Civil Engineering and Malaria Risk: A Descriptive Study in a Rural Area of Cubal, Angola.

(1) Background: Angola is among the high-burden countries with malaria cases globally. After 2013, we suspected an increase in the number of malaria cases in Cubal (Angola), previously in decline. Our objective was to evaluate the incidence rate in Cubal, overall and by neighborhood, for 2014, 2015, and 2016. (2) Methods: A retrospective, observational study was performed in Cubal (Angola) from January 2014 to December 2016, including all patients with a microbiologically confirmed diagnosis, treated at Cubal's Hospitals for this period of time. The principal variables calculated were the incidence rates of 2014, 2015, and 2016 in Cubal (overall and by neighborhood). (3) Results: There were 3249 malaria cases. The incidence rates were 2.27, 10.73, and 12.40 cases per 1000 inhabitants in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively. In the neighborhood, Hamavoko-Kasseke, there was a 10.73-fold increase in incidence during this period. Additionally, Hamavoko-Kasseke presents an anomalous distribution of malaria cases. (4) Conclusions: We observed an increase in the incidence of malaria in Cubal during the three-year study period. The case distribution was highly heterogeneous with hyperendemic areas, and we found a chronobiological association between the construction of a civil engineering project. This information could be useful for deciding which malaria control strategies must be implemented in this area.

Smoke-Free Policy Adoption in Horizon City and El Paso Community College: A Strategic Campaign Approach That Turns a "No" Into a "Yes".

Coalitions in Horizon City in El Paso County, Texas and the El Paso Community College (EPCC) had previously attempted to pass smoke-free policies in 2008 and 2016, respectively; however, both policies failed to pass at those times. The coalitions refocused their activities and were successful in passing policies in EPCC in 2020 and in Horizon City in 2021. We employed a participatory case study method to understand what factors changed between the first and second attempts at smoke-free policy adoption in Horizon City and EPCC. Using the Advocacy Coalition Framework as a basis for analysis, we identified the role of coalitions, their beliefs, use of power resources, role of policy brokers, and external events. We identify best practices and make recommendations for coalitions seeking to adopt smoke-free policies in other locations.

Molecular characterization of rpoB gene mutations in isolates from tuberculosis patients in Cubal, Republic of Angola.

BACKGROUND: The importance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains with disputed rpoB mutations remains to be defined. This study aimed to assess the frequency and types of rpoB mutations in M. tuberculosis isolates from Cubal, Angola, a country with a high incidence of tuberculosis. METHODS: All isolates included (n = 308) were analyzed using phenotypic drug susceptibility testing and GenoType MTBDRplus assay. DNA sequencing of the rpoB gene and determination of rifampicin MIC by macrodilution method were additionally performed on isolates yielding discordant results (n = 12) and those in which the mutation detected was not characterized (n = 8). RESULTS: In total, 85.1% (74/87) of rifampicin-resistant strains had undisputed rpoB mutations -S450L (49), D435V (15), H445D (3), H445Y (2), Q432ins (1), L449M plus S450F (1), S450F (1), S450W (1) and S450Y (1)-; 10.3% (9/87) had disputed rpoB mutations-L430P plus S493L (1), N437del (1), H445L (3), D435Y (2), L452P (2)-, 2.3% (2.3%) showed no rpoB mutations and 2.3% (2/87) showed heteroresistance-D435Y plus L452P and L430P plus S493L-. CONCLUSION: Disputed rpoB mutations were common, occurring in 10.3% of rifampicin resistant isolates. Current phenotyping techniques may be unable to detect this resistance pattern. To increase their sensitivity, a lower concentration of RIF could be used in these tests or alternatively, rpoB mutations could be screened and characterized in all M. tuberculosis strains.

Telemedicine experience between two hospitals from Angola and Spain.

OBJECTIVE: Telemedicine uses information and communication technologies to provide services in the field where the distance is a critical factor. The aim of the present study is to describe the experience of a synchronous telemedicine between two hospitals in Spain and Angola. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study of all synchronous telemedicine sessions conducted between the Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz in Angola and the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital in Spain from January 2011 to December 2014. RESULTS: Seventy-two cases were discussed in the telemedicine sessions. The average age of patients was 18.02 (SD 13.75) years and mostly women (54.38 percent). Reasons to discuss the cases were 46.47 percent doubts in the diagnosis and therapeutic management, 15.47 percent were purely formative cases, and only 8.45 percent treatment doubt. At the time of presentation, 29 percent of the patients were already diagnosed, 95 percent of whom with infectious disease diagnostic, and from the undiagnosed patients 36 percent presented a febrile syndrome. CONCLUSION: This study shows the viability of synchronous telemedicine between European and African countries without an excessively sophisticated technology.

Treatment Outcomes and Adverse Events from a Standardized Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Regimen in a Rural Setting in Angola.

Treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) is associated with adverse events (AE). Patients treated with an MDR TB regimen in Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, Cubal, Angola, were prospectively enrolled from May 2013 to July 2015. Baseline characteristics, AE, and clinical and microbiological outcomes were recorded. A total of 216 patients were treated with an MDR TB regimen and 179 (82.9%) patients developed at least one AE. The most common AE were elevation of liver enzymes (46.8% of patients), elevated creatinine (44.4% of patients), and ototoxicity (40.7% of patients). Previous TB treatment was associated with the occurrence of AE (OR 4.89, 95% CI: 2.09-11.46, P < 0.001) and months on treatment was associated to severe AE (OR 1.11 95% CI: 1.04-1.18, P = 0.001). Successful treatment was achieved in 117 (54.2%) patients. Incidence of AE was associated with an unsuccessful outcome (OR 1.23, 95% CI: 1.09-1.40, P = 0.001). Patients treated with MDR TB treatment frequently experience AE, and these are related with previous TB treatment and duration of treatment. Given the high percentage of patients experiencing AE and the low treatment success rates, more effective and less toxic drugs to treat MDR TB are urgently needed.

Epidemiological and clinical features of the emergency visits in a rural hospital in Cubal, Angola.

INTRODUCTION: There is scarce information on the profiles of patients attended in the Emergency Departments (ED) in rural Angola. METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study including all the patients treated in the ED in Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz (Cubal) during 6 months (December 2014- May 2015). The epidemiological and clinical data collected were: age, sex, shift, service assignment, reason for consultation and outcome (discharge, admission, referral or death). RESULTS: A total of 2384 patients (53.4% women) were attended. The median age was 10 years (range: 0 - 96 years); 57.9% and 40.2% of them were under 17 and 5 years, respectively. No differences were observed regarding the assistance per shift, weekdays, weekends, or mean age per shift. The reason for consultation was registered in 69.9% of the patients; the most common were respiratory tract infections (20.5%), fever (14%), digestive diseases (13.6%) and malaria (10.4%). Up to 47.2% of the patients required in-hospital treatment and 1.3% were transferred to other hospitals. The patients admitted were significantly younger than the patients discharged (median age of 4 vs.16 years, p < 0.01). The mortality rate within the ED was 0.5%. CONCLUSION: Young patients were those who mostly required assistance in the ED. Infectious diseases were the most frequent reason for consultation. Pulmonary tuberculosis was suspected in one third of respiratory infections. The admission rate was high, especially in children under 5 years and in cases of malaria and malnutrition. Low referral rate and low mortality within the ED were observed.

[Predictors of drug-resistant pathogens in community-onset pneumonia: Are factors considered in health-care-associated pneumonia useful in the emergency department?] / Predictores de patógenos resistentes en las neumonías procedentes de la comunidad: ¿es útil en urgencias el concepto de neumonía asociada a cuidados sanitarios?

OBJECTIVES: To analyze factors related to drug-resistant pathogens (DRPs) in community-onset pneumonia (COP) and whether previously suggested criteria are useful in our emergency-department. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective 1-year study of adults coming to the emergency department for COP. We assessed the usefulness of criteria used in health-care-associated pneumonia (HCAP), as well the Shorr index, the Barthel index, and clinical suspicion of resistant pathogens. Data were analyzed by multiple logistic regression and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS: We included 139 patients with a mean (SD) age of 75.9 (15.3) years; 63.3% were men. Forty-nine COP patients (35.2%) were at risk for DRP-caused pneumonia according to HCAP criteria; 43 (30.9%) according to the Shorr index, and 56 (40.3%) according to the Aliberti index. A score of less than 60 derived from the Barthel index was recorded for 25 patients (18%). Clinical suspicion of a DRP was recorded for 11 (7.9%). A DRP was isolated in 5 patients (3.6%) (3, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; 2, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified 2 predictors of DRP-caused COP: hospital admission within the last 90 days (odds ratio [OR], 8.92; 95% CI, 1.92-41.45) and initial arterial blood oxygen saturation (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74-0.98). The AUC was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.85-0.98). The model identified 22 patients (16.8%) at risk for DRP-caused pneumonia. The positive and negative predictive values were 20% and 99.1%, respectively, for the model 90-day period (vs 8.7% and 98.9%, respectively, for criteria used in HCAP). CONCLUSION: Hospitalization within the 90-day period before a COP emergency and arterial blood oxygen saturation were good predictors of DRP in our setting. Criteria of DRP in HCAP, on the other hand, had lower ability to identify patients at risk in COP.

OBJETIVO: Analizar en las neumonías de la comunidad diagnosticados en nuestro centro los predictores de etiología por patógenos resistentes (PR) y evaluar la utilidad de distintos criterios de riesgo de PR previamente sugeridos. METODO: Se estudiaron prospectivamente durante 1 año los pacientes adultos procedentes de la comunidad atendidos en el servicio de urgencias (SU) por neumonía. Se evaluaron los criterios definitorios de neumonía asociada al cuidado sanitario (NACS), así como los índices de Shorr, Aliberti y Barthel y el juicio clínico de PR. Se realizó regresión logística múltiple y se calculó el área bajo la curva receptor-operador (ABC-ROC). RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 139 pacientes con una edad media de 75 (DE: 15,3) años, el 63,3% varones. Tenían riesgo de PR según los criterios de NACS 49 (35,2%), según el índice de Shorr 43 (30,9%) y según índice de Aliberti 56 (40,3%). Se encontró un I. Barthel < 60 en 25 enfermos (18%) y juicio clínico de PR en 11 (7,9%). Se aisló PR en el 3,6% (3 Pseudomonas aeruginosa y 2 Staphylococcus aureus meticilin resistentes). En el análisis multivariado fueron predictores de PR el haber ingresado en los 90 días previos, con una odds ratio (OR) de 8,92 [intervalo de confianza (IC) 95%: 1,92-41,45], y la saturación inicial de oxígeno, con una OR de 0,85 [IC 95%: 0,74-0,98] con ABC-ROC de 0,91 (IC 95%: 0,85-0,98). Nuestro modelo identificó 22 pacientes (16,8%) con riesgo de PR, con valor predictivo positivo y negativo del 20% y 99,1%, respectivamente, frente a un 8,7% y 98,9%, respectivamente para NACS. CONCLUSIONES: En las neumonías de nuestro centro el antecedente de ingreso en los 90 días previos junto con la saturación de oxígeno fueron buenos predictores de PR, mientras que los criterios de NACS tuvieron menor capacidad de discriminación.

Predictores de patógenos resistentes en las neumonías procedentes de la comunidad: ¿es útil en urgencias el concepto de neumonía asociada a cuidados sanitarios? / Predictors of drug-resistant pathogens in community-onset pneumonia: Are factors considered in health-care-associated pneumonia useful in the emergency department?

Objetivos. Analizar en las neumonías de la comunidad diagnosticados en nuestro centro los predictores de etiología por patógenos resistentes (PR) y evaluar la utilidad de distintos criterios de riesgo de PR previamente sugeridos. Método. Se estudiaron prospectivamente durante 1 año los pacientes adultos procedentes de la comunidad atendidos en el servicio de urgencias (SU) por neumonía. Se evaluaron los criterios definitorios de neumonía asociada al cuidado sanitario (NACS), así como los índices de Shorr, Aliberti y Barthel y el juicio clínico de PR. Se realizó regresión logística múltiple y se calculó el área bajo la curva receptor-operador (ABC-ROC). Resultados. Se incluyeron 139 pacientes con una edad media de 75 (DE: 15,3) años, el 63,3% varones. Tenían riesgo de PR según los criterios de NACS 49 (35,2%), según el índice de Shorr 43 (30,9%) y según índice de Aliberti 56 (40,3%). Se encontró un I. Barthel < 60 en 25 enfermos (18%) y juicio clínico de PR en 11 (7,9%). Se aisló PR en el 3,6% (3 Pseudomonas aeruginosa y 2 Staphylococcus aureus meticilin resistentes). En el análisis multivariado fueron predictores de PR el haber ingresado en los 90 días previos, con una odds ratio (OR) de 8,92 [intervalo de confianza (IC) 95%: 1,92-41,45], y la saturación inicial de oxígeno, con una OR de 0,85 [IC 95%: 0,74-0,98] con ABC-ROC de 0,91 (IC 95%: 0,85-0,98). Nuestro modelo identificó 22 pacientes (16,8%) con riesgo de PR, con valor predictivo positivo y negativo del 20% y 99,1%, respectivamente, frente a un 8,7% y 98,9%, respectivamente para NACS. Conclusiones. En las neumonías de nuestro centro el antecedente de ingreso en los 90 días previos junto con la saturación de oxígeno fueron buenos predictores de PR, mientras que los criterios de NACS tuvieron menor capacidad de discriminación (AU)

Objectives. To analyze factors related to drug-resistant pathogens (DRPs) in community-onset pneumonia (COP) and whether previously suggested criteria are useful in our emergency-department. Methods. Prospective 1-year study of adults coming to the emergency department for COP. We assessed the usefulness of criteria used in health-care-associated pneumonia (HCAP), as well the Shorr index, the Barthel index, and clinical suspicion of resistant pathogens. Data were analyzed by multiple logistic regression and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results. We included 139 patients with a mean (SD) age of 75.9 (15.3) years; 63.3% were men. Forty-nine COP patients (35.2%) were at risk for DRP-caused pneumonia according to HCAP criteria; 43 (30.9%) according to the Shorr index, and 56 (40.3%) according to the Aliberti index. A score of less than 60 derived from the Barthel index was recorded for 25 patients (18%). Clinical suspicion of a DRP was recorded for 11 (7.9%). A DRP was isolated in 5 patients (3.6%) (3, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; 2, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified 2 predictors of DRP-caused COP: hospital admission within the last 90 days (odds ratio [OR], 8.92; 95% CI, 1.92-41.45) and initial arterial blood oxygen saturation (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74-0.98). The AUC was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.85-0.98). The model identified 22 patients (16.8%) at risk for DRP-caused pneumonia. The positive and negative predictive values were 20% and 99.1%, respectively, for the model 90-day period (vs 8.7% and 98.9%, respectively, for criteria used in HCAP). Conclusions. Hospitalization within the 90-day period before a COP emergency and arterial blood oxygen saturation were good predictors of DRP in our setting. Criteria of DRP in HCAP, on the other hand, had lower ability to identify patients at risk in COP (AU)