health facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayne Webster
- Disease Control Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
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Kilonzo SB, Kamugisha E, Downs JA, Kataraihya J, Onesmo R, Mheta K, Jeong JM, Verweij JJ, Fitzgerald DW, Peck RN. Malaria among adult inpatients in two Tanzanian referral hospitals: a prospective study. Acta Trop 2014; 134:95-100. [PMID: 24657845 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2013] [Revised: 02/25/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Most malaria research in sub-Saharan Africa has focused on children and pregnant women, but malaria among hospitalized adults in this region is poorly characterized. In this prospective study, we assessed the prevalence and clinical characteristics of malaria among the inpatient adults in two hospitals in Tanzania. We enrolled adults admitted with suspected malaria and performed routine thick blood smear (BS) and malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDT). We also assessed malaria parasite clearance rates. We considered malaria status 'confirmed' or 'excluded' only in patients with two concordant tests. Malaria polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed in a subset of patients with discordant BS and RDT. After BS and RDT were performed on 579 adults with suspected malaria, malaria was excluded in 458/579 (79.1%) and confirmed in 16/579 (2.8%). One hundred and five out of 579 (18.1%) had discordant results. The prevalences of positive BS and positive RDT were 102/579 (17.6%) and 35/579 (6.0%), respectively, with only fair agreement (Kappa=0.354, p<0.0001). PCR results agreed with RDT in 35/35 (100%) of patients with a negative RDT but positive BS. PCR results also agreed with RDT in 9/13 (69.2%) of cases with a positive RDT but negative BS. Clinical correlates of malaria by multivariable analysis included subjective fever (OR 3.6 [1.0-12.3], p=0.04), headache (OR 3.1 [1.2-8.0], p=0.02) and vomiting (OR 2.7 [1.2-6.4], p=0.02). Malaria parasite clearance was significantly delayed in the HIV-infected group. Our study demonstrated only fair agreement between RDT and BS malaria tests among Tanzanian adult inpatients with suspected malaria. PCR generally agreed with RDT results. HIV was associated with delayed parasite clearance in adults with malaria. We recommend the routine use of RDTs for malaria diagnosis among adults admitted to hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semvua B Kilonzo
- Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania; Bugando Medical Centre, PO Box 1370, Mwanza, Tanzania.
| | - Erasmus Kamugisha
- Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Jennifer A Downs
- Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania; Bugando Medical Centre, PO Box 1370, Mwanza, Tanzania; Weill Cornell Medical College, NY, USA
| | - Johannes Kataraihya
- Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania; Bugando Medical Centre, PO Box 1370, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | | | - Koy Mheta
- Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania; Bugando Medical Centre, PO Box 1370, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | | | - Jaco J Verweij
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, St. Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | | | - Robert N Peck
- Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania; Bugando Medical Centre, PO Box 1370, Mwanza, Tanzania; Weill Cornell Medical College, NY, USA
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Prins HAB, Mugo P, Wahome E, Mwashigadi G, Thiong'o A, Smith A, Sanders EJ, Graham SM. Diagnosing acute and prevalent HIV-1 infection in young African adults seeking care for fever: a systematic review and audit of current practice. Int Health 2014; 6:82-92. [PMID: 24842982 PMCID: PMC4049276 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihu024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Fever is a common complaint in HIV-1 infected adults and may be a presenting sign of acute HIV-1 infection (AHI). We investigated the extent to which HIV-1 infection was considered in the diagnostic evaluation of febrile adults in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) through a systematic review of published literature and guidelines in the period 2003–2014. We also performed a detailed audit of current practice for the evaluation of febrile young adults in coastal Kenya. Our review identified 43 studies investigating the aetiology of fever in adult outpatients in SSA. While the guidelines identified recommend testing for HIV-1 infection, none mentioned AHI. In our audit of current practice at nine health facilities, only 189 out of 1173 (16.1%) patients, aged 18–29 years, were tested for HIV-1. In a detailed record review, only 2 out of 39 (5.1%) young adults seeking care for fever were tested for HIV-1, and the possibility of AHI was not mentioned. Available literature on adult outpatients presenting with fever is heavily focused on diagnosing malaria and guidelines are poorly defined in terms of evaluating aetiologies other than malaria. Current practice in coastal Kenya shows poor uptake of provider-initiated HIV-1 testing and AHI is not currently considered in the differential diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrieke A B Prins
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Peter Mugo
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Elizabeth Wahome
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Grace Mwashigadi
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Alexander Thiong'o
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Adrian Smith
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Eduard J Sanders
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Susan M Graham
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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Means AR, Weaver MR, Burnett SM, Mbonye MK, Naikoba S, McClelland RS. Correlates of inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics to patients with malaria in Uganda. PLoS One 2014; 9:e90179. [PMID: 24587264 PMCID: PMC3938663 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In many rural areas of Uganda, febrile patients presenting to health facilities are prescribed both antimalarials and antibiotics, contributing to the overuse of antibiotics. We identified the prevalence and correlates of inappropriate antibiotic management of patients with confirmed malaria. Methods We utilized individual outpatient data from 36 health centers from January to September 2011. We identified patients who were prescribed antibiotics without an appropriate clinical indication, as well as patients who were not prescribed antibiotics when treatment was clinically indicated. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify clinical and operational factors associated with inappropriate case management. Findings Of the 45,591 patients with parasitological diagnosis of malaria, 40,870 (90%) did not have a clinical indication for antibiotic treatment. Within this group, 17,152 (42%) were inappropriately prescribed antibiotics. The odds of inappropriate prescribing were higher if the patient was less than five years old (aOR 1.96, 95% CI 1.75–2.19) and if the health provider had the fewest years of training (aOR 1.86, 95% CI 1.05–3.29). The odds of inappropriate prescribing were lower if patients had emergency triage status (aOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.59–0.96) or were HIV positive (aOR 0.31, 95% CI 0.20–0.45). Of the 4,721 (10%) patients with clinical indications for antibiotic treatment, 521 (11%) were inappropriately not prescribed antibiotics. Clinical officers were less likely than medical officers to inappropriately withhold antibiotics (aOR 0.54, 95% CI 0.29–0.98). Conclusion Over 40% of the antibiotic treatment in malaria positive patients is prescribed despite a lack of documented clinical indication. In addition, over 10% of patients with malaria and a clinical indication for antibiotics do not receive them. These findings should inform facility-level trainings and interventions to optimize patient care and slow trends of rising antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Rubin Means
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Marcia R. Weaver
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Sarah M. Burnett
- Accordia Global Health Foundation, Washington DC, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Martin K. Mbonye
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sarah Naikoba
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - R. Scott McClelland
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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Evaluation of in-hospital management for febrile illness in Northern Tanzania before and after 2010 World Health Organization Guidelines for the treatment of malaria. PLoS One 2014; 9:e89814. [PMID: 24587056 PMCID: PMC3933647 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2013] [Accepted: 01/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective In 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) published updated guidelines emphasizing and expanding recommendations for a parasitological confirmation of malaria before treating with antimalarials. This study aimed to assess differences in historic (2007–2008) (cohort 1) and recent (2011–2012) (cohort 2) hospital cohorts in the diagnosis and treatment of febrile illness in a low malaria prevalence area of northern Tanzania. Materials and Methods We analyzed data from two prospective cohort studies that enrolled febrile adolescents and adults aged ≥13 years. All patients received quality-controlled aerobic blood cultures and malaria smears. We compared patients' discharge diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes to assess changes in the treatment of malaria and bacterial infections. Results In total, 595 febrile inpatients were enrolled from two referral hospitals in Moshi, Tanzania. Laboratory-confirmed malaria was detected in 13 (3.2%) of 402 patients in cohort 1 and 1 (0.5%) of 193 patients in cohort 2 (p = 0.041). Antimalarials were prescribed to 201 (51.7%) of 389 smear-negative patients in cohort 1 and 97 (50.5%) of 192 smear-negative patients in cohort 2 (p = 0.794). Bacteremia was diagnosed from standard blood culture in 58 (14.5%) of 401 patients in cohort 1 compared to 18 (9.5%) of 190 patients in cohort 2 (p = 0.091). In cohort 1, 40 (69.0%) of 58 patients with a positive blood culture received antibacterials compared to 16 (88.9%) of 18 patients in cohort 2 (p = 0.094). In cohort 1, 43 (10.8%) of the 399 patients with known outcomes died during hospitalization compared with 12 (6.2%) deaths among 193 patients in cohort 2 (p = 0.073). Discussion In a setting of low malaria transmission, a high proportion of smear-negative patients were diagnosed with malaria and treated with antimalarials despite updated WHO guidelines on malaria treatment. Improved laboratory diagnostics for non-malaria febrile illness might help to curb this practice.
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Effect of integrated capacity-building interventions on malaria case management by health professionals in Uganda: a mixed design study with pre/post and cluster randomized trial components. PLoS One 2014; 9:e84945. [PMID: 24416316 PMCID: PMC3885656 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2013] [Accepted: 11/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Integrated Infectious Diseases Capacity Building Evaluation (IDCAP) designed two interventions: Integrated Management of Infectious Disease (IMID) training program and On-Site Support (OSS). We evaluated their effects on 23 facility performance indicators, including malaria case management. Methodology IMID, a three-week training with two follow-up booster courses, was for two mid- level practitioners, primarily clinical officers and registered nurses, from 36 primary care facilities. OSS was two days of training and continuous quality improvement activities for nine months at 18 facilities, to which all health workers were invited to participate. Facilities were randomized as clusters 1∶1 to parallel OSS “arm A” or control “arm B”. Outpatient data on four malaria case management indicators were collected for 14 months. Analysis compared changes before and during the interventions within arms (relative risk = RR). The effect of OSS was measured with the difference in changes across arms (ratio of RR = RRR). Findings The proportion of patients with suspected malaria for whom a diagnostic test result for malaria was recorded decreased in arm B (adjusted RR (aRR) = 0.97; 99%CI: 0.82,1.14) during IMID, but increased 25% in arm A (aRR = 1.25; 99%CI:0.94, 1.65) during IMID and OSS relative to baseline; (aRRR = 1.28; 99%CI:0.93, 1.78). The estimated proportion of patients that received an appropriate antimalarial among those prescribed any antimalarial increased in arm B (aRR = 1.09; 99%CI: 0.87, 1.36) and arm A (aRR = 1.50; 99%CI: 1.04, 2.17); (aRRR = 1.38; 99%CI: 0.89, 2.13). The proportion of patients with a negative diagnostic test result for malaria prescribed an antimalarial decreased in arm B (aRR = 0.96; 99%CI: 0.84, 1.10) and arm A (aRR = 0.67; 99%CI: 0.46, 0.97); (aRRR = 0.70; 99%CI: 0.48, 1.00). The proportion of patients with a positive diagnostic test result for malaria prescribed an antibiotic did not change significantly in either arm. Interpretation The combination of IMID and OSS was associated with statistically significant improvements in malaria case management.
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Laxminarayan R, Duse A, Wattal C, Zaidi AKM, Wertheim HFL, Sumpradit N, Vlieghe E, Hara GL, Gould IM, Goossens H, Greko C, So AD, Bigdeli M, Tomson G, Woodhouse W, Ombaka E, Peralta AQ, Qamar FN, Mir F, Kariuki S, Bhutta ZA, Coates A, Bergstrom R, Wright GD, Brown ED, Cars O. Antibiotic resistance-the need for global solutions. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2013; 13:1057-98. [PMID: 24252483 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(13)70318-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2558] [Impact Index Per Article: 232.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The causes of antibiotic resistance are complex and include human behaviour at many levels of society; the consequences affect everybody in the world. Similarities with climate change are evident. Many efforts have been made to describe the many different facets of antibiotic resistance and the interventions needed to meet the challenge. However, coordinated action is largely absent, especially at the political level, both nationally and internationally. Antibiotics paved the way for unprecedented medical and societal developments, and are today indispensible in all health systems. Achievements in modern medicine, such as major surgery, organ transplantation, treatment of preterm babies, and cancer chemotherapy, which we today take for granted, would not be possible without access to effective treatment for bacterial infections. Within just a few years, we might be faced with dire setbacks, medically, socially, and economically, unless real and unprecedented global coordinated actions are immediately taken. Here, we describe the global situation of antibiotic resistance, its major causes and consequences, and identify key areas in which action is urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramanan Laxminarayan
- Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy, Washington, DC, USA; Princeton University, Princeton NJ, USA; Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India
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Kamuhabwa AAR, Silumbe R. Knowledge among drug dispensers and antimalarial drug prescribing practices in public health facilities in Dar es Salaam. Drug Healthc Patient Saf 2013; 5:181-9. [PMID: 24039454 PMCID: PMC3770886 DOI: 10.2147/dhps.s50071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Irrational prescribing and dispensing of antimalarials has been identified as a contributing factor in the emergence of malaria parasites resistant to existing antimalarial drugs. Factors that contribute to such irrational prescribing and dispensing should therefore be identified to address this problem. The aim of this study was to assess irrational antimalarial drug dispensing and prescribing practices in public health facilities. METHODS A descriptive-retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2011 in order to assess prescribing and dispensing practices for antimalarial drugs in three public hospitals and nine health centers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Thirty-two drug dispensers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. A total of 4,320 prescriptions for the period January to December 2010 were collected and assessed for antimalarial drug prescribing patterns. RESULTS The majority (84.6%) of drug dispensers had poor knowledge regarding the basic information required from patients before dispensing artemether-lumefantrine. Seventeen of 32 drug dispensers did not know the basic information that should be given to patients in order to increase absorption of artemether-lumefantrine after oral intake. Most drug dispensers also showed limited knowledge about the dosage and contraindications for artemether-lumefantrine. Eighty-seven percent of all prescriptions contained artemether-lumefantrine as the only antimalarial drug, 77.1% contained at least one analgesic, and 26.9% contained at least one antibiotic, indicating unnecessary use of analgesics and antibiotics with antimalarial drugs. A substantial number of prescriptions contained antimalarial drugs that have already been declared ineffective for the treatment of malaria in Tanzania, providing additional evidence of inadequate knowledge among health care workers concerning treatment policy. CONCLUSION Despite the government's efforts to increase public awareness regarding use of artemether-lumefantrine as first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria, there is still irrational prescribing, dispensing, and use of this combination. Based on the results of this study, it is proposed that regular on-the-job training and continuing education be provided to drug dispensers and prescribers in public health facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Appolinary AR Kamuhabwa
- Unit of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
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Bottieau E, Gillet P, De Weggheleire A, Scheirlinck A, Stokx J, Das Dores Mosse C, Jacobs J. Treatment practices in patients with suspected malaria in Provincial Hospital of Tete, Mozambique. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2013; 107:176-82. [PMID: 23382275 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trs012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nowadays, parasite-based diagnosis by microscopy or malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) is universally promoted before malaria treatment. However, studies on adherence of primary caregivers to malaria test results have provided conflicting results. METHODS The antimalarial and antibiotic prescription rates in patients with suspected malaria at Provincial Hospital of Tete, Mozambique, and the features associated with antibiotic prescription in non-severely ill parasite-negative patients were assessed. RESULTS In March and April 2010, Plasmodium falciparum malaria was diagnosed by microscopy or RDT in 728 (27.2%) of 2672 patients tested. Almost all malaria patients were prescribed antimalarials and 20% were also given antibiotics. Of 1944 parasite-negative patients, 126 (6.5%) were prescribed antimalarials and 1213 (62.4%) antibiotics. Among non-severely ill parasite-negative patients with complete information (n = 1607), the antibiotic prescription rate was 68.8% and was more frequent with respiratory symptoms and leukocyte counts >10 000/μL (adjusted OR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.18-2.23 and adjusted OR = 2.12, 95% CI 1.66-2.71, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Adherence to malaria test results was good in this reference setting, but antibiotic prescription was relatively frequent in clinically stable non-malaria patients. Optimal management of parasite-negative patients must be further defined along with programmatic deployment of the parasite-based strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Bottieau
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
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Cohen J, Fink G, Berg K, Aber F, Jordan M, Maloney K, Dickens W. Feasibility of distributing rapid diagnostic tests for malaria in the retail sector: evidence from an implementation study in Uganda. PLoS One 2012; 7:e48296. [PMID: 23152766 PMCID: PMC3495947 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2012] [Accepted: 09/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the benefits of malaria diagnosis, most presumed malaria episodes are never tested. A primary reason is the absence of diagnostic tests in retail establishments, where many patients seek care. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in drug shops hold promise for guiding appropriate treatment. However, retail providers generally lack awareness of RDTs and training to administer them. Further, unsubsidized RDTs may be unaffordable to patients and unattractive to retailers. This paper reports results from an intervention study testing the feasibility of RDT distribution in Ugandan drug shops. METHODS AND FINDINGS 92 drug shops in 58 villages were offered subsidized RDTs for sale after completing training. Data on RDT purchases, storage, administration and disposal were collected, and samples were sent for quality testing. Household surveys were conducted to capture treatment outcomes. Estimated daily RDT sales varied substantially across shops, from zero to 8.46 RDTs per days. Overall compliance with storage, treatment and disposal guidelines was excellent. All RDTs (100%) collected from shops passed quality testing. The median price charged for RDTs was 1000USH ($0.40), corresponding to a 100% markup, and the same price as blood slides in local health clinics. RDTs affected treatment decisions. RDT-positive patients were 23 percentage points more likely to buy Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACTs) (p = .005) and 33.1 percentage points more likely to buy other antimalarials (p<.001) than RDT-negative patients, and were 5.6 percentage points more likely to buy ACTs (p = .05) and 31.4 percentage points more likely to buy other antimalarials (p<.001) than those not tested at all. CONCLUSIONS Despite some heterogeneity, shops demonstrated a desire to stock RDTs and use them to guide treatment recommendations. Most shops stored, administered and disposed of RDTs properly and charged mark-ups similar to those charged on common medicines. Results from this study suggest that distributing RDTs through the retail sector is feasible and can reduce inappropriate treatment for suspected malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Cohen
- Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
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Msaki BP, Mshana SE, Hokororo A, Mazigo HD, Morona D. Prevalence and predictors of urinary tract infection and severe malaria among febrile children attending Makongoro health centre in Mwanza city, North-Western Tanzania. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 70:4. [PMID: 22958592 PMCID: PMC3415110 DOI: 10.1186/0778-7367-70-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2011] [Accepted: 03/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In malaria endemic areas, fever has been used as an entry point for presumptive treatment of malaria. At present, the decrease in malaria transmission in Africa implies an increase in febrile illnesses related to other causes among underfives. Moreover, it is estimated that more than half of the children presenting with fever to public clinics in Africa do not have a malaria infection. Thus, for a better management of all febrile illnesses among under-fives, it becomes relevant to understand the underlying aetiology of the illness. The present study was conducted to determine the relative prevalence and predictors of P. falciparum malaria, urinary tract infections and bacteremia among under-fives presenting with a febrile illness at the Makongoro Primary Health Centre, North-Western Tanzania. METHODS From February to June 2011, a cross-sectional analytical survey was conducted among febrile children less than five years of age. Demographic and clinical data were collected using a standardized pre-tested questionnaire. Blood and urine culture was done, followed by the identification of isolates using in-house biochemical methods. Susceptibility patterns to commonly used antibiotics were investigated using the disc diffusion method. Giemsa stained thin and thick blood smears were examined for any malaria parasites stages. RESULTS A total of 231 febrile under-fives were enrolled in the study. Of all the children, 20.3% (47/231, 95%CI, 15.10-25.48), 9.5% (22/231, 95%CI, 5.72-13.28) and 7.4% (17/231, 95%CI, 4.00-10.8) had urinary tract infections, P. falciparum malaria and bacteremia respectively. In general, 11.5% (10/87, 95%CI, 8.10-14.90) of the children had two infections and only one child had all three infections. Predictors of urinary tract infections (UTI) were dysuria (OR = 12.51, 95% CI, 4.28-36.57, P < 0.001) and body temperature (40-41 C) (OR = 12.54, 95% CI, 4.28-36.73, P < 0.001). Predictors of P. falciparum severe malaria were pallor (OR = 4.66 95%CI, 1.21-17.8, P = 0.025) and convulsion (OR = 102, 95% CI, 10-996, P = 0.001). Escherichia coli were the common gram negative isolates from urine (72.3%, 95% CI, 66.50-78.10) and blood (40%, 95%CI, and 33.70-46.30). Escherichia coli from urine were 100% resistant to ampicillin, 97% resistant to co-trimoxazole, 85% resistant to augmentin and 32.4% resistant to gentamicin; and they were 100%, 91.2% and 73.5% sensitive to meropenem, ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone respectively. CONCLUSION Urinary tract infection caused by multi drug resistant Escherichia coli was the common cause of febrile illness in our setting. Improvement of malaria diagnosis and its differential diagnosis from other causes of febrile illnesses may provide effective management of febrile illnesses among children in Tanzania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahati P Msaki
- Department of Pediatrics, Bugando Medical Centre/Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania.,Department of Pediatrics, Sekou Toure Regional Hospital, P.O. Box 132, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Stephen E Mshana
- Department of Medical Microbiology/Immunology, Weill School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Adolfina Hokororo
- Department of Pediatrics, Bugando Medical Centre/Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Humphrey D Mazigo
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Domenica Morona
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania
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