Treatment Outcomes of Patients Switching From an Injectable Drug to Bedaquiline During Short Standardized Treatment for Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis in Mozambique.

Bedaquiline was recommended by the World Health Organization as the preferred option in treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) with long regimens. However, no recommendation was given for the short MDR-TB regimen. Data from our small cohort of patients who switched from injectable drug to bedaquiline suggest that a bedaquiline-based short regimen is effective and safe.

Severe neurocysticercosis in a quaternary hospital from Mozambique: Case series analysis.

BACKGROUND: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is severe and leading global cause of morbidity and mortality. The disease presents with a variety of clinical presentations from focal to diffuse neurological symptoms. Despite being an endemic country, there are no studies describing the clinico-epidemiological characteristics of NCC in Mozambique. Herein, we describe a consecutive cases series of NCC from the national reference Hospital in Maputo, capital of Mozambique. METHODS: Consecutive cases of NCC diagnosed during a 3-year period (January/2020-December/2022) were retrieved from the institutional clinical files and imaging database. RESULTS: Six cases of NCC were identified, with mean age of 43.1 years (range 26-66). Four were males (66.6 %). The median time from the beginning of clinical manifestations to the diagnosis was 6 months (range 3-18 months). All patients presented with severe parenchymal NCC, with seizures (n = 5, 83 %) being the most common manifestation. Other clinical manifestations were dementia (n = 1) and hydrocephalus (n = 1). The imaging showed multiple lesions at different stages, with half (n = 3) of them showing the coexistence of nodular calcified lesions at earlier stages (vesicular, colloidal and granular stages). Patients were treated with anthelminthic drugs, corticosteroids and anticonvulsants and no deaths to report. The 3rd month modified Rankin scale was ≤ 2 in 83 % of patients. CONCLUSION: In our case series, patients with NCC presented very late, with severe advanced stage disease, with multiple coexistent short and long-term brain lesions. These findings can be explained eventually because of the Maputo Central Hospital being national referral center receiving commonly more severe cases. Studies aiming to clarify the diagnosis pathways/barriers and NCC awareness among medical doctors working at primary and secondary health care level is mandatory to assess the real burden of NCC and implement timely diagnosis and care of patients affected by this neglected disease.

Conceptual framework for establishing the African Stroke Organization.

Africa is the world's most genetically diverse, second largest, and second most populous continent, with over one billion people distributed across 54 countries. With a 23% lifetime risk of stroke, Africa has some of the highest rates of stroke worldwide and many occur in the prime of life with huge economic losses and grave implications for the individual, family, and the society in terms of mental capital, productivity, and socioeconomic progress. Tackling the escalating burden of stroke in Africa requires prioritized, multipronged, and inter-sectoral strategies tailored to the unique African epidemiological, cultural, socioeconomic, and lifestyle landscape. The African Stroke Organization (ASO) is a new pan-African coalition that brings together stroke researchers, clinicians, and other health-care professionals with participation of national and regional stroke societies and stroke support organizations. With a vision to reduce the rapidly increasing burden of stroke in Africa, the ASO has a four-pronged focus on (1) research, (2) capacity building, (3) development of stroke services, and (4) collaboration with all stakeholders. This will be delivered through advocacy, awareness, and empowerment initiatives to bring about people-focused changes in policy, clinical practice, and public education. In the spirit of the African philosophy of Ubuntu "I am because we are," the ASO will harness the power of diversity, inclusiveness, togetherness, and team work to build a strong, enduring, and impactful platform for tackling stroke in Africa.