Infection prevention and control of highly infectious pathogens in resource-limited countries: an experience from Marburg viral disease outbreak in Kagera Region - Tanzania.

Marburg viral disease (MVD) is a highly infectious disease with a case fatality rate of up to 90%, particularly impacting resource-limited countries where implementing Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures is challenging. This paper shares the experience of how Tanzania has improved its capacity to prevent and control highly infectious diseases, and how this capacity was utilized during the outbreak of the MVD disease that occurred for the first time in the country in 2023.In 2016 and the subsequent years, Tanzania conducted self and external assessments that revealed limited IPC capacity in responding to highly infectious diseases. To address these gaps, initiatives were undertaken, including the enhancement of IPC readiness through the development and dissemination of guidelines, assessments of healthcare facilities, supportive supervision and mentorship, procurement of supplies, and the renovation or construction of environments to bolster IPC implementation.The official confirmation and declaration of MVD on March 21, 2023, came after five patients had already died of the disease. MVD primarily spreads through contact and presents with severe symptoms, which make patient care and prevention challenging, especially in resource-limited settings. However, with the use of a trained workforce; IPC rapid needs assessment was conducted, identifying specific gaps. Based on the results; mentorship programs were carried out, specific policies and guidelines were developed, security measures were enhanced, all burial activities in the area were supervised, and both patients and staff were monitored across all facilities. By the end of the outbreak response on June 1, 2023, a total of 212 contacts had been identified, with the addition of only three deaths. Invasive procedures like dialysis and Manual Vacuum Aspiration prevented some deaths in infected patients, procedures previously discouraged.In summary, this experience underscores the critical importance of strict adherence to IPC practices in controlling highly infectious diseases. Recommendations for low-income countries include motivating healthcare providers and improving working conditions to enhance commitment in challenging environments. This report offers valuable insights and practical interventions for preparing for and addressing highly infectious disease outbreaks through implementation of IPC measures.

Heart failure, post-hospital mortality and renal function in Tanzania: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine one-year, post-hospital mortality and the predictors of mortality in Tanzanian adults with heart failure (HF) compared to other admitted adults. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study we consecutively enrolled medical inpatients admitted during a 3-month period, screened for HF and followed until 12 months after hospital discharge. Standardized history, physical examination, echocardiography and laboratory investigations were obtained during hospital presentation. The primary outcome was one-year post-discharge mortality. The secondary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Cox regression adjusted for age and sex was used. RESULTS: During the study period, we enrolled 558 adults; 145 had HF and 107 of these survived until discharge. Patients with HF had a higher one-year post-hospital discharge mortality than all other diagnoses (62/107 (57.9%) vs 150/343 (43.7%), respectively, HR=1.57[1.13-2.18]). In-hospital mortality was similar. Markers of renal disease were more common in adults with HF (40/107 (37.4%) and were the strongest independent predictors of post-hospital mortality: low eGFR (HR=2.94[1.62-5.31]) and proteinuria (HR=2.03, [95%CI 1.13-3.66]). No patients discharged with the combination of low eGFR/proteinuria survived to the one-year endpoint. Of note, 79/145 (54.5%) of adults admitted with HF were newly diagnosed during hospital admission. CONCLUSIONS: Over half of adults discharged with HF died within 12months after discharge. Adults with HF had higher post-hospital mortality compared to other medical inpatients. Markers of renal disease were the strongest predictor of this mortality. Innovative interventions are needed to reduce post-hospital mortality in adults with HF and should focus on those with renal disease.

Linkage to Primary Care and Survival After Hospital Discharge for HIV-Infected Adults in Tanzania: A Prospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about outcomes after hospitalization for HIV-infected adults in sub-Saharan Africa. We determined 12-month, posthospital mortality rates in HIV-infected vs. uninfected adults and predictors of mortality. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled adults admitted to the medical wards of a public hospital in northwestern Tanzania. We conducted standardized questionnaires, physical examinations, and basic laboratory analyses including HIV testing. Participants or proxies were called at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months to determine outcomes. Predictors of in-hospital and posthospital mortality were determined using logistic regression. Cox regression models were used to analyze mortality incidence and associated factors. To confirm our findings, we studied adults admitted to another government hospital. RESULTS: We enrolled 637 consecutive adult medical inpatients: 38/143 (26.6%) of the HIV-infected adults died in hospital vs. 104/494 (21.1%) of the HIV-uninfected adults. Twelve-month outcomes were determined for 98/105 (93.3%) vs. 352/390 (90.3%) discharged adults, respectively. Posthospital mortality was 53/105 (50.5%) for HIV-infected adults vs. 126/390 (32.3%) for HIV-uninfected adults (adjusted P = 0.006). The 66/105 (62.9%) HIV-infected adults who attended clinic within 1 month after discharge had significantly lower mortality than the other HIV-infected adults [adjusted hazards ratio = 0.17 (0.07-0.39), P < 0.001]. Adults admitted to a nearby government hospital had similar high rates of posthospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Posthospital mortality is disturbingly high among HIV-infected adult inpatients in Tanzania. The posthospital period may offer a window of opportunity to improve survival in this population. Interventions are urgently needed and should focus on increasing posthospital linkage to primary HIV care.