scholarly journals Mycobacterium indicus pranii vaccine immunoprophylaxis in anti-phenolic glycolipid-1-positive leprosy contacts – A pilot study from a tertiary care center in North India

Author(s):  
Muthu Sendhil Kumaran ◽  
Tarun Narang ◽  
Seema Chabbra ◽  
Raihan Ashraf ◽  
Sunil Dogra

Background: Contacts of leprosy patients have an increased risk of infection with Mycobacterium leprae. Contact tracing and chemo- or immunoprophylaxis are important means of preventing leprosy transmission. Aims: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of immunoprophylaxis with Mycobacterium indicus pranii vaccine in reducing anti-phenolic glycolipid-1 titers in household contacts of leprosy patients. Methods: This prospective single-center study was conducted in a tertiary care center in North India from January 2015 to December 2016. Contacts of leprosy patients (both paucibacillary and multibacillary) were screened for anti-phenolic glycolipid-1 antibodies with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Those found positive were given immunoprophylaxis with a single dose of Mycobacterium indicus pranii vaccine, and anti-phenolic glycolipid-1 titers were evaluated at six and 12 months. All contacts were clinically followed for three years. Results: Of the 135 contacts of 98 leprosy patients that were screened, 128 were recruited. Seventeen of these contacts were positive for anti-phenolic glycolipid-1 antibodies and were given Mycobacterium indicus pranii vaccine. Two contacts were lost to follow-up. After immunoprophylaxis, anti-phenolic glycolipid-1 titers were negative in all patients at all intervals, and no contact developed any clinical signs or symptoms of leprosy during the three-year follow-up. Limitations: The small number of contacts studied, the short follow-up period and the absence of a control group were limitations of this study. Dicussion: We could not find any papers on natural decline of PGL 1 titres in contacts, although in leprosy patients, these titres may even increase after completion of treatment. However the titres do correlate with bacterial load (reference: Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis. 1998 Sep;66(3):356-64) so if the tires decrease or become negative it may be considered as an indirect evidence of bacillary clearance. Hence we may suggest the protective efficacy. Furthermore, as the editor mentioned, considering the small number of positive patients, a control group was not possible in the present pilot study, but such studies may be carried out in the future. Conclusion: Immunoprophylaxis with Mycobacterium indicus pranii vaccine is effective and safe in preventing disease in contacts of leprosy patients. However, these findings need to be replicated in larger studies.

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Cabizuca ◽  
P. S. Rocha ◽  
J. V. Marques ◽  
T. F. L. R. Costa ◽  
A. S. N. Santos ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 01 (03) ◽  
pp. 150-155
Author(s):  
Arun Gupta ◽  
Ajay Mehta ◽  
Nitin Mishra ◽  
Rajendra Bansal ◽  
Ajit Yadav

AbstractVariceal bleeding is one of the most feared complications of cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an effective minimally invasive option to achieve adequate decompression of the portal system. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy and complications of TIPS in patients presenting with variceal bleed. It was a retrospective study done in a tertiary care center in North India in cirrhotic patients with acute or recurrent variceal bleed who underwent TIPS from April 2010 to October 2013. All the patients were followed up till April 2014. We could successfully implant TIPS in 100% of our patients with 100% success rate in controlling variceal bleeding immediately and during the follow-up period. Our primary patency rate was 94.5% and overall patency rate was 100%. Major TIPS-related complication was hepatic encephalopathy in 20% of patients; 7 of 22 patients died during the follow-up period. TIPS is a safe and effective procedure for control of acute or recurrent variceal bleed. Emerging evidence in favor of early TIPS is further going to expand its indication in variceal bleed. Hepatic encephalopathy was the major procedure-related complication in our study consistent with previous literature reports.


Author(s):  
Michele Spinicci ◽  
Iacopo Vellere ◽  
Lucia Graziani ◽  
Marta Tilli ◽  
Beatrice Borchi ◽  
...  

Abstract We evaluated 100 post-acute COVID-19 patients, a median of 60 days (IQR 48-67) after discharge from the Careggi University Hospital, Italy. Eighty-four (84%) had at least one persistent symptom, irrespective of COVID-19 severity. A considerable number of hospital re-admission (10%) and/or infectious diseases (14%) during the post-discharge period was reported.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. s20-s21
Author(s):  
Alexandra Trannel ◽  
Takaaki Kobayashi ◽  
Oluchi Abosi ◽  
Kyle Jenn ◽  
Holly Meacham ◽  
...  

Background: Hospital semiprivate rooms may lead to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient exposures. We investigated the risk of COVID-19 patient-to-patient exposure in semiprivate rooms and the subsequent risk of acquiring COVID-19. Methods: The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics is an 811-bed tertiary care center. Overall, 16% of patient days are spent in semiprivate rooms. Most patients do not wear masks while in semiprivate rooms. Active COVID-19 surveillance included admission and every 5 days nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. We identified inpatients with COVID-19 who were in semiprivate rooms during their infectious periods during July–December 2020. Testing was repeated 24 hours after the first positive test. Cycle threshold (Ct) values of the two tests (average Ct <30), SARS-CoV-2 serology results, clinical assessment, and COVID-19 history were used to determine patient infectiousness. Roommates were considered exposed if in the same semiprivate room with an infectious patient. Exposed patients were notified, quarantined (private room), and follow-up testing was arranged (median seven days). Conversion was defined as having a negative test followed by a subsequent positive within 14 days after exposure. We calculated the risk of exposure: number of infectious patients in semiprivate rooms/number of semiprivate patient-days (hospitalization days in semiprivate rooms). Results: There were 16,427 semiprivate patient days during July–December 2020. We identified 43 COVID-19 inpatients who roommates during their infectious periods. Most infectious patients (77%) were male; the median age was 67 years; and 22 (51%) were symptomatic. Most were detected during active surveillance: admission testing (51%) and serial testing (28%). There were 57 exposed roommates. The risk of exposure was 3 of 1,000 semiprivate patient days. In total, 16 roommates (28%) did not complete follow-up testing. Of 41 exposed patients with follow-up data, 8 (20%) converted following their exposure. Median time to conversion was 5 days. The risk of exposure and subsequent conversion was 0.7 of 1,000 semiprivate patient days. Median Ct value of the source patient was 20 for those who converted and 23 for those who did not convert. Median exposure time was 45 hours (range, 3–73) for those who converted and 12 hours (range, 1–75) for those who did not convert. Conclusions: The overall risk of exposure in semiprivate rooms was low. The conversion rate was comparable to that reported for household exposures. Lower Ct values and lengthier exposures may be associated with conversion. Active COVID-19 surveillance helps early detection and decreases exposure time.Funding: NoDisclosures: None


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