Probiotics for children with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition (PruSAM study): A randomized controlled trial in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) contributes to nearly 1 million deaths annually worldwide, with diarrhea and pneumonia being the common morbidity associated with mortality. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of probiotics on diarrhea, pneumonia, and nutritional recovery in children with uncomplicated SAM. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted involving 400 children with uncomplicated SAM randomly assigned to ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) either with (n = 200) or without (n = 200) probiotics. Patients received 1 mL daily dose of a blend of Lacticasebacillus rhamnosus GG and Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (dosage, 2 billion colony-forming units; 50:50) or placebo during 1 mo. They were simultaneously fed with the RUTF for 6 to 12 wk, depending on patients' recovery rates. The primary outcome was the duration of diarrhea. Secondary outcomes included diarrheal and pneumonic incidence, nutritional recovery, and transfer to inpatient care rate. RESULTS: For children with diarrhea, the number of days of disease was lower in the probiotic group (4.11; 95% CI: 3.37, 4.51) than that in the placebo group (6.68; 95% CI: 6.26, 7.13; P < 0.001). For children aged 16 mo or older, the risk of diarrhea was lower in the probiotic group (75.6%; 95% CI: 66.2, 82.9) than that in the placebo group (95.0%; 95% CI: 88.2, 97.9; P < 0.001), but no significant difference of the risk for the youngest. In the probiotic group, nutritional recovery happened earlier: at the 6th wk, 40.6% of the infants were waiting for nutritional recovery, contrasting with 68.7% of infants in the placebo group; but the nutritional recovery rate at the 12th wk was similar between the groups. Probiotics had no effect on pneumonic incidence and transfer to inpatient care. CONCLUSIONS: This trial supports using probiotics for the treatment of children with uncomplicated SAM. Its effect on diarrhea could positively affect nutritional programs in resource-limited settings. This trial was registered https://pactr.samrc.ac.za as PACTR202108842939734.

Severe acute malnutrition in children admitted in an Intensive Therapeutic and Feeding Centre of South Kivu, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: Why do our patients die?

BACKGROUND: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) remains a serious public health concern in low- and middle-income countries. Little is known about treatment outcomes of child inpatients in Intensive Therapeutic and Feeding Units. This study aimed to assess treatment outcomes of SAM and identify factors associated with mortality among children treated at Saint Joseph Nutritional Center, South Kivu, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. METHODS: A retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on medical records of 633 severely malnourished children followed as inpatients at Saint Joseph Nutritional Center from July 2017 to December 2018. Data were entered, thoroughly cleaned and analyzed in SPSS version 25. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression model were fitted to identify factors associated with mortality. RESULTS: Among 633 patients admitted with SAM, 13.1% were lost to follow-up and 9.2% died while in hospital. Children with late referral to the health facility (> 14 days) after the onset of main external malnutrition signs had 2.03 times higher odds of death than those referred less than 14 days [AOR = 2.03 at 95%CI (1.12, 3.68)]. The odds of death was 1.91 times higher for children with MUAC < 115 mm than for those with MUAC ≥ 115 mm [AOR = 1.91 at 95% CI (1.05, 3.50)]. Children infected with HIV were 3.90 times more likely to die compared to their counterparts [AOR = 3.90 at 95% CI (2.80, 9.41)]. CONCLUSION: Particular emphasis should be placed on partnering with communities to improve information on malnutrition signs and on critical importance of early referral to the health system. While HIV incidence in DRC is still low (0.21%), its impact on mortality among severely malnourished children is increased due to the limited access to HIV testing and antiretroviral therapy.