Trends in Hospitalisation for Human Immunodeficiency Virus in a Tertiary Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: A Case study

Background: Reports on a systematic evaluation of the impact of antiretroviral therapy(ART) on patients’ hospitalisation in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) and Tanzania, in particular, are scarce. We aimed at documenting the trends of hospital admissions at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) following scale-up of free access to ART in Tanzania. Methods: Records for all admissions at MNH from June 2005 to June 2015 were reviewed. We extracted data from the Hospital Information Management System as well as from patients’ charts. Data extracted included diagnosis at discharge, the reason for admission and thereafter assessed admission trends over the decade. We summarised the data as frequency and percentages. We compared proportions using the Chi-squared test, P Results: Overall there were 209,101 admissions during the study period (June 2005 to June 2015) and 7864/209,101 (3.8%) were due to HIV infection. Whereas 598/4,519 (13.2%) of all admissions in 2005 were due to HIV, only 345/13,119 (2.6%) of admissions in 2015 were HIV-related; showing a significant drop over time (P-value for trend \u3c .001). Generally, females 3887/6679 (58.2%) were more likely to be admitted than males (41.8%). Median CD4 count for admitted HIV patients was 143 cells/μl. Majority of admissions occurred in the medical wards 3643/5310 (68.6%). Discharge diagnoses were Tuberculosis 1396/6482 (21.5%), anaemias 1016/6482 (15.6 %), malignancies 789/6482(12.2%), CNS infections 541/6482 (8.3%) and chronic kidney disease 308/6482 (4.8%). Three leading AIDS defining malignancies among hospitalised patients included Kaposi’s sarcoma 380/789 (48.2%), carcinoma of the cervix 77/789 (9.8%), and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma 44/789 (5.6%). Conclusion: Despite a drastic drop of HIV related admissions at Muhimbili National Hospital over the years, the infection remains a problem of the adults, largely females suffering from medical conditions and presenting with severe immunosuppression. Tuberculosis remained the most common opportunistic infection among hospitalized HIV infected patients. Anaemia and cancers became more important causes of admission than was diarrhoea which had been the most common among HIV infected patients in pre- ART

Sputum Microscopy for the Diagnosis of HIV-Associated Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Tanzania

Background: In many resource poor settings only sputum microscopy is employed for the diagnosis of HIV-associated pulmonary tuberculosis; sputum culture may not be available. Methods: We determined the diagnostic accuracy of sputum microscopy for active case finding of HIV-associated pulmonary tuberculosis using TB culture as the reference standard. Results: 2216 potential subjects screened for a TB vaccine trial submitted 9454 expectorated sputum specimens: 212 (2.2%) were sputum culture positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), 31 (0.3%) for non-tuberculous mycobacteria, and 79 (0.8%) were contaminated. The overall sensitivity of sputum microscopy was 61.8% (131/212) and specificity 99.7% (9108/9132). Sputum microscopy sensitivity varied from 22.6% in specimens with \u3c 20 colony forming units (CFU)/specimen to 94.2% in patients with \u3e 100 CFU/specimen plus confluent growth. The incremental diagnostic value for sputum microscopy was 92.1%, 1.8% and 7.1% for the first, second and third specimens, respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive values for sputum microscopy were 84.5% and 99.1%, respectively. The likelihood ratio (LR) of a positive sputum microscopy was 235.1 (95% CI 155.8 – 354.8), while the LR of a negative test was 0.38 (95CI 0.32 – 0.45). The 212 positive sputum cultures for MTB represented 103 patients; sputum microscopy was positive for 57 (55.3%) of 103 patients. Conclusion: Sputum microscopy on 3 expectorated sputum specimens will only detect 55% of culture positive HIV-infected patients in active screening for pulmonary tuberculosis. Sensitivity is higher in patients with greater numbers of CFUs in the sputum. Culture is required for active case finding of HIV- associated pulmonary tuberculosis

Effect of Improved access to Antiretroviral Therapy on clinical characteristics of patients enrolled in the HIV care and treatment clinic, at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

\ud Sub-Saharan Africa has been severely affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic. Global efforts at improving care and treatment has included scaling up use of antiretroviral therapy (ART). In Tanzania, HIV care and treatment program, including the provision of free ART started in 2004 with a pilot program at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam. This study describes the socio-demographic and clinical features of patients enrolled at the care and treatment clinic at MNH, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A cross-sectional study looking at baseline characteristics of patients enrolled at the HIV clinic at MNH between June 2004-Dec 2005 compared to those enrolled between 2006 and September 2008. Of all enrolled patients, 2408 (58.5%) were used for analysis. More females than males were attending the clinic. Their baseline median CD4 cell count was low (136 cells/microl) with 65.7% having below 200 cells/microl. Females had higher CD4 cell counts (150 cells/microl) than males (109 cells/microl) p < 0.001). The most common presenting features were skin rash and/or itching (51.6%); progressive weight loss (32.7%) and fever (23.4). Patients enrolled earlier at the clinic (2004-5) were significantly more symptomatic and had significantly lower CD4 cell count (127 cells/microl) compared to CD4 of 167 cells/microl in those seen later (2006-8) (p < 0.001). Patients enrolled to the MNH HIV clinic were predominantly females, and presented with advanced immune-deficiency. Improved access to HIV care and treatment services seems to be associated with patients' early presentation to the clinics in the course of HIV disease.\u

Lymphocyte proliferation to mycobacterial antigens is detectable across a spectrum of HIV-associated tuberculosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Identifying novel TB diagnostics is a major public health priority. We explored the diagnostic characteristics of antimycobacterial lymphocyte proliferation assays (LPA) in HIV-infected subjects with latent or active TB.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>HIV-infected subjects with bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG) scars and CD4 counts ≥ 200 cells/mm³entering a TB booster vaccine trial in Tanzania had baseline in vivo and in vitro immune tests performed: tuberculin skin tests (TST), LPA and five day assays of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) release. Assay antigens were early secreted antigenic target 6 (ESAT-6), antigen 85 (Ag85), and <it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </it>whole cell lysate (WCL). Subjects were screened for active TB at enrollment by history, exam, sputum smear and culture. We compared antimycobacterial immune responses between subjects with and without latent or active TB at enrollment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among 1885 subjects screened, 635 had latent TB and 13 had active TB. Subjects with latent TB were more likely than subjects without TB to have LPA responses to ESAT-6 (13.2% vs. 5.5%, P < 0.0001), Ag85 (18.7% vs. 3.1%, P < 0.0001), and WCL (45.7% vs. 17.1%, P < 0.0001). Subjects with active TB also were more likely than those without active TB to have detectable LPA responses to ESAT-6 (38.5% vs. 8.1%, P = 0.0001), Ag85 (46.2% vs. 8.5%, P < 0.0001), and WCL (61.5% vs. 27.0%, P = 0.0053). In subjects with a positive TST, LPA responses to ESAT-6, Ag85 and WCL were more common during active TB (p < 0.0001 for all tests). In diagnosing active TB, in vivo and in vitro tests of mycobacterial immune responses had sensitivity and specificity as follows: TST 84.6% and 65.5%, ESAT-6 LPA 38.5% and 92.0%, Ag85 LPA 46.2% and 91.5%, and WCL LPA 61.5% and 73.0%. Detectable LPA responses were more common in patients with higher CD4 counts, and higher HIV viral loads.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Lymphoproliferative responses to mycobacteria are detectable during HIV-associated active TB, and are less sensitive but more specific than TST.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00052195.</p

Basis for treatment of tuberculosis among HIV-infected patients in Tanzania: the role of chest x-ray and sputum culture

BACKGROUND: Active tuberculosis (TB) is common among HIV-infected persons living in tuberculosis endemic countries, and screening for tuberculosis (TB) is recommended routinely. We sought to determine the role of chest x-ray and sputum culture in the decision to treat for presumptive TB using active case finding in a large cohort of HIV-infected patients. METHODS: Ambulatory HIV-positive subjects with CD4 counts ≥ 200/mm3 entering a Phase III TB vaccine study in Tanzania were screened for TB with a physical examination, standard interview, CD4 count, chest x-ray (CXR), blood culture for TB, and three sputum samples for acid fast bacillus (AFB) smear and culture. RESULTS: Among 1176 subjects 136 (12%) were treated for presumptive TB. These patients were more frequently male than those without treatment (34% vs. 25%, respectively; p = 0.049) and had lower median CD4 counts (319/μL vs. 425/μL, respectively; p < .0001). Among the 136 patients treated for TB, 38 (28%) had microbiologic confirmation, including 13 (10%) who had a normal CXR and no symptoms. There were 58 (43%) treated patients in whom the only positive finding was an abnormal CXR. Blood cultures were negative in all patients. CONCLUSION: Many ambulatory HIV-infected patients with CD4 counts ≥ 200/mm3 are treated for presumptive TB. Our data suggest that optimal detection requires comprehensive evaluation, including CXR and sputum culture on both symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects.National Institutes of Health (A1 45407); Fogarty International Center (D43-TW006807

Polyantigenic Interferon-γ Responses Are Associated with Protection from TB among HIV-Infected Adults with Childhood BCG Immunization

Surrogate immunologic markers for natural and vaccine-mediated protection against tuberculosis (TB) have not been identified. HIV-infected adults with childhood BCG immunization entering the placebo arm of the DarDar TB vaccine trial in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, were assessed for interferon gamma (IFN-γ) responses to three mycobacterial antigen preparations--secreted Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens 85 (Ag85), early secretory antigenic target 6 (ESAT-6) and polyantigenic whole cell lysate (WCL). We investigated the association between the number of detectable IFN-γ responses at baseline and the subsequent risk of HIV-associated TB. During a median follow-up of 3.3 years, 92 (9.4%) of 979 placebo recipients developed TB. The incidence of TB was 14% in subjects with no detectable baseline IFN-γ responses vs. 8% in subjects with response to polyantigenic WCL (P = 0.028). Concomitant responses to secreted antigens were associated with further reduction in the incidence of HIV-associated TB. Overall the percentage of subjects with 0, 1, 2 and 3 baseline IFN-γ responses to mycobacterial preparations who developed HIV-associated TB was 14%, 8%, 7% and 4%, respectively (P = 0.004). In a multivariate Cox regression model, the hazard of developing HIV-associated TB was 46% lower with each increment in the number of detectable baseline IFN-γ responses (P<0.001). Among HIV-infected adults who received BCG in childhood and live in a TB-endemic country, polyantigenic IFN-γ responses are associated with decreased risk of subsequent HIV-associated TB. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT0052195

Mortality in Sickle Cell Anemia in Africa: A Prospective Cohort Study in Tanzania

Background: The World Health Organization has declared Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) a public health priority. There are 300,000 births/year, over 75% in Africa, with estimates suggesting that 6 million Africans will be living with SCA if average survival reaches half the African norm. Countries such as United States of America and United Kingdom have reduced SCA mortality from 3 to 0.13 per 100 person years of observation (PYO), with interventions such as newborn screening, prevention of infections and comprehensive care, but implementation of interventions in African countries has been hindered by lack of locally appropriate information. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and factors associated with death from SCA in Dar-es-Salaam.Methods and Findings: A hospital-based cohort study was conducted, with prospective surveillance of 1,725 SCA patients recruited from 2004 to 2009, with 209 (12%) lost to follow up, while 86 died. The mortality rate was 1.9 (95% CI 1.5, 2.9) per 100 PYO, highest under 5-years old [7.3 (4.8-11.0)], adjusting for dates of birth and study enrollment. Independent risk factors, at enrollment to the cohort, predicting death were low hemoglobin (= 102 mu mol/L) [1.7 (1.0-2.9); p = 0.044] as determined by logistic regression.Conclusions: Mortality in SCA in Africa is high, with the most vulnerable period being under 5-years old. This is most likely an underestimate, as this was a hospital cohort and may not have captured SCA individuals with severe disease who died in early childhood, those with mild disease who are undiagnosed or do not utilize services at health facilities. Prompt and effective treatment for anemia in SCA is recommended as it is likely to improve survival. Further research is required to determine the etiology, pathophysiology and the most appropriate strategies for management of anemia in SCA

Disease spectrum and outcomes among elderly patients in two tertiary hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

BackgroundThere has been an increase in the number of individuals aged ≥60 years in Tanzania and in sub Saharan Africa in general due to improved survival. However, data is scarce on the disease burden and outcomes following admission in this population. We herein describe the pattern of diagnoses, outcomes and factors associated with the outcomes among elderly patients admitted at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) and Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) medical wards.MethodologyFrom October to December 2017, we consecutively enrolled patients aged ≥60 years (elderly) admitted to the MNH and JKCI medical wards. The ICD 10 was used to code for disease diagnosis at discharge or death. The Modified Barthel index was used to assess for functional activity on admission and at discharge.ResultsWe enrolled 336 (30.1%) elderly participants out of 1301 medical admissions. The mean age ± SD was 70.6 ± 8.9 years; 169 (50%) were female and the average number of diagnoses was 2 per participant. The most common diagnoses were: hypertension 151 (44.9%), stroke 106 (31.5%), heart failure 62 (18.5%), pneumonia 60 (17.9%), diabetes mellitus 58 (17.3%) and chronic kidney disease 55 (16.4%). The median duration of hospital stay was 5 (IQR 3-10) days and in-hospital mortality was 86 (25.6%), 56 (65%) deaths were due to non-communicable diseases and 48 (55.8%) deaths occurred within 72 hours of hospitalization. A modified Barthel score ≤20 on admission was associated with an OR 15.43 (95% CI: 7.5-31.7, pConclusionElderly patients constituted a significant proportion of medical admissions at MNH and JKCI with high in-hospital mortality. A modified Barthel index score ≤20 during admission is associated with mortality and can be used to identify patients requiring special attention

Blood Culture Contamination in Tanzania, Malawi, and the United States: a Microbiological Tale of Three Cities

We conducted retrospective, comparative analyses of contamination rates for cultures of blood obtained in the emergency rooms of Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Lilongwe Central Hospital (LCH) in central Malawi; and the Duke University Medical Center (DUMC) in the United States. None of the emergency room patients had indwelling intravascular devices at the time that the blood samples for cultures were obtained. In addition, we reviewed the contamination rates for a cohort of patients already hospitalized in the DUMC inpatient medical service, most of whom had indwelling intravascular devices. The bloodstream infection rates among the patients at MNH (n = 513) and LCH (n = 486) were similar (∼28%); the contamination rates at the two hospitals were 1.3% (7/513) and 0.8% (4/486), respectively. Of 54 microorganisms isolated from cultures of blood collected in the DUMC emergency room, 26 (48%) were identified as skin contaminants. Cultures of blood collected in the DUMC emergency room were significantly more likely to yield growth of contaminants than the cultures of blood collected in the emergency rooms at MNH and LCH combined (26/332 versus 11/1,003; P < 0.0001) or collected in the DUMC inpatient medical service (26/332 versus 7/283; P < 0.01). For the MNH and LCH blood cultures, lower contamination rates were observed when skin was disinfected with isopropyl alcohol plus tincture of iodine rather than isopropyl alcohol plus povidone-iodine. In conclusion, blood culture contamination was minimized in sub-Saharan African hospitals with substantially limited resources through scrupulous attention to aseptic skin cleansing and improved venipuncture techniques. Application of these principles when blood samples for culture are obtained in U.S. hospital emergency rooms should help mitigate blood culture contamination rates and the unnecessary microbiology workup of skin contaminants

Trends in Hospitalization for Human Immunodeficiency Virus in a Tertiary Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: A Case study

Background:&nbsp;Reports on systematic evaluation of the impact of antiretroviral therapy(ART) on patients’ hospitalization in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) and Tanzania in particular are scarce. We aimed at documenting the trends of hospital admissions at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) following scale up of free access to ART in Tanzania.Methods:&nbsp;Records for all admissions at MNH from June 2005 to June 2015 were reviewed. We extracted data from Hospital Information Management System as well as from patients’ charts. Data extracted included diagnosis at discharge, reason for admission and thereafter assessed admission trends over the decade. We summarised the data as frequency and percentages. We compared proportions using Chi squared test, P&lt;0.05 was deemed significant.Results:&nbsp;Overall there were 209,101 admissions during the study period (June 2005 to June 2015) and 7864/209,101 (3.8%) were due to HIV infection. Whereas 598/4,519 (13.2%) of all admissions in 2005 were due to HIV, only 345/13,119 (2.6%) of admissions in 2015 were HIV-related; showing a significant drop over time (P value for trend &lt; .001). Generally, females 3887/6679 (58.2%) were more likely to be admitted than males (41.8%). Median CD4 count for admitted HIV patients was 143 cells/μl. Majority of admissions occured in the medical wards 3643/5310 (68.6%). Discharge diagnoses were Tuberculosis 1396/6482 (21.5%), anaemias 1016/6482 (15.6 %), malignancies 789/6482(12.2%), CNS infections 541/6482 (8.3%) and chronic kidney disease 308/6482 (4.8%). Three leading AIDS defining malignancies among hospitalised patients included Kaposi’s sarcoma 380/789 (48.2%), carcinoma of the cervix 77/789 (9.8%), and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma 44/789 (5.6%).Conclusion:&nbsp;Despite drastic drop of HIV related admissions at Muhimbili National Hospital over the years, the infection remains a problem of the adults, largely females suffering from medical conditions and presenting with severe immunosuppression.Tuberculosis remained the most common opportunistic infection among hospitalized HIV infected patients. Anaemia and cancers became more important causes of admission than were diarrhoea which had been the most common among HIV infected patients in pre- ART era