Clinical outcome of burns in HIV positive patients in Lusaka, Zambia

Main Objective: To investigate whether the clinical outcome of HIV positive patients with burns differs from those who do not have HIV infection.Specific Objectives:1. To determine whether in-hospital HIV positive patients with burns are more likely to get wound infections than HIV negative patients.2. To determine whether in-hospital mortality is higher in HIV positive patients than in HIV negative patients with burns.3. To correlate HIV serostatus, burn wound infection, TBSA and age with burn mortality.4. To assess the prevalence of HIV infection among burns patients admitted to the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.Design: A prospective observational cohort, hospitalbased study was performed at the UTH, Lusaka, Zambia between November 2009 and November 2010. Patients with recent burns (less than 24 hours old) who presented to the hospital during this period were recruited into the study and the parameters studied included patient's demographics, HIV status, burn history, management and clinical outcome.Results: A total of 452 burn patients with a median age of 10.5 years were recruited into the study. 414 of the patients (92.26%) were below the age of 5 years. The male to female ratio was 1:1.3 and389 (86.06%) of the patients were burnt with hot liquids (scalds).73 (16.15%) patients tested positive for HIV andof these 44 (60.27%) developed wound infection. Mortality occurred in 7 (9.59%) HIV positive patients. Wound infection occurred in 150 (39.58%) of the 379 HIV negative patients and 57 (89.06%) of the mortalities were HIV negative. The average CD4 percentage of the HIV positive burn patients who died was 21.23% while for those who were discharged was 17.83%. The average CD4 percentage in HIV positive patients who developed wound infection was 18.88% while the average percentage for HIV negative patients with wound infection was 17.04%. Of the 64 mortalities which occurred during the study, 55 (85.94%) of the patients had more than 15% TBSA burnt.Conclusions: The majority of burn cases admitted to UTH are below the age of 5 years. HIV positive patients are more likely to have burn wound infections than those who do not have HIV (p = 0.001). The HIV status of a burns patient does not significantly alter the outcome of burns in terms of mortality (p = 0.221). There is no difference in the prevalence of HIV infection in burn patients and the general population

Population dynamics and breeding patterns of multimammatemouse, Mastomys natalensis (Smith 1834), in irrigated rice fields in Eastern Tanzania

Pest Management Science 2013; 69:371-377BACKGROUND: Multimammate mice are the most important vertebrate pests in Sub-Saharan Africa and are also reservoirs of many zoonotic diseases, including sylvan plague. This study investigated the population dynamics and breeding patterns of this mouse in irrigated rice cropping systems in eastern Tanzania. RESULTS: The multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis, population varied with habitat and months. Fallow land had a more abundant population than rice fields. The highest population peak was observed during the dry season from July to October. Mastomys natalensis is sexually active throughout the year in the study area, although it reaches the highest level in June and December when rice is at the maturity stage. This suggests that breeding is highly influenced by the presence of a rice crop in both seasons. More juvenile individuals were recorded in August and September, indicating that they were produced in the previous breeding months. The sex ratio of M. natalensis was not skewed to either males or females, indicating that it was at parity. CONCLUSION: Rodent population dynamics during the study periods in all habitats indicated that high birth rates accounted for the rapid population growth and turnover. Regular control and sustainable operations are thus essential if rodent pest populations are to be kept within tolerable limits

Population dynamics and breeding patterns of multimammatemouse, Mastomys natalensis (Smith 1834), in irrigated rice fields in Eastern Tanzania

Pest Management Science 2013; 69:371-377BACKGROUND: Multimammate mice are the most important vertebrate pests in Sub-Saharan Africa and are also reservoirs of many zoonotic diseases, including sylvan plague. This study investigated the population dynamics and breeding patterns of this mouse in irrigated rice cropping systems in eastern Tanzania. RESULTS: The multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis, population varied with habitat and months. Fallow land had a more abundant population than rice fields. The highest population peak was observed during the dry season from July to October. Mastomys natalensis is sexually active throughout the year in the study area, although it reaches the highest level in June and December when rice is at the maturity stage. This suggests that breeding is highly influenced by the presence of a rice crop in both seasons. More juvenile individuals were recorded in August and September, indicating that they were produced in the previous breeding months. The sex ratio of M. natalensis was not skewed to either males or females, indicating that it was at parity. CONCLUSION: Rodent population dynamics during the study periods in all habitats indicated that high birth rates accounted for the rapid population growth and turnover. Regular control and sustainable operations are thus essential if rodent pest populations are to be kept within tolerable limits