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Mogeni P, Amima S, Gunther J, Pinder M, Tusting LS, D'Alessandro U, Cousens S, Lindsay SW, Bradley J. Respiratory rates among rural Gambian children: a community-based cohort study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20354. [PMID: 39223167 PMCID: PMC11369163 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70796-7] [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: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Normal respiratory rates (RR) for children under five in the tropics are well-documented, but data for older children are limited. This study tracked RR changes with age and examined associations with nutritional status and environmental factors. We monitored rural Gambian children aged 6 months to 14 years, recording RR during home visits twice weekly over two rainy seasons. Using a generalized additive model, we constructed RR reference curves, and a linear mixed-effect model identified factors influencing RR. A total of 830 children provided 67,512 RR measurements. Their median age was 6.07 years (interquartile range 4.21-8.55) and 400 (48.2%) were female. Age, stunting, ambient temperature, and time of RR measurement were independent predictors of respiratory rate. Strikingly, children showing signs of illness had greater variability in repeat RR measurements. We constructed a RR reference chart for children aged one to 13 years and proposed a cutoff of > 26 breaths/min for raised RR among children aged > 5 years bridging an important gap in this age group. Although the time of data collection, nutritional status, and ambient temperature were predictors of RR, their effect size is not clinically significant enough to warrant a change in the current WHO guidelines owing to the prevailing uncertainty in the measurement of RR. The finding that RRs between repeat measurements were more variable among children with signs of illness suggests that a single RR measurement may be inadequate to reliably assess the status of sick children-a population in which accurate diagnosis is essential to enable targeted interventions with lifesaving treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polycarp Mogeni
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Sharon Amima
- Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jennifer Gunther
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Margaret Pinder
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
- Medical Research Council's (MRC) Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Lucy S Tusting
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Umberto D'Alessandro
- Medical Research Council's (MRC) Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Simon Cousens
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - John Bradley
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Rawat A, Ameha A, Karlström J, Taddesse L, Negeri EL, Detjen A, Gandrup-Marino K, Mataruse N, Källander K, Tariku A. Health System Considerations for Community-Based Implementation of Automated Respiratory Counters to Identify Childhood Pneumonia in 5 Regions of Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study. Int J Health Policy Manag 2023; 12:7385. [PMID: 38618793 PMCID: PMC10699823 DOI: 10.34172/ijhpm.2023.7385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Ethiopia, childhood pneumonia is diagnosed in primary healthcare settings by measuring respiratory rate (RR) along with the presence of cough, chest indrawing, difficulty breathing, and fast breathing. Our aim was to identify health system-level lessons from implementing two automated RR counters, Children's Automated Respiration Monitor (ChARM) by Phillips® and Rad-G by Masimo®, to provide considerations for integrating such devices into child health programmes and health systems. This study was part of an initiative called the Acute Respiratory Infection Diagnostic Aids (ARIDA). METHODS Key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted with 57 participants (health workers in communities and facilities, trainers of health workers, district management, and key decision-makers) in five regions of Ethiopia. Data were analyzed in ATLAS.ti using thematic content analysis and themes were categorized using the Tanahashi bottleneck analysis. RESULTS All participants recommended scaling up the ARIDA initiative nationally as part of Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) in primary healthcare. Health workers perceived the devices as: time saving, acceptable by parents and children, and facilitating diagnosis and referrals. Health workers perceived an increased demand for services and reduced numbers of sick children not seeking care. Participants recommended increasing the number of devices distributed and health workers trained. Strengthening drug supply chains, improving oxygen gas availability, and strengthening referral networks would maximize perceived benefits. While training improved knowledge, more supportive supervision, integration with current guidelines and more guidance related to community engagement was recommended. CONCLUSION Automatic RR counters for the decentralized diagnosis of childhood pneumonia could have positive impact on improving the quality of diagnosis and management of pneumonia in children. However, the study has shown that a health system approach is required to ensure all steps along the pneumonia pathway are adequate, including drug and oxygen supply, community engagement, health worker training and support, and referral pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeli Rawat
- UNICEF Supply Division Innovation Unit, Copenhagen, Denmark
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Agazi Ameha
- UNICEF Ethiopia Country Office, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Jonas Karlström
- UNICEF Supply Division Innovation Unit, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Global Programmes and Research, SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Duke-NUS, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lisanu Taddesse
- Federal Ministry of Health of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Anne Detjen
- Child and Community Health Unit, Health Programme Group, UNICEF, New York City, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Karin Källander
- Digital Health and Health Information Systems Unit, Health Programme Group, UNICEF, New York City, NY, USA
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Abraham Tariku
- Federal Ministry of Health of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Crump JA, Nyirenda TS, Kalonji LM, Phoba MF, Tack B, Platts-Mills JA, Gordon MA, Kariuki SM. Nontyphoidal Salmonella Invasive Disease: Challenges and Solutions. Open Forum Infect Dis 2023; 10:S32-S37. [PMID: 37274526 PMCID: PMC10236517 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad020] [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] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Nontyphoidal Salmonella are a leading cause of community-onset bacteremia and other serious infections in sub-Saharan African countries where large studies indicate that they are an uncommon cause of moderate-to-severe diarrhea. Approximately 535 000 nontyphoidal Salmonella invasive disease illnesses and 77 500 deaths were estimated to occur in 2017; 422 000 (78.9%) illnesses and 66 500 (85.9%) deaths in countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Lineages of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium sequence type (ST) 313 and lineages of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis ST11 dominate as causes of invasive disease. A major reservoir for these specific strains outside of humans has not been identified to date. Human fecal shedding of such strains is common in areas where nontyphoidal Salmonella invasive disease incidence is high. The case-fatality ratio of nontyphoidal Salmonella invasive disease is approximately 15%. Early diagnosis and treatment are needed to avert fatal outcomes. Antimicrobial resistance, including multiple drug resistance, decreased fluoroquinolone susceptibility, and resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, is increasing in prevalence and is likely to further compromise patient outcomes. Naturally acquired immunity against invasive disease develops in children aged >3 years in endemic areas, likely mediated in part by the sequential acquisition of T-cell immunity, followed by antigen-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies. Vaccines in preclinical or clinical development include live-attenuated S. enterica serovar Typhimurium, nontyphoidal S. enterica core and O-polysaccharide glycoconjugates, multiple antigen-presenting system complexes, and generalized modules for membrane antigens vaccines. The latter are in phase I trials in Europe and Africa. Both vaccine use, and other effective, evidence-based nonvaccine interventions, are needed to prevent and control nontyphoidal Salmonella invasive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Crump
- Correspondence: John A. Crump, MB ChB, MD, DTM&H, Professor of Medicine, Pathology, and Global Health, Centre for International Health, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand (). Samuel M. Kariuki, BVM, MSc, PhD, Professor, Director of Research and Development and Acting Director, Kenya Medical Research Institute, PO Box 54840 00200, Nairobi, Kenya ()
| | - Tonney S Nyirenda
- Department of Pathology, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Lisette Mbuyi Kalonji
- Department of Medical Biology, University Hospital of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Department of Microbiology, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Marie-France Phoba
- Department of Medical Biology, University Hospital of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Department of Microbiology, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Bieke Tack
- Department of Clinical Science, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - James A Platts-Mills
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Melita A Gordon
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary, and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel M Kariuki
- Correspondence: John A. Crump, MB ChB, MD, DTM&H, Professor of Medicine, Pathology, and Global Health, Centre for International Health, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand (). Samuel M. Kariuki, BVM, MSc, PhD, Professor, Director of Research and Development and Acting Director, Kenya Medical Research Institute, PO Box 54840 00200, Nairobi, Kenya ()
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Field Experiences with Handheld Diagnostic Devices to Triage Children under Five Presenting with Severe Febrile Illness in a District Hospital in DR Congo. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12030746. [PMID: 35328299 PMCID: PMC8947034 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12030746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
As part of a field study (NCT04473768) in children presenting with severe febrile illness to Kisantu hospital (DR Congo), we retrospectively compiled user experiences (not performance) with handheld diagnostic devices assisting triage: tympanic thermometer, pulse oximeter (measuring heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation), hemoglobinometer and glucometer. Guidance documents for product selection were generic and scattered. Stock rupture, market withdrawal and unaffordable prices interfered with procurement. Challenges at implementation included environmental temperature, capillary blood sampling (antisepsis, order of multiple tests, filling microcuvettes and glucose strips), calibration (environmental temperature, cold chain) and liability-oriented communication with a manufacturer. Instructions for use were readable and contained symbol keys; two devices had printed French-language instructions. Shortcomings were poor integration of figures with text and distinct procedures for the oximeter and its sensor. Usability interview revealed appreciations for quick results, visibility of the display and memory function (three devices) but also problems of capillary blood sample transfer, cleaning, too long of a time-to-results (respiratory rate) and size, fitting and disposal of thermometer probes. Pictorial error messages were preferred over alphanumeric error codes but interpretation of symbols was poor. Alarm sounds of the oximeter caused unrest in children and caretakers perceived the device as associated with poor prognosis.
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