Browsing by Author "Mmbaga, Blandina T"

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    ItemOpen Access
    A prospective study of Escherichia coli bloodstream infection among adolescents and adults in northern Tanzania.
    (Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2020-05) Madut, Deng B; Rubach, Matthew P; Kalengo, Nathaniel; Carugati, Manuela; Maze, Michael J; Morrissey, Anne B; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Lwezaula, Bingileki F; Kilonzo, Kajiru G; Maro, Venance P; Crump, John A

    Background

    Characterization of the epidemiology of Escherichia coli bloodstream infection (BSI) in sub-Saharan Africa is lacking. We studied patients with E. coli BSI in northern Tanzania to describe host risk factors for infection and to describe the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates.

    Methods

    Within 24 h of admission, patients presenting with a fever at two hospitals in Moshi, Tanzania, were screened and enrolled. Cases were patients with at least one blood culture yielding E. coli and controls were those without E. coli isolated from any blood culture. Logistic regression was used to identify host risk factors for E. coli BSI.

    Results

    We analyzed data from 33 cases and 1615 controls enrolled from 2007 through 2018. The median (IQR) age of cases was 47 (34-57) y and 24 (72.7%) were female. E. coli BSI was associated with (adjusted OR [aOR], 95% CI) increasing years of age (1.03, 1.01 to 1.05), female gender (2.20, 1.01 to 4.80), abdominal tenderness (2.24, 1.06 to 4.72) and urinary tract infection as a discharge diagnosis (3.71, 1.61 to 8.52). Of 31 isolates with antimicrobial susceptibility results, the prevalence of resistance was ampicillin 29 (93.6%), ceftriaxone three (9.7%), ciprofloxacin five (16.1%), gentamicin seven (22.6%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 31 (100.0%).

    Conclusions

    In Tanzania, host risk factors for E. coli BSI were similar to those reported in high-resource settings and resistance to key antimicrobials was common.
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    Acute myocardial infarction under-diagnosis and mortality in a Tanzanian emergency department: A prospective observational study.
    (American heart journal, 2020-08) Hertz, Julian T; Sakita, Francis M; Kweka, Godfrey L; Limkakeng, Alexander T; Galson, Sophie W; Ye, Jinny J; Tarimo, Tumsifu G; Temu, Gloria; Thielman, Nathan M; Bettger, Janet P; Bartlett, John A; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Bloomfield, Gerald S
    BACKGROUND:Growing evidence suggests that under-diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may be common in sub-Saharan Africa. Prospective studies of routine AMI screening among patients presenting to emergency departments in sub-Saharan Africa are lacking. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of AMI among patients in a Tanzanian emergency department. METHODS:In a prospective observational study, consecutive adult patients presenting with chest pain or shortness of breath to a referral hospital emergency department in northern Tanzania were enrolled. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and troponin testing were performed for all participants to diagnose AMI types according to the Fourth Universal Definition. All ECGs were interpreted by two independent physician judges. ECGs suggesting ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were further reviewed by additional judges. Mortality was assessed 30 days following enrollment. RESULTS:Of 681 enrolled participants, 152 (22.3%) had AMI, including 61 STEMIs and 91 non-STEMIS (NSTEMIs). Of AMI patients, 91 (59.9%) were male, mean (SD) age was 61.2 (18.5) years, and mean (SD) duration of symptoms prior to presentation was 6.6 (12.2) days. In the emergency department, 35 (23.0%) AMI patients received aspirin and none received thrombolytics. Of 150 (98.7%) AMI patients completing 30-day follow-up, 65 (43.3%) had died. CONCLUSIONS:In a northern Tanzanian emergency department, AMI is common, rarely treated with evidence-based therapies, and associated with high mortality. Interventions are needed to improve AMI diagnosis, care, and outcomes.
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    ItemOpen Access
    An analysis of emergency care delays experienced by traumatic brain injury patients presenting to a regional referral hospital in a low-income country.
    (PloS one, 2020-01) Zimmerman, Armand; Fox, Samara; Griffin, Randi; Nelp, Taylor; Thomaz, Erika Bárbara Abreu Fonseca; Mvungi, Mark; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Sakita, Francis; Gerardo, Charles J; Vissoci, Joao Ricardo Nickenig; Staton, Catherine A; Staton, Catherine A

    Background

    Trauma is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), trauma patients have a higher risk of experiencing delays to care due to limited hospital resources and difficulties in reaching a health facility. Reducing delays to care is an effective method for improving trauma outcomes. However, few studies have investigated the variety of care delays experienced by trauma patients in LMICs. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of pre- and in-hospital delays to care, and their association with poor outcomes among trauma patients in a low-income setting.

    Methods

    We used a prospective traumatic brain injury (TBI) registry from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center in Moshi, Tanzania to model nine unique delays to care. Multiple regression was used to identify delays significantly associated with poor in-hospital outcomes.

    Results

    Our analysis included 3209 TBI patients. The most common delay from injury occurrence to hospital arrival was 1.1 to 4.0 hours (31.9%). Most patients were evaluated by a physician within 15.0 minutes of arrival (69.2%). Nearly all severely injured patients needed and did not receive a brain computed tomography scan (95.0%). A majority of severely injured patients needed and did not receive oxygen (80.8%). Predictors of a poor outcome included delays to lab tests, fluids, oxygen, and non-TBI surgery.

    Conclusions

    Time to care data is informative, easy to collect, and available in any setting. Our time to care data revealed significant constraints to non-personnel related hospital resources. Severely injured patients with the greatest need for care lacked access to medical imaging, oxygen, and surgery. Insights from our study and future studies will help optimize resource allocation in low-income hospitals thereby reducing delays to care and improving trauma outcomes in LMICs.
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    Antibacterial Utilization for Febrile Illnesses and Laboratory-Confirmed Bloodstream Infections in Northern Tanzania.
    (Open forum infectious diseases, 2023-08) Moorthy, Ganga S; Madut, Deng B; Kilonzo, Kajiru G; Lwezaula, Bingileki F; Mbwasi, Ronald; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Ngocho, James S; Saganda, Wilbrod; Bonnewell, John P; Carugati, Manuela; Egger, Joseph R; Hertz, Julian T; Tillekeratne, L Gayani; Maze, Michael J; Maro, Venance P; Crump, John A; Rubach, Matthew P

    Background

    We describe antibacterial use in light of microbiology data and treatment guidelines for common febrile syndromes in Moshi, Tanzania.

    Methods

    We compared data from 2 hospital-based prospective cohort studies, cohort 1 (2011-2014) and cohort 2 (2016-2019), that enrolled febrile children and adults. A study team member administered a standardized questionnaire, performed a physical examination, and collected blood cultures. Participants with bloodstream infection (BSI) were categorized as receiving effective or ineffective therapy based upon antimicrobial susceptibility interpretations. Antibacterials prescribed for treatment of pneumonia, urinary tract infection (UTI), or presumed sepsis were compared with World Health Organization and Tanzania Standard Treatment Guidelines. We used descriptive statistics and logistic regression to describe antibacterial use.

    Results

    Among participants, 430 of 1043 (41.2%) and 501 of 1132 (44.3%) reported antibacterial use prior to admission in cohorts 1 and 2, respectively. During admission, 930 of 1043 (89.2%) received antibacterials in cohort 1 and 1060 of 1132 (93.6%) in cohort 2. Inpatient use of ceftriaxone, metronidazole, and ampicillin increased between cohorts (P ≤ .002 for each). BSI was detected in 38 (3.6%) participants in cohort 1 and 47 (4.2%) in cohort 2. Of 85 participants with BSI, 81 (95.3%) had complete data and 52 (64.2%) were prescribed effective antibacterials. Guideline-consistent therapy in cohort 1 and cohort 2 was as follows: pneumonia, 87.4% and 56.8%; UTI, 87.6% and 69.0%; sepsis, 84.4% and 61.2% (P ≤ .001 for each).

    Conclusions

    Receipt of antibacterials for febrile illness was common. While guideline-consistent prescribing increased over time, more than one-third of participants with BSI received ineffective antibacterials.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Disclosure of HIV Status to Sexual Partners Among People With HIV in Singida Regional Referral Hospital of Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study.
    (The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANAC, 2024-09) Alexander, Alex Gabagambi; Relf, Michael; Bosworth, Hayden B; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Muiruri, Charles

    Abstract

    HIV status nondisclosure to sexual partners remains a major challenge in Tanzania's health system. This hospital-based, descriptive, cross-sectional study design recruited 380 people living with HIV (PLWH) to assess voluntary HIV status disclosure to sexual partners, the associated factors, and outcomes among PLWH in Tanzania. Approximately 78% ( n = 297) of the study participants reported disclosing their HIV status to their sexual partners. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that HIV status disclosure to sexual partners was significantly associated with living with a sexual partner (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.91, 95% CI [1.43-10.72]), knowledge of HIV disclosure (AOR = 11.71, 95% CI [2.88-47.63]), known serostatus of the sexual partner (AOR = 40.20, 95% CI [15.31-105.56]), and HIV disclosure-related stigma (AOR = 0.92, 95% CI [0.85-0.99]). Addressing these significant factors will maximize the magnitude of voluntary disclosure to sexual partners.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Does Antiretroviral Therapy Packaging Matter? Perceptions and Preferences of Antiretroviral Therapy Packaging for People Living with HIV in Northern Tanzania.
    (Patient preference and adherence, 2020-01-23) Muiruri, Charles; Jazowski, Shelley A; Semvua, Seleman K; Karia, Francis P; Knettel, Brandon A; Zullig, Leah L; Ramadhani, Habib O; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Bartlett, John A; Bosworth, Hayden B

    Introduction

    Despite improvements in treatment (eg, reduction in pill intake), antiretroviral therapy (ART) is dispensed in socially inefficient and uneconomical packaging. To make pills less conspicuous and decrease the risk of being stigmatized, people living with HIV (PLWH) often engage in self-repackaging - the practice of transferring ART from original packaging to alternative containers. This behavior has been associated with ART nonadherence and failure to achieve viral load suppression. While much of the literature on ART packaging has centered around medication adherence, patients stated preferences for ART packaging and packaging attributes that influence the observed ART nonadherence are understudied.

    Methods

    We conducted a qualitative study to elucidate perceptions of ART packaging among PLWH at two large referral hospitals in Northern Tanzania. Interviews were conducted until thematic saturation was reached. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and coded.

    Results

    Of the 16 participants whose data were used in the final analysis, a majority were between 36 and 55 years of age (Mean 45.5 years SD: 11.1), had primary-level education (n=11, 68.8%), were self-employed (n=9, 56.3%), reported that they had self-repacked ART (n=14, 88%), and were taking ART for more than 6 years (n=11, 68.8%). Participants identified three attributes of ART packaging that increased anticipated HIV stigma and prompted self-repackaging, including visual identification, bulkiness, and the rattling noise produced by ART pill bottles.

    Conclusion

    Given the drastic reduction in the number of pills required for HIV treatment, there is an opportunity to not only assess the cost-effectiveness of innovative ART packaging but also evaluate the acceptability of such packaging among PLWH in order to address stigma and improve ART adherence.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Facility-based disease surveillance and Bayesian hierarchical modeling to estimate endemic typhoid fever incidence, Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania, 2007-2018.
    (PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2022-07-05) Cutting, Elena R; Simmons, Ryan A; Madut, Deng B; Maze, Michael J; Kalengo, Nathaniel H; Carugati, Manuela; Mbwasi, Ronald M; Kilonzo, Kajiru G; Lyamuya, Furaha; Marandu, Annette; Mosha, Calvin; Saganda, Wilbrod; Lwezaula, Bingileki F; Hertz, Julian T; Morrissey, Anne B; Turner, Elizabeth L; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Kinabo, Grace D; Maro, Venance P; Crump, John A; Rubach, Matthew P
    Growing evidence suggests considerable variation in endemic typhoid fever incidence at some locations over time, yet few settings have multi-year incidence estimates to inform typhoid control measures. We sought to describe a decade of typhoid fever incidence in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania. Cases of blood culture confirmed typhoid were identified among febrile patients at two sentinel hospitals during three study periods: 2007-08, 2011-14, and 2016-18. To account for under-ascertainment at sentinel facilities, we derived adjustment multipliers from healthcare utilization surveys done in the hospital catchment area. Incidence estimates and credible intervals (CrI) were derived using a Bayesian hierarchical incidence model that incorporated uncertainty of our observed typhoid fever prevalence, of healthcare seeking adjustment multipliers, and of blood culture diagnostic sensitivity. Among 3,556 total participants, 50 typhoid fever cases were identified. Of typhoid cases, 26 (52%) were male and the median (range) age was 22 (<1-60) years; 4 (8%) were aged <5 years and 10 (20%) were aged 5 to 14 years. Annual typhoid fever incidence was estimated as 61.5 (95% CrI 14.9-181.9), 6.5 (95% CrI 1.4-20.4), and 4.0 (95% CrI 0.6-13.9) per 100,000 persons in 2007-08, 2011-14, and 2016-18, respectively. There were no deaths among typhoid cases. We estimated moderate typhoid incidence (≥10 per 100 000) in 2007-08 and low (<10 per 100 000) incidence during later surveillance periods, but with overlapping credible intervals across study periods. Although consistent with falling typhoid incidence, we interpret this as showing substantial variation over the study periods. Given potential variation, multi-year surveillance may be warranted in locations making decisions about typhoid conjugate vaccine introduction and other control measures.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Family caregiver perspectives on strengths and challenges in the care of pediatric injury patients at a tertiary referral hospital in Northern Tanzania.
    (PloS one, 2023-01) Keating, Elizabeth M; Sakita, Francis; Vonderohe, Maddy; Nkini, Getrude; Amiri, Ismail; Loutzenheiser, Kelly; Young, Bryan; Rent, Sharla; Staton, Catherine A; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Watt, Melissa H

    Background

    Pediatric injuries are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It is important that injured children get quality care in order to improve their outcomes. Injured children are nearly always accompanied by family member caregivers invested in their outcome, and who will be responsible for their recovery and rehabilitation after discharge.

    Objective

    The purpose of this study was to identify family member caregiver perspectives on strengths and challenges in pediatric injury care throughout hospitalization at a tertiary hospital in Northern Tanzania.

    Methods

    This study was conducted at a zonal referral hospital in Northern Tanzania. Qualitative semi-structured in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted by trained interviewers who were fluent in English and Swahili in order to examine the strengths and challenges in pediatric injury care. IDIs were completed from November 2020 to October 2021 with 30 family member caregivers of admitted pediatric injured patients. De-identified transcripts were synthesized in memos and analyzed through a team-based, thematic approach informed by applied thematic analysis.

    Results

    Strengths and challenges were identified throughout the hospital experience, including emergency medicine department (EMD) care, inpatient wards care, and discharge. Across the three phases, strengths were identified such as how quickly patients were evaluated and treated, professionalism and communication between healthcare providers, attentive nursing care, frequent re-evaluation of a patient's condition, and open discussion with caregivers about readiness for discharge. Challenges identified related to lack of communication with caregivers, perceived inability of caregivers to ask questions, healthcare providers speaking in English during rounds with lack of interpretation into the caregivers' preferred language, and being sent home without instructions for rehabilitation, ongoing care, or guidance for follow-up.

    Conclusion

    Caregiver perspectives highlighted strengths and challenges throughout the hospital experience that could lead to interventions to improve the care of pediatric injury patients in Northern Tanzania. These interventions include prioritizing communication with caregivers about patient status and care plan, ensuring all direct communication is in the caregivers' preferred language, and standardizing instructions regarding discharge and follow-up.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Heart failure care and outcomes in a Tanzanian emergency department: A prospective observational study.
    (PloS one, 2021-01) Prattipati, Sainikitha; Sakita, Francis M; Kweka, Godfrey L; Tarimo, Tumsifu G; Peterson, Timothy; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Thielman, Nathan M; Limkakeng, Alexander T; Bloomfield, Gerald S; Hertz, Julian T

    Background

    The burden of heart failure is growing in sub-Saharan Africa, but there is a dearth of data characterizing care and outcomes of heart failure patients in the region, particularly in emergency department settings.

    Methods

    In a prospective observational study, adult patients presenting with shortness of breath or chest pain to an emergency department in northern Tanzania were consecutively enrolled. Participants with a physician-documented clinical diagnosis of heart failure were included in the present analysis. Standardized questionnaires regarding medical history and medication use were administered at enrollment, and treatments given in the emergency department were recorded. Thirty days after enrollment, a follow-up questionnaire was administered to assess mortality and medication use. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify baseline predictors of thirty-day mortality.

    Results

    Of 1020 enrolled participants enrolled from August 2018 through October 2019, 267 patients (26.2%) were diagnosed with heart failure. Of these, 139 (52.1%) reported a prior history of heart failure, 168 (62.9%) had self-reported history of hypertension, and 186 (69.7%) had NYHA Class III or IV heart failure. At baseline, 40 (15.0%) reported taking a diuretic and 67 (25.1%) reported taking any antihypertensive. Thirty days following presentation, 63 (25.4%) participants diagnosed with heart failure had died. Of 185 surviving participants, 16 (8.6%) reported taking a diuretic, 24 (13.0%) reported taking an antihypertensive, and 26 (14.1%) were rehospitalized. Multivariate predictors of thirty-day mortality included self-reported hypertension (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.21-0.86], p = 0.017) and symptomatic leg swelling at presentation (OR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.35-5.56, p = 0.006).

    Conclusion

    In a northern Tanzanian emergency department, heart failure is a common clinical diagnosis, but uptake of evidence-based outpatient therapies is poor and thirty-day mortality is high. Interventions are needed to improve care and outcomes for heart failure patients in the emergency department setting.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Incidence Estimates of Acute Q Fever and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, from 2007 to 2008 and from 2012 to 2014.
    (The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 2021-12) Pisharody, Sruti; Rubach, Matthew P; Carugati, Manuela; Nicholson, William L; Perniciaro, Jamie L; Biggs, Holly M; Maze, Michael J; Hertz, Julian T; Halliday, Jo EB; Allan, Kathryn J; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Saganda, Wilbrod; Lwezaula, Bingileki F; Kazwala, Rudovick R; Cleaveland, Sarah; Maro, Venance P; Crump, John A
    Q fever and spotted fever group rickettsioses (SFGR) are common causes of severe febrile illness in northern Tanzania. Incidence estimates are needed to characterize the disease burden. Using hybrid surveillance-coupling case-finding at two referral hospitals and healthcare utilization data-we estimated the incidences of acute Q fever and SFGR in Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, from 2007 to 2008 and from 2012 to 2014. Cases were defined as fever and a four-fold or greater increase in antibody titers of acute and convalescent paired sera according to the indirect immunofluorescence assay of Coxiella burnetii phase II antigen for acute Q fever and Rickettsia conorii (2007-2008) or Rickettsia africae (2012-2014) antigens for SFGR. Healthcare utilization data were used to adjust for underascertainment of cases by sentinel surveillance. For 2007 to 2008, among 589 febrile participants, 16 (4.7%) of 344 and 27 (8.8%) of 307 participants with paired serology had Q fever and SFGR, respectively. Adjusted annual incidence estimates of Q fever and SFGR were 80 (uncertainty range, 20-454) and 147 (uncertainty range, 52-645) per 100,000 persons, respectively. For 2012 to 2014, among 1,114 febrile participants, 52 (8.1%) and 57 (8.9%) of 641 participants with paired serology had Q fever and SFGR, respectively. Adjusted annual incidence estimates of Q fever and SFGR were 56 (uncertainty range, 24-163) and 75 (uncertainty range, 34-176) per 100,000 persons, respectively. We found substantial incidences of acute Q fever and SFGR in northern Tanzania during both study periods. To our knowledge, these are the first incidence estimates of either disease in sub-Saharan Africa. Our findings suggest that control measures for these infections warrant consideration.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Injury characteristics and their association with clinical complications among emergency care patients in Tanzania.
    (African journal of emergency medicine : Revue africaine de la medecine d'urgence, 2022-12) Zimmerman, Armand; Barcenas, Loren K; Pesambili, Msafiri; Sakita, Francis; Mallya, Simon; Vissoci, Joao Ricardo Nickenig; Park, Lawrence; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Bettger, Janet Prvu; Staton, Catherine A

    Background

    Over 5 million people annually die from injuries and millions more sustain non-fatal injuries requiring medical care. Ninety percent of injury deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study describes the characteristics, predictors and outcomes of adult acute injury patients presenting to a tertiary referral hospital in a low-income country in sub-Saharan Africa.

    Methods

    This secondary analysis uses an adult acute injury registry from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi, Tanzania. We describe this patient sample in terms of socio-demographics, clinical indicators, injury patterns, treatments, and outcomes at hospital discharge. Outcomes include mortality, length of hospital stay, and functional independence. Associations between patient characteristics and patient outcomes are quantified using Cox proportional hazards models, negative binomial regression, and multivariable logistic regression.

    Results

    Of all injury patients (n=1365), 39.0% were aged 30 to 49 years and 81.5% were men. Most patients had at least a primary school education (89.6%) and were employed (89.3%). A majority of injuries were road traffic (63.2%), fall (16.8%), or assault (14.0%) related. Self-reported comorbidities included hypertension (5.8%), HIV (3.1%), and diabetes (2.3%). Performed surgeries were classified as orthopedic (32.3%), general (4.1%), neurological (3.7%), or other (59.8%). Most patients reached the hospital at least four hours after injury occurred (53.9%). Mortality was 5.3%, median length of hospital stay was 6.1 days (IQR: 3.1, 15.0), self-care dependence was 54.2%, and locomotion dependence was 41.5%.

    Conclusions

    Our study sample included primarily young men suffering road traffic crashes with delayed hospital presentations and prolonged hospital stays. Being older, male, and requiring non-orthopedic surgeries or having HIV portends a worse prognosis. Prevention and treatment focused interventions to reduce the burden of injury mortality and morbidity at KCMC are needed to lower injury rates and improve injury outcomes.
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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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    Patterns of Emergency Care for Possible Acute Coronary Syndrome Among Patients with Chest Pain or Shortness of Breath at a Tanzanian Referral Hospital.
    (Global heart, 2020-02-06) Hertz, Julian T; Kweka, Godfrey L; Bloomfield, Gerald S; Limkakeng, Alexander T; Loring, Zak; Temu, Gloria; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Gerardo, Charles J; Sakita, Francis M
    Background:Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is thought to be a rare diagnosis in sub-Saharan Africa, but little is known about diagnostic practices for patients with possible ACS symptoms in the region. Objective:To describe current care practices for patients with ACS symptoms in Tanzania to identify factors that may contribute to ACS under-detection. Methods:Emergency department patients with chest pain or shortness of breath at a Tanzanian referral hospital were prospectively observed. Medical histories were obtained, and diagnostic workups, treatments, and diagnoses were recorded. Five-year risk of cardiovascular events was calculated via the Harvard National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey risk score. Telephone follow-ups were conducted 30 days after enrollment. Results:Of 339 enrolled patients, the median (IQR) age was 60 (46, 72) years, 252 (74.3%) had hypertension, and 222 (65.5%) had >10% five-year risk of cardiovascular event. The median duration of symptoms prior to presentation was 7 days, and 314 (92.6%) reported symptoms worsened by exertion. Of participants, 170 (50.1%) received an electrocardiogram, and 9 (2.7%) underwent cardiac biomarker testing. There was no univariate association between five-year cardiovascular risk and decision to obtain an electrocardiogram (p = 0.595). The most common physician-documented diagnoses were symptomatic hypertension (104 patients, 30.7%) and heart failure (99 patients, 29.2%). Six patients (1.8%) were diagnosed with ACS, and 3 (0.9%) received aspirin. Among 284 (83.8%) patients completing 30-day follow-up, 20 (7.0%) had died. Conclusions:Many patients with ACS risk factors present to the emergency department of a Tanzanian referral hospital with possible ACS symptoms, but marked delays in care-seeking are common. Complete diagnostic workups for ACS are uncommon, ACS is rarely diagnosed or treated with evidence-based therapies, and mortality in patients with these symptoms is high. Physician practices may be contributing to ACS under-detection in Tanzania, and interventions are needed to improve ACS care.
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    Performance Assessment of the Universal Vital Assessment Score vs Other Illness Severity Scores for Predicting Risk of In-Hospital Death Among Adult Febrile Inpatients in Northern Tanzania, 2016-2019.
    (JAMA network open, 2021-12) Bonnewell, John P; Rubach, Matthew P; Madut, Deng B; Carugati, Manuela; Maze, Michael J; Kilonzo, Kajiru G; Lyamuya, Furaha; Marandu, Annette; Kalengo, Nathaniel H; Lwezaula, Bingileki F; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Maro, Venance P; Crump, John A

    Importance

    Severity scores are used to improve triage of hospitalized patients in high-income settings, but the scores may not translate well to low- and middle-income settings such as sub-Saharan Africa.

    Objective

    To assess the performance of the Universal Vital Assessment (UVA) score, derived in 2017, compared with other illness severity scores for predicting in-hospital mortality among adults with febrile illness in northern Tanzania.

    Design, setting, and participants

    This prognostic study used clinical data collected for the duration of hospitalization among patients with febrile illness admitted to Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre or Mawenzi Regional Referral Hospital in Moshi, Tanzania, from September 2016 through May 2019. All adult and pediatric patients with a history of fever within 72 hours or a tympanic temperature of 38.0 °C or higher at screening were eligible for enrollment. Of 3761 eligible participants, 1132 (30.1%) were enrolled in the parent study; of those, 597 adults 18 years or older were included in this analysis. Data were analyzed from December 2019 to September 2021.

    Exposures

    Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS), National Early Warning Score (NEWS), quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA), Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) assessment, and UVA.

    Main outcomes and measures

    The main outcome was in-hospital mortality during the same hospitalization as the participant's enrollment. Crude risk ratios and 95% CIs for in-hospital death were calculated using log-binomial risk regression for proposed score cutoffs for each of the illness severity scores. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for estimating the risk of in-hospital death was calculated for each score.

    Results

    Among 597 participants, the median age was 43 years (IQR, 31-56 years); 300 participants (50.3%) were female, 198 (33.2%) were HIV-infected, and in-hospital death occurred in 55 (9.2%). By higher risk score strata for each score, compared with lower risk strata, risk ratios for in-hospital death were 3.7 (95% CI, 2.2-6.2) for a MEWS of 5 or higher; 2.7 (95% CI, 0.9-7.8) for a NEWS of 5 or 6; 9.6 (95% CI, 4.2-22.2) for a NEWS of 7 or higher; 4.8 (95% CI, 1.2-20.2) for a qSOFA score of 1; 15.4 (95% CI, 3.8-63.1) for a qSOFA score of 2 or higher; 2.5 (95% CI, 1.2-5.2) for a SIRS score of 2 or higher; 9.1 (95% CI, 2.7-30.3) for a UVA score of 2 to 4; and 30.6 (95% CI, 9.6-97.8) for a UVA score of 5 or higher. The AUROCs, using all ordinal values, were 0.85 (95% CI, 0.80-0.90) for the UVA score, 0.81 (95% CI, 0.75-0.87) for the NEWS, 0.75 (95% CI, 0.69-0.82) for the MEWS, 0.73 (95% CI, 0.67-0.79) for the qSOFA score, and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.56-0.71) for the SIRS score. The AUROC for the UVA score was significantly greater than that for all other scores (P < .05 for all comparisons) except for NEWS (P = .08).

    Conclusions and relevance

    This prognostic study found that the NEWS and the UVA score performed favorably compared with other illness severity scores in predicting in-hospital mortality among a hospitalized cohort of adults with febrile illness in northern Tanzania. Given its reliance on readily available clinical data, the UVA score may have utility in the triage and prognostication of patients admitted to the hospital with febrile illness in low- to middle-income settings such as sub-Saharan Africa.
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    Performance of Xpert Ultra nasopharyngeal swab for identification of tuberculosis deaths in northern Tanzania.
    (Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 2022-08) Costales, Cristina; Crump, John A; Mremi, Alex R; Amsi, Patrick T; Kalengo, Nathaniel H; Kilonzo, Kajiru G; Kinabo, Grace; Lwezaula, Bingileki F; Lyamuya, Furaha; Marandu, Annette; Mbwasi, Ronald; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Mosha, Calvin; Carugati, Manuela; Madut, Deng B; Nelson, Ann M; Maze, Michael J; Matkovic, Eduard; Zaki, Sherif R; Maro, Venance P; Rubach, Matthew P

    Objective

    Numerous tuberculosis (TB) deaths remain undetected in low-resource endemic settings. With autopsy-confirmed tuberculosis as our standard, we assessed the diagnostic performance of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Ultra; Cepheid) on nasopharyngeal specimens collected postmortem.

    Methods

    From October 2016 through May 2019, we enrolled pediatric and adult medical deaths to a prospective autopsy study at two referral hospitals in northern Tanzania with next-of-kin authorization. We swabbed the posterior nasopharynx prior to autopsy and tested the samples later by Ultra. At autopsy we collected lung, liver, and, when possible, cerebrospinal fluid for mycobacterial culture and histopathology. Confirmed tuberculosis was defined as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex recovery by culture with consistent tissue histopathology findings; decedents with only histopathology findings, including acid-fast staining or immunohistochemistry, were defined as probable tuberculosis.

    Results

    Of 205 decedents, 78 (38.0%) were female and median (range) age was 45 (0,96) years. Twenty-seven (13.2%) were found to have tuberculosis at autopsy, 22 (81.5%) confirmed and 5 (18.5%) probable. Ultra detected M. tuberculosis complex from the nasopharynx in 21 (77.8%) of 27 TB cases (sensitivity 70.4% [95% confidence interval {CI} 49.8-86.2%], specificity 98.9% [95% CI 96.0-99.9%]). Among confirmed TB, the sensitivity increased to 81.8% (95% CI 59.7-94.8%). Tuberculosis was not included as a death certificate diagnosis in 14 (66.7%) of the 21 MTBc detections by Ultra.

    Discussion

    Nasopharyngeal Ultra was highly specific for identifying in-hospital tuberculosis deaths, including unsuspected tuberculosis deaths. This approach may improve tuberculosis death enumeration in high-burden countries.
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    Predicting virologic failure among HIV-1-infected children receiving antiretroviral therapy in Tanzania: a cross-sectional study.
    (J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, 2010-08) Emmett, Susan D; Cunningham, Coleen K; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Kinabo, Grace D; Schimana, Werner; Swai, Mark E; Bartlett, John A; Crump, John A; Reddy, Elizabeth A
    BACKGROUND: Many HIV care and treatment programs in resource-limited settings rely on clinical and immunologic monitoring of antiretroviral therapy (ART), but accuracy of this strategy to detect virologic failure (VF) among children has not been evaluated. METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of HIV-infected children aged 1-16 years on ART >or=6 months receiving care at a Tanzanian referral center underwent clinical staging, CD4 lymphocyte measurement, plasma HIV-1 RNA level, and complete blood count. Associations with VF (HIV-1 RNA >or=400 copies/mL) were determined utilizing bivariable and multivariate analyses; accuracy of current clinical and immunologic guidelines in identifying children with VF was assessed. FINDINGS: Of 206 children (median age 8.7 years, ART duration 2.4 years), 65 (31.6%) demonstrated VF at enrollment. Clinical and immunological criteria identified 2 (3.5%) of 57 children with VF on first-line therapy, exhibiting 3.5% sensitivity and 100% specificity. VF was associated with younger age, receipt of nevirapine vs. efavirenz-based regimen, CD4% < 25%, and physician documentation of maladherence (P < 0.05 on bivariable analysis); the latter 2 factors remained significant on multivariate logistic regression. INTERPRETATION: This study demonstrates poor performance of clinical and immunologic criteria in identifying children with virologic failure. Affordable techniques for measuring HIV-1 RNA level applicable in resource-limited settings are urgently needed.
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    Prevalence and risk factors for human leptospirosis at a hospital serving a pastoralist community, Endulen, Tanzania.
    (PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2023-12) Maze, Michael J; Shirima, Gabriel M; Lukambagire, Abdul-Hamid S; Bodenham, Rebecca F; Rubach, Matthew P; Cash-Goldwasser, Shama; Carugati, Manuela; Thomas, Kate M; Sakasaka, Philoteus; Mkenda, Nestory; Allan, Kathryn J; Kazwala, Rudovick R; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Buza, Joram J; Maro, Venance P; Galloway, Renee L; Haydon, Daniel T; Crump, John A; Halliday, Jo EB

    Background

    Leptospirosis is suspected to be a major cause of illness in rural Tanzania associated with close contact with livestock. We sought to determine leptospirosis prevalence, identify infecting Leptospira serogroups, and investigate risk factors for leptospirosis in a rural area of Tanzania where pastoralist animal husbandry practices and sustained livestock contact are common.

    Methods

    We enrolled participants at Endulen Hospital, Tanzania. Patients with a history of fever within 72 hours, or a tympanic temperature of ≥38.0°C were eligible. Serum samples were collected at presentation and 4-6 weeks later. Sera were tested using microscopic agglutination testing with 20 Leptospira serovars from 17 serogroups. Acute leptospirosis cases were defined by a ≥four-fold rise in antibody titre between acute and convalescent serum samples or a reciprocal titre ≥400 in either sample. Leptospira seropositivity was defined by a single reciprocal antibody titre ≥100 in either sample. We defined the predominant reactive serogroup as that with the highest titre. We explored risk factors for acute leptospirosis and Leptospira seropositivity using logistic regression modelling.

    Results

    Of 229 participants, 99 (43.2%) were male and the median (range) age was 27 (0, 78) years. Participation in at least one animal husbandry practice was reported by 160 (69.9%). We identified 18 (7.9%) cases of acute leptospirosis, with Djasiman 8 (44.4%) and Australis 7 (38.9%) the most common predominant reactive serogroups. Overall, 69 (31.1%) participants were Leptospira seropositive and the most common predominant reactive serogroups were Icterohaemorrhagiae (n = 21, 30.0%), Djasiman (n = 19, 27.1%), and Australis (n = 17, 24.3%). Milking cattle (OR 6.27, 95% CI 2.24-7.52) was a risk factor for acute leptospirosis, and milking goats (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.07-5.16) was a risk factor for Leptospira seropositivity.

    Conclusions

    We identified leptospirosis in approximately one in twelve patients attending hospital with fever from this rural community. Interventions that reduce risks associated with milking livestock may reduce human infections.
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    The burden of acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, and stroke among emergency department admissions in Tanzania: A retrospective observational study.
    (African journal of emergency medicine : Revue africaine de la medecine d'urgence, 2019-12) Hertz, Julian T; Sakita, Francis M; Limkakeng, Alexander T; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Appiah, Lambert T; Bartlett, John A; Galson, Sophie W
    Introduction:The prevalence of cardiovascular disease in sub-Saharan Africa is substantial and growing. Much remains to be learned about the relative burden of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), heart failure, and stroke on emergency departments and hospital admissions. Methods:A retrospective chart review of admissions from September 2017 through March 2018 was conducted at the emergency department of a tertiary care center in northern Tanzania. Stroke admission volume was compared to previously published data from the same hospital and adjusted for population growth. Results:Of 2418 adult admissions, heart failure and stroke were the two most common admission diagnoses, accounting for 294 (12.2%) and 204 (8.4%) admissions, respectively. ACS was uncommon, accounting for 9 (0.3%) admissions. Of patients admitted for heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension was the most commonly identified etiology of heart failure, cited in 124 (42.2%) cases. Ischemic heart disease was cited as the etiology in only 1 (0.3%) case. Adjusting for population growth, the annual volume of stroke admissions increased 70-fold in 43 years, from 2.9 admissions per 100,000 population in 1974 to 202.2 admissions per 100,000 in 2017. Conclusions:The burden of heart failure and stroke on hospital admissions in Tanzania is substantial, and the volume of stroke admissions is rising precipitously. ACS is a rare diagnosis, and the distribution of cardiovascular disease phenotypes in Tanzania differs from what has been observed outside of Africa. Further research is needed to ascertain the reasons for these differences.
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    Trends in fever case management for febrile inpatients in a low malaria incidence setting of Tanzania.
    (Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH, 2021-12) Madut, Deng B; Rubach, Matthew P; Bonnewell, John P; Cutting, Elena R; Carugati, Manuela; Kalengo, Nathaniel; Maze, Michael J; Morrissey, Anne B; Mmbaga, Blandina T; Lwezaula, Bingileki F; Kinabo, Grace; Mbwasi, Ronald; Kilonzo, Kajiru G; Maro, Venance P; Crump, John A

    Objectives

    In 2010, WHO published guidelines emphasising parasitological confirmation of malaria before treatment. We present data on changes in fever case management in a low malaria transmission setting of northern Tanzania after 2010.

    Methods

    We compared diagnoses, treatments and outcomes from two hospital-based prospective cohort studies, Cohort 1 (2011-2014) and Cohort 2 (2016-2019), that enrolled febrile children and adults. All participants underwent quality-assured malaria blood smear-microscopy. Participants who were malaria smear-microscopy negative but received a diagnosis of malaria or received an antimalarial were categorised as malaria over-diagnosis and over-treatment, respectively.

    Results

    We analysed data from 2098 participants. The median (IQR) age was 27 (3-43) years and 1047 (50.0%) were female. Malaria was detected in 23 (2.3%) participants in Cohort 1 and 42 (3.8%) in Cohort 2 (p = 0.059). Malaria over-diagnosis occurred in 334 (35.0%) participants in Cohort 1 and 190 (17.7%) in Cohort 2 (p < 0.001). Malaria over-treatment occurred in 528 (55.1%) participants in Cohort 1 and 196 (18.3%) in Cohort 2 (p < 0.001). There were 30 (3.1%) deaths in Cohort 1 and 60 (5.4%) in Cohort 2 (p = 0.007). All deaths occurred among smear-negative participants.

    Conclusion

    We observed a substantial decline in malaria over-diagnosis and over-treatment among febrile inpatients in northern Tanzania between two time periods after 2010. Despite changes, some smear-negative participants were still diagnosed and treated for malaria. Our results highlight the need for continued monitoring of fever case management across different malaria epidemiological settings in sub-Saharan Africa.