Sutopa Roy, Srija Moulik, Surya Jyati Chaudhuri, Manab K Ghosh, R P Goswami, Bibhuti Saha, Mitali Chatterjee
Background: Focused efforts of the visceral leishmaniasis elimination program have led to a drastic decline in cases, and the present challenge is disease monitoring, which this study aimed to assess.
Methods: A Leishmania kinetoplastid-targeted qPCR quantified parasite load at disease presentation, and following treatment completion (n=49); an additional 80 cases were monitored after completion of treatment.
Results: The parasite load at disease presentation was 13 461.00 (2560.00-37764.00)/µg gDNA, which upon completion of treatment reduced in 47 of 49 cases to 1(1-1)/µg gDNA, p<0.0001. In 80 cases that presented >2 months post-treatment, their parasite burden similarly decreased to 1(1-1)/µg gDNA except in 6 of 80 cases, which were qPCR positive.
Conclusion: In 129 cases of visceral leishmaniasis, qPCR by quantification of parasite burden proved effective for monitoring treatment.
{"title":"Molecular monitoring of treatment efficacy in human visceral leishmaniasis.","authors":"Sutopa Roy, Srija Moulik, Surya Jyati Chaudhuri, Manab K Ghosh, R P Goswami, Bibhuti Saha, Mitali Chatterjee","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trad103","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trad103","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Focused efforts of the visceral leishmaniasis elimination program have led to a drastic decline in cases, and the present challenge is disease monitoring, which this study aimed to assess.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A Leishmania kinetoplastid-targeted qPCR quantified parasite load at disease presentation, and following treatment completion (n=49); an additional 80 cases were monitored after completion of treatment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The parasite load at disease presentation was 13 461.00 (2560.00-37764.00)/µg gDNA, which upon completion of treatment reduced in 47 of 49 cases to 1(1-1)/µg gDNA, p<0.0001. In 80 cases that presented >2 months post-treatment, their parasite burden similarly decreased to 1(1-1)/µg gDNA except in 6 of 80 cases, which were qPCR positive.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In 129 cases of visceral leishmaniasis, qPCR by quantification of parasite burden proved effective for monitoring treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139466860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Corrigendum to: Patterns of individual compliance with anthelmintic treatment for soil-transmitted helminth infections in southern Ethiopia over six rounds of community-wide mass drug administration.","authors":"","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trad091","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trad091","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11062193/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140852907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Norhidayu Sahimin, Zhao Xuan Low, Pouya Hassandarvish, Izzah Ruzana Mohd Hanapi, Siti Nursheena Mohd Zain, Hasmawati Yahaya, Sazaly Abu Bakar
Background: Mosquito-borne diseases pose a significant global public health threat, with Malaysia's Klang Valley experiencing numerous outbreaks in densely populated urban areas.
Methods: This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of anti-dengue and anti-chikungunya antibodies among urban refugees in the Klang Valley, Malaysia, and identify associated risk factors.
Results: High seroprevalence of anti-dengue immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM (60.0% [confidence interval {CI} 55.39 to 64.48] and 9.2% [CI 6.77 to 12.25], respectively) were observed among refugees >18 years of age (χ22=11.720, p=0.003), Kachin ethnicity (χ28=72.253, p<0.001), without formal education (χ21=3.856, p=0.050), homes near waste disposal sites (χ21=10.378, p=0.001) and refugees who have experienced flooding (χ21=5.460, p=0.019). Meanwhile, the overall seroprevalence of anti-chikungunya IgG and IgM was 9.7% (CI 7.15 to 12.73) and 10.8% (CI 8.09 to 13.93), respectively, with ages 12-18 years (χ22=6.075, p=0.048), Rohingya ethnicity (χ28=31.631, p<0.001) and homes close to waste disposal sites (χ21=3.912, p=0.048) being significant risk factors. Results showed a link to poor environmental living conditions, with an increase in the vector population with higher availability of breeding sites and thus exposure to dengue and chikungunya virus.
Conclusions: Health education among the community is the key to disease prevention, as there are no specific antiviral drugs for treatment and limited vaccine availability.
{"title":"Seroprevalence of dengue and chikungunya viruses among urban refugees in Klang Valley, Malaysia.","authors":"Norhidayu Sahimin, Zhao Xuan Low, Pouya Hassandarvish, Izzah Ruzana Mohd Hanapi, Siti Nursheena Mohd Zain, Hasmawati Yahaya, Sazaly Abu Bakar","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trad097","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trad097","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mosquito-borne diseases pose a significant global public health threat, with Malaysia's Klang Valley experiencing numerous outbreaks in densely populated urban areas.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of anti-dengue and anti-chikungunya antibodies among urban refugees in the Klang Valley, Malaysia, and identify associated risk factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>High seroprevalence of anti-dengue immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM (60.0% [confidence interval {CI} 55.39 to 64.48] and 9.2% [CI 6.77 to 12.25], respectively) were observed among refugees >18 years of age (χ22=11.720, p=0.003), Kachin ethnicity (χ28=72.253, p<0.001), without formal education (χ21=3.856, p=0.050), homes near waste disposal sites (χ21=10.378, p=0.001) and refugees who have experienced flooding (χ21=5.460, p=0.019). Meanwhile, the overall seroprevalence of anti-chikungunya IgG and IgM was 9.7% (CI 7.15 to 12.73) and 10.8% (CI 8.09 to 13.93), respectively, with ages 12-18 years (χ22=6.075, p=0.048), Rohingya ethnicity (χ28=31.631, p<0.001) and homes close to waste disposal sites (χ21=3.912, p=0.048) being significant risk factors. Results showed a link to poor environmental living conditions, with an increase in the vector population with higher availability of breeding sites and thus exposure to dengue and chikungunya virus.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Health education among the community is the key to disease prevention, as there are no specific antiviral drugs for treatment and limited vaccine availability.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139471456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R Maddren, B Collyer, A E Phillips, S Rayment Gomez, B Abtew, U Anjulo, D Tadele, A Sharma, A Tamiru, E Firdawek Liyew, M Chernet, R M Anderson
Background: The mainstay of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) control is repeated mass drug administration (MDA) of anthelmintics to endemic populations. Individual longitudinal compliance treatment patterns are important for identifying pockets of infected individuals who remain untreated and serve as infection reservoirs.
Methods: The Geshiyaro Project censused the study population in Wolaita, Ethiopia at baseline in 2018. Individual longitudinal compliance was recorded for six rounds of community-wide MDA (cMDA). The probability distribution of treatment frequency was analysed by age and gender stratifications. Probabilities of transmission interruption for different compliance patterns were calculated using an individual-based stochastic model of Ascaris lumbricoides transmission.
Results: The never-treated (0.42%) population was smaller than expected from a random positive binomial distribution. The observed compliance frequency was well described by the beta-binomial distribution. Preschool-age children (odds ratio [OR] 10.1 [95% confidence interval {CI} 6.63 to 15.4]) had the highest never-treated proportion of the age groups. Conversely, school-age children (SAC) and adults (OR 1.03 [95% CI 0.98 to 1.09]) had the highest always-treated proportion of the age groups.
Conclusions: The study reports the largest dataset of individual longitudinal compliance to cMDA for STH control. Clear pattens are shown in the age-dependent distribution of individual compliance behaviour. The impact of compliance on the probability of elimination is significant, highlighting the importance of recording the full frequency distribution, not just the never-treated proportion.
背景:控制土壤传播蠕虫(STH)的主要方法是对流行人群反复给药(MDA)。个体纵向依从性治疗模式对于识别那些仍未得到治疗并成为感染宿主的感染者非常重要。方法:Geshiyaro项目于2018年对埃塞俄比亚Wolaita的研究人群进行基线普查。记录6轮社区范围MDA (cMDA)的个体纵向依从性。按年龄和性别分层分析治疗频率的概率分布。采用基于个体的类蛔虫传播随机模型,计算了不同顺应模式下的传播中断概率。结果:未治疗人群(0.42%)小于随机正二项分布的预期。观察到的依从性频率由β二项分布很好地描述。学龄前儿童(优势比[OR] 10.1[95%可信区间{CI} 6.63至15.4])在各年龄组中未接受治疗的比例最高。相反,学龄儿童(SAC)和成人(OR 1.03 [95% CI 0.98至1.09])的总治疗比例最高。结论:该研究报告了最大的个体纵向依从cMDA用于STH控制的数据集。个体依从性行为的年龄依赖性分布显示出清晰的模式。依从性对消除概率的影响是显著的,突出了记录全频率分布的重要性,而不仅仅是从未处理过的比例。
{"title":"Patterns of individual compliance with anthelmintic treatment for soil-transmitted helminth infections in southern Ethiopia over six rounds of community-wide mass drug administration.","authors":"R Maddren, B Collyer, A E Phillips, S Rayment Gomez, B Abtew, U Anjulo, D Tadele, A Sharma, A Tamiru, E Firdawek Liyew, M Chernet, R M Anderson","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trad079","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trad079","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The mainstay of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) control is repeated mass drug administration (MDA) of anthelmintics to endemic populations. Individual longitudinal compliance treatment patterns are important for identifying pockets of infected individuals who remain untreated and serve as infection reservoirs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The Geshiyaro Project censused the study population in Wolaita, Ethiopia at baseline in 2018. Individual longitudinal compliance was recorded for six rounds of community-wide MDA (cMDA). The probability distribution of treatment frequency was analysed by age and gender stratifications. Probabilities of transmission interruption for different compliance patterns were calculated using an individual-based stochastic model of Ascaris lumbricoides transmission.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The never-treated (0.42%) population was smaller than expected from a random positive binomial distribution. The observed compliance frequency was well described by the beta-binomial distribution. Preschool-age children (odds ratio [OR] 10.1 [95% confidence interval {CI} 6.63 to 15.4]) had the highest never-treated proportion of the age groups. Conversely, school-age children (SAC) and adults (OR 1.03 [95% CI 0.98 to 1.09]) had the highest always-treated proportion of the age groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study reports the largest dataset of individual longitudinal compliance to cMDA for STH control. Clear pattens are shown in the age-dependent distribution of individual compliance behaviour. The impact of compliance on the probability of elimination is significant, highlighting the importance of recording the full frequency distribution, not just the never-treated proportion.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11062190/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"107592274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
David J Chandler, Luis Escalante, Astrid Maldonado, Sonia Tello, Shirley Orellana, Edgar Escalante
Background: Previous studies on the distribution of mycetoma globally have failed to identify Ecuador as an endemic country.
Methods: We present data on 35 cases of mycetoma in Ecuador between 1955 and 2021: 5 cases from our experience and 30 cases from the literature.
Results: Eight cases of eumycetoma (23%) and 27 cases of actinomycetoma (77%) were diagnosed. Most cases originated from the coastal region of Ecuador.
Conclusions: For the first time in an English-language publication, this communication confirms the presence of mycetoma in Ecuador, securing Ecuador's position on the global mycetoma map.
{"title":"Mycetoma in Ecuador.","authors":"David J Chandler, Luis Escalante, Astrid Maldonado, Sonia Tello, Shirley Orellana, Edgar Escalante","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trad098","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trad098","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Previous studies on the distribution of mycetoma globally have failed to identify Ecuador as an endemic country.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We present data on 35 cases of mycetoma in Ecuador between 1955 and 2021: 5 cases from our experience and 30 cases from the literature.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eight cases of eumycetoma (23%) and 27 cases of actinomycetoma (77%) were diagnosed. Most cases originated from the coastal region of Ecuador.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>For the first time in an English-language publication, this communication confirms the presence of mycetoma in Ecuador, securing Ecuador's position on the global mycetoma map.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11062186/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139432854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The year 2024 is the Centenary of the foundation of the Leprosy Relief Association (Lepra), formerly the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association (BELRA). The name of the organization changed to the LEProsy Relief Association (LEPRA) in 1976 but has been known as Lepra since 2008. Over the years it has worked closely with members and office holders of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Its work has encompassed activities from the earliest initiatives to ensure appropriate living conditions for those with the disease to the development of leprosy chemotherapy. However, this has now evolved into a strong partnership between the UK- and India-based Lepra hubs, which are carrying out research and public health initiatives ranging from elimination of prejudice against those with leprosy to adopting the recently launched WHO programme for skin NTDs to facilitate integrated control and management regimens. The fight against leprosy has always been a partnership between a wide variety of disease-specific NGOs, health-care workers and international health agencies. The story of Lepra illustrates the central role of these partnerships and national as well as international collaboration.
{"title":"The Centenary of the Leprosy Relief Association (Lepra)-a moment for celebration and reflection†.","authors":"Irene Allen, Diana N Lockwood, Roderick J Hay","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trad096","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trad096","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The year 2024 is the Centenary of the foundation of the Leprosy Relief Association (Lepra), formerly the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association (BELRA). The name of the organization changed to the LEProsy Relief Association (LEPRA) in 1976 but has been known as Lepra since 2008. Over the years it has worked closely with members and office holders of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Its work has encompassed activities from the earliest initiatives to ensure appropriate living conditions for those with the disease to the development of leprosy chemotherapy. However, this has now evolved into a strong partnership between the UK- and India-based Lepra hubs, which are carrying out research and public health initiatives ranging from elimination of prejudice against those with leprosy to adopting the recently launched WHO programme for skin NTDs to facilitate integrated control and management regimens. The fight against leprosy has always been a partnership between a wide variety of disease-specific NGOs, health-care workers and international health agencies. The story of Lepra illustrates the central role of these partnerships and national as well as international collaboration.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11062199/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139545243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kartika Saraswati, Ampai Tanganuchitcharnchai, Sirada Ongchaikupt, Mavuto Mukaka, Nicholas P J Day, J Kevin Baird, Ungke Antonjaya, Khin S A Myint, Yora P Dewi, Frilasita A Yudhaputri, Sotianingsih Haryanto, N P Diah Witari, Stuart D Blacksell
Background: Scrub typhus is an understudied vector-borne bacterial infection.
Methods: We tested archived fever samples for scrub typhus seropositivity to begin charting its geographic distribution in Indonesia. We analysed 1033 serum samples from three sites. IgM and IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against Orientia tsutsugamushi was performed using Karp, Kato, Gilliam, TA 716 antigens. To determine the cutoff in the absence of a presumed unexposed population and gold standard tests, we identified the visual inflection point, performed change point analysis, and used finite mixture models.
Results: The optical density cutoff values used for IgM and IgG were 0.49 and 0.13, respectively. Across all sites, IgM seropositivity was 4.6% (95% CI: 3.4 to 6.0%) while IgG seropositivity was 4.4% (95% CI: 3.3 to 5.8%). The overall seropositivity across sites was 8.8% (95% CI: 8.1 to 11.7%). The overall seropositivity for Jambi, Denpasar, Tabanan were 9.7% (95% CI: 7.0 to 13.3%), 8.0% (95% CI: 5.7 to 11.0%), 9.0% (95% CI: 6.1 to 13.0%), respectively.
Conclusions: We conclude that O. tsutsugamushi exposure in humans occurred at all sites analysed and could be the cause of illness in some cases. Though it was not the main cause of acute fever in these locations, it is still important to consider scrub typhus in cases not responding to beta-lactam antibiotics. Future seroprevalence surveys and testing for scrub typhus in acute febrile illness studies will be essential to understand its distribution and burden in Indonesia.
{"title":"Scrub typhus in Indonesia: A cross-sectional analysis of archived fever studies samples.","authors":"Kartika Saraswati, Ampai Tanganuchitcharnchai, Sirada Ongchaikupt, Mavuto Mukaka, Nicholas P J Day, J Kevin Baird, Ungke Antonjaya, Khin S A Myint, Yora P Dewi, Frilasita A Yudhaputri, Sotianingsih Haryanto, N P Diah Witari, Stuart D Blacksell","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trad094","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trad094","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Scrub typhus is an understudied vector-borne bacterial infection.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We tested archived fever samples for scrub typhus seropositivity to begin charting its geographic distribution in Indonesia. We analysed 1033 serum samples from three sites. IgM and IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against Orientia tsutsugamushi was performed using Karp, Kato, Gilliam, TA 716 antigens. To determine the cutoff in the absence of a presumed unexposed population and gold standard tests, we identified the visual inflection point, performed change point analysis, and used finite mixture models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The optical density cutoff values used for IgM and IgG were 0.49 and 0.13, respectively. Across all sites, IgM seropositivity was 4.6% (95% CI: 3.4 to 6.0%) while IgG seropositivity was 4.4% (95% CI: 3.3 to 5.8%). The overall seropositivity across sites was 8.8% (95% CI: 8.1 to 11.7%). The overall seropositivity for Jambi, Denpasar, Tabanan were 9.7% (95% CI: 7.0 to 13.3%), 8.0% (95% CI: 5.7 to 11.0%), 9.0% (95% CI: 6.1 to 13.0%), respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We conclude that O. tsutsugamushi exposure in humans occurred at all sites analysed and could be the cause of illness in some cases. Though it was not the main cause of acute fever in these locations, it is still important to consider scrub typhus in cases not responding to beta-lactam antibiotics. Future seroprevalence surveys and testing for scrub typhus in acute febrile illness studies will be essential to understand its distribution and burden in Indonesia.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11062201/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139418141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: We estimated coverage of doxycycline chemoprophylaxis (200 mg once weekly) following floods in Kerala, India.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to gather data on exposure to flood or stagnant water and receipt and consumption of chemoprophylaxis.
Results: Of 1573 individuals interviewed, 152 (10%) were exposed to flood water. Among these, 119 (78%) were eligible for chemoprophylaxis. Of those eligible, 58 (38.2% [95% confidence interval 30.8 to 46.1]) reported consuming the prescribed chemoprophylaxis.
Conclusions: Despite the availability of chemoprophylaxis, consumption was less than ideal. We recommend targeted interventions to improve chemoprophylaxis coverage and public awareness campaigns to enhance its consumption among the affected population.
{"title":"Rapid assessment of coverage of doxycycline/azithromycin chemoprophylaxis against leptospirosis following floods, Kozhikode district, Kerala, 2018.","authors":"Harishankar Sasikumar, Parasuraman Ganeshkumar, Sabarinathan R, Polani Rubeshkumar, Vettrichelvan Venkatasamy, Manoj Murhekar","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trad092","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trad092","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>We estimated coverage of doxycycline chemoprophylaxis (200 mg once weekly) following floods in Kerala, India.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was conducted to gather data on exposure to flood or stagnant water and receipt and consumption of chemoprophylaxis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 1573 individuals interviewed, 152 (10%) were exposed to flood water. Among these, 119 (78%) were eligible for chemoprophylaxis. Of those eligible, 58 (38.2% [95% confidence interval 30.8 to 46.1]) reported consuming the prescribed chemoprophylaxis.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Despite the availability of chemoprophylaxis, consumption was less than ideal. We recommend targeted interventions to improve chemoprophylaxis coverage and public awareness campaigns to enhance its consumption among the affected population.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139075124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nkengeh Tazinkeng, Joao Filipe Monteiro, Bill-Erich Mbianyor, Avis Anya Nowbuth, Monela Ntonifor, Claudia Evenge, Alick Nkhoma, Steven F Moss, Akwi W Asombang
Background: Low- and middle-income countries have a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection (HPI). In Cameroon, the majority of HPIs are diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians (PCPs). We sought to assess the knowledge and practices of PCPs in the diagnosis and management of HPI in Cameroon.
Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out in four randomly selected regions of Cameroon from November 2021 to June 2022. In each of the selected regions, PCPs were recruited by non-probability convenience sampling and interviewed using a pre-structured questionnaire. Chi-squared, Fisher's exact and Student's t-tests were performed for descriptive analyses. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between knowledge and practice, with the model adjusted by age of the PCP, geographic region, number of patients and years in practice. Analysis was performed in SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA).
Results: A total of 382 PCPs were included in the analysis. The majority (60.0%) were males between the ages of 20-29 y (64.1%). Most PCPs (80.9%) reported that HPI is the cause of gastroesophageal reflux disease and 41.8% reported that HPI is the main cause of dyspeptic symptoms. The dominant diagnostic tests used for HPI were serology (52.8%) and stool antigen (30.9%). The most frequently used first-line therapies were amoxicillin (AMX), clarithromycin (CLA), metronidazole (MNZ) and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) concomitant therapy (32.2%), AMX-CLA-PPI triple therapy (18.6%) and AMX-MNZ-PPI triple therapy (13.1%). Half of the practitioners (48.6%) treat HPI empirically, without positive H. pylori testing. About half of the PCPs (48%) do not request laboratory confirmation of H. pylori eradication following treatment.
Conclusions: There is inadequate knowledge and significant differences in the clinical approach towards HPI among PCPs in Cameroon. We recommend more teaching programs and continuous medical education on HPI.
{"title":"Knowledge and approach towards Helicobacter pylori diagnosis and management among primary care physicians in Cameroon: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Nkengeh Tazinkeng, Joao Filipe Monteiro, Bill-Erich Mbianyor, Avis Anya Nowbuth, Monela Ntonifor, Claudia Evenge, Alick Nkhoma, Steven F Moss, Akwi W Asombang","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trad089","DOIUrl":"10.1093/trstmh/trad089","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Low- and middle-income countries have a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection (HPI). In Cameroon, the majority of HPIs are diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians (PCPs). We sought to assess the knowledge and practices of PCPs in the diagnosis and management of HPI in Cameroon.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out in four randomly selected regions of Cameroon from November 2021 to June 2022. In each of the selected regions, PCPs were recruited by non-probability convenience sampling and interviewed using a pre-structured questionnaire. Chi-squared, Fisher's exact and Student's t-tests were performed for descriptive analyses. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between knowledge and practice, with the model adjusted by age of the PCP, geographic region, number of patients and years in practice. Analysis was performed in SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 382 PCPs were included in the analysis. The majority (60.0%) were males between the ages of 20-29 y (64.1%). Most PCPs (80.9%) reported that HPI is the cause of gastroesophageal reflux disease and 41.8% reported that HPI is the main cause of dyspeptic symptoms. The dominant diagnostic tests used for HPI were serology (52.8%) and stool antigen (30.9%). The most frequently used first-line therapies were amoxicillin (AMX), clarithromycin (CLA), metronidazole (MNZ) and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) concomitant therapy (32.2%), AMX-CLA-PPI triple therapy (18.6%) and AMX-MNZ-PPI triple therapy (13.1%). Half of the practitioners (48.6%) treat HPI empirically, without positive H. pylori testing. About half of the PCPs (48%) do not request laboratory confirmation of H. pylori eradication following treatment.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>There is inadequate knowledge and significant differences in the clinical approach towards HPI among PCPs in Cameroon. We recommend more teaching programs and continuous medical education on HPI.</p>","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139088727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marcus Vinicius Salvador Clipes, Creuza Rachel Vicente, Theresa Cristina Cardoso da Silva, Lilyan Correia Resende, C. Cerutti Junior
BACKGROUND Chikungunya (CHIK) emerged in Brazil in 2014 and since then several epidemics have been observed. This study aims to describe the spatial, social and demographic characteristics of individuals affected by CHIK in Espírito Santo state. METHODS A cross-sectional study was performed using data from individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of CHIK in Espírito Santo state, Brazil, from 2018 to 2020. Monthly incidence was calculated and annual spatial distribution maps were constructed. Statistical analysis using the χ2 test identified associations between disease occurrence and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS In the period and area analysed, a CHIK epidemic occurred in 2020, with an incidence of 219.8 cases per 100 000 inhabitants. The southern and central regions of Espirito Santo state harboured a risk five times greater than the others in the epidemic region. Females (odds ratio [OR] 1.65 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.58 to 1.72]), black people (OR 1.22 [95% CI 1.13 to 1.33]), individuals with ≤11 y of education (OR 1.48 [95% CI 1.37 to 1.61]) and the elderly (OR 7.49 [95% CI 6.53 to 8.59]) had a greater risk for the disease. CONCLUSIONS CHIK stands as an emerging public health problem in Brazil since its introduction in 2014. Espírito Santo suffered a substantial epidemic in 2020, possibly due to outbreaks in neighbouring states. The population at risk should be prioritized in healthcare, considering the morbidity potential of the disease.
{"title":"Analysis of spatial and demographic factors associated with chikungunya in Espírito Santo state, Brazil.","authors":"Marcus Vinicius Salvador Clipes, Creuza Rachel Vicente, Theresa Cristina Cardoso da Silva, Lilyan Correia Resende, C. Cerutti Junior","doi":"10.1093/trstmh/trae019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trae019","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUND\u0000Chikungunya (CHIK) emerged in Brazil in 2014 and since then several epidemics have been observed. This study aims to describe the spatial, social and demographic characteristics of individuals affected by CHIK in Espírito Santo state.\u0000\u0000\u0000METHODS\u0000A cross-sectional study was performed using data from individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of CHIK in Espírito Santo state, Brazil, from 2018 to 2020. Monthly incidence was calculated and annual spatial distribution maps were constructed. Statistical analysis using the χ2 test identified associations between disease occurrence and sociodemographic variables.\u0000\u0000\u0000RESULTS\u0000In the period and area analysed, a CHIK epidemic occurred in 2020, with an incidence of 219.8 cases per 100 000 inhabitants. The southern and central regions of Espirito Santo state harboured a risk five times greater than the others in the epidemic region. Females (odds ratio [OR] 1.65 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.58 to 1.72]), black people (OR 1.22 [95% CI 1.13 to 1.33]), individuals with ≤11 y of education (OR 1.48 [95% CI 1.37 to 1.61]) and the elderly (OR 7.49 [95% CI 6.53 to 8.59]) had a greater risk for the disease.\u0000\u0000\u0000CONCLUSIONS\u0000CHIK stands as an emerging public health problem in Brazil since its introduction in 2014. Espírito Santo suffered a substantial epidemic in 2020, possibly due to outbreaks in neighbouring states. The population at risk should be prioritized in healthcare, considering the morbidity potential of the disease.","PeriodicalId":23218,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140671125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}