Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis of international travellers - Results from two major German travel clinics

BACKGROUND

Travel to regions with rabies risk has increased. However, data on adequate rabies post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) abroad is scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the appropriateness of medical management following suspected rabies exposure (SRE) in international travellers.

METHOD

A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study in returning travellers with reported SRE who sought post-exposure medical care was conducted in two large German travel clinics.

RESULTS

The 75 included SRE cases had a median age of 34 years (range 26-43) and showed a female predominance (59%, 44/75). Most participants returned from Asia (47%, 34/72). About 28% had received pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP, ≥2 vaccine doses) (20/71). In 51% the animal was actively approached (34/67). All patients had category II/III exposure according to the World Health Organization (65% category III, 49/75). With 78% (52/67), most patients cleaned the wound after SRE; 36% (24/67) used water and soap. Only 57% (41/72) of participants sought medical care during their trip. Overall, 45% (33/74) received rabies vaccination abroad which corresponds to 80% out of those who sought healthcare (33/41).

CONCLUSIONS

Awareness for appropriate first aid and the urgency of seeking timely professional treatment including PEP after an SRE seems to be insufficient in German travellers. Travel practitioners need to educate travellers about rabies risk, prevention measures and the correct behaviour after SRE including adequate wound treatment and seeking immediate medical help for PEP. PrEP should be offered generously especially to travellers with high rabies-exposure risk and those visiting areas with limited healthcare access.

Factors associated with hip involvement in spondyloarthritis: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Hip involvement is a life-changing event during spondyloarthritis (SpA) since it's responsible for significant disability and functional impairment. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with hip involvement in patients with SpA.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study, including patients with axial and/or peripheral SpA divided into two groups: patients without and with hip involvement. Hip involvement was defined as pain or abnormality on clinical examination of the hip and/or on imaging. We collected clinical and laboratory data, activity and functional scores, and radiographic parameters. We conducted a multivariate analysis to identify the associated factors of hip involvement.

RESULTS

We included 165 patients with a mean age of 46.13 ± 13.07 years, 121 patients were male. The mean duration of disease was 10.91 ± 6.94 years. Hip involvement, defined as SpA-related hip pain, joint limitation, and dysfunction and/or imaging involvement (X-ray/MRI), was noted in 60 cases (36.4%). Multivariate analysis indicated that disease duration over 10 years (OR=3.847, 95% confidence interval (CI95%)[1.324-11.178], p=0.013), radiographic sacroiliitis (OR=8.949, CI95%[1.261-63.513], p=0.028), very high disease activity (Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score: ASDASCRP≥3,5) (OR=9.364, CI95%[2.552-34.352], p=0.001), higher Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) (OR=1.439, CI95%[1.120-1.850], p=0.004) and higher Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) (OR=1.311, CI95%[1.065-1.615], p=0.011) were independently associated with hip involvement in these patients. Regarding extra-articular features, we found that pulmonary involvement and osteoporosis were significantly more frequent in patients with hip involvement, but neither retained significance in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

Disease duration over 10 years, radiographic sacroiliitis, very high disease activity, functional impairment, and limited spine mobility were potential associated factors with hip involvement. Patients with these factors should be closely monitored to detect hip involvement at an early stage.

Prevalence of depression and anxiety in obstructive sleep apnea

INTRODUCTION

Organic comorbidities of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been widely studied. However, psychiatric disorders, especially depression and anxiety, have not attracted so much attention.

AIM

The primary aim was to determine the prevalence and the predictive factors of depression and anxiety in OSA patients. The secondary aim was to investigate the association between OSA severity and these psychiatric disorders.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study including untreated OSA patients without mental illness history was conducted. Patients were administered the Hospital Anxiety (HADS-A) and Depression Scale (HADS-D). Depression and anxiety were diagnosed for HAD-D and HAD-A scores ≥ 8.

RESULTS

Eighty patients were included (mean age: 54.83 ± 13.12 yr; female: 52 (65%); mean Body mass index (BMI) :34.7±6.14 kg/m2). The prevalence of depression and anxiety was 35 % and 43.8% of patients respectively. Both depressive and anxious OSA patients had more libido disorder ( p=0.011, p=0.0007 ;respectively), anhedonia (p= 10-4, p= 10-4respectively ) and suicidal ideas(p= 0.002 ,p=0.019 respectively). Moreover, depressed OSA patients had lower socio-economic condition (p= 0.019), more coronary artery diseases (CAD) (p=0.019) and less cognitive disorder (p= 0.005). The HADS-D (r=0,095; p=0,404) and the HADS-A (r=0,212; p=0,059) were not correlated with the Apnea/Hyponea Index. The determinants of depressive and anxious mood were female-sex (p= 0.035, p=0.004 respectively) and libido disorder (p=0.040, p=0.02 respectively). Anhedonia (p=10-4) and CAD (p=0.010) were also identified as a predictive factors of depression.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, the high prevalence of depression and axiety in apneic patients demonstrates the importance of the psychiatric component in the management of this disease. A collaboration between pneumologists and psychiatrists is necessary in order to improve the quality of life of these patients.

Epidemiological patterns of Hepatitis A infection during the pre-vaccination Era: A population-based survey in Tunisia in 2015

BACKGROUND

In the 1980s, Tunisia was considered a country of high endemicity for Hepatitis A virus (HAV). Since 2000, an epidemiological shift has led to an increased incidence of symptomatic and severe forms of HAV infection.

OBJECTIVE

In 2015, we conducted a cross-sectional nationwide household-based HAV seroprevalence study in the total population regardless of age, sex, or geographical origin using a stratified sampling design in order to make an overview of the HAV epidemiological situation in Tunisia before vaccine implementation.

RESULTS

A total of 6322 individuals were enrolled. The HAV prevalence was 78.8%. The anti-HAV IgG seropositivity rate increases from 16% for ages 5-9 years to 45% for ages 10-14, 67% for ages 15-19, 87% for ages 20-24, and >90% for older age groups, which suggests an age at midpoint of population immunity (AMPI) in late adolescence. It was significantly higher in rural areas (p<10^-3) and varied significantly between and within regions (p<10^-4).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, although the overall AMPI suggests intermediate endemicity, the regional AMPI varies from intermediate to very high endemicity profiles attributable to different socio-economic determinants and conditions of sanitation and hygiene. Also it provides insights for the best decisions in terms of vaccinations strategies.

Observational study of vaccine effectiveness 20 years after the introduction of universal hepatitis B vaccination in Tunisia

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to estimate the national prevalence of hepatitis B infection in Tunisia using data from a nationwide survey, to compare results with those obtained in 1996 survey and to evaluate the impact of vaccination twenty years after its introduction.

METHODS

A National household-based cross sectional and serological survey was undertaken in 2015 from randomly selected districts using two-stage sampling. Data collection was performed using standardized and pretested questionnaires and collected blood samples were tested for markers of hepatitis B virus infection.

RESULTS

National point prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen was 1.7% (95% CI [1.6-1.9%]). The highest prevalence was found in the Center and South regions with respectively 2.3% (95% CI [2.0-2.7%]) and 2.2% (95% CI [1.8-2.8%]). Vaccine effectiveness (VE) was 88.6% (95% CI [81.5-93.0%]) and was higher among population aged less than 20 years 96.1% (95% CI [70.1-99.5%]) than those aged more than 20 years 59.0% (95% CI [32.0-75.3%]). VE was 85.6% (95% CI [65.8-93.9%]) is hyper-endemic areas and 89.1% (95% CI [80.3-94.0%]) in meso-endemic and hypo-endemic areas.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen decreased compared to previous estimations and classify Tunisia as a low endemic country as result to the introduction of vaccination since 1995.

Influence of food on glycemia, insulin, C-peptide and glucagon levels in diabetic patients treated with antidiabetic metformin at steady-state

Seventeen diabetic patients (5 males and 12 females) treated with long-term metformin therapy received their morning dose after an overnight fast or after one of four types of breakfast: low protein, low fat, low carbohydrate or standard. Mean (+/- SD) and median areas under the serum concentration curves (AUC), maximum concentrations (Cmax) and time to reach the maximum concentrations (tmax) were calculated for the major biological parameters (glycemia, C-peptide, insulin and glucagon levels). None of the diets were bioequivalent to the fasting condition and only the low carbohydrate diet gave comparable results. A strong relationship was found between the carbohydrate intake (in g) and the AUC of the various markers except glucagon.

Influence of food on the disposition of the antidiabetic drug metformin in diabetic patients at steady-state

The effect of food on the bioavailability of the antidiabetic drug metformin (Glucophage, Lipha Laboratories) was investigated in patients at steady-state. Seventeen diabetic patients (5 males and 12 females) treated with a long-term metformin therapy received their morning dose after an overnight fasting or after each of four types of breakfast: low protein, low fat, low carbohydrate or standard. Mean (+/- SD) and median areas under the serum concentration curves (AUC), maximum concentrations (Cmax) and time to reach the Cmax (Tmax) were calculated. Compared to fasting conditions, AUC and Cmax for metformin were bioequivalent after the four types of breakfast except the low fat (high carbohydrate) diet which had results slightly reduced (90% CI = [0.76-0.90]). The intraindividual variability was calculated and found to be lower than the interindividual variability.