Timeliness metrics for screening and preventing TB in household contacts of pulmonary TB patients in Kenya.

BACKGROUND: The study assessed whether a "7-1-7" timeliness metric for screening and TB preventive therapy (TPT) could be implemented for household contacts (HHCs) of index patients with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB under routine programmatic settings in Kenya. METHODS: A longitudinal cohort study conducted among index patients and their HHCs in 12 health facilities, Kiambu County, Kenya. RESULTS: Between January and June 2023, 95% of 508 index patients had their HHCs line-listed within 7 days of initiating anti-TB treatment ("First 7"). In 68% of 1,115 HHCs, screening outcomes were ascertained within 1 day of line-listing ("Next 1"). In 65% of 1,105 HHCs eligible for further evaluation, anti-TB treatment, TPT or a decision for no drugs was made within 7 days of screening ("Second 7"). Altogether, 62% of screened HHCs started TPT during the "7-1-7" period compared with 58% in a historical cohort. Main barriers to TPT uptake were HHCs not consulting clinicians, HHCs being unwilling to initiate TPT and drug shortages. Healthcare workers felt that a timeliness metric was valuable for streamlining HHC management and proposed "3-5-7" as a workable alternative. CONCLUSIONS: The national TB programme must generate awareness about TPT, ensure uninterrupted drug supplies and assess whether the "3-5-7" metric can be operationalised.

CONTEXTE: L'étude a évalué si une mesure de rapidité "7-1-7" pour le dépistage et le traitement préventif de la TB (TPT) pouvait être mise en œuvre pour les contacts familiaux des patients index atteints de TB pulmonaire confirmée bactériologiquement dans le cadre d'un programme de routine au Kenya. MÉTHODES: Étude de cohorte longitudinale menée auprès de patients index et de leurs contacts familiaux dans 12 établissements de santé du comté de Kiambu, au Kenya. RÉSULTATS: Entre janvier et juin 2023, 95% des 508 patients index ont eu leur centre de santé inscrit sur la liste dans les 7 jours suivant le début du traitement antituberculeux (« First 7 ¼ ). Dans 68% des 1 115 centres de santé, les résultats du dépistage ont été vérifiés dans le jour suivant l'inscription sur la liste (« Next 1 ¼). Dans 65% des 1 105 centres de santé éligibles pour une évaluation plus approfondie, le traitement antituberculeux, le TPT ou la décision de ne pas prendre de médicaments a été prise dans les 7 jours suivant le dépistage (« Second 7 ¼). Au total, 62% des patients dépistés ont commencé un traitement antituberculeux au cours de la période « 7-1-7 ¼, contre 58% dans une cohorte historique. Les principaux obstacles à l'adoption du TPT étaient les suivants : les centres de santé ne consultaient pas les cliniciens, les centres de santé n'étaient pas disposés à commencer le TPT et les pénuries de médicaments. Les professionnels de la santé ont estimé qu'une mesure de la rapidité d'exécution était utile pour rationaliser la gestion des centres de santé et ont proposé le « 3-5-7 ¼ comme solution de rechange viable. CONCLUSION: Le programme national de lutte contre la TB doit sensibiliser au TPT, garantir un approvisionnement ininterrompu en médicaments et évaluer si la mesure « 3-5-7 ¼ peut être mise en œuvre.

Using timeliness metrics for household contact tracing and TB preventive therapy in the private sector, India.

Although screening of household contacts (HHCs) of TB patients and provision of TB preventive therapy (TPT) is a key intervention to end the TB epidemic, their implementation globally is dismal. We assessed whether introducing a '7-1-7' timeliness metric was workable for implementing HHC screening among index patients with pulmonary TB diagnosed by private providers in Chennai, India, between November 2022 and March 2023.This was an explanatory mixed-methods study (quantitative-cohort and qualitative-descriptive).There were 263 index patients with 556 HHCs. In 90% of index patients, HHCs were line-listed within 7 days of anti-TB treatment initiation. Screening outcomes were ascertained in 48% of HHCs within 1 day of line-listing. Start of anti-TB treatment, TPT or a decision to receive neither was achieved in 57% of HHC within 7 days of screening. Overall, 24% of screened HHCs in the '7-1-7' period started TPT compared with 16% in a historical control (P < 0.01). Barriers to achieving '7-1-7' included HHC reluctance for evaluation or TPT, refusal of private providers to prescribe TPT and reliance on facility-based screening of HHCs instead of home visits by health workers for screening.Introduction of a timeliness metric is a workable intervention that adds structure to HHC screening and timely management..

Site readiness assessment preceding the implementation of a HIV care and treatment electronic medical record system in Kenya.

INTRODUCTION: Electronic medical record (EMR) systems can yield many benefit; however, facilities need to meet certain requirements before they are able to successfully implement an EMR. We evaluated the feasibility and utility of conducting EMR readiness assessments (ERAs) to assess readiness of public facilities in Kenya for deployment of an EMR. METHOD: I-TECH supported the Ministry of Health to deploy KenyaEMR, an HIV/AIDS care and treatment EMR developed using the OpenMRS platform, at over 300 healthcare facilities in Kenya. The ERA tool was designed to assess site readiness for KenyaEMR deployment. The assessments measured health facility internal environment in terms of available resources, security, technical infrastructure, and leadership buy-in and support from MOH and stakeholders for EMR implementation. RESULTS: From September 2012 to September 2014, a total of 381facilities received at least one ERA. Of these, 343facilities were rated as highly or moderately prepared to adopt an EMR system and proceeded to EMR deployment. 61% of these sites were set up to implement KenyaEMR at point of care, while 39% were set up to implement KenyaEMR for retrospective data entry. Across 38facilities not implemented with an EMR, common reasons that prevented the implementation were lack of reliable power, security issues such as lack of grills on the windows and un-lockable doors, and existence of another EMR system at the site. CONCLUSIONS: ERAs conducted in a single day site visit were feasible and were instrumental in determining facilities' EMR implementation decision. Performing ERAs stimulated engagement of facility-level personnel to cultivate a fertile environment for EMR adoption and ownership. The assessments further assisted in resource mobilization, remediation of barriers to deployment, and increased buy-in from Ministry of Health leadership to support EMR implementation work.

Challenges in data quality: the influence of data quality assessments on data availability and completeness in a voluntary medical male circumcision programme in Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVES: To assess availability and completeness of data collected before and after a data quality audit (DQA) in voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) sites in Zimbabwe to determine the effect of this process on data quality. SETTING: 4 of 10 VMMC sites in Zimbabwe that received a DQA in February, 2015 selected by convenience sampling. PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective reviews of all client intake forms (CIFs) from November, 2014 and May, 2015. A total of 1400 CIFs were included from those 2 months across four sites. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Data availability was measured as the percentage of VMMC clients whose CIF was on file at each site. A data evaluation tool measured the completeness of 34 key CIF variables. A comparison of pre-DQA and post-DQA results was conducted using χ2 and t-tests. RESULTS: After the DQA, high record availability of over 98% was maintained by sites 3 and 4. For sites 1 and 2, record availability increased by 8.0% (p=0.001) and 9.7% (p=0.02), respectively. After the DQA, sites 1, 2 and 3 improved significantly in data completeness across 34 key indicators, increasing by 8.6% (p<0.001), 2.7% (p=0.003) and 3.8% (p<0.001), respectively. For site 4, CIF data completeness decreased by 1.7% (p<0.01) after the DQA. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that CIF data availability and completeness generally improved after the DQA. However, gaps in documentation of vital signs and adverse events signal areas for improvement. Additional emphasis on data completeness would help support high-quality programme implementation and availability of reliable data for decision-making.

A two-year old boy with recurrent bouts of acute abdominal pain.

In a small number of patients with pancreas divisum (with stenotic minor papilla) a relative obstruction to pancreatic exocrine secretory flow results in pancreatitis. We report a 2-year-old boy presenting with recurrent bouts of abdominal pain. The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was made based on blood biochemistry results. Ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed several abdominal pseudocysts, peritoneal exsudate and confirmed pancreatitis but initially failed to reveal the aetiology. Ascites and cysts contained pancreatic enzymes. After weeks of combined conservative and surgical treatment, a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography with secretin, showed a pancreas divisum with a cyst between the ducts of Santorini and Wirsung. Based on these findings, two endoscopic papillotomies (minor and major papilla) were performed. Three years follow-up was uneventful. In a child with recurrent pancreatitis or pancreatitis with chronic recurrent abdominal pain it is crucial to search aggressively for congenital abnormalities, including pancreas divisum. Secretin-enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography or diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging is a valuable diagnostic tool for visualizing pancreatic duct anatomy.

Clinical symptoms associated with brief obstructive sleep apnea in normal infants.

Relatively little data exist concerning the manifestations of repeated obstructive sleep apnea in normal infants. A questionnaire concerning daytime and sleep habits was completed by the parents of 4,100 healthy infants before they underwent a 9-hour night monitoring study. One hundred infants with an obstructive apnea index above 1.2 were randomly selected. They formed the "apnea" group. From the initial population, 300 infants with no apnea were also selected to form the "no-apnea" group. Both groups were matched for sex, gestational age, post conceptional age, birth weight, mother's age, parity and a family history of sudden infant death. Five variables from the questionnaires significantly differentiated the two groups of infants. When awake, the infants with apnea were characterized by a greater frequency of breathholding spells (22% of apnea infants) and episodes of fatigue during feeding (28%) than the non-apnea infants. During sleep, they exhibited a greater frequency of profuse sweating (15%), snoring (26%) or noisy breathing (44%). Multiple symptoms were present in some infants. A stepwise logistic regression resulted in two significant independent variables: profuse sweating during sleep (p = 0.008) and noisy breathing (p = 0.002). The predictive value of these two symptoms was tested on a new group of 650 healthy infants. The two independent variables led to the correct classification of 60 of the 67 infants with apnea (89.67%) and 382 of the 583 non-apnea infants (65.5%). A positive history alone had a positive predictive value of 0.21.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sleep and cardiorespiratory characteristics of infant victims of sudden death: a prospective case-control study.

We studied the polygraphic sleep recordings of 30 infants who eventually died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and those of 60 matched control infants. All records were extracted from 20,750 sleep studies collected prospectively in 10 sleep laboratories. Of the 30 future SIDS victims, 5 were siblings of SIDS victims and 9 were studied after an apparent life-threatening event. For each SIDS victim, two normal control infants were matched for sex, gestational age, postnatal age and weight at birth. The future SIDS infants were reported to have more frequent episodes of regurgitations after feeding (p = 0.01) and profuse sweating during sleep (p = 0.01) than the control subjects. Only two polysomnographic variables characterized the future SIDS infants. Compared to control subjects, the SIDS infants moved less during sleep (p = 0.04) and had significantly more frequent obstructed breathing events. Obstructive and mixed apneas were seen in 23 of 30 future SIDS victims, but in only 9 of 60 control subjects (p = 0.01). The obstructed and mixed apneas lasted longer in the SIDS than in the control infants (p = 0.01) but did not exceed 15 seconds. The obstructed breaths occurred mainly in rapid eye movement sleep (78% of the events) and were accompanied by drops in heart rates to 68 beats per minute and in SaO2 levels to 75%. The present report adds further indirect evidence for a possible sleep-related impairment of respiratory control in some infants who eventually died of SIDS.

Prevention of airway obstructions during sleep in infants with breath-holding spells by means of oral belladonna: a prospective double-blind crossover evaluation.

We investigated whether the brief airway obstructions seen during sleep in infants with breath-holding spells were controlled by the autonomic nervous system. We studied 20 infants, with a history of breath-holding spells and a median age of 12 wk (range 4-46 wk). During sleep they had a median of 6 airway obstructions per 10-hr recording (range 3-16 events), with a median duration of 8 sec (range 4-12 sec). No explanation was found for the airway obstructions. In every infant, a double-blind crossover challenge was conducted. It included oral administration of tincture of belladonna, equivalent to 0.01 mg/kg weight of atropine, and placebo syrup containing no belladonna. The belladonna, or the placebo, was administered at bedtime for 7 days, followed by a 7-day washout period. Another 7-day series of syrup administration was then undertaken. A nighttime polygraphic recording was made after each 7-day series. It was the belladonna, and not the placebo, that induced the disappearance of the obstructions in 10 infants; these were called "drug responsive". In 5 children no effect was observed after either the placebo or belladonna; these infants were defined as "drug unresponsive". In 4 subjects the obstructions disappeared after both belladonna and the placebo; the children were considered to have an "inconclusive response". One infant was excluded from the study because he developed an airway infection. It is concluded that in some breath-holding infants, obstructed breathing episodes during sleep disappear after the administration of an atropinic drug. The observation could indicate a role of the autonomic nervous system in the control of the upper airways during sleep in infants.

Gastroesophageal reflux in infants with a history of near-miss sudden infant death.

From January 1984 through August 1986, 130 infants were referred to our department with a history of apnea, hypotonia, and cyanosis or pallor, suggesting near-miss sudden infant death syndrome. Protocol consisted of medical history, clinical examination, overnight polygraphic recording, and cardiologic, gastrointestinal, metabolic, neurologic, and toxicologic workups. In 49 of these infants who needed vigorous stimulation or mouth to mouth resuscitation, the event occurred shortly after feeding. Combined, continuous esophageal pH monitoring and polygraphic recording in these 49 infants showed pathologic gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in 34 patients. An abnormal overnight polygraphic recording was observed in 8 of 34 infants with pathologic GER. Other investigations led to etiologic diagnoses in 42 of the remaining infants. Severe GER was frequently found in children with apnea after feeding but clearly is not the only mechanism involved. Infants with a history of apnea after a feeding should be investigated for GER and appropriately treated.

Brief airway obstructions during sleep in infants with breath-holding spells.

We investigated the possibility that infants with breath-holding spells have breathing disorders during sleep. Seventy-one breath holders with a median age of 14 weeks were selected from a well babies clinic because of their histories: 34 infants without loss of consciousness, and 37 with loss of consciousness (21 of the latter had had cyanotic spells, 14 pallid spells, and 2 combined cyanotic and pallid spells). For each breath holder, one control infant without a history of breath holding was chosen from the same clinic. All infants were healthy and had no known cause of disrupted breathing during sleep. Their histories indicated that the breath holders were covered with sweat during sleep (p = 0.005) or wakefulness (p = 0.006) significantly more often than were the control infants. The infants were studied during a one-night monitoring session, and the 142 sleep recordings were analyzed without knowledge of the history. The breath holders had significantly less nonrapid eye movement (stage III) sleep, more indeterminate sleep, more arousals, and more sleep-stage changes than the control infants had. Central apneas were evenly distributed in the two groups. Airway obstructions were found in 41 breath holders and six control infants; the obstruction lasted longer in the breath holders. The infants with airway obstruction during sleep snored more often (p = 0.023) and sweated more (p = 0.035) during sleep. The water evaporation rate, measured on the forehead with an evaporation meter, was significantly greater in the breath holders (p = 0.001). Ocular compression induced longer asystoles in the infants with pallid syncopes than in either those with cyanotic syncopes (p = 0.036) or those without loss of consciousness (p = 0.031). We conclude that the obstructed breathing during both wakefulness and sleep could be related to a common immature breathing control.

[Chemical pneumonia in children]. / Chemische pneumonie bij kinderen.

Between 1980 and 1989 the Children's Hospital of Antwerp admitted 954 children with signs of intoxication. In 83 cases (9%) these were due to ingestion of hydrocarbons, 17 of these 83 children (21%) had chemical pneumonia. The most frequent chemicals were turpentine, petrol and lamp oil. The main symptoms were vomiting, skin rash, coughing and fever accompanied by an infectious blood count. Roentgen abnormalities in this group were less frequent than reported in the literature. A chest X-ray immediately after admission does not always provide information about pneumonia because abnormalities may already be present, e.g. due to an acute lung condition; nevertheless it is necessary for further study, if any. An X-ray after 24 hours is indispensable to confirm or exclude chemical pneumonia. As regards treatment, only supportive therapy is possible. Pulmonary function studies after a few weeks may be useful. A survey is presented of the epidemiology, clinical findings, diagnostics, pathophysiology, symptomatic therapy, prevention and prognosis.

Home monitors for infants: use, misuse, and "over-the-counter" use.

The prevalence of "over-the-counter" monitors, was surveyed in infants referred to five Belgian paediatric centres between September 1987 and March 1988 for evaluation of their risk for sudden infant death (SID). Questionnaires were collected from 1625 families. Of the infants, 8.9% were already being monitored at home. For 78.1% of the infants no medical advice had been solicited, and for 21.9%, a paediatrician or a general practitioner had advised home monitoring without previous evaluation. Forty of 824 infants referred with no history of SID, and no history of apparent life-threatening event (ALTE), were monitored (4.8%). Monitoring was started for 3.8% (5 out of 130) of the infants who had lost a cousin or an uncle to SID, and for 22.2% (69 of 310) of the younger siblings of a SID victim. Of the 341 infants who had presented with an ALTE, monitoring was started in 32 (9.4%). The infants were monitored with respiratory monitors only, and in 86% of the monitors, the alarm delay had been regulated unnecessarily low.

Cat-scratch disease with reversible encephalopathy.

A case of cat-scratch disease (CSD) complicated by reversible encephalopathy is presented. Neurological complications of CSD are uncommon. Laboratory and radiological examinations were negative. There was complete recovery.

Polysomnographic studies of infants who subsequently died of sudden infant death syndrome.

The polygraphic findings from 11 future victims of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) are reported and compared with those of matched pairs of control infants. The recordings had been done to alleviate parental anxiety about sleep apnea. Four infants had siblings who were victims of SIDS. Two infants were studied 3.5 to 9.5 weeks before their deaths because of an unexplained apparent life-threatening event that had occurred during sleep. For each victim of SIDS, two control infants were selected from the 2,000 infants who had been tested in the same hospitals. They were matched for sex, gestational age, postnatal age, and weight at birth with the SIDS victims. Their polygraphic recordings had been performed within similar conditions. Each record was allocated a random code number and was analyzed without knowledge of the patient's identity by two independent scorers. Most sleep and cardiorespiratory variables studied did not differentiate SIDS victims from control infants. Only four variables significantly characterized the future SIDS victims: the maximal duration of central apneas, the number of sighs followed by a central apnea, the presence of obstructive apneas, and the presence of mixed apneas. Central apneas were longer during all sleep states in the SIDS victims compared with their matched controls, but none exceeded 14 seconds. Sighs immediately followed by an apnea were significantly less frequent in the future SIDS group. Obstructive and mixed sleep apneas were seen in eight of 11 SIDS victims and in only three of 22 control infants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sudden infant death syndrome in a twin: a comparison of sibling histories.

To determine possible characteristics of infant victims of sudden death, we examined 114 items related to the pre- and postnatal histories of 42 pairs of twins one of whom died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) leaving a surviving sibling. Interviews with the parents were conducted after the occurrence of SIDS, and the data were checked with records held by gynecologists and pediatricians. To evaluate the specificity of any factors, we studied a control group of 42 age- and sex-matched pairs of twins, both of whom survived the first year of life. Only 11 of 114 characteristics were significantly related to SIDS: future victims had a smaller weight and height at birth, stayed longer in the nursery, and followed a moving object with their eyes, had head control, and smiled at a later age than their surviving siblings. They also fatigued more often during feeding (11/42) and had reduced arm and neck tonus (9/42). They were described as longer sleepers than their surviving siblings. During sleep, some SIDS twins, but no surviving twin, were found to be cyanotic at least once or pale (4/42) and were repeatedly covered with abundant sweat (8/42). In the control group of normal twins, the occurrence of most of these characteristics was found with a frequency comparable to that seen in the SIDS infants; the specificity of these characteristics is thus considered doubtful. The mean birth weight and height were significantly greater in the control group, and no control infant had an episode of cyanosis or pallor or repeated episodes of profuse sweating observed during their sleep.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)