Etramp5 as a useful serological marker in children to assess the immediate effects of mass drug campaigns for malaria

INTRODUCTION

Serological methods provide useful metrics to estimate age-specific period prevalence in settings of low malaria transmission; however, evidence on the use of seropositivity as an endpoint remains scarce in studies to evaluate combinations of malaria control measures, especially in children. This study aims to evaluate the immediate effects of a targeted mass drug administration campaign (tMDA) in Haiti by using serological markers.

METHODS

The tMDA was implemented in September-October 2018 using sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and single low-dose primaquine. A natural quasi-experimental study was designed, using a pretest and posttest in a cohort of 754 randomly selected school children, among which 23% reported having received tMDA. Five antigens were selected as outcomes (MSP1-19, AMA-1, Etramp5 antigen 1, HSP40, and GLURP-R0). Posttest was conducted 2-6 weeks after the intervention.

RESULTS

At baseline, there was no statistical difference in seroprevalence between the groups of children that were or were not exposed during the posttest. A lower seroprevalence was observed for markers informative of recent exposure (Etramp5 antigen 1, HSP40, and GLURP-R0). Exposure to tMDA was significantly associated with a 50% reduction in the odds of seropositivity for Etramp5 antigen 1 and a 21% reduction in the odds of seropositivity for MSP119.

CONCLUSION

Serological markers can be used to evaluate the effects of interventions against malaria on the risk of infection in settings of low transmission. Antibody responses against Etramp5 antigen 1 in Haitian children were reduced in the 2-6 weeks following a tMDA campaign, confirming its usefulness as a short-term marker in child populations.

[Effects of video information in patients undergoing coronary angiography]

BACKGROUND

informed consent is a fundamental and legal obligation for each interventional cardiologist. The effect of consent form describing risks of invasive procedure on anxiety is controversial. This trial was aimed to assess the added value of video information to the standard informed consent process.

METHODS

200 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography were enrolled. The first one hundred were assigned to conventional education conducted by the physician (no video group) and the second one hundred had consent obtained in the conventional manner assisted by video information (video group). The outcome variables for this comparison consisted of a standard anxiety score (Spielberger Statement Anxiety Inventory questionnary) plus hemodynamics measurements of heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure obtained at baseline and immediately after written informed consent In addition, before discharge, patients graded the tolerability and satisfaction on a 4-point scale.

RESULTS

The groups were similar with regard to their baseline characteristics and anxity score (37+23 vs 37+23). Patients who had not had prior experience of catheterization had higher baseline anxiety than those who had prior angiography (45 + 22 vs 31 + 20; p = 0.027). Patients who watched the video were significantly less anxious after informed consent (28 + 21 vs 34 + 22; p = 0.048) and had a significantly lower heart rate (65 + 10 vs 71 + 12; p = 0.03). The benefits of video information were especially prominent in those with higher anxiety scores at baseline (score after 45 + 24 vs 57 + 26; p = 0.046). Tolerability were higher in the video group compared with no video group (98% vs 86%; p = 0.003). Finally, satisfaction of information for informed consent process was higher in video group than in no video group (99% vs 76%; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

a video information decreased anxiety level after written informed consent and improved tolerability and satisfaction scales in patients undergoing coronary angiography. The most likely to benefit from video information are patients with higher anxiety level at baseline. Beneficial effect on informed refusal should be investigated in larger population.

[Effect of flash chemoprophylaxis by cefotaxime on the appearance of postoperative bacterial superinfections in surgery of the prostate]

The effect on bacteriologically documented postoperative infection of flash prophylaxis using two intravenous injections of 20 mg/kg cefotaxime each was evaluated in a double blind, randomized trial against placebo. 181 participants free of urinary tract infection prior to surgery had either transurethral prostatic resection (TUR) (n = 90) or open prostatectomy (OP) (n = 91). Urine samples, blood samples, prostate specimens and skin swabs were investigated for pathogens. Rate of urinary tract infection was significantly reduced by cefotaxime (CTX) prophylaxis in both groups. CTX lowered the incidence of early postoperative urinary tract infection from 30% to 4% in TURs and from 46% to 4.5% in OPs. Similarly, a significant difference was demonstrated for incidences of intra and postoperative bacteremia. In open prostatectomy patients, a reduced rate of wound infection and shorter hospital stay were noted in the treated group. Pathogens recovered in this study were Streptococcus (29%), Staphylococcus (20.5%), Enterobacteriaceae (45.75%), Pseudomonas (1.25%), Acinetobacter (3%), and Bacteroides fragilis (0.5%). CTX prophylaxis apparently has no bearing on postoperative emergence of resistant pathogens. Percentage of resistance to CTX in delayed postoperative infections was 33% in the control group and 35% in the treated group. We conclude that flash CTX prophylaxis in transurethral or open prostatectomy is of benefit in reducing morbidity and hospital costs.