Etiologies of illness among patients meeting integrated management of adolescent and adult illness district clinician manual criteria for severe infections in northern Tanzania: implications for empiric antimicrobial therapy

Early empiric anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis therapy for sepsis in sub-Saharan Africa: a protocol of a randomised clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

Sub-Saharan Africa shoulders the highest burden of global sepsis and associated mortality. In high HIV and tuberculosis (TB) prevalent settings such as sub-Saharan Africa, TB is the leading cause of sepsis. However, anti-TB therapy is often delayed and may not achieve adequate blood concentrations in patients with sepsis. Accordingly, this multisite randomised clinical trial aims to determine whether immediate and/or increased dose anti-TB therapy improves 28-day mortality for participants with HIV and sepsis in Tanzania or Uganda.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a phase 3, multisite, open-label, randomised controlled clinical 2×2 factorial superiority trial of (1) immediate initiation of anti-TB therapy and (2) sepsis-specific dose anti-TB therapy in addition to standard of care antibacterials for adults with HIV and sepsis admitted to hospital in Tanzania or Uganda. The primary endpoint is 28-day mortality. A sample size of 436 participants will provide 80% power for testing each of the main effects of timing and dose on 28-day mortality with a two-sided significance level of 5%. The expected main effect for absolute risk reduction is 13% and the expected OR for risk reduction is 1.58.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This clinical trial will determine the optimal content, dosing and timing of antimicrobial therapy for sepsis in high HIV and TB prevalent settings. The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health in the US. Institutional review board approval was conferred by the University of Virginia, the Tanzania National Institute for Medical Research, and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology. Study results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and in the popular press of Tanzania and Uganda. We will also present our findings to the Community Advisory Boards that we convened during study preparation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04618198).

A Longitudinal, Observational Study of Etiology and Long-Term Outcomes of Sepsis in Malawi Revealing the Key Role of Disseminated Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND

Sepsis protocols in sub-Saharan Africa are typically extrapolated from high-income settings, yet sepsis in sub-Saharan Africa is likely caused by distinct pathogens and may require novel treatment strategies. Data to guide such strategies are lacking. We aimed to define causes and modifiable factors associated with sepsis outcomes in Blantyre, Malawi, in order to inform the design of treatment strategies tailored to sub-Saharan Africa.

METHODS

We recruited 225 adults who met a sepsis case definition defined by fever and organ dysfunction in an observational cohort study at a single tertiary center. Etiology was defined using culture, antigen detection, serology, and polymerase chain reaction. The effect of treatment on 28-day outcomes was assessed using Bayesian logistic regression.

RESULTS

There were 143 of 213 (67%) participants living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We identified a diagnosis in 145 of 225 (64%) participants, most commonly tuberculosis (TB; 34%) followed by invasive bacterial infections (17%), arboviral infections (13%), and malaria (9%). TB was associated with HIV infection, whereas malaria and arboviruses with the absence of HIV infection. Antituberculous chemotherapy was associated with survival (adjusted odds ratio for 28-day death, 0.17; 95% credible interval, 0.05-0.49 for receipt of antituberculous therapy). Of those with confirmed etiology, 83% received the broad-spectrum antibacterial ceftriaxone, but it would be expected to be active in only 24%.

CONCLUSIONS

Sepsis in Blantyre, Malawi, is caused by a range of pathogens; the majority are not susceptible to the broad-spectrum antibacterials that most patients receive. HIV status is a key determinant of etiology. Novel antimicrobial strategies for sepsis tailored to sub-Saharan Africa, including consideration of empiric antituberculous therapy in individuals living with HIV, should be developed and trialed.

Performance Assessment of the Universal Vital Assessment Score vs Other Illness Severity Scores for Predicting Risk of In-Hospital Death Among Adult Febrile Inpatients in Northern Tanzania, 2016-2019

Importance

Severity scores are used to improve triage of hospitalized patients in high-income settings, but the scores may not translate well to low- and middle-income settings such as sub-Saharan Africa.

Objective

To assess the performance of the Universal Vital Assessment (UVA) score, derived in 2017, compared with other illness severity scores for predicting in-hospital mortality among adults with febrile illness in northern Tanzania.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This prognostic study used clinical data collected for the duration of hospitalization among patients with febrile illness admitted to Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre or Mawenzi Regional Referral Hospital in Moshi, Tanzania, from September 2016 through May 2019. All adult and pediatric patients with a history of fever within 72 hours or a tympanic temperature of 38.0 °C or higher at screening were eligible for enrollment. Of 3761 eligible participants, 1132 (30.1%) were enrolled in the parent study; of those, 597 adults 18 years or older were included in this analysis. Data were analyzed from December 2019 to September 2021.

Exposures

Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS), National Early Warning Score (NEWS), quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA), Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) assessment, and UVA.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcome was in-hospital mortality during the same hospitalization as the participant's enrollment. Crude risk ratios and 95% CIs for in-hospital death were calculated using log-binomial risk regression for proposed score cutoffs for each of the illness severity scores. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for estimating the risk of in-hospital death was calculated for each score.

Results

Among 597 participants, the median age was 43 years (IQR, 31-56 years); 300 participants (50.3%) were female, 198 (33.2%) were HIV-infected, and in-hospital death occurred in 55 (9.2%). By higher risk score strata for each score, compared with lower risk strata, risk ratios for in-hospital death were 3.7 (95% CI, 2.2-6.2) for a MEWS of 5 or higher; 2.7 (95% CI, 0.9-7.8) for a NEWS of 5 or 6; 9.6 (95% CI, 4.2-22.2) for a NEWS of 7 or higher; 4.8 (95% CI, 1.2-20.2) for a qSOFA score of 1; 15.4 (95% CI, 3.8-63.1) for a qSOFA score of 2 or higher; 2.5 (95% CI, 1.2-5.2) for a SIRS score of 2 or higher; 9.1 (95% CI, 2.7-30.3) for a UVA score of 2 to 4; and 30.6 (95% CI, 9.6-97.8) for a UVA score of 5 or higher. The AUROCs, using all ordinal values, were 0.85 (95% CI, 0.80-0.90) for the UVA score, 0.81 (95% CI, 0.75-0.87) for the NEWS, 0.75 (95% CI, 0.69-0.82) for the MEWS, 0.73 (95% CI, 0.67-0.79) for the qSOFA score, and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.56-0.71) for the SIRS score. The AUROC for the UVA score was significantly greater than that for all other scores (P < .05 for all comparisons) except for NEWS (P = .08).

Conclusions and Relevance

This prognostic study found that the NEWS and the UVA score performed favorably compared with other illness severity scores in predicting in-hospital mortality among a hospitalized cohort of adults with febrile illness in northern Tanzania. Given its reliance on readily available clinical data, the UVA score may have utility in the triage and prognostication of patients admitted to the hospital with febrile illness in low- to middle-income settings such as sub-Saharan Africa.

An In-Depth Examination of Reasons for Autopsy Acceptance and Refusal in Northern Tanzania

Uncertainty about the causes of death (COD) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has been recognized as a constraint to global health and development. Although complete diagnostic autopsy (CDA) is the best way to assess COD, it is uncommon in LMICs because of low investment priority and assumptions about poor acceptability. Social science research was conducted from May 2016 through July 2017 to examine issues related to acceptability of CDAs in northern Tanzania where autopsy was being offered in two referral hospitals to assess COD associated with febrile illness. Initial formative research entailed 29 key informant interviews, seven observations of burial practices, and four group discussions. In-depth interviews were conducted with families of deceased, including nine families that accepted and 11 families that refused CDA. The formative research identified concepts related to death, understandings of CDA, and cultural practices and psychosocial considerations associated with death that informed the authorization process. Most families who accepted CDA cited the desire to get clarity regarding the COD as a primary reason for acceptance. An unexpected finding was that CDA is perceived as a means to determine witchcraft involvement, a common explanation for COD and a common reason for postmortem acceptance. Death resulting from chronic illness or conditions presumed to have a clinical diagnosis were reasons for CDA to be viewed as unnecessary. The timing, way families were approached, and content of information shared during authorization influenced acceptance and refusal of CDA. Findings show that CDAs can be acceptable in settings where traditional disease models prevail.

Prevalence of gram negative bacteria causing community acquired pneumonia among adults in Mwanza City, Tanzania

BACKGROUND

Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults is still a common and serious illness in the sub-Saharan Africa. Identification of the pathogens is crucial in the management of CAP. This study was done to determine the common bacterial pathogens, treatment outcomes and associated factors for microbiological confirmed CAP among adults attending the Bugando Medical Centre and Sekou Toure hospital in the city of Mwanza, Tanzania.

METHODS

This was a hospital based cross sectional study involving patients with community acquired pneumonia attending Bugando Medical Centre and Sekou Toure regional Hospital. Demographic and other data were collected using standardized data collection tool. Sputum culture was done followed by identification of the isolates and antibiotics susceptibility testing.

RESULTS

A total of 353 patients were enrolled in the study. Out of 353 sputum samples, 265(75%) were of good quality. Of 353 non-repetitive sputum cultures, 72/353 (20.4, 95% CI: 16.2-24.6) were positive for the bacterial pathogens with five patients having more than one pathogen. Good quality sputa had significantly higher yield of pathogenic bacteria than poor quality sputa (26.1% vs.3.4%, P = 0.001). The majority 64 (83.1%) of the isolates were gram negative bacteria. Common bacteria isolated were Klebsiella pneumoniae 23/77(29.9%), Streptococcus pyogenes 10/77 (13.0%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 9/77 (11.7%) and Escherichia coli 7/77 (9.1%). Of 23 K. pneumoniae isolates, 20/23 (87.0%) were resistant to ceftriaxone. Resistance to ceftriaxone was found to be associated with prolongation of CAP symptoms (p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Gram negative bacteria resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and ceftriaxone were most frequently isolated bacteria among adults' patients with CAP attending BMC and Sekou Toure hospital. Routine sputum culture should be performed to guide appropriate treatment of CAP among adults in developing countries.

Zoonotic causes of febrile illness in malaria endemic countries: a systematic review

Fever is one of the most common reasons for seeking health care globally and most human pathogens are zoonotic. We conducted a systematic review to describe the occurrence and distribution of zoonotic causes of human febrile illness reported in malaria endemic countries. We included data from 53 (48·2%) of 110 malaria endemic countries and 244 articles that described diagnosis of 30 zoonoses in febrile people. The majority (17) of zoonoses were bacterial, with nine viruses, three protozoa, and one helminth also identified. Leptospira species and non-typhoidal salmonella serovars were the most frequently reported pathogens. Despite evidence of profound data gaps, this Review reveals widespread distribution of multiple zoonoses that cause febrile illness. Greater understanding of the epidemiology of zoonoses in different settings is needed to improve awareness about these pathogens and the management of febrile illness.

Aetiology and outcomes of sepsis in adults in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Aetiology and outcomes of sepsis in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA) are poorly described; we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarise the available data.

Methods

Systematic searches of PubMed and Scopus were undertaken to identify prospective studies recruiting adults (> 13 years) with community-acquired sepsis in sSA post-2000. Random effects meta-analysis of in-hospital and 30-day mortality was undertaken and available aetiology data also summarised by random effects meta-analysis.

Results

Fifteen studies of 2800 participants were identified. Inclusion criteria were heterogeneous. The majority of patients were HIV-infected, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis was the most common cause of blood stream infection where sought. Pooled in-hospital mortality for Sepsis-2-defined sepsis and severe sepsis was 19% (95% CI 12–29%) and 39% (95% CI 30–47%) respectively, and sepsis mortality was associated with the proportion of HIV-infected participants. Mortality and morbidity data beyond 30 days were absent.

Conclusions

Sepsis in sSA is dominated by HIV and tuberculosis, with poor outcomes. Optimal antimicrobial strategies, including the role of tuberculosis treatment, are unclear. Long-term outcome data are lacking. Standardised sepsis diagnostic criteria that are easily applied in low-resource settings are needed to establish an evidence base for sepsis management in sSA.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13054-019-2501-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Current perspectives on the transmission of Q fever: Highlighting the need for a systematic molecular approach for a neglected disease in Africa

Q fever is a bacterial worldwide zoonosis (except New Zealand) caused by the Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii). The bacterium has a large host range including arthropods, wildlife and companion animals and is frequently identified in human and livestock populations. In humans, the disease can occur as either a clinically acute or chronic aetiology, affecting mainly the lungs and liver in the acute disease, and heart valves when chronic. In livestock, Q fever is mainly asymptomatic; however, the infection can cause abortion, and the organism is shed in large quantities, where it can infect other livestock and humans. The presence of Q fever in Africa has been known for over 60 years, however while our knowledge of the transmission routes and risk of disease have been well established in many parts of the world, there is a significant paucity of knowledge across the African continent, where it remains a neglected zoonosis. Our limited knowledge of the disease across the African sub-continent have relied largely upon observational (sero) prevalence studies with limited focus on the molecular epidemiology of the disease. This review highlights the need for systematic studies to understand the routes of C. burnetii infection, and understand the disease burden and risk factors for clinical Q fever in both humans and livestock. With such knowledge gaps filled, the African continent could stand a better chance of eradicating Q fever through formulation and implementation of effective public health interventions.

Acute care for the three leading causes of mortality in lower-middle-income countries: A systematic review

According to the World Health Organization, the three leading causes of mortality in lower-middle-income countries (LMIC) are ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, and lower respiratory infections (LRIs), causing 111.8, 68.8, and 51.5 annual deaths per 100,000, respectively. Due to barriers to healthcare, patients frequently present in critical stages of these diseases. Measured implementations in critical care in LMIC have been published; however, the literature has not been formally reviewed. We performed a systematic review of the literature indexed in PubMed as of October 2017. Abstracts were limited to human studies in English, French, and Spanish, conducted in LMIC, and containing quantitative data on acute care of IHD, stroke, and LRI. The search resulted in 4994 unique abstracts. Through multiple rounds of screening using criteria determined a priori, 161 manuscripts were identified: 38 for IHD, 20 for stroke, 26 for adult LRI, and 78 for pediatric LRI. These studies, predominantly from Asia, demonstrate successful diagnostic and treatment measures used in providing acute care for patients in LMIC. Given that, only four manuscripts originated in Central or South America, original research from these areas is lacking. IHD, stroke, and LRIs are significant causes of mortality, especially in LMIC. Diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for IHD (monitoring, medications, thrombolytics, percutaneous intervention, coronary artery bypass graft), stroke (therapeutic hypothermia, medications, and thrombolytics), and LRI (oxygen saturation measurement, diagnostic ultrasound, administration of oxygen, appropriate antibiotics, and other medications) have been studied in LMIC and published.

Essential Diagnostics for the Use of World Health Organization Essential Medicines

BACKGROUND

There are numerous barriers to achieving high-quality laboratory diagnostic testing in resource-limited countries. These include inconsistent supply chains, variable quality of diagnostic devices, lack of human and financial resources, the ever-growing list of available tests, and a historical reliance on syndromic treatment algorithms. A list of essential diagnostics based on an accepted standard like the WHO Essential Medicines List (EML) could coordinate stakeholders in the strengthening of laboratory capacity globally.

METHODS

To aid in the creation of an essential diagnostics list (EDL), we identified laboratory test indications from expert databases for the safe and effective use of WHO EML medicines. In all, 446 EML medicines were included in the study. We identified 279 conditions targeted by these medicines, spanning communicable and noncommunicable diseases (e.g., HIV, diabetes mellitus).

RESULTS

We found 325 unique diagnostic tests, across 2717 indications, associated with the identified conditions or their associated medicines. The indications were divided into 10 categories: toxicity (865), diagnosis (591), monitoring (379), dosing/safety (325), complications (217), pathophysiology (154), differential diagnosis (97), comorbidities (53), drug-susceptibility testing (22), and companion diagnostic testing (14). We also created a sublist of 74 higher-priority tests to help define the core of the EDL.

CONCLUSIONS

An EDL such as we describe here could align the global health community to solve the problems impeding equitable access to high-quality diagnostic testing in support of the global health agenda.

Reducing Uncertainty for Acute Febrile Illness in Resource-Limited Settings: The Current Diagnostic Landscape

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.

Derivation and validation of a universal vital assessment (UVA) score: a tool for predicting mortality in adult hospitalised patients in sub-Saharan Africa

Background

Critical illness is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Identifying patients with the highest risk of death could help with resource allocation and clinical decision making. Accordingly, we derived and validated a universal vital assessment (UVA) score for use in SSA.

Methods

We pooled data from hospital-based cohort studies conducted in six countries in SSA spanning the years 2009–2015. We derived and internally validated a UVA score using decision trees and linear regression and compared its performance with the modified early warning score (MEWS) and the quick sepsis-related organ failure assessment (qSOFA) score.

Results

Of 5573 patients included in the analysis, 2829 (50.8%) were female, the median (IQR) age was 36 (27–49) years, 2122 (38.1%) were HIV-infected and 996 (17.3%) died in-hospital. The UVA score included points for temperature, heart and respiratory rates, systolic blood pressure, oxygen saturation, Glasgow Coma Scale score and HIV serostatus, and had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.77 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.79), which outperformed MEWS (AUC 0.70 (95% CI 0.67 to 0.71)) and qSOFA (AUC 0.69 (95% CI 0.67 to 0.72)).

Conclusion

We identified predictors of in-hospital mortality irrespective of the underlying condition(s) in a large population of hospitalised patients in SSA and derived and internally validated a UVA score to assist clinicians in risk-stratifying patients for in-hospital mortality. The UVA score could help improve patient triage in resource-limited environments and serve as a standard for mortality risk in future studies.

Mixed Methods Survey of Zoonotic Disease Awareness and Practice among Animal and Human Healthcare Providers in Moshi, Tanzania

Background

Zoonoses are common causes of human and livestock illness in Tanzania. Previous studies have shown that brucellosis, leptospirosis, and Q fever account for a large proportion of human febrile illness in northern Tanzania, yet they are infrequently diagnosed. We conducted this study to assess awareness and knowledge regarding selected zoonoses among healthcare providers in Moshi, Tanzania; to determine what diagnostic and treatment protocols are utilized; and obtain insights into contextual factors contributing to the apparent under-diagnosis of zoonoses.

Methodology/Results

We conducted a questionnaire about zoonoses knowledge, case reporting, and testing with 52 human health practitioners and 10 livestock health providers. Immediately following questionnaire administration, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 60 of these respondents, using the findings of a previous fever etiology study to prompt conversation. Sixty respondents (97%) had heard of brucellosis, 26 (42%) leptospirosis, and 20 (32%) Q fever. Animal sector respondents reported seeing cases of animal brucellosis (4), rabies (4), and anthrax (3) in the previous 12 months. Human sector respondents reported cases of human brucellosis (15, 29%), rabies (9, 18%) and anthrax (6, 12%). None reported leptospirosis or Q fever cases. Nineteen respondents were aware of a local diagnostic test for human brucellosis. Reports of tests for human leptospirosis or Q fever, or for any of the study pathogens in animals, were rare. Many respondents expressed awareness of malaria over-diagnosis and zoonoses under-diagnosis, and many identified low knowledge and testing capacity as reasons for zoonoses under-diagnosis.

Conclusions

This study revealed differences in knowledge of different zoonoses and low case report frequencies of brucellosis, leptospirosis, and Q fever. There was a lack of known diagnostic services for leptospirosis and Q fever. These findings emphasize a need for improved diagnostic capacity alongside healthcare provider education and improved clinical guidelines for syndrome-based disease management to provoke diagnostic consideration of locally relevant zoonoses in the absence of laboratory confirmation.

Zoonoses are diseases that are naturally transmitted between animals and humans. In Tanzania, research has shown that several zoonoses, including brucellosis, leptospirosis, and Q fever, are common, but under-diagnosed, causes of human illness. We conducted a mixed methods survey, combining quantitative and qualitative research techniques, of healthcare providers in Moshi, Tanzania. Four (40%) of 10 animal sector respondents and 15 (29%) of 52 human sector respondents reported seeing brucellosis cases in the past 12 months, while none reported cases of leptospirosis or Q fever. Nineteen (31%) respondents reported awareness of a local diagnostic test for human brucellosis, while one reported locally available diagnostic tests for human leptospirosis and Q fever. One (2%) respondent reported a locally available animal brucellosis test, and none reported tests for leptospirosis or Q fever in animals. Many respondents mentioned a lack of diagnostic testing resources during interviews. Our findings suggest that diagnostic testing capacity improvements alongside public health campaigns and healthcare provider education are key steps toward improving recognition and accurate diagnosis of zoonoses in this setting. An improved understanding of healthcare provider awareness, perceptions, and practices regarding zoonoses is critical for the design of effective programs to improve diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.

Performance Requirements to Achieve Cost-Effectiveness of Point-of-Care Tests for Sepsis Among Patients with Febrile Illness in Low-Resource Settings

Bacterial sepsis is an important cause of mortality in low- and middle-income countries, yet distinguishing patients with sepsis from those with other illnesses remains a challenge. Currently, management decisions are based on clinical assessment using algorithms such as Integrated Management of Adolescent and Adult Illness. Efforts to develop and evaluate point-of-care tests (POCTs) for sepsis to guide decisions on the use of antimicrobials are underway. To establish the minimum performance characteristics of such a test, we varied the characteristics of a hypothetical POCT for sepsis required for it to be cost-effective and applied a decision tree model to a population of febrile patients presenting at the district hospital level in a low-resource setting. We used a case fatality probability of 20% for appropriately treated sepsis and of 50% for inappropriately treated sepsis. On the basis of clinical assessment for sepsis with established sensitivity of 0.83 and specificity of 0.62, we found that a POCT for sepsis with a sensitivity of 0.83 and a specificity of 0.94 was cost-effective, resulting in parity in survival but costing $1.14 less per live saved. A POCT with accuracy equivalent to the best malaria rapid diagnostic test was cheaper and more effective than clinical assessment.

Cost-Effectiveness of Surveillance for Bloodstream Infections for Sepsis Management in Low-Resource Settings

Bacterial sepsis is a leading cause of mortality among febrile patients in low- and middle-income countries, but blood culture services are not widely available. Consequently, empiric antimicrobial management of suspected bloodstream infection is based on generic guidelines that are rarely informed by local data on etiology and patterns of antimicrobial resistance. To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of surveillance for bloodstream infections to inform empiric management of suspected sepsis in low-resource areas, we compared costs and outcomes of generic antimicrobial management with management informed by local data on etiology and patterns of antimicrobial resistance. We applied a decision tree model to a hypothetical population of febrile patients presenting at the district hospital level in Africa. We found that the evidence-based regimen saved 534 more lives per 100,000 patients at an additional cost of $25.35 per patient, resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $4,739. This ratio compares favorably to standard cost-effectiveness thresholds, but should ultimately be compared with other policy-relevant alternatives to determine whether routine surveillance for bloodstream infections is a cost-effective strategy in the African context.