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Butler J, Ogden J, Phillips R, Hay R, Simmonds RE, Erolin C. Multisensory medical illustrations of Buruli ulcer for improved disease detection, help seeking behaviour and adherence to treatment. J Vis Commun Med 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38771591 DOI: 10.1080/17453054.2024.2348170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Buruli ulcer (BU) is a skin infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans and a neglected tropical disease of the skin (skin NTD). Antibiotic treatments are available but, to be effective in the absence of surgery, BU must be detected at its earliest stages (an innocuous-looking lump under the skin) and adherence to prescribed drugs must be high. This study aimed to develop multisensory medical illustrations of BU to support communication with at-risk communities. We used a Think Aloud method to explore community health workers' (n = 6) experiences of BU with a focus on the role of their five senses, since these non-medical disease experts are familiar with the day-to-day challenges presented by BU. Thematic analysis of the transcripts identified three key themes relating to 'Detection,' 'Help Seeking,' and 'Adherence' with a transcending theme 'Senses as key facilitators of health care'. New medical illustrations, for which we coin the phrase "5D illustrations" (signifying the contribution of the five senses) were then developed to reflect these themes. The senses therefore facilitated an enriched narrative enabling the production of relevant and useful visuals for health communication. The medical artist community could utilise sensory experiences to create dynamic medical illustrations for use in practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Butler
- Department of Microbial Sciences, School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Haslemere, Surrey, UK
| | - Jane Ogden
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Richard Phillips
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Rachel E Simmonds
- Department of Microbial Sciences, School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Caroline Erolin
- Center for Anatomy and Human Identification, University of Dundee, Medical Sciences Institute, Dundee, UK
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2
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Cano M, Ruiz-Postigo JA, Macharia P, Ampem Amoako Y, Odame Phillips R, Kinyeru E, Carrion C. Evaluating the World Health Organization's SkinNTDs App as a Training Tool for Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases in Ghana and Kenya: Cross-Sectional Study. J Med Internet Res 2024; 26:e51628. [PMID: 38687587 PMCID: PMC11094592 DOI: 10.2196/51628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect over 1.5 billion people worldwide, primarily impoverished populations in low- and middle-income countries. Skin NTDs, a significant subgroup, manifest primarily as skin lesions and require extensive diagnosis and treatment resources, including trained personnel and financial backing. The World Health Organization has introduced the SkinNTDs app, a mobile health tool designed to train and be used as a decision support tool for frontline health care workers. As most digital health guidelines prioritize the thorough evaluation of mobile health interventions, it is essential to conduct a rigorous and validated assessment of this app. OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the usability and user experience of World Health Organization SkinNTDs app (version 3) as a capacity-building tool and decision-support tool for frontline health care workers. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in Ghana and Kenya. Frontline health care workers dealing with skin NTDs were recruited through snowball sampling. They used the SkinNTDs app for at least 5 days before completing a web-based survey containing demographic variables and the user version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS), a validated scale for assessing health apps. A smaller group of participants took part in semistructured interviews and one focus group. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS with a 95% CI and P≤.05 for statistical significance and qualitative data using ATLAS.ti to identify attributes, cluster themes, and code various dimensions that were explored. RESULTS Overall, 60 participants participated in the quantitative phase and 17 in the qualitative phase. The SkinNTDs app scored highly on the uMARS questionnaire, with an app quality mean score of 4.02 (SD 0.47) of 5, a subjective quality score of 3.82 (SD 0.61) of 5, and a perceived impact of 4.47 (SD 0.56) of 5. There was no significant association between the app quality mean score and any of the categorical variables examined, according to Pearson correlation analysis; app quality mean score vs age (P=.37), sex (P=.70), type of health worker (P=.35), country (P=.94), work context (P=.17), frequency of dealing with skin NTDs (P=.09), and dermatology experience (P=.63). Qualitative results echoed the quantitative outcomes, highlighting the ease of use, the offline functionality, and the potential utility for frontline health care workers in remote and resource-constrained settings. Areas for improvement were identified, such as enhancing the signs and symptoms section. CONCLUSIONS The SkinNTDs app demonstrates notable usability and user-friendliness. The results indicate that the app could play a crucial role in improving capacity building of frontline health care workers dealing with skin NTDs. It could be improved in the future by including new features such as epidemiological context and direct contact with experts. The possibility of using the app as a diagnostic tool should be considered. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/39393.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireia Cano
- eHealth Lab Research Group, eHealth Center, School of Health Sciences, Universitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
- Innovation, Digital Transformation and Health Economics Research Group, Research Institut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - José A Ruiz-Postigo
- Prevention, Treatment and Care Unit, Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Yaw Ampem Amoako
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Richard Odame Phillips
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Carme Carrion
- eHealth Lab Research Group, eHealth Center, School of Health Sciences, Universitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
- School of Health Sciences, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion, Barcelona, Spain
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3
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Salle R, Del Giudice P, Skayem C, Hua C, Chosidow O. Secondary Bacterial Infections in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis or Other Common Dermatoses. Am J Clin Dermatol 2024:10.1007/s40257-024-00856-1. [PMID: 38578398 DOI: 10.1007/s40257-024-00856-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Secondary bacterial infections of common dermatoses such as atopic dermatitis, ectoparasitosis, and varicella zoster virus infections are frequent, with Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes being the bacteria most involved. There are also Gram-negative infections secondary to common dermatoses such as foot dyshidrotic eczema and tinea pedis. Factors favoring secondary bacterial infections in atopic dermatitis, ectoparasitosis, and varicella zoster virus infections mainly include an epidermal barrier alteration as well as itch. Mite-bacteria interaction is also involved in scabies and some environmental factors can promote Gram-negative bacterial infections of the feet. Furthermore, the bacterial ecology of these superinfections may depend on the geographical origin of the patients, especially in ectoparasitosis. Bacterial superinfections can also have different clinical aspects depending on the underlying dermatoses. Subsequently, the choice of class, course, and duration of antibiotic treatment depends on the severity of the infection and the suspected bacteria, primarily targeting S. aureus. Prevention of these secondary bacterial infections depends first and foremost on the management of the underlying skin disorder. At the same time, educating the patient on maintaining good skin hygiene and reporting changes in the primary lesions is crucial. In the case of recurrent secondary infections, decolonization of S. aureus is deemed necessary, particularly in atopic dermatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Salle
- Service de Dermatologie Générale et Oncologique, UVSQ, EA4340-BECCOH, AP-HP, Hôpital Ambroise-Paré, Université Paris-Saclay, 9 Avenue Charles de Gaulle, 92100, Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
| | - Pascal Del Giudice
- Unité D'Infectiologie et Dermatologie, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Fréjus-Saint-Raphaël, Fréjus, France
| | - Charbel Skayem
- Service de Dermatologie Générale et Oncologique, UVSQ, EA4340-BECCOH, AP-HP, Hôpital Ambroise-Paré, Université Paris-Saclay, 9 Avenue Charles de Gaulle, 92100, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Camille Hua
- AP-HP, Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Olivier Chosidow
- Consultation Dermatoses Faciales, Service d'ORL, AP-HP, Hôpital Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
- UPEC Créteil, Créteil, France
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4
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Sharaf MS. Scabies: Immunopathogenesis and pathological changes. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:149. [PMID: 38433167 PMCID: PMC10909795 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08173-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Scabies is an itchy skin disease caused by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei. During their lifespan, the female mites invade the stratum corneum and create tunnels, in which they reside, move, feed, deposit fecal pellets, and lay eggs. Recently, scabies was included in the World Health Organization roadmap for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030. This review attempts to summarize our knowledge about the mite's biology and the disease pathogenesis, pathological changes, and complications. Generally, the host-parasite interaction in scabies is highly complex and involves different mechanisms, some of which are yet largely unknown. Elucidation of the nature of such interaction as well as the underlying mechanisms could allow a better understanding of the mite's biology and the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic options for scabies control programs. Moreover, identification of the molecular basis of such interaction could unveil novel targets for acaricidal agents and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud S Sharaf
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Gharbia, Egypt.
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Wadagni ACA, Yao TAK, Diez G, Balle FH, Koffi AP, Aoulou P, Zahiri MH, Djossou P, Barogui YT, Assé H, Houezo JG, Sopoh GE, Nichter M, Johnson RC. Community based integrated wound care: Results of a pilot formative research conducted in Benin and Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 4:e0002889. [PMID: 38335227 PMCID: PMC10857723 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Appropriate treatment of chronic wounds is priority in the management of Neglected Tropical Skin Diseases (NTSDs) and non-communicable diseases. We describe an integrated, community-based wound care pilot project carried out in Benin and Cote d'Ivoire that entailed both outreach education and evidence based wound care training for nurses staffing rural clinics. This research was carried out by a transdisciplinary research. Following the collection of baseline data on wound care at home and in clinics, an innovative pilot project was developed based on a critical assessment of baseline data in three parts: a pragmatic nurse training program; mass community cultural sensitive outreach programs and a mobile consultation. It came out from our investigation that several dangerous homecare and inappropriate wound treatment practices in clinics, gaps in knowledge about Neglected Tropical Skin Diseases (NTSDs), and little health staff communication with patients about appropriate wound care. Nurse training covered 11 modules including general principles of wound management and advice specific to endemic NTSDs. Nurse pre-post training knowledge scores increased substantially. Eight mass community outreach programs were conducted, followed by mobile clinics at which 850 people with skin conditions were screened. Three hundred and three (35.65%) of these people presented with wounds of which 64% were simple, 20% moderate, and 16% severe cases. Patients were followed for ten weeks to assess adherence with wound hygiene messages presented in outreach programs and repeated by nurses during screening. Over 90% of simple and moderate cases were managed appropriately at home and 98% of wounds were healed. Of the 47 cases referred to the health center, 87% came for and adhered to wound care advice. In 90% of cases, wounds healed. This pilot study provides a model for introducing integrated community based wound care in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Théodore Ange Kouakou Yao
- National Buruli Ulcer Control Programs, Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
| | | | | | - Aboa Paul Koffi
- National Buruli Ulcer Control Programs, Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Paulin Aoulou
- National Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Programs, Ministry of Health, Cotonou, Bénin
| | - Marie-Hélène Zahiri
- National Leprosy Elimination Program, Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Parfait Djossou
- Centre Interfacultaire de Formation et de Recherche en Environnement pour le Développement Durable, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin
| | - Yves Thierry Barogui
- National Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Programs, Ministry of Health, Cotonou, Bénin
| | - Henry Assé
- National Buruli Ulcer Control Programs, Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Jean-Gabin Houezo
- National Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Programs, Ministry of Health, Cotonou, Bénin
| | - Ghislain Emmanuel Sopoh
- Regional Institute of Public Health Comlan Alfred Quenum of Ouidah, University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Bénin
| | - Mark Nichter
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Roch Christian Johnson
- Centre Interfacultaire de Formation et de Recherche en Environnement pour le Développement Durable, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin
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6
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Phillips RO, Owusu L, Koka E, Ocloo EK, Simpson H, Agbanyo A, Okyere D, Tuwor RD, Fokuoh-Boadu A, Akuffo RA, Novignon J, Oppong MN, Mosweu I, Asante-Poku A, Cobbinah J, Mtuy TB, Palmer J, Ahorlu C, Amoako YA, Walker SL, Yeboah-Manu D, Marks M, Pitt C, Pullan R. Development of an integrated and decentralised skin health strategy to improve experiences of skin neglected tropical diseases and other skin conditions in Atwima Mponua District, Ghana. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 4:e0002809. [PMID: 38241242 PMCID: PMC10798462 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Integrated strategies are recommended to tackle neglected tropical diseases of the skin (skin NTDs), which pose a substantial health and economic burden in many countries, including Ghana. We describe the development of an integrated and decentralised skin health strategy designed to improve experiences of skin NTDs in Atwima Mponua district in Ashanti Region. A multidisciplinary research team led an iterative process to develop an overall strategy and specific interventions, based on a theory of change informed by formative research conducted in Atwima Mponua district. The process involved preparatory work, four co-development workshops (August 2021 to November 2022), collaborative working groups to operationalise intervention components, and obtaining ethical approval. Stakeholders including affected individuals, caregivers, other community members and actors from different levels of the health system participated in co-development activities. We consulted these stakeholders at each stage of the research process, including discussion of study findings, development of our theory of change, identifying implementable solutions to identified challenges, and protocol development. Participants determined that the intervention should broadly address wounds and other skin conditions, rather than only skin NTDs, and should avoid reliance on non-governmental organisations and research teams to ensure sustainable implementation by district health teams and transferability elsewhere. The overall strategy was designed to focus on a decentralised model of care for skin conditions, while including other interventions to support a self-care delivery pathway, community engagement, and referral. Our theory of change describes the pathways through which these interventions are expected to achieve the strategy's aim, the assumptions, and problems addressed. This complex intervention strategy has been designed to respond to the local context, while maximising transferability to ensure wider relevance. Implementation is expected to begin in 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Odame Phillips
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Lucy Owusu
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Eric Koka
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Edmond Kwaku Ocloo
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Hope Simpson
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Abigail Agbanyo
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Daniel Okyere
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ruth Dede Tuwor
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Adelaide Fokuoh-Boadu
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Richard Adjei Akuffo
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Jacob Novignon
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Economics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Michael Ntiamoah Oppong
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Iris Mosweu
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adwoa Asante-Poku
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Jojo Cobbinah
- Atwima Mponua District Health Directorate, Nhinahin, Ghana
| | - Tara B. Mtuy
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer Palmer
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Collins Ahorlu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Yaw Ampem Amoako
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Stephen L. Walker
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dorothy Yeboah-Manu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Michael Marks
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine Pitt
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Pullan
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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7
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Kollie KK, Theobald S, Jones L, Kpadeh O, Nallo G, Borbor D, Taylor M, Dean L, Phillip M, Godwin-Akpan TG, Mensah DF, Wickenden A, Kollie JT, Rogers E, Zaizay Z, Stewart M. Multimethod evaluation of health services integration for neglected tropical diseases requiring case management in Liberia. BMJ Glob Health 2024; 9:e012599. [PMID: 38238023 PMCID: PMC10806886 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The WHO neglected tropical disease (NTD) roadmap stresses the importance of integrating NTDs requiring case management (CM) within the health system. The NTDs programme of Liberia is among the first to implement an integrated approach and evaluate its impact. METHODS A retrospective study of three of five CM-NTD-endemic counties that implemented the integrated approach was compared with cluster-matched counties with non-integrated CM-NTD. We compared trends in CM-NTD integrated versus non-integrated county clusters. We conducted a pre-post comparison of WHO high-level outcomes using data collected during intervention years compared with baseline in control counties. Changes in health outcomes, effect sizes for different diseases and rate ratios with statistically significant differences were determined. Complementary qualitative research explored CM-NTD stakeholders' perceptions, analysed through the framework approach, which is a transparent, multistage approach for qualitative thematic interdisciplinary data analysis. RESULTS The detection rates for all diseases combined improved significantly in the intervention compared with the control clusters. Besides leprosy, detection rates improved with large effects, over fourfold increase with statistically significant effects for individual diseases (p<0.000; 95% CI 3.5 to 5.4). Access to CM-NTD services increased in integrated counties by 71 facilities, compared with three facilities in non-integrated counties. Qualitative findings highlight training and supervision as inputs underpinning increases in case detection, but challenges with refresher training, medicine supply and incentives negatively impact quality, equity and access. CONCLUSIONS Integrating CM-NTDs improves case detection, accessibility and availability of CM-NTD services, promoting universal health coverage. Early case detection and the quality of care need further strengthening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karsor K Kollie
- Health Services, Ministry of Health, Congo Town Back Road, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Sally Theobald
- International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Lent Jones
- The University of Liberia, Pacific Institute for Research Evaluation, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Otis Kpadeh
- The University of Liberia, Pacific Institute for Research Evaluation, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Gartee Nallo
- The University of Liberia, Pacific Institute for Research Evaluation, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Darwosu Borbor
- Cuttington University Graduate School Research Student, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Mark Taylor
- Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Laura Dean
- International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Maneesh Phillip
- Effect Hope, 90 Allstate Parkway Markham ON L3R 6H3, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Anna Wickenden
- International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
- Effect Hope, 90 Allstate Parkway Markham ON L3R 6H3, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jewel T Kollie
- A. M. Dogliotti School of Medicine, University of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Emerson Rogers
- Health Services, Ministry of Health, Congo Town Back Road, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Zeela Zaizay
- Action Transforming Lives, Congo Town Back Road Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Martyn Stewart
- Education, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
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Htet KZ, Griffiths CEM, Lwin SM. Essential emergency skincare: a global health dermatology innovation for Myanmar and beyond. Br J Dermatol 2023; 189:760-763. [PMID: 37624865 DOI: 10.1093/bjd/ljad302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Myanmar provides an exemplar framework whereby a global health dermatology partnership, developed during a time of political stability, has led to an innovative emergency essential skincare strategy to sustain its overarching mission of providing quality care for people with skin disease at times of conflict and instability. This framework, through multilevel integrated approaches such as education and service delivery, serves as a model for crisis-responsive healthcare and global health goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyaw Zin Htet
- Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Christopher E M Griffiths
- Centre for Dermatology Research, NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Dermatology, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Su M Lwin
- St John's Institute of Dermatology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London, London, UK
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Chandra A, Sreeganga SD, Rath N, Ramaprasad A. Healthcare Policies to Eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in India: A Roadmap. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6842. [PMID: 37835112 PMCID: PMC10572727 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20196842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
The need for systemic healthcare policies to systematically eliminate NTDs globally and in India has been stressed for more than two decades. Yet, the present policies and the research on them do not meet the need. We present an ontological framework, a research roadmap, and a policy brief to address the gap. The ontology clearly, concisely, and comprehensively represents the combinations of diseases, the objectives regarding the diseases, the entities to address them, the outcomes sought, and the potential policy instruments to invoke. The paper explicates the state of the-policies and state of the research on policies to eliminate NTDs in India. It highlights the significant gaps in the diseases covered, balance in the objectives, comprehensiveness of policies, portfolio of outcomes, and involvement of entities. Last, it presents a set of systemic policies congruent with the ontology to systematically address the gaps. The recommendations are aligned with the present research, policies, practices, and recommendations in India and of the WHO, UN agencies, and other similar bodies. The approach can be generalized to provide roadmaps for other countries facing a similar challenge and for other diseases of similar complexity. The roadmaps, with continuous feedback and learning, can help navigate the challenge efficiently and effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Chandra
- School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Chanakya University, Bengaluru 562110, India;
| | - S. D. Sreeganga
- Jindal School of Government and Public Policy, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat 131001, India;
| | - Nibedita Rath
- Open Source Pharma Foundation, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru 560012, India;
| | - Arkalgud Ramaprasad
- Information and Decision Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60605, USA
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10
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Godwin-Akpan TG, Diaconu K, Edmiston M, Smith JS, Sosu F, Weiland S, Kollie KK. Assessing the cost-effectiveness of integrated case management of Neglected Tropical Diseases in Liberia. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:705. [PMID: 37386431 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09685-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2017, Liberia became one of the first countries in the African region to develop and implement a national strategy for integrated case management of Neglected Tropical Diseases (CM-NTDs), specifically Buruli ulcer, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis morbidities, and yaws. Implementing this plan moves the NTD program from many countries' fragmented (vertical) disease management. This study explores to what extent an integrated approach offers a cost-effective investment for national health systems. METHODS This study is a mixed-method economic evaluation that explores the cost-effectiveness of the integrated CM-NTDs approach compared to the fragmented (vertical) disease management. Primary data were collected from two integrated intervention counties and two non-intervention counties to determine the relative cost-effectiveness of the integrated program model vs. fragmented (vertical) care. Data was sourced from the NTDs program annual budgets and financial reports for integrated CM-NTDs and Mass Drug Administration (MDA) to determine cost drivers and effectiveness. RESULTS The total cost incurred by the integrated CM-NTD approach from 2017 to 2019 was US$ 789,856.30, with the highest percentage of costs for program staffing and motivation (41.8%), followed by operating costs (24.8%). In the two counties implementing fragmented (vertical) disease management, approximately US$ 325,000 was spent on the diagnosis of 84 persons and the treatment of twenty-four persons suffering from NTDs. While 2.5 times as much was spent in integrated counties, 9-10 times more patients were diagnosed and treated. CONCLUSIONS The cost of a patient being diagnosed under the fragmented (vertical) implementation is five times higher than integrated CM-NTDs, and providing treatment is ten times as costly. Findings indicate that the integrated CM-NTDs strategy has achieved its primary objective of improved access to NTD services. The success of implementing an integrated CM-NTDs approach in Liberia, presented in this paper, demonstrates that NTD integration is a cost-minimizing solution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karin Diaconu
- Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, Musselburgh, EH21 6UU, Scotland
| | | | - John Solunta Smith
- Capitol Bye-Pass, University of Liberia - Atlantic Centre for Research and Evaluation, University of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Fred Sosu
- Capitol Bye-Pass, University of Liberia - Atlantic Centre for Research and Evaluation, University of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
| | | | - Karsor K Kollie
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Program, Ministry of Health, Oldest Congo Town, Monrovia, Liberia
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Yotsu RR, Almamy D, Vagamon B, Ugai K, Itoh S, Koffi YD, Kaloga M, Dizoé LAS, Kouadio K, Aka N, Yeboue LKG, Yao KA, Blanton RE. An mHealth App (eSkinHealth) for Detecting and Managing Skin Diseases in Resource-Limited Settings: Mixed Methods Pilot Study. JMIR DERMATOLOGY 2023; 6:e46295. [PMID: 37632977 PMCID: PMC10335127 DOI: 10.2196/46295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In sub-Saharan Africa, the disease burden from skin diseases, including skin-related neglected tropical diseases (skin NTDs), is extremely high. These diseases often are overlooked due to limited access to health care stemming from, for example, remote geographical locations and a lack of experts. To address these gaps, we developed a mobile health app, eSkinHealth, which is a field-adapted platform to serve as a portable electronic patient chart and for teledermatology. OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study is to evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the app in rural Côte d'Ivoire for diagnosing and managing skin NTDs and other skin diseases. METHODS A 2-arm trial with local health care providers and patients with skin diseases was implemented over a 3-month period. The providers were assigned to an intervention receiving the eSkinHealth app or control with usual care. Four nurses and 8 community health care workers participated in each arm. The training was provided on the use of the app to the intervention arm only, while both arms were trained on skin diseases. For the usability study, we evaluated our approach with the System Usability Scale (SUS) and in-depth interviews. For the effectiveness study, our primary outcome was to evaluate the detection and management of 5 skin NTDs as our targeted diseases, namely, Buruli ulcer, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, scabies, and yaws, using the eSkinHealth app. Procedures of our methods were reviewed and approved by the institutional review board of the Ministry of Health and by Tulane University. RESULTS The mean age of our participants (providers) was 40.5 and 42.5 years for the intervention and control arms, respectively, and all were male (n=24). The average SUS scores taken from the intervention arm at baseline, the midpoint (6 weeks), and the end of study (12 weeks) were 72.3 (SD 11.5), 72.3 (SD 12.4), and 86.3 (SD 10.8), respectively. All participants interviewed, including 4 dermatologists and program managers, were satisfied with the app. Especially community health care workers felt empowered by being equipped with the tool. A total of 79 cases of skin NTDs were reported in the intervention arm as compared to 17 cases in the control arm (P=.002). Besides the skin NTDs, more skin diseases and conditions were reported from the control than from the intervention arm (P<.001). However, 100 cases (66%) were not given any particular diagnosis in the control arm and were documented only as a "dermatosis." In the intervention arm, 151 cases (72.9%) were diagnosed within the eSkinHealth platform, and the remaining were diagnosed on-site by dermatologists. CONCLUSIONS The study provided evidence for the usability and effectiveness of the eSkinHealth app embedded into our surveillance approach to improve the detection and management of skin NTDs and other skin diseases in Côte d'Ivoire and, furthermore, is expected to contribute to knowledge on mobile health approaches in the control of skin diseases in resource-limited settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05300399; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05300399.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rie R Yotsu
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Department of Dermatology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku, Japan
| | - Diabate Almamy
- Department of Dermatology, Université Alassane Ouattara, Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Bamba Vagamon
- Department of Dermatology, Université Alassane Ouattara, Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire
- Raoul Follereau Institute Côte d'Ivoire, Adzopé, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Kazuko Ugai
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Sakiko Itoh
- Department of Genome Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- Department of Home Health and Palliative Care Nursing, Graduate School of Health Care Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yao Didier Koffi
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
- National Buruli Ulcer Control Program, Ministry of Health of Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Mamadou Kaloga
- National Buruli Ulcer Control Program, Ministry of Health of Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Ligué Agui Sylvestre Dizoé
- National Control Program for Elimination of Leprosy, Ministry of Health of Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | | | | | | | | | - Ronald E Blanton
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
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12
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Yotsu RR, Fuller LC, Murdoch ME, van Brakel WH, Revankar C, Barogui MYT, Postigo JAR, Dagne DA, Asiedu K, Hay RJ. A global call for action to tackle skin-related neglected tropical diseases (skin NTDs) through integration: An ambitious step change. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011357. [PMID: 37319139 PMCID: PMC10270348 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
On 8 June 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) released pivotal guidance, "Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: A strategic framework for integrated control and management of skin-related neglected tropical diseases." Skin-related neglected tropical diseases, or skin NTDs, comprise a group of NTDs that produce signs and symptoms on the skin and include at least 9 diseases or disease groups. Moving away from disease-specific approaches, it is anticipated that synergies will be identified and integrated building on this shared feature, where possible, to achieve a greater health impact. This paper intends to draw attention to the prospects created by this scheme. The framework is a key basis for a proposal produced by WHO dedicated to skin NTD integration and describes the practical opportunities for this evolving strategy. It underlines the wider health benefits that will follow, thus working towards Universal Health Coverage and skin health for all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rie R. Yotsu
- Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Department of Dermatology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - L. Claire Fuller
- International Foundation for Dermatology, London, United Kingdom
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michele E. Murdoch
- Department of Dermatology, West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Watford General Hospital, Watford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Chandrakant Revankar
- Elimination of NTDs (Independent), North Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
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Gnimavo RS, Fajloun F, Al-Bayssari C, Sodjinou E, Habib A, Ganlonon L, Claco E, Agoundoté I, Houngbo OA, Anagonou EG, Biaou CAO, Ayélo AG, Houezo JG, Boccarossa A, Moussa EH, Gomez B, Gine A, Sopoh GE, Marion E, Johnson RC, Kempf M. Importance of consultations using mobile teams in the screening and treatment of neglected tropical skin diseases in Benin. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011314. [PMID: 37172044 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Since 2013, the World Health Organization has recommended integrated control strategies for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) with skin manifestations. We evaluated the implementation of an integrated approach to the early detection and rapid treatment of skin NTDs based on mobile clinics in the Ouémé and Plateau areas of Benin. METHODS This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in Ouémé and Plateau in Benin from 2018 to 2020. Consultations using mobile teams were performed at various sites selected by reasoned choice based on the epidemiological data of the National Program for the Control of Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer. All individuals presenting with a dermatological lesion who voluntarily approached the multidisciplinary management team on the day of consultation were included. The information collected was kept strictly anonymous and was entered into an Excel 2013 spreadsheet and analyzed with Stata 11 software. RESULTS In total, 5,267 patients with various skin conditions consulted the medical team. The median age of these patients was 14 years (IQR: 7-34 years). We saw 646 (12.3%) patients presenting NTDs with skin manifestations, principally scabies, in 88.4% (571/646), followed by 37 cases of Buruli ulcer (5.8%), 22 cases of leprosy (3.4%), 15 cases of lymphatic filariasis (2.3%) and one case of mycetoma (0.2%). We detected no cases of yaws. CONCLUSION This sustainable approach could help to decrease the burden of skin NTDs in resource-limited countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Sètondji Gnimavo
- Centre de Dépistage et de Traitement de la Lèpre et de l´Ulcère de Buruli de Pobè, Fondation Raoul Follereau, Pobè, Bénin
- Institut Régional de Santé Publique- Comlan Alfred Quenum, Université d'Abomey Calavi, Ouidah, Bénin
| | - Faraj Fajloun
- University of Angers, Nantes Université, CHU Angers, Inserm, INCIT, Angers, France
- Ecole Doctorale en Sciences et Technologie, Université Libanaise, Campus Rafic Hariri, Hadath, Liban
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique, Faculté de Sciences 2, Campus Pierre Gemayel, Fanar, Liban
| | - Charbel Al-Bayssari
- Departement of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Balamand, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Espoir Sodjinou
- Centre de Dépistage et de Traitement de la Lèpre et de l´Ulcère de Buruli de Pobè, Fondation Raoul Follereau, Pobè, Bénin
| | - Akimath Habib
- Centre de Dépistage et de Traitement de la Lèpre et de l´Ulcère de Buruli de Pobè, Fondation Raoul Follereau, Pobè, Bénin
| | - Line Ganlonon
- Centre de Dépistage et de Traitement de la Lèpre et de l´Ulcère de Buruli de Pobè, Fondation Raoul Follereau, Pobè, Bénin
| | - Eric Claco
- Centre de Dépistage et de Traitement de la Lèpre et de l´Ulcère de Buruli de Pobè, Fondation Raoul Follereau, Pobè, Bénin
| | - Irvine Agoundoté
- Centre de Dépistage et de Traitement de la Lèpre et de l´Ulcère de Buruli de Pobè, Fondation Raoul Follereau, Pobè, Bénin
| | - Odile Adjouavi Houngbo
- Centre de Dépistage et de Traitement de la Lèpre et de l´Ulcère de Buruli de Pobè, Fondation Raoul Follereau, Pobè, Bénin
| | - Esaï Gimatal Anagonou
- Programme National de Lutte contre la Lèpre et l'Ulcère de Buruli, Ministère de la Santé, Cotonou, Bénin
| | | | - Adjimon Gilbert Ayélo
- Programme National de Lutte contre la Lèpre et l'Ulcère de Buruli, Ministère de la Santé, Cotonou, Bénin
| | - Jean Gabin Houezo
- Programme National de Lutte contre la Lèpre et l'Ulcère de Buruli, Ministère de la Santé, Cotonou, Bénin
| | - Alexandra Boccarossa
- University of Angers, Nantes Université, CHU Angers, Inserm, INCIT, Angers, France
| | - Elie Hajj Moussa
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique, Faculté de Sciences 2, Campus Pierre Gemayel, Fanar, Liban
| | | | - Anna Gine
- Fondation Anesvad, Henao, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Ghislain Emmanuel Sopoh
- Institut Régional de Santé Publique- Comlan Alfred Quenum, Université d'Abomey Calavi, Ouidah, Bénin
| | - Estelle Marion
- University of Angers, Nantes Université, CHU Angers, Inserm, INCIT, Angers, France
| | | | - Marie Kempf
- University of Angers, Nantes Université, CHU Angers, Inserm, INCIT, Angers, France
- Département de Biologie des Agents Infectieux, UF de Bactériologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Angers, Angers, France
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Godwin-Akpan TG, Chowdhury S, Rogers EJ, Kollie KK, Zaizay FZ, Wickenden A, Zawolo GVK, Parker CBMC, Dean L. The development, implementation, and evaluation of an optimal model for the case detection, referral, and case management of Neglected Tropical Diseases. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283856. [PMID: 37163515 PMCID: PMC10171595 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People affected by Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), specifically leprosy, Buruli ulcer (BU), yaws, and lymphatic filariasis, experience significant delays in accessing health services, often leading to catastrophic physical, psychosocial, and economic consequences. Global health actors have recognized that Sustainable Development Goal 3:3 is only achievable through an integrated inter and intra-sectoral response. This study evaluated existing case detection and referral approaches in Liberia, utilizing the findings to develop and test an Optimal Model for integrated community-based case detection, referral, and confirmation. We evaluate the efficacy of implementing the Optimal Model in improving the early diagnosis of NTDs, thus minimizing access delays and reducing disease burden. METHODS We used a participatory action research approach to develop, implement, and evaluate an Optimal Model for the case detection, referral, and management of case management NTDs in Liberia. We utilized qualitative and quantitative methods throughout the cycle and implemented the model for 12 months. RESULTS During the implementation of our optimal model, the annual number of cases detected increased compared to the previous year. Cases were detected at an earlier stage of disease progression, however; gendered dynamics in communities shape the case identification process for some individuals. Qualitative data showed increased knowledge of the transmission, signs, symptoms, and management options among community health workers (CHW). CONCLUSION The results provide evidence of the benefits of an integrated approach and the programmatic challenges to improve access to health services for persons affected by NTDs. The effectiveness of an integrated approach depends on a high level of collaboration, joint planning, and implementation embedded within existing health systems infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shahreen Chowdhury
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Emerson J Rogers
- Neglected Tropical Disease Program, Ministry of Health, Oldest Congo Town, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Karsor K Kollie
- Neglected Tropical Disease Program, Ministry of Health, Oldest Congo Town, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Fasseneh Zeela Zaizay
- Neglected Tropical Disease Program, Ministry of Health, Oldest Congo Town, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Anna Wickenden
- American Leprosy Mission, Greenville, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Georgina V K Zawolo
- University of Liberia-Atlantic Centre for Research and Evaluation, Capitol Hill, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Colleen B M C Parker
- Research Unit, Ministry of Health, Liberia, Oldest Congo Town, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Laura Dean
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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15
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Traxler RM, Bell ME, Lasker B, Headd B, Shieh WJ, McQuiston JR. Updated Review on Nocardia Species: 2006-2021. Clin Microbiol Rev 2022; 35:e0002721. [PMID: 36314911 PMCID: PMC9769612 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00027-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
This review serves as an update to the previous Nocardia review by Brown-Elliott et al. published in 2006 (B. A. Brown-Elliott, J. M. Brown, P. S. Conville, and R. J. Wallace. Jr., Clin Microbiol Rev 19:259-282, 2006, https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.19.2.259-282.2006). Included is a discussion on the taxonomic expansion of the genus, current identification methods, and the impact of new technology (including matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight [MALDI-TOF] and whole genome sequencing) on diagnosis and treatment. Clinical manifestations, the epidemiology, and geographic distribution are briefly discussed. An additional section on actinomycotic mycetoma is added to address this often-neglected disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita M. Traxler
- Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch (BSPB), Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology (DHCPP), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Melissa E. Bell
- Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch (BSPB), Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology (DHCPP), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Brent Lasker
- Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch (BSPB), Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology (DHCPP), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Brendan Headd
- Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch (BSPB), Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology (DHCPP), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Wun-Ju Shieh
- Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch (IDPB), Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology (DHCPP), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - John R. McQuiston
- Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch (BSPB), Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology (DHCPP), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Saka B, Kassang P, Gnossike P, Head MG, Akakpo AS, Teclessou JN, Elegbede YM, Mouhari-Toure A, Mahamadou G, Tevi K, Katsou K, Kombaté K, Walker SL, Pitché P. Prevalence of skin Neglected Tropical Diseases and superficial fungal infections in two peri-urban schools and one rural community setting in Togo. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010697. [PMID: 36534701 PMCID: PMC9810153 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Skin neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), are endemic and under-diagnosed in many lower-income communities. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of skin NTDs and fungal infections in two primary schools and a community setting in rural Togo. METHOD This was a cross-sectional study that took place between June-October 2021. The two primary schools are located on the outskirts of Lomé, the capital city. The community setting was Ndjéi, in north-east Togo. Study sites were purposively selected. Dermatologists examined the skin of study participants. Diagnosis of skin NTDs were made clinically. RESULTS A total of 1401 individuals were examined, 954 (68.1%) from Ndjéi community, and 447 (31.9%) were children in the schools. Cutaneous skin infections were diagnosed in 438 (31.3%) participants, of whom 355 (81%) were in community settings. There were 105 observed skin NTDs (7.5%). Within the school setting, there were 20 individuals with NTDs (4.5% of 447 participants), and 85 NTDs (8.9%) from 954 community participants. Across all settings 68/1020 (6.7%) NTDs were in children, and 37/381 (9.7%) in adults. In addition, there were 333 observed mycoses (23.8% prevalence). The main cutaneous NTDs diagnosed were scabies (n = 86; 6.1%) and suspected yaws (n = 16, 1.1%). The prevalence of scabies in schools was 4.3%, and 7.0% in the rural community. One case of leprosy was diagnosed in each school and the rural community, and one suspected Buruli Ulcer case in the community. In the school setting, five (6%) children with a skin NTD reported being stigmatised, four of whom had refused to attend school because of their dermatosis. In Ndjéi, 44 (4.6%) individuals reported having experienced stigma and 41 (93.2%) of them missed at least one day of school or work. CONCLUSION This study shows that the burden of scabies and skin infections such as superficial mycoses is high in the school and rural community settings in Togo, with associated presence of stigma. Improved health promotion and education across institutional and community settings may reduce stigma and encourage early reporting of skin infection cases to a health facility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bayaki Saka
- Service de dermatologie, CHU de Lomé, Lomé, Togo
| | | | | | - Michael G. Head
- Clinical Informatics Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Kokoé Tevi
- Service de dermatologie, CHU de Lomé, Lomé, Togo
| | | | | | - Stephen L. Walker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Frej A, Cano M, Ruiz-Postigo JA, Macharia P, Phillips RO, Amoako YA, Carrion C. Assessing the Quality of the World Health Organization's Skin NTDs App as a Training Tool in Ghana and Kenya: Protocol for a Cross-sectional Study. JMIR Res Protoc 2022; 11:e39393. [PMID: 36480252 PMCID: PMC9782345 DOI: 10.2196/39393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect over 1.5 billion people worldwide, the majority of them belonging to impoverished populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Skin NTDs are a subgroup of NTDs that manifest primarily as skin lesions. The diagnosis and treatment of skin NTDs entail considerable resources, including trained personnel and financial backing. Many interventions are being launched and evaluated, particularly mobile health (mHealth) interventions, such as Skin NTDs App, a training and decision support tool offered by the World Health Organization (WHO) for frontline health workers (FHWs). As most digital health guidelines prioritize the thorough evaluation of mHealth interventions, it is essential to conduct a rigorous and validated assessment of Skin NTDs App. OBJECTIVE We aim to assess the quality of version 3 of Skin NTDs App, developed for the WHO by Universal Doctor and Netherlands Leprosy Relief as a training and decision support tool for FHWs. METHODS A cross-sectional study will be conducted in 2 LMICs: Ghana and Kenya. We will use snowball sampling recruitment to select 48 participants from the target population of all FHWs dealing with skin NTDs. The sample group of FHWs will be asked to download and use Skin NTDs App for at least 5 days before answering a web-based survey containing demographic variables and the user Mobile App Rating Scale (uMARS) questionnaire. A semistructured interview will then be conducted. Quantitative and qualitative data will be analyzed using SPSS (version 25; SPSS Inc), with statistical significance for all tests set at a 95% CI and P≤.05 considered significant. Data derived from the semistructured interviews will be clustered in themes and coded to enable analysis of various dimensions using ATLAS.ti. RESULTS The estimated completion date of the study is in the third quarter of 2022. The results are expected to show that Skin NTDs App version 3 has a good reported user experience, as assessed using the uMARS scale. No differences are expected to be found, except for those related to experience in dermatology and the use of mobile technology that could influence the final score. Semistructured interviews are expected to complete the results obtained on the uMARS scale. Moreover, they will be the previous step before assessing other aspects of the app, such as its efficiency and how it should be disseminated or implemented. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first step in a qualitative and quantitative assessment of Skin NTDs App as a training and support tool for FHWs diagnosing and managing skin NTDs. Our results will serve to improve future versions of the App. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/39393.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmae Frej
- School of Health Sciences, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Mireia Cano
- eHealth Lab Research Group, eHealth Center & School of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José A Ruiz-Postigo
- Prevention, Treatment and Care Unit, Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Yaw Ampem Amoako
- Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Carme Carrion
- School of Health Sciences, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
- eHealth Lab Research Group, eHealth Center & School of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
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Toppino S, Koffi DY, Kone BV, N’Krumah RTAS, Coulibaly ID, Tobian F, Pluschke G, Stojkovic M, Bonfoh B, Junghanss T. Community-based wound management in a rural setting of Côte d'Ivoire. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010730. [PMID: 36227844 PMCID: PMC9560516 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Wounds are a neglected health problem in rural communities of low-income countries, mostly caused by trauma and ulcerative skin diseases including Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and associated with systemic complications and disability. Rural communities have limited access to high quality health services-based wound care. Methods We conducted a prospective observational study on wound management at three levels–community (C), health centre (HC), district hospital (DH)—in a rural community of Côte d’Ivoire. Patients with skin wounds actively identified in a house-to-house survey and passively in the health services in a defined area of the Taabo Health and Demographic Surveillance System were asked to participate and followed-up longitudinally. Endpoints were proportion of wounds closed, time to wound closure, wound size over time, frequency of secondary bacterial infection, need for recapturing after follow-up interruption, and duration of treatment stratified by health service level and wound aetiology. Results We enrolled 561 patients with 923 wounds between May 2019 and March 2020. The observation period ended in March 2021. Median age was 10 years (IQR 7–15), 63.0% of patients were male. Almost all (99.5%, 870/874) wounds closed within the observation period, 5.3% (49/923) were lost to follow-up. Wounds primarily treated in C, HC and DH closed within a median time of 10, 16 and 170 days, respectively. Median time to acute wound and chronic wound closure was 13 and 72 days, respectively. Wounds treated in C, HC and DH presented with secondary bacterial infections in 10.3% (36/350), 31.0% (133/429) and 100% (5/5) of cases, respectively. Recapturing was required in 68.3% (630/923) of wounds with participants reporting wound closure as the main reason for not attending follow-up. Conclusions We describe a wound management model based on national and WHO recommendations focusing on early identification and treatment in the community with potential for broad implementation in low-income countries. Trial registration Registration at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03957447). Wounds are a neglected health problem in rural communities of low-income countries, mostly caused by trauma and ulcerative skin diseases including Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and associated with systemic complications and disability. Rural communities have limited access to high quality health services-based wound care. We conducted a prospective observational study on WHO recommendation-based wound management at three levels–community, health centre, district hospital—in a rural community of Côte d’Ivoire. The healthcare personnel were trained in wound identification and treatment. Patients with skin wounds of all causes identified actively in a house-to-house survey and passively in the health services in a defined area of a Health and Demographic Surveillance System were included in the study and followed-up longitudinally. Most wounds could be treated with basic wound care in the community or at the health centre by local healthcare personnel and closed within 2 to 3 weeks. Few wounds required referral to the district hospital or specific treatment. The results of our study indicate that a community-centred wound management model based on WHO recommendations and focusing on early identification and treatment of all wounds independent of the cause has potential for broad implementation in low-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Toppino
- Division Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Didier Yao Koffi
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
- Programme National de Lutte contre l’Ulcère de Buruli, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
- Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny d’Abidjan, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Bognan Valentin Kone
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Raymond T. A. S. N’Krumah
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
- Université Peleforo Gon Coulibaly de Korhogo, Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Ismaël Dognimin Coulibaly
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
- Université Peleforo Gon Coulibaly de Korhogo, Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Frank Tobian
- Division Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gerd Pluschke
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marija Stojkovic
- Division Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bassirou Bonfoh
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Thomas Junghanss
- Division Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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19
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Skin wounds in a rural setting of Côte d'Ivoire: Population-based assessment of the burden and clinical epidemiology. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010608. [PMID: 36227839 PMCID: PMC9560139 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Data on the burden and clinical epidemiology of skin wounds in rural sub-Saharan Africa is scant. The scale of the problem including preventable progression to chronic wounds, disability and systemic complications is largely unaddressed. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study combining active (household-based survey) and passive case finding (health services-based survey) to determine the burden and clinical epidemiology of wounds within the Taabo Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in rural Côte d’Ivoire. Patients identified with wounds received free care and were invited to participate in the wound management study simultaneously carried out in the survey area. The data were analysed for wound prevalence, stratified by wound and patient characteristics. Results 3842 HDSS-registered persons were surveyed. Overall wound prevalence derived from combined active and passive case finding was 13.0%. 74.1% (403/544) of patients were below the age of 15 years. Most frequent aetiologies were mechanical trauma (85.3%), furuncles (5.1%), burns (2.9%) and Buruli ulcer (2.2%). Most wounds were acute and smaller than 5 cm2 in size. 22.0% (176/799) of wounds showed evidence of secondary bacterial infection. 35.5% (22/62) of chronic wounds had persisted entirely neglected for years. Buruli ulcer prevalence was 2.3 per 1000 individuals and considerably higher than expected from an annual incidence of 0.01 per 1000 individuals as reported by WHO for Côte d’Ivoire at the time of the study. Conclusions Skin wounds are highly prevalent in rural West Africa, where they represent a widely neglected problem. The HDSS-based survey with combined active and passive case finding adopted in this study provides a better estimate than school- and health institution-based surveys which underestimate the frequency of skin wounds and, particularly, of neglected tropical diseases of the skin, such as Buruli ulcer and yaws. A comparison with country-specific WHO data suggests underreporting of Buruli ulcer cases. Trial registration Registration at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03957447. Data on the burden and clinical epidemiology of skin wounds in rural sub-Saharan Africa is scant. The scale of the problem including preventable progression to chronic wounds, disability and systemic complications is largely unaddressed. We conducted a cross-sectional study combining active (household-based survey) and passive case finding (health services-based survey) to determine the burden and clinical epidemiology of wounds within the Taabo Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in rural Côte d’Ivoire. Patients identified were invited to participate in the wound management study simultaneously carried out in the survey area. We surveyed approximately 4000 HDSS-registered persons and found a high overall wound prevalence (13.0%), predominately in children. Mechanical trauma was the leading cause, followed by furuncles, burns and Buruli ulcer. Most wounds were acute and had a size of less than 5 cm2, but a substantial proportion was large, complicated, or chronic, some of the latter persisting neglected for years. The HDSS-based survey with combined active and passive case finding adopted in this study provides a better estimate than school- and health institution-based surveys which underestimate the frequency of skin wounds and, particularly, of neglected tropical diseases of the skin, such as Buruli ulcer and yaws. A comparison with country-specific WHO data suggests underreporting of Buruli ulcer cases.
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20
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Timothy JWS, Rogers E, Halliday KE, Mulbah T, Marks M, Zaizay Z, Giddings R, Kempf M, Marion E, Walker SL, Kollie KK, Pullan RL. Quantifying Population Burden and Effectiveness of Decentralized Surveillance Strategies for Skin-Presenting Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liberia. Emerg Infect Dis 2022; 28:1755-1764. [PMID: 35997318 PMCID: PMC9423900 DOI: 10.3201/eid2809.212126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated programmatic approaches for skin neglected tropical disease (NTD) surveillance and completed a robust estimation of the burden of skin NTDs endemic to West Africa (Buruli ulcer, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis morbidity, and yaws). In Maryland, Liberia, exhaustive case finding by community health workers of 56,285 persons across 92 clusters identified 3,241 suspected cases. A total of 236 skin NTDs (34.0 [95% CI 29.1–38.9]/10,000 persons) were confirmed by midlevel healthcare workers trained using a tailored program. Cases showed a focal and spatially heterogeneous distribution. This community health worker‒led approach showed a higher skin NTD burden than prevailing surveillance mechanisms, but also showed high (95.1%) and equitable population coverage. Specialized training and task-shifting of diagnoses to midlevel health workers led to reliable identification of skin NTDs, but reliability of individual diagnoses varied. This multifaceted evaluation of skin NTD surveillance strategies quantifies benefits and limitations of key approaches promoted by the 2030 NTD roadmap of the World Health Organization.
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21
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Yotsu RR, Itoh S, Yao KA, Yeboue LG, Kouadio K, Ugai K, Koffi YD, Almamy D, Vagamon B, Blanton RE. Early Detection and Case Management of Skin Diseases with a Mobile Health Application 'eSkinHealth': Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Pilot Study in Côte d'Ivoire. JMIR Res Protoc 2022; 11:e39867. [PMID: 35922062 PMCID: PMC9536527 DOI: 10.2196/39867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of skin diseases is extremely high in sub-Saharan Africa, among which are skin neglected tropical diseases (skin NTDs) that could lead to life-long disabilities and deformities if not diagnosed and treated early. To achieve early detection and early treatment of these skin diseases, we developed a mobile health application (mHealth app): 'eSkinHealth.' OBJECTIVE This paper outlines a protocol for evaluating the effect of our eSkinHealth app in the early detection and effective management of skin diseases in Côte d'Ivoire. METHODS A mixed-methods pilot trial will be conducted in Côte d'Ivoire and will consist of 3 phases: phase 1, the development and improvement of the eSkinHealth app; phase 2, a pilot trial to evaluate the usability of the eSkinHealth app for local medical staff in Côte d'Ivoire; and phase 3, a pilot trial to evaluate the effectiveness of early detection and case management of targeted skin NTDs (Buruli ulcer, leprosy, yaws, and lymphatic filariasis) with the eSkinHealth app in Côte d'Ivoire. The pilot study will be implemented as a 2-arm trial with local healthcare providers and patients with skin NTDs over a 3-month follow-up period. The local healthcare providers will be assigned to an intervention group receiving the eSkinHealth app to be used in their daily practices or a control group. Training will be provided on the usage and implementation of the app and diagnostic pipeline to the intervention group only, while both groups will receive training on skin diseases. Our primary outcome is to evaluate the early detection and effective management of skin diseases using the eSkinHealth app in Côte d'Ivoire by number of cases diagnosed and managed. Additionally, we will evaluate the eSkinHealth app with validated questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Procedures of our methods have been reviewed and approved by the IRB of the Ministry of Health, Côte d'Ivoire and by Tulane University in 2021. RESULTS This study was funded in 2021. We started enrolment of patients in February 2022, and data collection is currently underway. We expect the first results to be submitted for publication in 2023. CONCLUSIONS Our 'eSkinHealth' is a field-adapted platform that could both provide direct diagnostic and management assistance to health workers in remote settings. The study will provide evidence for the usability and the effectiveness of the eSkinHealth app to improve the early detection and case management of skin NTDs in Côte d'Ivoire; and further, are expected to contribute to knowledge on mobile health approaches in the control of skin NTDs. CLINICALTRIAL 2020-2054 (Clinicaltrials.gov).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rie R Yotsu
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St, New Orleans, US.,School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, JP.,Department of Dermatology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku, JP
| | - Sakiko Itoh
- Department of Genome Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, JP
| | - Koffi Aubin Yao
- Hope Commission International, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, CI
| | | | | | - Kazuko Ugai
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, JP
| | - Yao Didier Koffi
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, CI.,National Buruli Ulcer Control Program, Ministry of Health of Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, CI
| | - Diabate Almamy
- Department of Dermatology, Universite Alassane Ouattara, Bouaké, CI.,Raoul Follereau Institute Côte d'Ivoire, Adzopé, CI
| | - Bamba Vagamon
- Raoul Follereau Institute Côte d'Ivoire, Adzopé, CI.,Department of Dermatology, Universite Alassane Ouattara, Bouaké, CI
| | - Ronald E Blanton
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St, New Orleans, US
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22
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van 't Noordende AT, Aycheh MW, Moges NA, Tadesse T, Schippers AP. Family-based intervention for prevention and self-management of disabilities due to leprosy, podoconiosis and lymphatic filariasis versus usual care in Ethiopia: study protocol for a cluster-randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e056620. [PMID: 35354636 PMCID: PMC8968636 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Leprosy, podoconiosis and lymphatic filariasis (LF) are three skin-related neglected tropical diseases. All three conditions can lead to temporary and permanent impairments. These impairments progressively worsen and are major determinants of stigma, discrimination and participation restrictions. Self-care is essential to prevent disabilities and chronic disease complications. Many persons with leprosy-related, LF-related and podoconiosis-related disabilities need to practice self-management routines their entire life. This is difficult without support and encouragement of others. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a family-based intervention in terms of physical outcomes related to prevention and self-management of disabilities due to leprosy, podoconiosis and LF and family quality of life and well-being compared with usual practice and care. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The study will use a cluster-randomised controlled trial design with two study arms. The project will be carried out in endemic districts in East and West Gojjam zones in the Amhara region in Ethiopia. Clusters consist of kebeles (lower administrative structures in the district) that have been merged, based on their geographical proximity and the number of cases in each kebele. A total of 630 participants will be included in the study. The intervention group will consist of 105 persons affected by leprosy, 105 persons affected by LF or podoconiosis, and 210 family members. The control group will consist of 105 persons affected by leprosy and 105 persons affected by LF or podoconiosis. The family-based intervention comprises an essential care package that consists of the following three main components: (1) self-management of disabilities, (2) economic empowerment and (3) psychosocial support. Participants in the control areas will receive usual practice and care. Data analysis includes, but is not limited to, calculating the percentage of change and corresponding 95% CI of physical impairment outcomes in each group, before and after the intervention is implemented, effect sizes, intention to treat and difference in difference analysis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval has been obtained from the Debre Markos University Health Sciences Institutional Research Ethics Review Committee. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and workshops. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER PACTR202108907851342.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tiny van 't Noordende
- Disability Studies in the Netherlands, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Technical Department, NLR, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Moges Wubie Aycheh
- Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Nurilign Abebe Moges
- Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Tesfaye Tadesse
- Programme, Ethiopian National Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy (ENAPAL), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Alice P Schippers
- Disability Studies in the Netherlands, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Care ethics, University of Humanistic Studies, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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23
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Lee WTJ, Lee CC, Wu CK, Lin CH, Lo TY, Huang CC, Kahler SL, Thong HY. Epidemiology of dermatologic disease in Palau: a cross-sectional study in the national public and community health service. Int J Dermatol 2022; 61:833-840. [PMID: 35090042 DOI: 10.1111/ijd.16049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dermatologic disease is a neglected public health challenge that disproportionately affects resource-poor settings. Globally, the dermatologic disease contributes the fourth highest burden of nonfatal disability with the most acute impact in the Oceanic region, including the Republic of Palau. Efforts to address the dermatologic health inequality are hindered without the necessary epidemiologic evidence to guide health policy in the resource-poor setting of Palau. METHODS We conducted a 4-year cross-sectional study of all Dermatology Service patients in the Belau National Hospital and outreach community health centers from 2015 to 2018. No other specialized dermatology service was available. Skin disease was both classified by diagnosis and Global Burden of Disease criteria and analyzed by age, gender, region, and surrounding Oceanic nations. RESULTS The study enrolled 494 patients comprising 179 males and 315 females between 2015 and 2018. The most prevalent diseases were eczema (48.8%), superficial fungal infection (24.5%), and pruritus (22.7%). The neglected tropical disease of scabies was detected in four patients. Males were significantly more likely to present with cellulitis, keratinocyte carcinoma, stasis dermatitis, wounds, marine-related dermatitis, viral skin disease, tinea faciei, verruca, and xerosis and females with melasma and hyperpigmentation. CONCLUSION This study presents the first primary epidemiologic data describing the prevalence of dermatologic disease in the Palauan adult population. The significant burden of disease in Palau compared with other Oceanic nations validates ongoing dermatology services and informs public health implications for resource allocation and disease management to achieve health equality in the resource-poor nation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Ting J Lee
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Chien-Chang Lee
- Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Center of Intelligent Healthcare, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Kuan Wu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Hwa Lin
- International Health Care Center, Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Te-Yu Lo
- International Health Care Center, Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chieh-Chen Huang
- Department of Dermatology, Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sam L Kahler
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Haw-Yueh Thong
- Department of Dermatology, Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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24
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Dean L, Theobald S, Nallo G, Bettee A, Kollie K, Tolhurst R. A syndemic born of war: Combining intersectionality and structural violence to explore the biosocial interactions of neglected tropical diseases, disability and mental distress in Liberia. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000551. [PMID: 36962440 PMCID: PMC10021464 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The intersections between NTDs, disability, and mental ill-health are increasingly recognised globally. Chronic morbidity resultant from many NTDs, particularly those affecting the skin-including lymphatic filariasis (LF), leprosy, Buruli ulcer (BU) and onchocerciasis-is well known and largely documented from a medicalised perspective. However less is known about the complex biosocial interaction shaping interconnected morbidities. We apply syndemic theory to explain the biosocial relationship between NTDs and mental distress in the context of structural violence in Liberia. By advancing syndemic theory to include intersectional thought, it is apparent that structural violence becomes embodied in different ways through interacting multi-level (macro, meso and micro) processes. Through the use of in-depth qualitative methods, we explore the syndemic interaction of NTDs and mental distress from the vantage point of the most vulnerable and suggest that: 1) the post-conflict environment in Liberia predisposes people to the chronic effects of NTDs as well as other 'generalised stressors' as a consequence of ongoing structural violence; 2) people affected by NTDs are additionally exposed to stigma and discrimination that cause additional stressors and synergistically produce negative health outcomes in relation to NTDs and mental distress; and 3) the impact and experience of consequential syndemic suffering is shaped by intersecting axes of inequity such as gender and generation which are themselves created by unequal power distribution across multiple systems levels. Bringing together health systems discourse, which is focused on service integration and centred around disease control, with syndemic discourse that considers the biosocial context of disease interaction offers new approaches. We suggest that taking a syndemic-informed approach to care in the development of people-centred health systems is key to alleviating the burden of syndemic suffering associated with NTDs and mental distress currently experienced by vulnerable populations in resource-limited settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Dean
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Sally Theobald
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Gartee Nallo
- University of Liberia Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Monrovia, Monsterrado, Liberia
| | - Anthony Bettee
- Neglected Tropical Disease Programme, Ministry of Health, Government of Liberia, Monrovia, Monsterrado, Liberia
| | - Karsor Kollie
- Neglected Tropical Disease Programme, Ministry of Health, Government of Liberia, Monrovia, Monsterrado, Liberia
| | - Rachel Tolhurst
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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25
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Carvalho AGD, Luz JGG, Steinmann P, Ignotti E. Are the clinical features of leprosy and American tegumentary leishmaniasis worse in patients with both diseases? Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2022; 64:e37. [PMID: 35674635 PMCID: PMC9173689 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946202264037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Peter Steinmann
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Switzerland; University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Eliane Ignotti
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Brazil; Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Brazil
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26
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Timothy JWS, Pullan RL, Yotsu RR. Methods and Approaches for Buruli Ulcer Surveillance in Africa: Lessons Learnt and Future Directions. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2387:87-102. [PMID: 34643905 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1779-3_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Over 95% of the global burden of Buruli ulcer disease (BU) caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans occurs in equatorial Africa. National and sub-national programs have implemented various approaches to improve detection and reporting of incident cases over recent decades. Regional incidence rates are currently in decline; however, surveillance targets outlined in 2012 by WHO have been missed and detection bias may contribute to these trends. In light of the new 2030 NTD roadmap and disease-specific targets, BU programs are required to strengthen case detection and begin a transition towards integration with other skin-NTDs. This transition comes with new opportunities to enhance existing BU surveillance systems and develop novel approaches for implementation and evaluation.In this review, we present a breakdown and assessment of the methods and approaches that have been the pillars of BU surveillance systems in Africa: (1) Passive case detection, (2) Data systems, (3) Clinical training, (4) Active case finding, (5) Burden estimation, and (6) Laboratory confirmation pathways. We discuss successes, challenges, and relevant case studies before highlighting opportunities for future development and evaluation including novel data collection tools, risk-based surveillance, and integrated skin-NTD surveillance. We draw on both experience and available literature to critically evaluate methods of BU surveillance in Africa and highlight new approaches to help achieve 2030 roadmap targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph W S Timothy
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Rachel L Pullan
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Rie R Yotsu
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
- Department of Dermatology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, USA.
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27
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de Carvalho AG, Tiwari A, Luz JGG, Nieboer D, Steinmann P, Richardus JH, Ignotti E. Leprosy and cutaneous leishmaniasis affecting the same individuals: A retrospective cohort analysis in a hyperendemic area in Brazil. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0010035. [PMID: 34898634 PMCID: PMC8699965 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Leprosy and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affecting the skin. Their control is challenging but the integration of skin NTDs control programs is recommended to improve timely detection and treatment. However, little is known about the occurrence of leprosy and CL in the same individuals, and what are the characteristics of such patients. This study aimed to identify and characterize patients diagnosed with both leprosy and CL (i.e., outcome) in the hyperendemic state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Also, we investigated the demographic risk factors associated with the period between the diagnosis of both diseases. Methodology/principal findings A retrospective cohort study was conducted with patients diagnosed between 2008 and 2017. From the leprosy (n = 28,204) and CL (n = 24,771) databases of the national reporting system, 414 (0.8%; 414/52,561) patients presenting both diseases were identified through a probabilistic linkage procedure. This observed number was much higher than the number of patients that would be expected by chance alone (n = 22). The spatial distribution of patients presenting the outcome was concentrated in the North and Northeast mesoregions of the state. Through survival analysis, we detected that the probability of a patient developing both diseases increased over time from 0.2% in the first year to 1.0% within seven years. Further, using a Cox model we identified male sex (HR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.7–2.9) and low schooling level (HR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2–1.9) as positively associated with the outcome. Furthermore, the hazard of developing the outcome was higher among individuals aged 40–55 years. Conclusions/significance Leprosy and CL are affecting the same individuals in the area. Integration of control policies for both diseases will help to efficiently cover such patients. Measures should be focused on timely diagnosis by following-up patients diagnosed with CL, active case detection, and training of health professionals. Leprosy and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that usually affect poor populations in the same geographical areas. Both affect the skin and can cause physical disability and disfigurement resulting in discrimination. Both diseases occur at hyperendemic levels in several regions of Brazil. The integration of skin NTDs control programs may be a way to improve timely detection and treatment. However, little is known about the occurrence of leprosy and CL in the same individuals, and what are the characteristics of these patients. For the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, we identified 414 patients diagnosed with leprosy and CL between 2008 and 2017, spatially concentrated mainly in the North and Northeast mesoregions. The individual probability of developing both diseases increased from 0.2% to 1.0% within seven years. Male sex, being in the 40–55 years age group, and low levels of schooling were the risk factors positively associated with the time interval between the diagnosis of both diseases. These findings may inform the implementation of integrated leprosy and CL control policies focused on timely diagnosis. A sustainable integration requires continuous measures, such as the follow-up of patients, active case detection, training of health professionals, besides financial and political support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Gabriela de Carvalho
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Rondonópolis, Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso, Brazil
- School of Medicine, Post-Graduation Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Anuj Tiwari
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - João Gabriel Guimarães Luz
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Rondonópolis, Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso, Brazil
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daan Nieboer
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Steinmann
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jan Hendrik Richardus
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eliane Ignotti
- School of Medicine, Post-Graduation Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil
- School of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program Environment Sciences, State University of Mato Grosso, Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil
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Martoreli Júnior JF, Ramos ACV, Alves JD, Crispim JDA, Alves LS, Berra TZ, Barbosa TP, da Costa FBP, Alves YM, dos Santos MS, Gomes D, Yamamura M, Pinto IC, Fuentealba-Torres MA, Nunes C, Pieri FM, Arcoverde MAM, dos Santos FL, Arcêncio RA. Inequality of gender, age and disabilities due to leprosy and trends in a hyperendemic metropolis: Evidence from an eleven-year time series study in Central-West Brazil. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009941. [PMID: 34784350 PMCID: PMC8631739 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the epidemiological situation of leprosy
(Hansen’s Disease), in a hyperendemic metropolis in the Central-West region of
Brazil. We studied trends over eleven years, both in the detection of the
disease and in disabilities, analyzing disparities and/or differences regarding
gender and age. This is an ecological time series study conducted in Cuiabá,
capital of the state of Mato Grosso. The population consisted of patients
diagnosed with leprosy between the years 2008 and 2018. The time series of
leprosy cases was used, stratifying it according to gender (male and female),
disability grade (G0D, G1D, G2D, and not evaluated) and age. The calendar
adjustment technique was applied. For modeling the trends, the Seasonal-Trend
decomposition procedure based on Loess (STL) was used. We identified 9.739
diagnosed cases, in which 58.37% were male and 87.55% aged between 15 and 59
years. Regarding detection according to gender, there was a decrease among women
and an increase in men. The study shows an increasing trend in disabilities in
both genders, which may be related to the delay in diagnosis. There was also an
increasing number of cases that were not assessed for disability at the time of
diagnosis, which denotes the quality of the services. In the 2019 report, Brazil had a detection rate of 13.23 per 100.000 inhabitants
far from the goal of less than 1 leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) case per 10,000
inhabitants describe by the World Health Organization. The present study aimed
to investigate the epidemiological situation of leprosy and its trend between
2008 and 2018 in a hyperendemic metropolis in the Central-West region of Brazil.
A total of 9.739 leprosy cases were reported between 2008 and 2018. The majority
of cases were male (58.37%), with a predominant age of 15 to 59 years (87.55%).
The predominant level of education was incomplete elementary school (43.96%).
The disability grade at diagnosis showed that 40.19% had G0D and for the G2D was
8,.06%.There was a predominance in operational classification of multibacillary
cases (72.85%). While detection rate trends in females and the majority of the
age groups are decreasing, increases are seen in the detection of male patients
and patients already suffering from disabilities. Although declining trends were
presented, the metropolis is still not close to elimination showing the need
prioritize leprosy actions and to improve care for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Francisco Martoreli Júnior
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of
São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo,
Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Antônio Carlos Vieira Ramos
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of
São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Josilene Dalia Alves
- Departament of Epidemiology, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiába,
Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Juliane de Almeida Crispim
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of
São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Luana Seles Alves
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of
São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Thaís Zamboni Berra
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of
São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Tatiana Pestana Barbosa
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of
São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Fernanda Bruzadelli Paulino da Costa
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of
São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Yan Mathias Alves
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of
São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Márcio Souza dos Santos
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of
São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Dulce Gomes
- Department of Mathematics, University of Évora, Évora,
Portugal
| | - Mellina Yamamura
- Departament of Nursing, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, São
Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ione Carvalho Pinto
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of
São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo,
Brazil
| | | | - Carla Nunes
- Department of Public Health, New University of Lisbon, Lisbon,
Portugal
| | | | - Marcos Augusto Moraes Arcoverde
- Center for Education, Letters and Health, Western Paraná State
University, Campus Foz do Iguaçu, Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná,
Brazil
| | - Felipe Lima dos Santos
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of
São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Ricardo Alexandre Arcêncio
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of
São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo,
Brazil
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Joshi TP, Ren V. Teledermatology in the Control of Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases: A Systematic Review. Dermatol Pract Concept 2021; 11:e2021130. [PMID: 34631272 DOI: 10.5826/dpc.1104a130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) include a group of about 20 illnesses that have garnered relatively little attention, despite their ability to inflict significant suffering and disability. Skin neglected tropical diseases (sNTDs) are a subset of NTDs that present with cutaneous manifestations and are well known for their ability to generate stigma and promote poverty. Teledermatology (TD) represents a potential method to control sNTDs. Objective We sought to analyze the potential for TD to ease the burden of sNTDs. Methods We performed a systematic literature search using the Texas Medical Center Library One Search, which scans 167 databases, including Embase, PubMed, and Scopus. We included all original investigations published after 2011 that assessed the impact of TD intervention in the control of one or more sNTDs. We excluded studies not written in English and studies that did not perform any outcome analyses. Results Twenty studies met our search criteria, and 18 expressed positive attitudes towards TD. Overall, we found that TD may be a sustainable, cost-effective strategy for expanding access to care for individuals afflicted with sNTDs. However, poor image quality, lack of access to further diagnostic tests, and ethical, legal, and cultural issues pose as barriers to TD utilization. Conclusion TD may be helpful in achieving control of sNTDs but has its limitations. An integrated approach, which employs TD in conjunction with other strategies, represents a realistic path for alleviating sNTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vicky Ren
- Department of Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine
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30
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Ali O, Kinfe M, Semrau M, Tora A, Tesfaye A, Mengiste A, Davey G, Fekadu A. A qualitative study on the implementation of a holistic care package for control and management of lymphoedema: experience from a pilot intervention in northern Ethiopia. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:1065. [PMID: 34625080 PMCID: PMC8501530 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-07088-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) such as podoconiosis, lymphatic filariasis (LF) and leprosy mainly affect communities in low resource settings. These diseases are associated with physical disability due to lymphoedema as well as poor mental health and psychosocial outcomes. Integration of care across these NTDs at primary health care level, which includes mental health and psychosocial care alongside physical health care, is increasingly recommended. Methods A holistic integrated care package was developed and piloted as part of the EnDPoINT project in Gusha district, Awi zone, Ethiopia. The intervention was conducted at the health care organization, health facility and community levels. To assess the impact of the care package in terms of acceptability, scalability, sustainability and barriers to implementation, a qualitative study was conducted in January 2020. This included four focus group discussions (29 participants) and ten key informant interviews with decision makers, health professionals, patients, and community representatives. Results The integrated lymphoedema care package was found to be efficient compared to vertical programs in saving time and resources. It also resulted in improved awareness of the causes, treatment and prevention of lymphoedema, in marked improvements in the lymphoedema, and in reduced stigma and discrimination. The care package was found to be acceptable to patients, health professionals and decision makers. The barriers to integrated care were unrealistic patient expectations, inadequate dissemination across health workers, and poor transportation access. Health professionals, decision makers and patients believed the integrated lymphoedema care package to be scalable and sustainable. Conclusion The integrated holistic care package was found to be acceptable to patients, health professionals and decision makers. We recommend its scale-up to other endemic districts. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-021-07088-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oumer Ali
- CDT-Africa, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. .,Centre for Global Health Research, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer Campus, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9PX, UK.
| | - Mersha Kinfe
- CDT-Africa, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Maya Semrau
- Centre for Global Health Research, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer Campus, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9PX, UK
| | - Abebayehu Tora
- CDT-Africa, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.,Department of Sociology, Wolaita Sodo University, Sodo, Ethiopia
| | - Abraham Tesfaye
- CDT-Africa, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Asrat Mengiste
- CDT-Africa, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Gail Davey
- Centre for Global Health Research, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer Campus, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9PX, UK.,College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Abebaw Fekadu
- CDT-Africa, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.,Centre for Global Health Research, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer Campus, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9PX, UK
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31
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Eze CC, Ekeke N, Alphonsus C, Lehman L, Chukwu JN, Nwafor CC, Stillwaggon E, Meka AO, Sawers L, Ikebudu J, Anyim MC, Ukwaja KN. Effectiveness of self-care interventions for integrated morbidity management of skin neglected tropical diseases in Anambra State, Nigeria. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1748. [PMID: 34563162 PMCID: PMC8465703 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11729-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lymphatic filariasis (LF), Buruli ulcer (BU) and leprosy are neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) of the skin co-endemic in some communities in Nigeria. Not enough is known about the effectiveness of integrated morbidity management and disability prevention in people with these conditions. An integrated self-care intervention was carried out for people with these skin NTDs in two endemic communities of Anambra state, Nigeria. The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of self-care practices on costs of care, disability status and health-related quality of life. Methods This study utilised a quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design to assess the effectiveness of the self-care interventions for people affected by NTDs to care for these impairments at home. Data were collected using questionnaires administered at the beginning and at the end of the intervention on monthly cost of morbidity care, and on participants’ disability status and their quality of life (QoL). Focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with both the participants and healthcare workers at follow-up. Results Forty-eight participants were recruited. Thirty participants (62.5%) continued the self-care interventions until the end of the project. Of those, 25 (83%) demonstrated improvement from their baseline impairment status. The mean household costs of morbidity care per participant decreased by 66% after the intervention, falling from US$157.50 at baseline to US$53.24 after 6 months of self-care (p = 0.004). The mean disability score at baseline was 22.3; this decreased to 12.5 after 6 months of self-care (p < 0.001). Among the 30 participants who continued the interventions until the end of the project, 26 (86.7%) had severe disability score (i.e. a score of 10–46) at baseline, and the number with severe disability fell to 18 (60%) of the 30 after the intervention. The mean QoL score increased from 45.7 at baseline to 57.5 at the end of the intervention (p = 0.004). Conclusions The 6-month self-care intervention for participants affected by BU, leprosy, or LF led to lower costs of care (including out-of-pocket costs and lost earnings due to morbidity), improved QoL scores, and reduced disability status. Trial registration ISRCTN Registry: ISRCTN20317241; 27/08/2021, Retrospectively registered. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-11729-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinwe C Eze
- Medical Department, German Leprosy and TB Relief Association, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Ngozi Ekeke
- Medical Department, German Leprosy and TB Relief Association, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Chukwuka Alphonsus
- Medical Department, German Leprosy and TB Relief Association, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Linda Lehman
- American Leprosy Missions, 120 Broadus Ave, Greenville, SC, 29601, USA
| | - Joseph N Chukwu
- Medical Department, German Leprosy and TB Relief Association, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Charles C Nwafor
- Medical Department, German Leprosy and TB Relief Association, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | | | - Anthony O Meka
- Medical Department, German Leprosy and TB Relief Association, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Larry Sawers
- Department of Economics, American University, Washington, DC, 20016-8029, USA
| | - Joy Ikebudu
- Medical Department, German Leprosy and TB Relief Association, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Moses C Anyim
- Medical Department, German Leprosy and TB Relief Association, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Kingsley N Ukwaja
- Department of Internal Medicine, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
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Hannah C, Williams V, Fuller LC, Forrestel A. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Health Dermatology. Dermatol Clin 2021; 39:619-625. [PMID: 34556251 PMCID: PMC8165086 DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2021.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Hannah
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3600 Spruce Street, 2 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Victoria Williams
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3600 Spruce Street, 2 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Merck & Co, Inc, Upper Gwynedd, PA, USA
| | - Lucinda Claire Fuller
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; International Foundation for Dermatology, London, UK
| | - Amy Forrestel
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3600 Spruce Street, 2 Maloney, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Engelman D, Marks M, Steer AC, Beshah A, Biswas G, Chosidow O, Coffeng LE, Lardizabal Dofitas B, Enbiale W, Fallah M, Gasimov E, Hopkins A, Jacobson J, Kaldor JM, Ly F, Mackenzie CD, McVernon J, Parnaby M, Rainima-Qaniuci M, Sokana O, Sankara D, Yotsu R, Yajima A, Cantey PT. A framework for scabies control. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009661. [PMID: 34473725 PMCID: PMC8412357 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Scabies is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) that causes a significant health burden, particularly in disadvantaged communities and where there is overcrowding. There is emerging evidence that ivermectin-based mass drug administration (MDA) can reduce the prevalence of scabies in some settings, but evidence remains limited, and there are no formal guidelines to inform control efforts. An informal World Health Organization (WHO) consultation was organized to find agreement on strategies for global control. The consultation resulted in a framework for scabies control and recommendations for mapping of disease burden, delivery of interventions, and establishing monitoring and evaluation. Key operational research priorities were identified. This framework will allow countries to set control targets for scabies as part of national NTD strategic plans and develop control strategies using MDA for high-prevalence regions and outbreak situations. As further evidence and experience are collected and strategies are refined over time, formal guidelines can be developed. The control of scabies and the reduction of the health burden of scabies and associated conditions will be vital to achieving the targets set in WHO Roadmap for NTDs for 2021 to 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Engelman
- Tropical Diseases, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Melbourne Children’s Global Health, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Michael Marks
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew C. Steer
- Tropical Diseases, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Melbourne Children’s Global Health, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Abate Beshah
- Communicable Diseases, Neglected Tropical Diseases, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo
| | - Gautam Biswas
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Chosidow
- Faculté de Santé de Créteil et Service de Dermatologie, APHP, Hôpital Henri-Mondor, Université Paris-Est, Créteil, France
- Research Group Dynamic, EA7380, Faculté de Santé de Créteil, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, USC ANSES, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, France
| | - Luc E. Coffeng
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Belen Lardizabal Dofitas
- College of Medicine, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines
- Philippine Leprosy Mission, Inc., Manila, Philippines
| | - Wendemagegn Enbiale
- Department of Dermatovenerology, Bahir Dar University, Medicine and Health Science College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mosoka Fallah
- University of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
- Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Elkhan Gasimov
- Division of Country Health Programmes, Malaria, Neglected Tropical Diseases and Other Vector-borne Diseases, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Julie Jacobson
- Bridges to Development, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - John M. Kaldor
- Public Health Interventions Research Group, Kirby Institute University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Fatimata Ly
- Dermatology Unit, EPS Institut d’Hygiéne Sociale de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
- University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | | | - Jodie McVernon
- Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Infection Modelling, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Matthew Parnaby
- Tropical Diseases, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Melbourne Children’s Global Health, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | | | - Dieudonne Sankara
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Rie Yotsu
- Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, United States of America
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Department of Dermatology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Aya Yajima
- Division of Communicable Diseases, Medicines, Vaccines and Pharmaceuticals, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
| | - Paul T. Cantey
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Former Medical Officer, Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Schoenmakers A, Hambridge T, van Wijk R, Kasang C, Richardus JH, Bobosha K, Mitano F, Mshana SE, Mamo E, Marega A, Mwageni N, Letta T, Muloliwa AM, Kamara DV, Eman AM, Raimundo L, Njako B, Mieras L. PEP4LEP study protocol: integrated skin screening and SDR-PEP administration for leprosy prevention: comparing the effectiveness and feasibility of a community-based intervention to a health centre-based intervention in Ethiopia, Mozambique and Tanzania. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e046125. [PMID: 34446483 PMCID: PMC8395349 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Leprosy, or Hansen's disease, remains a cause of preventable disability. Early detection, treatment and prevention are key to reducing transmission. Post-exposure prophylaxis with single-dose rifampicin (SDR-PEP) reduces the risk of developing leprosy when administered to screened contacts of patients. This has been adopted in the WHO leprosy guidelines. The PEP4LEP study aims to determine the most effective and feasible method of screening people at risk of developing leprosy and administering chemoprophylaxis to contribute to interrupting transmission. METHODS AND ANALYSIS PEP4LEP is a cluster-randomised implementation trial comparing two interventions of integrated skin screening combined with SDR-PEP distribution to contacts of patients with leprosy in Ethiopia, Mozambique and Tanzania. One intervention is community-based, using skin camps to screen approximately 100 community contacts per leprosy patient, and to administer SDR-PEP when eligible. The other intervention is health centre-based, inviting household contacts of leprosy patients to be screened in a local health centre and subsequently receive SDR-PEP when eligible. The mobile health (mHealth) tool SkinApp will support health workers' capacity in integrated skin screening. The effectiveness of both interventions will be compared by assessing the rate of patients with leprosy detected and case detection delay in months, as well as feasibility in terms of cost-effectiveness and acceptability. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval was obtained from the national ethical committees of Ethiopia (MoSHE), Mozambique (CNBS) and Tanzania (NIMR/MoHCDEC). Study results will be published open access in peer-reviewed journals, providing evidence for the implementation of innovative leprosy screening methods and chemoprophylaxis to policymakers. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NL7294 (NTR7503).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas Hambridge
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robin van Wijk
- Medical Technical Department, NLR, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Christa Kasang
- Deutsche Lepra- und Tuberkulosehilfe e.V, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Jan Hendrik Richardus
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kidist Bobosha
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Fernando Mitano
- Lúrio University, Nampula, Mozambique
- Nampula Provincial Health Directorate, Ministry of Health Mozambique, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Stephen E Mshana
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Ephrem Mamo
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Nelly Mwageni
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Taye Letta
- Ministry of Health Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Artur Manuel Muloliwa
- Lúrio University, Nampula, Mozambique
- Nampula Provincial Health Directorate, Ministry of Health Mozambique, Maputo, Mozambique
| | | | | | | | - Blasdus Njako
- Deutsche Lepra- und Tuberkulosehilfe e.V. Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Liesbeth Mieras
- Medical Technical Department, NLR, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Hatherell HA, Simpson H, Baggaley RF, Hollingsworth TD, Pullan RL. Sustainable Surveillance of Neglected Tropical Diseases for the Post-Elimination Era. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 72:S210-S216. [PMID: 33977302 PMCID: PMC8201586 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) 2030 road map for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) emphasizes the importance of strengthened, institutionalized “post-elimination” surveillance. The required shift from disease-siloed, campaign-based programming to routine, integrated surveillance and response activities presents epidemiological, logistical, and financial challenges, yet practical guidance on implementation is lacking. Nationally representative survey programs, such as demographic and health surveys (DHS), may offer a platform for the integration of NTD surveillance within national health systems and health information systems. Here, we describe characteristics of DHS and other surveys conducted within the WHO Africa region in terms of frequency, target populations, and sample types and discuss applicability for post-validation and post-elimination surveillance. Maximizing utility depends not only on the availability of improved diagnostics but also on better understanding of the spatial and temporal dynamics of transmission at low prevalence. To this end, we outline priorities for obtaining additional data to better characterize optimal post-elimination surveillance platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hollie-Ann Hatherell
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hope Simpson
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca F Baggaley
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Rachel L Pullan
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Morice A, Taleo F, Barogui Y, C Steer A, Marks M. Lessons from the field: integrated programmes for neglected tropical diseases. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2021; 115:127-128. [PMID: 33241292 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/traa149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Morice
- Independent Consultant, San José, Costa Rica
| | | | | | - Andrew C Steer
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of General Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Tropical Diseases Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael Marks
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, UK
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Lopes FDC, Ramos ACV, Pascoal LM, Santos FS, Rolim ILTP, Serra MAADO, Santos LHD, Santos Neto M. Leprosy in the context of the Family Health Strategy in an endemic scenario in Maranhão: prevalence and associated factors. CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA 2021; 26:1805-1816. [PMID: 34076121 DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232021265.04032021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to describe the prevalence of leprosy and verify the factors associated with multibacillary clinical types in a Family Health Strategy priority setting to control and monitor the disease in northeastern Brazil. This cross-sectional study used data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System related to leprosy cases notified in Imperatriz, Maranhão, between 2008 and 2017. The prevalence was determined yearly and for the period. Poisson regression models with a significance level of 5% were employed to associate the variables and the multibacillary clinical types. Most of the 2,476 leprosy cases analyzed referred to multibacillary clinical types. The prevalence ranged from 7.8 and 15.6/10,000 inhabitants, with high and very high endemicity levels. The variables male, age groups between 30 and 59 years and ≥60 years, schooling <8 years, level 2 physical disability, types 1 and 2 reactive episodes, and urban residence area showed significant associations (p≤0.05) with multibacillary clinical types. Such findings can serve as a basis for elaborating and implementing leprosy control and surveillance measures, gearing actions to the most vulnerable groups, and becoming more effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda de Castro Lopes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Av. dos Portugueses 1966, Vila Bacanga. 65080-805 São Luís MA Brasil.
| | | | - Lívia Maia Pascoal
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Av. dos Portugueses 1966, Vila Bacanga. 65080-805 São Luís MA Brasil. .,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Imperatriz MA Brasil
| | - Floriacy Stabnow Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Imperatriz MA Brasil
| | | | | | | | - Marcelino Santos Neto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Av. dos Portugueses 1966, Vila Bacanga. 65080-805 São Luís MA Brasil. .,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Imperatriz MA Brasil
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Lopes FDC, Sousa GGDSD, Silva WMD, Costa ACPDJ, Santos FS, Pascoal LM, Santos Neto M. Spatial-temporal analysis of leprosy in a priority Brazilian northeast municipality for disease control. Rev Bras Enferm 2021; 74:e20201101. [PMID: 34161506 DOI: 10.1590/0034-7167-2020-1101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES to analyze the spatial-temporal distribution of leprosy in a priority municipality for leprosy control. METHODS ecological study, conducted in a city in the Northeast of Brazil, whose analysis units were census sectors. The study used compulsory notification data for cases registered between 2008 and 2017. TerraView software and the Batch Geocode tool was used for geocoding. The detection of spatial-temporal agglomerations of high relative risks was done by scanning statistics. RESULTS the spatial-temporal distribution of cases was heterogeneous, creating four agglomerations of high relative risks in the urban area of the municipality between the years 2008 and 2012; and annual prevalence rates classified from high to hyperendemic. CONCLUSIONS areas of higher risk and concentration of the disease in space-time were linked to the characteristics of high population density and social vulnerability of these spaces, raising the prioritization of health professionals' actions, systems, and services for control, and monitoring the disease.
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Holmes A, Tildesley MJ, Solomon AW, Mabey DCW, Sokana O, Marks M, Dyson L. Modeling Treatment Strategies to Inform Yaws Eradication. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 26:2685-2693. [PMID: 33079046 PMCID: PMC7588528 DOI: 10.3201/eid2611.191491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Yaws is a neglected tropical disease targeted for eradication by 2030. To achieve eradication, finding and treating asymptomatic infections as well as clinical cases is crucial. The proposed plan, the Morges strategy, involves rounds of total community treatment (i.e., treating the whole population) and total targeted treatment (TTT) (i.e., treating clinical cases and contacts). However, modeling and empirical work suggests asymptomatic infections often are not found in the same households as clinical cases, reducing the utility of household-based contact tracing for a TTT strategy. We use a model fitted to data from the Solomon Islands to predict the likelihood of elimination of transmission under different intervention schemes and levels of systematic nontreatment resulting from the intervention. Our results indicate that implementing additional treatment rounds through total community treatment is more effective than conducting additional rounds of treatment of at-risk persons through TTT.
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Nji TM, Piotrowski H, Dum-Buo N, Fung EG, Dean L, Theobald S, Thomson R, Wanji S, Ozano K. Eliminating onchocerciasis within the Meme River Basin of Cameroon: A social-ecological approach to understanding everyday realities and health systems. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009433. [PMID: 34077416 PMCID: PMC8202923 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Onchocerciasis affects some of the world's most marginalized people, perpetuating poverty and inequalities. Mass Drug Administration (MDA) with Ivermectin has taken place within the Meme River basin region in Cameroon for over 15 years. Despite this, onchocerciasis is still prevalent in the region due to existing and emerging contextual challenges. Using a social-ecological approach we explore the everyday realities of communities, highlighting the challenges and potential solutions that could support Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) programmes when transitioning from control to elimination of onchocerciasis in this highly endemic area and other similar communities. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDING In-depth interviews (71) with community members and Community Drug Distributors (CDDs) were conducted to understand current knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours in relation to transmission, prevention and treatment of onchocerciasis. Through application of the social-ecological model, four key themes were identified: 1. Contextual factors on health promotion interventions (Onchocerciasis history and understanding of the disease, prevention and mitigation strategies and MDA experience); 2. Social determinants (poverty and livelihoods, economic and social impacts on CDD volunteers and stigma); 3. Environmental determinants (exposure, housing, occupation and poverty); and 4. health seeking pathways and decision making for treatment (access, cost and preferable treatment routes). We discuss these core and cross cutting themes (gender differences and community participation/ownership) in relation to intersectoral collaboration, gender equity and health systems support, making recommendations for NTD programmes within the context of integrated and interdisciplinary approaches. These include the need for; intersectional and gender analysis at the local level, addressing environmental dimensions of onchocerciasis through integrated and regular health promotion, vector control strategies and access to safe water sources; reflection and action that embeds responses to social and economic barriers to MDA; integrated case detection and management that is responsive to onchocerciasis symptoms and related stigma and a fair and just support network for CDDs. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE NTD programmes need to respond to diverse community circumstances and behaviours. Communities are not a homogeneous risk group and treating them in this way will delay elimination. A deeper understanding of individual needs and their capacity to seek prevention and treatment must be considered if onchocerciasis is to be eliminated and the remaining impacts managed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theobald Mue Nji
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, University of Buea, Research Foundation in Tropical Diseases and Environment, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Helen Piotrowski
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Nnamdi Dum-Buo
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, University of Buea, Research Foundation in Tropical Diseases and Environment, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Ebua Gallus Fung
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, University of Buea, Research Foundation in Tropical Diseases and Environment, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Laura Dean
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Sally Theobald
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Rachael Thomson
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Wanji
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Research Foundation in Tropical Diseases and Environment, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Kim Ozano
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Ramos ACV, Alonso JB, Berra TZ, Alves LS, Martoreli Júnior JF, Santos FLD, Alves YM, Andrade HLPD, Costa FBPD, Crispim JDA, Yamamura M, Alves JD, Santos Neto M, Fuentealba-Torres M, Pinto IC, Arcêncio RA. Social inequalities and their association with the leprosy burden in a Brazilian city of low endemicity: An ecological study. Acta Trop 2021; 218:105884. [PMID: 33676938 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyse the association between social inequalities and the leprosy burden in a low endemicity scenario in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS This ecological study was carried out in the city of Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, Brazil, considering leprosy cases notified from 2006 to 2016. Regarding social inequalities, dimensions related to high household density, literacy, home occupation conditions, health conditions, household income, ethnicity and age were considered. The generalised additive model for location, scale and shape (GAMLSS) was used to verify the association between the social inequalities and leprosy burden. RESULTS The increase in men and women with no education and people with an income of 1 to 2 minimum wages was associated with a relative increase in the number of leprosy cases (7.37%, 7.10% and 2.44%, respectively). Regarding the ethnicity variables, the increase in the proportion of men (black) and women (mixed race) with no schooling was associated with a relative increase in the number of cases of the disease (10.77% and 4.02%, respectively). Finally, for people of mixed race or ethnicity, the increase in the proportion of households with 1/2 to 1 minimum wage was related to a relative decrease in the total number of cases (-4.90%). CONCLUSION The results show that the determinants associated with the increase in leprosy cases are similar to those in Brazilian hyperendemic regions, and that even in cities with low endemicity, social inequality is one of the main determinants of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antônio Carlos Vieira Ramos
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Jonas Bodini Alonso
- Research Support Center at the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thaís Zamboni Berra
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luana Seles Alves
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José Francisco Martoreli Júnior
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Felipe Lima Dos Santos
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Yan Mathias Alves
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Hamilton Leandro Pinto de Andrade
- Center for Social Sciences, Health and Technology, Federal University of Maranhão, Avenida da Universidade, S/N, Bom Jesus, Imperatriz, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Bruzadelli Paulino da Costa
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliane de Almeida Crispim
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mellina Yamamura
- Nursing Department, Federal University of São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Josilene Dália Alves
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Campus Barra do Garças, Avenida Valdon Varjão, 6390, Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Marcelino Santos Neto
- Center for Social Sciences, Health and Technology, Federal University of Maranhão, Avenida da Universidade, S/N, Bom Jesus, Imperatriz, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Miguel Fuentealba-Torres
- Faculty of Nursing and Obstetrics of the Universidad de los Andes, Chile, Avenida Monseñor Álvaro del Portillo, 12455, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ione Carvalho Pinto
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Alexandre Arcêncio
- Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing and Public Health, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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Rostami MN, Khamesipour A. Potential biomarkers of immune protection in human leishmaniasis. Med Microbiol Immunol 2021; 210:81-100. [PMID: 33934238 PMCID: PMC8088758 DOI: 10.1007/s00430-021-00703-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne neglected tropical disease endemic in over 100 countries around the world. Available control measures are not always successful, therapeutic options are limited, and there is no vaccine available against human leishmaniasis, although several candidate antigens have been evaluated over the last decades. Plenty of studies have aimed to evaluate the immune response development and a diverse range of host immune factors have been described to be associated with protection or disease progression in leishmaniasis; however, to date, no comprehensive biomarker(s) have been identified as surrogate marker of protection or exacerbation, and lack of enough information remains a barrier for vaccine development. Most of the current understanding of the role of different markers of immune response in leishmaniasis has been collected from experimental animal models. Although the data generated from the animal models are crucial, it might not always be extrapolated to humans. Here, we briefly review the events during Leishmania invasion of host cells and the immune responses induced against Leishmania in animal models and humans and their potential role as a biomarker of protection against human leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ali Khamesipour
- Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 14155-6383, Tehran, Iran.
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Timothy JWS, Beale MA, Rogers E, Zaizay Z, Halliday KE, Mulbah T, Giddings RK, Walker SL, Thomson NR, Kollie KK, Pullan RL, Marks M. Epidemiologic and Genomic Reidentification of Yaws, Liberia. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 27:1123-1132. [PMID: 33754988 PMCID: PMC8007311 DOI: 10.3201/eid2704.204442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We confirmed endemicity and autochthonous transmission of yaws in Liberia after a population-based, community-led burden estimation (56,825 participants). Serologically confirmed yaws was rare and focal at population level (24 cases; 2.6 [95% CI 1.4-3.9] cases/10,000 population) with similar clinical epidemiology to other endemic countries in West Africa. Unsupervised classification of spatially referenced case finding data indicated that yaws was more likely to occur in hard-to-reach communities; healthcare-seeking was low among communities, and clinical awareness of yaws was low among healthcare workers. We recovered whole bacterial genomes from 12 cases and describe a monophyletic clade of Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue, phylogenetically distinct from known TPE lineages, including those affecting neighboring nonhuman primate populations (Taï Forest, Côte d'Ivoire). Yaws is endemic in Liberia but exhibits low focal population prevalence with evidence of a historical genetic bottleneck and subsequent local expansion. Reporting gaps appear attributable to challenging epidemiology and low disease awareness.
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Thompson R, Westbury S, Slape D. Paediatrics: how to manage scabies. Drugs Context 2021; 10:dic-2020-12-3. [PMID: 33828606 PMCID: PMC8007207 DOI: 10.7573/dic.2020-12-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This narrative review addresses scabies, a highly contagious, pruritic infestation of the skin caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis. Scabies is a common disorder that has a prevalence worldwide estimated to be between 200 and 300 million cases per year. Infestation is of greatest concern in children, the elderly, immunocompromised people and resource-poor endemic populations at risk of chronic complications. A diagnosis of scabies involves a clinical suspicion, a detailed targeted history, clinical examination and contact tracing. Dermoscopy and microscopy, where available, is confirmatory. Due to its infectivity and transmissibility, the management for scabies requires a multimodal approach: topical antiscabetic agents are the first line for most cases of childhood classic scabies and their contacts, which must also be identified and treated to prevent treatment failure and reacquisition. Environmental strategies to control fomite-related reinfestation are also recommended. Oral ivermectin, where available, is reserved for use in high-risk cases in children or in mass drug administration programmes in endemic communities. The prevention of downstream complications of scabies includes surveillance, early identification and prompt treatment for secondary bacterial infections, often superficial but can be serious and invasive with associated chronic morbidity and mortality. Post-scabetic itch and psychosocial stigma are typical sequelae of the scabies mite infestation. The early identification of patients with scabies and treatment of their contacts reduces community transmission. Although time consuming and labour intensive for caregivers, the implementation of appropriate treatment strategies usually results in prompt cure for the child and their contacts. Here, we provide a summary of treatments and recommendations for the management of paediatric scabies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell Thompson
- Faculty of Medicine, UNSW, Kensington Campus, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Sean Westbury
- St George Hospital, Kogarah, Sydney, NSW, 2217, Australia
| | - Dana Slape
- Department of Dermatology, Liverpool and Campbelltown Hospitals, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Coudereau C, Besnard A, Robbe-Saule M, Bris C, Kempf M, Johnson RC, Brou TY, Gnimavo R, Eyangoh S, Khater F, Marion E. Stable and Local Reservoirs of Mycobacterium ulcerans Inferred from the Nonrandom Distribution of Bacterial Genotypes, Benin. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 26:491-503. [PMID: 32091371 PMCID: PMC7045821 DOI: 10.3201/eid2603.190573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium ulcerans is the causative agent of Buruli ulcer, a neglected tropical disease found in rural areas of West and Central Africa. Despite the ongoing efforts to tackle Buruli ulcer epidemics, the environmental reservoir of its pathogen remains elusive, underscoring the need for new approaches to improving disease prevention and management. In our study, we implemented a local-scale spatial clustering model and deciphered the genetic diversity of the bacteria in a small area of Benin where Buruli ulcer is endemic. Using 179 strain samples from West Africa, we conducted a phylogeographic analysis combining whole-genome sequencing with spatial scan statistics. The 8 distinct genotypes we identified were by no means randomly spread over the studied area. Instead, they were divided into 3 different geographic clusters, associated with landscape characteristics. Our results highlight the ability of M. ulcerans to evolve independently and differentially depending on location in a specific ecologic reservoir.
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van‘t Noordende AT, Wubie Aycheh M, Tadesse T, Hagens T, Haverkort E, Schippers AP. A family-based intervention for prevention and self-management of disabilities due to leprosy, podoconiosis and lymphatic filariasis in Ethiopia: A proof of concept study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009167. [PMID: 33600453 PMCID: PMC7924793 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
A key issue for persons with leprosy-, lymphatic filariasis- and podoconiosis-related disabilities is the life-long need to practice self-management routines. This is difficult to sustain without regular encouragement and support of others. Family-based support may be a sustainable and feasible strategy to practice self-management routines. This proof of concept study aimed to develop and pilot a family-based intervention to support prevention and self-management of leprosy, lymphatic filariasis and podoconiosis-related disabilities in Ethiopia. We used a quasi-experimental pre/post intervention study design with a mixed methods approach. The study population included persons affected by leprosy, lymphatic filariasis and podoconiosis and their family members. All persons affected had visible impairments due to their condition. We collected physical impairment outcomes, data on activity limitations, stigma and family quality of life using the SALSA scale (range 0–80), the SARI stigma scale (range 0–63) and the Beach Centre Family Quality of Life scale (range 0–125) and conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analysed using paired t-tests, unequal variances t-tests, linear regression and binary logistic regression. Qualitative data were coded using open, inductive coding and content analysis. The family-based intervention consisted of self-management of disabilities, awareness raising and socio-economic empowerment. The intervention was delivered over several monthly group meetings over the course of several months. A total of 275 (100%) persons affected attended at least one session with a family member, and 215 (78%) attended at least three sessions. There was no significant improvement in eye and hand problems after the intervention. However, foot and leg impairments, number of acute attacks, lymphedema and shoe wearing all significantly improved at follow-up. In addition, family quality of life significantly improved from 67.4 at baseline to 89.9 at follow-up for family members and from 76.9 to 84.1 for persons affected (p<0.001). Stigma levels significantly decreased from 24.0 at baseline to 16.7 at follow-up (p<0.001). Activity levels improved, but not significantly. This proof of concept study showed that the family-based intervention had a positive effect on impairments and self-management of disabilities, family quality of life and stigma. We recommend a large-scale efficacy trial, using a randomised controlled trial and validated measurement tools, to determine its effectiveness and long-term sustainability. A key issue for persons with leprosy-, lymphatic filariasis- and podoconiosis-related disabilities is the life-long need to practice self-management routines. Family-based support may be a sustainable and feasible strategy to practice self-management. This proof of concept study aimed to develop and pilot a family-based intervention to support prevention and self-management of leprosy, lymphatic filariasis and podoconiosis-related disabilities in Ethiopia. We collected data on physical impairments, activity limitations, stigma and family quality of life, and conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The family-based intervention consisted of self-management of disabilities, awareness raising and socio-economic empowerment. The intervention was delivered over several monthly group meetings. A total of 275 persons affected attended at least one session with a family member. There was no significant improvement in eye and hand problems after the intervention. However, foot and leg impairments, number of acute attacks, lymphedema and shoe wearing all significantly improved. In addition, family quality of life significantly improved, and stigma levels significantly decreased after the intervention. Activity levels improved, but not significantly. This proof of concept study showed that the family-based intervention had a positive effect on impairments and self-management of disabilities, family quality of life and stigma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna T. van‘t Noordende
- Disability Studies in the Netherlands, Almere, the Netherlands
- NLR, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Tesfaye Tadesse
- Ethiopian National Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy (ENAPAL), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tanny Hagens
- The Leprosy Mission Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Eva Haverkort
- Disability Studies in the Netherlands, Almere, the Netherlands
| | - Alice P. Schippers
- Disability Studies in the Netherlands, Almere, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Streptococcus pyogenes Is Associated with Idiopathic Cutaneous Ulcers in Children on a Yaws-Endemic Island. mBio 2021; 12:mBio.03162-20. [PMID: 33436440 PMCID: PMC7844543 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03162-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Exudative cutaneous ulcers (CU) in yaws-endemic areas are associated with Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue (TP) and Haemophilus ducreyi (HD), but one-third of CU cases are idiopathic (IU). Using mass drug administration (MDA) of azithromycin, a yaws eradication campaign on Lihir Island in Papua New Guinea reduced but failed to eradicate yaws; IU rates remained constant throughout the campaign. To identify potential etiologies of IU, we obtained swabs of CU lesions (n = 279) and of the skin of asymptomatic controls (AC; n = 233) from the Lihir Island cohort and characterized their microbiomes using a metagenomics approach. CU bacterial communities were less diverse than those of the AC. Using real-time multiplex PCR with pathogen-specific primers, we separated CU specimens into HD-positive (HD+), TP+, HD+TP+, and IU groups. Each CU subgroup formed a distinct bacterial community, defined by the species detected and/or the relative abundances of species within each group. Streptococcus pyogenes was the most abundant organism in IU (22.65%) and was enriched in IU compared to other ulcer groups. Follow-up samples (n = 31) were obtained from nonhealed ulcers; the average relative abundance of S. pyogenes was 30.11% in not improved ulcers and 0.88% in improved ulcers, suggesting that S. pyogenes in the not improved ulcers may be azithromycin resistant. Catonella morbi was enriched in IU that lacked S. pyogenes As some S. pyogenes and TP strains are macrolide resistant, penicillin may be the drug of choice for CU azithromycin treatment failures. Our study will aid in the design of diagnostic tests and selective therapies for CU.IMPORTANCE Cutaneous ulcers (CU) affect approximately 100,000 children in the tropics each year. While two-thirds of CU are caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue and Haemophilus ducreyi, the cause(s) of the remaining one-third is unknown. Given the failure of mass drug administration of azithromycin to eradicate CU, the World Health Organization recently proposed an integrated disease management strategy to control CU. Success of this strategy requires determining the unknown cause(s) of CU. By using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of swabs obtained from CU and the skin of asymptomatic children, we identified another possible cause of skin ulcers, Streptococcus pyogenes Although S. pyogenes is known to cause impetigo and cellulitis, this is the first report implicating the organism as a causal agent of CU. Inclusion of S. pyogenes into the integrated disease management plan will improve diagnostic testing and treatment of this painful and debilitating disease of children and strengthen elimination efforts.
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Carrion C, Robles N, Sola-Morales O, Aymerich M, Ruiz Postigo JA. Mobile Health Strategies to Tackle Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases With Recommendations From Innovative Experiences: Systematic Review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020; 8:e22478. [PMID: 33382382 PMCID: PMC7808891 DOI: 10.2196/22478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) represent a diverse group of 20 communicable diseases that occur in tropical and subtropical areas in 149 countries, affecting over 1 billion people and costing developing economies billions of dollars every year. Within these diseases, those that present lesions on the skin surface are classified as skin NTDs (sNTDs). Mobile health interventions are currently being used worldwide to manage skin diseases and can be a good strategy in the epidemiological and clinical management of sNTDs. Objective We aimed to analyze existing evidence about mobile health interventions to control and manage sNTDs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and make recommendations for what should be considered in future interventions. Methods A systematic review was conducted of the MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases over 10 years up to April 30, 2020. All types of clinical studies were considered. Data were synthesized into evidence tables. Apps were selected through a comprehensive systematic search in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store conducted between March 20 and April 15, 2020. Results From 133 potentially relevant publications, 13 studies met our criteria (9.8%). These analyzed eight different interventions (three SMS text messaging interventions and five app interventions). Six of the 13 (46%) studies were community-based cross-sectional studies intended to epidemiologically map a specific disease, mainly lymphatic filariasis, but also cutaneous leishmaniasis, leprosy, and NTDs, as well as sNTDs in general. Most of the studies were considered to have a high (5/13, 39%) or moderate (4/13, 31%) risk of bias. Fifteen apps were identified in the Google Play Store, of which three were also in the Apple App Store. Most of the apps (11/15, 73%) were targeted at health care professionals, with only four targeted at patients. The apps focused on scabies (3/15, 20%), lymphatic filariasis (3/15, 20%), cutaneous leishmaniasis (1/15, 7%), leprosy (1/15, 7%), yaws and Buruli ulcer (1/15, 7%), tropical diseases including more than one sNTDs (3/15, 20%), and NTDs including sNTDs (2/15, 13%). Only 1 (7%) app focused on the clinical management of sNTDs. Conclusions All mobile health interventions that were identified face technological, legal, final user, and organizational issues. There was a remarkable heterogeneity among studies, and the majority had methodological limitations that leave considerable room for improvement. Based on existing evidence, eight recommendations have been made for future interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carme Carrion
- eHealth Lab Research Group, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.,eHealth Center, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.,Red de Investigación en Servicios Sanitarios en Enfermedades Crónicas (REDISSEC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Noemí Robles
- eHealth Lab Research Group, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.,eHealth Center, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.,Red de Investigación en Servicios Sanitarios en Enfermedades Crónicas (REDISSEC), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Marta Aymerich
- eHealth Lab Research Group, School of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.,eHealth Center, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose Antonio Ruiz Postigo
- Prevention, Treatment and Care Unit, Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
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De Carvalho AG, Guimarães Luz JG, Leite Dias JV, Tiwari A, Steinmann P, Ignotti E. Hyperendemicity, heterogeneity and spatial overlap of leprosy and cutaneous leishmaniasis in the southern Amazon region of Brazil. GEOSPATIAL HEALTH 2020; 15. [PMID: 33461274 DOI: 10.4081/gh.2020.892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases characterized by skin lesions are highly endemic in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. We analyzed the spatial distribution of leprosy and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) and identified the degree of overlap in their distribution. All new cases of leprosy and CL reported between 2008 and 2017 through the national reporting system were included in the study. Scan statistics together with univariate Global and Local Moran's I were employed to identify clusters and spatial autocorrelation for each disease, with the spatial correlation between leprosy and CL measured by bivariate Global and Local Moran's I. Finally, we evaluated the demographic characteristics of the patients. The number of leprosy (N = 28,204) and CL (N = 24,771) cases in Mato Grosso and the highly smoothed detection coefficients indicated hyperendemicity and spatial distribution heterogeneity. Scan statistics demonstrated overlap of high-risk clusters for leprosy (RR = 2.0; P <0.001) and CL (RR = 4.0; P <0.001) in the North and Northeast mesoregions. Global Moran's I revealed a spatial autocorrelation for leprosy (0.228; P = 0.001) and CL (0.311; P = 0.001) and a correlation between them (0.164; P = 0.001). Both diseases were found to be concentrated in urban areas among men aged 31-60 years, of brown-skinned ethnicity and with a low educational level. Our findings indicate a need for developing integrated and spatially as well as socio-demographically targeted public health policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Gabriela De Carvalho
- School of Medicine, Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Rondonópolis, Rondonópolis; School of Medicine, Post-Graduation Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso.
| | - João Gabriel Guimarães Luz
- School of Medicine, Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Rondonópolis, Rondonópolis, Brazil; Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - João Victor Leite Dias
- School of Medicine, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, Teófilo Otoni, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Anuj Tiwari
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam.
| | - Peter Steinmann
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel.
| | - Eliane Ignotti
- School of Medicine, Post-Graduation Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso; School of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program Environment Sciences, State University of Mato Grosso, Cáceres, Mato Grosso.
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A scabies outbreak in the North East Region of Ghana: The necessity for prompt intervention. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008902. [PMID: 33351803 PMCID: PMC7787682 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There is a dearth of data on scabies from Ghana. In September 2019, local health authorities in the East Mamprusi district of northern Ghana received reports of scabies from many parts of the district. Due to on-going reports of more cases, an assessment team visited the communities to assess the effect of the earlier individual treatment on the outbreak. The assessment team furthermore aimed to contribute to the data on scabies burden in Ghana and to demonstrate the use of the International Alliance for the Control of Scabies (IACS) diagnostic tool in a field survey in a resource limited setting. Methodology/Principal findings This was a cross sectional study. Demographic information and medical history was collected on all participants using a REDCap questionnaire. A standardised skin examination of exposed regions of the body was performed on all participants. Scabies was diagnosed based on the criteria of the International Alliance for the Control of Scabies (IACS). Participants were mostly female (61.5%) and had a median age of 18.8 years (IQR 13–25). Two hundred out of 283 (71%) of participants had scabies with most (47%) presenting with moderate disease. Impetigo was found in 22% of participants with scabies and 10.8% of those without scabies [RR 2.27 (95% CI 1.21–4.27)]. 119 participants who received scabies treatment in the past months still had clinical evidence of the disease. 97% of participants reported a recent scabies contact. Scabies was commoner in participants ≤16 years compared to those >16 years [RR 3.06 (95% CI 1.73–5.45)]. Conclusion/Significance The prevalence of scabies was extremely high. The lack of a systematic approach to scabies treatment led to recurrence and ongoing community spread. The IACS criteria was useful in this outbreak assessment in Ghana. Alternative strategies such as Mass drug administration may be required to contain outbreaks early in such settings. Scabies, recently categorised as a Neglected Tropical Disease by the WHO is caused by infestation with Sarcoptes scabiei and is characterised by intense pruritus and rash that typically involves the genitalia and the web spaces of the fingers and toes. It has a large global burden and is associated with significant morbidity and socio-economic burden. Secondary bacterial infections following scabies can lead to significant complications including chronic kidney disease from glomerulonephritis and possibly rheumatic heart disease. An outbreak of scabies was reported in Ghana’s East Mamprusi district in September 2019. Despite earlier treatment of individual cases, scabies prevalence was 71%. About 19% of participants had impetigo which was mostly mild in severity. Absence of a systematic approach to treat scabies led to recurrence and ongoing community spread. The recently published IACS criteria for diagnosing scabies proved useful in this outbreak assessment in Ghana. Alternative strategies such as Mass drug administration may be required to contain outbreaks in such settings.
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