Predictors of prolonged hospitalisation and mortality among children admitted with blackwater fever in eastern Uganda

Our study aimed at determining clinical factors associated with prolonged hospitalisation and death among children admitted with blackwater fever (BWF). We analysed 920 eligible records for the period January – December 2018 from Mbale and Soroti Regional Referral Hospitals in Eastern Uganda. The median hospitalisation was 3 (IQR: 2–5 days) days. Prolonged hospitalisation was in 251/920 (27.3%). Clinical features independently associated with prolonged hospitalisation included abdominal tenderness, body pain and mild fever. 29/920 (3.2%) died, of these 20 (69.0%) within 48 h of admission. Features of severity associated with mortality were noisy or interrupted breathing, tachypnoea, chest pain, convulsions, delayed capillary refill time (≥3 s), severe pallor, high fever (>38.5°C), altered level of consciousness, prostration and acidotic breathing.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus Associated with Meat and Meat Products in African Countries: A Review

Antimicrobial resistance has been increasing globally, which negatively affects food safety, veterinary, and human medicine. Ineffective antibiotics may cause treatment failure, which results in prolonged hospitalisation, increased mortality, and consequently, increased health care costs. Staphylococcus aureus causes a diverse range of infections including septicaemia and endocarditis. However, in food, it mainly causes food poisoning by the production of enterotoxins. With the discovery of methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains that have a separate reservoir in livestock animals, which were termed as livestock-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (LA-MRSA) in 2005, it became clear that animals may pose another health risk. Though LA-MRSA is mainly transferred by direct contact, food transmission cannot be excluded. While the current strains are not very pathogenic, mitigation is advisable, as they may acquire new virulence genes, becoming more pathogenic, and may transfer their resistance genes. Control of LA-MRSA poses significant problems, and only Norway has an active mitigation strategy. There is limited information about LA-MRSA, MRSA in general, and other S. aureus infections from African countries. In this review, we discuss the prevalence and characteristics of antimicrobial susceptible and resistant S. aureus (with a focus on MRSA) from meat and meat products in African countries and compare it to the situation in the rest of the world.

Paediatric Enterobacteriaceae infections in hospitalised children in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal

Background: Community-acquired Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae infections in malnourished and HIV-infected hospitalised children are not well documented and are of concern because of increasing antibiotic resistance and limited available treatment options. This study describes the clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalised children with positive Enterobacteriaceae cultures.Method: A retrospective chart review of children with Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae infections was performed in King Edward VIII Hospital, a referral hospital in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Standard descriptive and analytical statistics, including regression analysis, were performed to determine the clinical characteristics associated with Enterobacteriaceae infections in children hospitalised in the study period.Results: Of all hospitalised children in the study period, 207 (3.5%) had positive cultures for Enterobacteriaceae isolates, with Escherichia coli 109 (44.5%) and Klebsiella spp. 59 (24.1%) making up most of the infections. Urine (126; 58%) followed by stool (34; 14.8%) and blood (35; 14.0%) were the commonest samples that yielded positive cultures. Diarrhoeal hospitalisations especially posed a higher risk for Enterobacteriaceae infections. Severe acutely malnourished and HIV-infected children were at higher risk. These comorbidities were independently associated with an increased risk of Enterobacteriaceae infection. Prolonged hospitalisation and increased risk of death were also associated with Enterobacteriaceae infection.Conclusion: Enterobacteriaceae infections were common in hospitalised children and posed an increased risk, especially in malnourished and HIV-infected children. Further studies investigating the relationships between diarrhoea, urinary tract infections and Enterobacteriaceae infections are needed.

Costs Associated with the Treatment of Clostridioides Difficile Infections

Background: Clostridioides difficile, as the main cause of infectious diarrhoea in hospitalised patients, is a considerable challenge for medical personnel (hospital environment) who have direct contact with the patient, as well as being of interest to public health specialists. Financial issues related to the occurrence of the above-mentioned micro-organism are being increasingly raised. Due to the scale of the phenomenon, we are beginning to pay attention to the significant system costs caused by the diagnosis and treatment of CDI infection and its complications. Studies indicate that the nosocomial infection of C. difficile complicates hospitalisation, by increasing the cost by more than half and extending patient’s stay by an average of 3.6 days. Material and methods: The aim of this study was to attempt to calculate the estimated costs associated with the prolonged hospitalisation of patients with nosocomial CDI infection, using the example of a hospital in Lodz. A total of 53 completed hospitalisations of patients treated in the period of January–August 2018 were analysed, during which hospital Clostridioides difficile infection was identified. For the purposes of this study, statistical data collected in the hospital’s IT system were also analysed, covering 44,868 hospitalisations in the Jan–Aug 2018 period, during which no hospital infection occurred. They was a control group, in which the analysed cases were compared. The obtained data in the study determined how long each patient with Clostridioides difficile infection stayed in the hospital (from the moment infection was diagnosed until the day of hospital discharge), and which diagnosis related groups (DRG) (according to National Health Fund guidelines) were assigned. The average length of patient stay without infection within a given DRG group in each hospital ward was also determined. The collected materials became the initial point for the final analysis of hospital costs and the length of hospital stay caused by Clostridioides difficile infection. Results: Clostridioides difficile infection extended the hospital stay by an average of almost 12 days. The average cost of prolonged hospitalisation due to CDI infection (according to the average cost per person-day) was about PLN 7148 (1664 EUR), which gave a total value of about PLN 378,860.6 (88,240.5 EUR) in the examined period. At the same time, the average expenditure from the National Health Fund for hospitalisation due to CDI infections increased by about PLN 6627 (1542.8 EUR), which in the analysed period translated into over PLN 351,232.0 (81,505.5 EUR) (according to settlements with the National Health Fund). The outcome indicates that there is a clear relation between CDI and the anticipated length of hospitalisation of patients without an infection.

A CORRELATIONAL STUDY BETWEEN VITAMIN D LEVELS IN COVID 19 POSITIVE PATIENTS IN GCS HOSPITAL.

This is a study to correlate vitamin D levels in Covid positive patients admitted in GCS medical hospital, Ahmedabad .Covid 19 can vary in clinical presentation in different patients owing to their age , comorbidities and various other factors. It is now being studied whether Vitamin D levels have any bearing on initial presentation, duration of hospital stay, oxygen requirement and clinical outcome. It is a cross sectional observational study taking into account 100 patients. After applying inclusion criteria, 94 patients were selected ,out of which 37 were vitamin D decient.(39.36%). Mean vitamin D was 17.16 ±10.85 ng/ml. Out of 94 patients 55 were males and 39 were females.34% males(18) were found to be vitamin D decient and in females 51%(19)were vitamin D decient. 38% (14)of vitamin D decient people required oxygen and 48%of vitamin D decient Covid positive patients(17) required prolonged hospitalisation.

Patterns of orthopaedic injury among hospitalised personal mobility device users and bicycle riders: a comparative study

Introduction: Personal mobility devices (PMDs), such as electronic scooters or motorised bicycles, are efficient modes of transportation. Their recent popularity has also resulted in an increase in PMD-related injuries. We aimed to characterise and compare the nature of injuries sustained by PMD users and bicycle riders. Methods: This retrospective study compared injury patterns among PMD and bicycle users. 140 patients were admitted between November 2013 and September 2018. Parameters studied included patients’ demographics (e.g. age, gender and body mass index), type of PMD, nature of injury, surgical intervention required, duration of hospitalisation and time off work. Results: Of 140 patients, 46 (32.9%) patients required treatment at the department of orthopaedic surgery. 19 patients were PMD users while 27 were bicycle riders. 16 (84.2%) patients with PMD-related injuries were men. PMD users were significantly younger (mean age 45 ± 15 years) when compared to bicycle riders (mean age 56 ±17 years; p < 0.05). A quarter (n = 5, 26.3%) of PMD users sustained open fractures and over half (n = 10, 52.6%) required surgical intervention. Among 27 bicycle users, 7.4% (n = 2) of patients sustained open fractures and 70.4% (n = 19) required surgical intervention. Both groups had comparable inpatient stay duration and time off work. Conclusion: PMD-related orthopaedic traumas are high-energy injuries, with higher rates of open fractures, when compared to bicycle injuries. In addition, PMD users are significantly younger and of economically viable age. Prolonged hospitalisation and time off work have socioeconomic implications. Caution should be exercised when using PMDs.

Prognosis of Acute Ischaemic Stroke in Cancer Patients: A National Inpatient Sample Study

ABSTRACTBackground and PurposeWhilst cancer is a risk factor for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS), its impact on AIS prognosis between metastatic and non-metastatic (MC and NMC) disease is poorly understood. Furthermore, the receipt of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and endovascular thrombectomy (ET) and their outcomes is poorly researched.MethodsAIS admissions from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) were included (October 2015-December 2017). Multivariable logistic regressions adjusting for a wide range of confounders analysed the relationship between NMC and MC and AIS in-hospital outcomes (mortality, prolonged hospitalisation >4 days and routine home discharge). Interaction terms with IVT and ET were also computed to explore their impact amongst cancer patients.Results221,249 records representative of 1,106,045 admissions were included. There were 38,855 (3.51%) patients with co-morbid cancers: NMC=53.78% and MC=46.22%. NMC was associated with 23% increased odds of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.23 (1.07-1.42)), which was mainly driven by pancreatic and respiratory cancers. This association was entirely offset by both IVT and ET. MC was associated with 2-fold increased odds of in-hospital mortality (2.16 (1.90-2.45)), which was mainly driven by respiratory, pancreatic and colorectal cancers. This association was only offset by ET. Both NMC and MC were significantly associated with prolonged hospitalisation and decreased odds of routine discharge.ConclusionsCancer patients are at higher odds of acute adverse outcomes after AIS and warrant robust primary prevention. IVT and ET improve these outcomes and should thus be offered routinely unless otherwise contraindicated in this group of stroke patients.

Bioelectrical Impedance Versus Biochemical Analysis of Hydration Status: Predictive Value for Prolonged Hospitalisation and Poor Discharge Destination for Older Patients

Dehydration is prevalent in hospitalised patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, particularly among the elderly (≥65 years). We aimed at comparing the performance of intracellular water to extracellular water ratio (ICW/ECW), calculated through a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) of blood urea nitrogen, with the creatinine ratio (BUN/Cr) to predict poor outcomes in a cohort of prospectively identified patients. Data were combined from a cohort of elderly patients (≥65 years) admitted to hospital with fragility fracture (n = 125) and older adults aged ≥50 years admitted to hospital with stroke (n = 40). The association between hydration status and study outcomes (unfavourable discharge destination (rehabilitation, another ward, or death) and prolonged hospitalisation (>10 days)) was examined using logistic regression. The overall diagnostic accuracy of each hydration status measurement was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. In 165 participants (mean age (SD) of 76.7 (9.2) years), an ICW/ECW ratio below the 25th percentile was associated with increased odds of poor discharge destination (OR (95% CI) = 4.25 (1.59–11.34)). Neither the relationship between the BUN/Cr ratio and prolonged stay nor discharge destination was significant. A BIA could be used utilised in conjunction with biochemical measurements to inform patient prognosis.