Browsing by Author "Bonnewell, John"

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    Investigation of Melioidosis Using Blood Culture and Indirect Hemagglutination Assay Serology among Patients with Fever, Northern Tanzania.
    (The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 2020-12) Maze, Michael J; Elrod, Mindy Glass; Biggs, Holly M; Bonnewell, John; Carugati, Manuela; Hoffmaster, Alex R; Lwezaula, Bingileki F; Madut, Deng B; Maro, Venance P; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Morrissey, Anne B; Saganda, Wilbrod; Sakasaka, Philoteus; Rubach, Matthew P; Crump, John A
    Prediction models indicate that melioidosis may be common in parts of East Africa, but there are few empiric data. We evaluated the prevalence of melioidosis among patients presenting with fever to hospitals in Tanzania. Patients with fever were enrolled at two referral hospitals in Moshi, Tanzania, during 2007-2008, 2012-2014, and 2016-2019. Blood was collected from participants for aerobic culture. Bloodstream isolates were identified by conventional biochemical methods. Non-glucose-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli were further tested using a Burkholderia pseudomallei latex agglutination assay. Also, we performed B. pseudomallei indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) serology on serum samples from participants enrolled from 2012 to 2014 and considered at high epidemiologic risk of melioidosis on the basis of admission within 30 days of rainfall. We defined confirmed melioidosis as isolation of B. pseudomallei from blood culture, probable melioidosis as a ≥ 4-fold rise in antibody titers between acute and convalescent sera, and seropositivity as a single antibody titer ≥ 40. We enrolled 3,716 participants and isolated non-enteric Gram-negative bacilli in five (2.5%) of 200 with bacteremia. As none of these five isolates was B. pseudomallei, there were no confirmed melioidosis cases. Of 323 participants tested by IHA, 142 (44.0%) were male, and the median (range) age was 27 (0-70) years. We identified two (0.6%) cases of probable melioidosis, and 57 (17.7%) were seropositive. The absence of confirmed melioidosis from 9 years of fever surveillance indicates melioidosis was not a major cause of illness.
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    Sepsis in sub-Saharan Africa: a prospective observational study of clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes for adolescents and adults with sepsis in northern Tanzania
    (2020) Bonnewell, John

    Background: Sepsis is a leading cause of death and disability globally. Despite a high burden of sepsis in sub-Saharan Africa, clinical data for sepsis in that setting are limited. We sought to describe the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes in a cohort of adults and adolescents with sepsis in northern Tanzania. We also assessed for associations between clinical factors and in-hospital mortality.

    Methods: We carried out a prospective observational cohort study at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in Moshi, Tanzania. We collected data on demographics, baseline clinical characteristics, and management, with an emphasis on hours 0-6 after arrival to the Emergency Department. Log risk regression was carried out to assess for associations between demographic and clinical factors and our primary outcome of in-hospital death. Separate multivariable regression analyses were conducted for both antimicrobial administration by hour 6 and administration of intravenous (IV) fluids >1L by hour 6 and the outcome of in-hospital mortality.

    Results: Fifty-eight participants were included in our analysis. Seventeen (29.3%) participants died in-hospital. Baseline characteristics associated with inpatient mortality included inability to drink unassisted, respiratory rate >30 breaths per minute, hypoxia, and altered mentation. Less than half of participants received any antimicrobial by hour 6, and most participants received <1L of IV fluids. HIV antibody testing was performed for only one participant in the first 6 hours. On multivariable analysis, neither antimicrobial administration nor IV fluids >1L by hour 6 was associated with inpatient mortality.

    Conclusion: Sepsis in northern Tanzania carries a high risk of in-hospital mortality. Further research is urgently needed to establish the highest-yield interventions suited to the unique characteristics of sepsis in sSA.