Tuberculosis Treatment Outcomes and Associated Factors in Benadir Somalia. A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: In low-resource countries like Somalia, tuberculosis (TB) is still a serious global health concern. Understanding the treatment outcomes of TB patients in specific regions is crucial for developing effective strategies to combat the disease. This study aimed to assess the treatment outcomes of TB patients in Benadir, Somalia. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from TB treatment centers in Benadir, Somalia. The study included all TB patients who initiated treatment between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. Treatment outcomes, including treatment success, treatment failure, lost, death, and transfer out, were analyzed. Factors associated with treatment outcomes were also examined using chi-square test. Results: The study comprised 3165 TB patients in total. The mean age of the observations was 29.9 years, with males making up the majority (64.58%). The overall success rate of TB treatment was 80.6%, with 5.3% lost, 4.6% died, 0.5% failed, 4.6% transferred out, and 4.4% not evaluated. Factors associated with unfavorable treatment outcomes included older age and HIV co-infection. Conclusion: The treatment success rate for TB patients in Benadir, Somalia, is below the global target of 90%. Enhancing access to quality TB diagnostic and treatment services, as well as addressing social and economic barriers to treatment adherence, are essential for improving TB control in Benadir, Somalia.

Empyema necessitans mimicking mesothelioma; unusual presentation of active pulmonary TB in immuno-competent state.

•This case presented with very rare feature of active Pulmonary TB.•It denotes that Empyema Necessitans can mimick mesothelioma.•Unusual CT findings of Empyema Necessitans.•It states importance of induced sputum for TB diagnosis.•We recommend to test induced sputum for extrapulmonary tuberculosis to halt the spread of TB in the communities.

Spontaneous pneumorrhachis, pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium, and subcutaneous emphysema. Rare features of Hamman Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Pneumorrhachis (air within the spinal canal), Pneumomediastinum (abnormal air in the mediastinum), Pneumopericardium (air in the pericardial space), and Subcutaneous emphysema (air trapped under the skin) are rare conditions which are rare features of Hamman Syndrome. Some of pulmonary diseases that relate to pneumorrhachis have been reported in the literature; but Hamman Syndrome with Pneumorrhachis and Pneumopericardium due to violent coughs that triggered by tongue scraping are very rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 20-year-old male with no previous lung disease or trauma was brought to the emergency department due to acute chest pain, dyspnea, choking, syncope, and neck swelling which started after several self-induced coughs when he was brushing his tongue. Chest CT scan revealed Pneumorrhachis, pneumomediastinum, Pneumopericardium and extensive subcutaneous emphysema associated with lung contusions. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Barotrauma due to violent coughs that triggered by tongue scraping may lead to lung injury resulting in Hamman Syndrome with rare features of pneumorrhachis and Pneumopericardium. To our knowledge this is the first case report of Hamman syndrome with pneumorrhachis and Pneumopericardium secondary to tongue brushing-induced lung injury in Somalia. CONCLUSION: Violent coughs from tongue scarping can lead to Hamman Syndrome with Pneumorrhachis and Pneumopericardium.

Clarithromycin induced acute pancreatitis: A rare side effect. Case report.

•Rare side effect of clarithromycin.•Drug induced acute pancreatitis.•Macrolide induced acute pancreatitis.•Acute pancreatitis in pneumonia treatment.

The prevalence of HIV among tuberculosis patients in Benadir, Somalia. Retrospective multi-center study.

Introduction: In 2020, 8% of TB patients were con-infected with the Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV) and 50% in parts of southern Africa. Due to a lack of available data, we will determine the prevalence of HIV infection among TB patients in the Benadir region. Methods: This is a record study of the HIV prevalence among TB cases in all Benadir TB centers from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020. All those whose HIV status had not been identified and all drug-resistant cases were excluded from this study. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 20. Results: 46 out of 3061 (1.5%) patients were HIV/TB co-infected. 63% and 37% were males and females, respectively. 78.2% of HIV-TB co-infected cases were 20-49 years old, which was statistically significant (P = 0.00048). 75.6% of TB/HIV co-infected patients were bacteriologically confirmed cases. Conclusion: The prevalence of HIV among TB patients in Benadir is very low. This may imply that the prevalence of HIV in the general population is also very low.

Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant TB Among Smear-Positive Pulmonary TB Patients in Banadir, Somalia: A Multicenter Study.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that is the second most common cause of death from a single infectious agent. TB infection affects anyone, regardless of age, gender, and ethnicity. Drug-resistant TB is a serious public health problem, which needs treatment with a second-line anti-TB drug and it includes poly-drug resistance (PDR), multi-drug resistance (MDR), and extensive drug resistance (XDR). The goal of this research is to find out the prevalence of MDR TB among pulmonary TB patients in Banadir, Somalia. Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective review of data involving 1732 smear-positive pulmonary TB patients visiting Banadir TB centers between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. Demographic, clinical, and drug susceptibility data were retrieved from TB treatment cards. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software (IBM SPSS Statistics version 26). Results: All 1732 pulmonary TB cases were previously diagnosed by the Gene Xpert MTB/RIF test. Among them, 70.4% (1219/1732) were males. The mean age was 31.77 years. Overall, the prevalence of drug resistance TB was 10.56% (183/1732). The MDR TB was 1.96%, poly-drug resistance (PDR) was 0.12%, and extensive drug resistance was 0.06%. Conclusion: This study showed a prevalence of MDR-TB among pulmonary TB patients, which is similar to some of the eastern African countries.

Pattern and Sensitivity of Bacterial Colonization on the Tip of Non-Tunneled Temporary Hemodialysis Catheters: Results of a Tertiary Hospital in Somalia.

Introduction: Bacterial colonization on the tip of non-tunneled temporary hemodialysis catheters (NTHCs) and associated catheter-related infections (CRI) is a common complication in hemodialysis (HD) patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the pattern of bacterial colonization formed on the tip of non-tunneled temporary hemodialysis catheters and their antibiotic sensitivity. Methods: This retrospective analysis was performed in the HD unit of an Education and Research Hospital that follows up a universe of approximately 300 patients, primarily from Mogadishu, Somalia. From September 2020 to September 2021, a total of 137 temporary HD catheters were removed and their tips were sent for culture after there was a suspicion of CRI and other sources of infection were excluded. HD Catheter tips were cultured semi-quantitatively, and the antibiogram of the positive cultures was studied. Results: Gram-positive cocci were found to be the most predominant bacterial organisms in positive cultures with 27 (31.0%) for Staphylococcus aureus, 9 (10.3%) for Staphylococcus haemolyticus and 5 (5.7%) for Staphylococcus epidermidis. We found Enterococci to be 5.7% of the isolated microorganisms. Gram-negative pathogens isolated included Escherichia coli 13 (14.9%) as the most common, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae 10 (11.5%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (4.6%). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was found to be 9.4%. Gram-positive isolates showed high sensitivity (100%) to Linezolid, Daptomycin, Vancomycin, and Tigecycline, but a low sensitivity rate to Oxacillin (41.2%). Gram-negative isolates had the highest sensitivity to Tigecycline (100%), Imipenem (88.9%), and Amikacin (87%) but low sensitivity to Ampicillin (4.8%), Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) (23.1%), and Ceftazidime (7.1%). Conclusion: We conclude that each institution should have its own antibiogram in the management of HD CRIs. According to our findings in this study, we recommend intravenous Vancomycin and Imipenem as empirical therapy in patients with suspected HD CRIs.

A successful surgical management and outcome for a young man with infrarenal aortoiliac occlusion: A rare case report of Leriche syndrome.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Leriche syndrome, also known as aortoiliac occlusive disease, is characterized by chronic obstruction of the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries. The disease was first described by Robert Graham in 1814. Leriche syndrome was named after a French surgeon, Rene Leriche, who first operated on the condition. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: We present a 35-year-old male patient who came to our cardiovascular polyclinic in a wheelchair. He had been complaining for a year about severe back pain, leg cramps on both sides, and weakness in both legs. Associated symptoms included fatigue, lower limb tingling, and numbness. Physical examination revealed pulselessness in the popliteal-dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial arteries in both lower extremities, and coldness and ulcers in the dorsum part of the foot. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Leriche syndrome often presents with a triad of clinical symptoms: (1) intermittent lower extremity vascular claudication, (2) impotence, and (3) weak/absent femoral pulses. This case report contributes to the current literature when any patient has lower limb weakness, pain, and ulcers. It must be considered in our differential diagnosis list for Leriche syndrome. This makes us more aware of the need for early diagnosis and intervention to decrease late complications of ischemia. CONCLUSION: Leriche syndrome, also known as aortoiliac occlusive disease, is considered because of its high morbidity and mortality. This was the first case in Somalia to be successfully managed and operated on by using extra-anatomical bypass, especially axillo-bifemoral bypass, by using it as an emergency measure to save ischemic limbs and shorten the length of time in the hospital.

Isolated left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy complicated by acute ischemic stroke: A rare case repor.

Introduction: and importance: Isolated left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC), uncommon type of primary hereditary cardiomyopathy. It is a spongy morphological appearance of the myocardium that occurs largely in the LV. Case presentation: We discuss here a case of 19 years old female with no known past medical history who present with Shortness of breath (SOB) and left sided weakness following delivery.Bedside Echocardiography demonstrated Left ventricular trabiculation with reduced ejection fraction. While brain Computed tomography showed acute ischemic stroke primly due to non-compaction cardiomyopathy as the embolic. Patient was discharged after successfully managed. Clinical discussion: Left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC) is characterized by progressive ventricular trabeculation and deep intratrabecular recesses caused by the functional arrest of myocardial maturation, which is a rare case of congenital cardiomyopathy. Our patient had isolated non-compaction cardiomyopathy of the type that was complicated by an acute ischemic stroke and was treated accordingly. Conclusion: It is usually associated with congenital heart disease, but isolated left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy is very uncommon.