Search

IntroductionThe burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa with untreated hypertension being a major contributing factor. Understanding the magnitude of the problem and risk factors associated with HIV and long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) is critically important for designing effective programs for diagnosing and treating hypertension in Kenya.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 300 persons with HIV (PWH) on long term ART (≥6 months) and 298 HIV-negative adults seeking care at the Kisumu County Hospital between September 2017 and May 2018. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure of ≥140/90mmHg or a previous hypertension diagnosis. Multivariate regression was used to assess the association between hypertension and HIV adjusting for age, sex, and known CVD risk factors.ResultsOverall prevalence of hypertension was 22%. PWH had a lower prevalence of hypertension than HIV-negative persons (16% vs 27% respectively; p40 years, body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m2 and low-density lipoproteins ≥130mg/dL. Among PWH, being older than 40 years and higher BMI >30 kg/m2 were associated with hypertension.ConclusionPrevalence of hypertension was high, affecting nearly one in every 4 adults, and associated with older age, higher BMI and high low-density lipoproteins. PWH on long-term ART had significantly lower prevalence of hypertension compared to HIV-negative individuals, potentially due to increased access to healthcare services and interaction with prevention messaging. Interventions to increase screening for and prevention of hypertension in the community for all adults are warranted.

Introduction: West Nile Virus varies in presentation from asymptomatic to a febrile illness often associated with malaise, weakness and maculopapular rash. West Nile neuro-invasive disease often manifests as meningitis, encephalitis, and less commonly acute flaccid paralysis in a ''polio-like'' presentation. Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) is a rare manifestation. We present a case of neuro-invasive West Nile Virus infection with radiographic evidence of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM), a subset of ATM, Case narration: A 42-year-old male from Massachusetts presented with progressive asymmetric paralysis of 4 days duration after developing a prodrome of fever, neck stiffness and urinary retention. Physical examination demonstrated asymmetric lower extremity weakness Lumbar puncture revealed lymphocytic pleocytosis with normal protein and glucose and a positive West Nile IgM in CSF (4.89, reference

Abstract Background Data from the UK COVID-19 outbreak are emerging, and there are ongoing concerns about a disproportionate effect on ethnic minorities. There is very limited information on COVID-19 in the over-80s, and the rates of hospital-onset infections are unknown. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study from electronic case records of the first 450 patients admitted to our hospital with PCR-confirmed COVID-19, 77% of the total inpatient caseload to date. Demographic, clinical and biochemical data were extracted. The primary endpoint was death during the index hospital admission. The characteristics of all patients, those over 80 years of age and those with hospital-onset COVID-19 were examined. Results The median (IQR) age was 72 (56, 83), with 150 (33%) over 80 years old and 60% male. Presenting clinical and biochemical features were consistent with those reported elsewhere. The ethnic breakdown of patients admitted was similar to that of our underlying local population. Inpatient mortality was high at 38%. Patients over 80 presented earlier in their disease course and were significantly less likely to present with the typical features of cough, breathlessness and fever. Cardiac co-morbidity and markers of cardiac dysfunction were more common, but not those of bacterial infection. Mortality was significantly higher in this group (60% vs 28%, p

Summary: Objective: Assess the potential of hospital-wide routine screening by determining the prevalence and incidence of carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPOs) isolated from rectal screens at Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals. Methods: 3,553 samples were collected between 01/12/2018 and 31/08/2019: from adult critical care wards (universal screening - admission, discharge and weekly), from medical wards with risk-factor based screening according to the prevailing Public Health England (PHE) carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) screening guidelines, or on an ad hoc basis. Prevalence was defined as previously documented positive CPO colonisation, or new positive status, as a proportion of all eligible samples. Incidence was defined as all newly positive patients per 1,000 patient-days. Results: Overall CPO prevalence was 2.1% (95% CI: 1.61–2.58%). Inpatient prevalence was significantly higher at 2.6% vs outpatient at 0.5% (p < 0.001). Incidence was 0.44 per 1,000 patient-days (95% CI: 0.33–0.57), with a rate ratio between Barnet and Chase Farm of 4.9 (p = 0.013). Incidence was highest where universal screening strategy was applied (3.9 per 1000 patient-days, 95% CI: 2.4–5.91). This was 2.5 times higher than risk-factor based screening (p = 0.005) and 23.5 times that of wards without routine surveillance implemented (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Surveillance remains a cornerstone in controlling CPO transmission. Our local incidence, lacking hospital-wide screening, significantly exceeded the reported UK average. Universal screening could help to uncover the true prevalence and incidence of CPO, thereby providing the necessary information to properly control transmission, reducing nosocomial outbreaks and ultimately reducing the overall cost to healthcare.