Choulrich0988
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an immune-mediated acute inflammatory demyelinating disorder, which typically occurs after viral infections or immunisation. We present a case of a man with acute Rickettsia conorii infection whose diagnosis was delayed. He presented with fever, headache, an eschar and an acute paraplegia. The R. conorii IgM serum titre was 1128. Magnetic resonance imaging showed multifocal lesions in the brain and spinal cord consistent with inflammatory demyelination. The patient responded well to doxycycline and a short course of high-dose corticosteroids. To our knowledge this is the first case of ADEM associated with Mediterranean spotted fever - we found a previous report of ADEM in a child with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, whose diagnosis of rickettsial infection was also delayed. We hypothesise that delayed diagnosis of spotted fever group rickettsial infections could rarely result in ADEM.The new 501Y.V2 variant of COVID-19 has led to a rapid increase in the number of persons infected with the virus in South Africa, and state and private hospitals are having to turn patients away. Although it is common practice for patients to be transferred between provinces for specialist care, the upsurge in the COVID-19 pandemic has led to some hospitals considering reserving intensive care and critical care beds for COVID-19 patients from their province. The Constitution provides that nobody may be refused emergency medical treatment, nor may they be unfairly discriminated against. This is also implicit in the 'equitable' provision of healthcare services referred to in the National Health Act 61 of 2003. The Critical Care Society of Southern Africa COVID-19 guidelines, or other similar widely accepted guidelines, may be used, provided they do not unfairly discriminate against patients on the basis of age. According to the Constitution, a hospital that wishes to turn away an emergency treatment request from another province because it is reserving beds for COVID-19 patients from its home province will have to show that it is 'reasonable and justifiable' to do so. It will have to show that the other province's patient was being subjected to the same criteria for admission as its home province COVID-19 patients, because, for instance, occupation of the bed by another COVID-19 patient from the home province was imminent.
Identification of patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with virological failure (VF) and the response in the public health sector remain significant challenges. We previously reported improvement in routine viral load (VL) monitoring after ART commencement through a health system-strengthening, nurse-led 'VL champion' programme as part of a multidisciplinary team in three public sector clinics in Durban, South Africa.
To report on the impact of the VL champion model adapted to identify, support and co-ordinate the management of individuals with VF on first-line ART in a setting with limited electronic-based record capacity.
We evaluated the VL champion model using a controlled before-after study design. A paper-based tool, the 'high VL register', was piloted under the supervision of the VL champion to improve data management, monitoring of counselling support, and enacting of clinical decisions. We abstracted chart and electronic data (TIER.net) for eligible individuals with VF in the year before ane significant improvements in first-line VF management over the standard of care. In addition to interventions that better address patient-centred factors that contribute to VF, we believe that there are substantial limitations to and staffing requirements involved in the ongoing utilisation of a paper-based tool. A prioritisation is needed to further expand and upgrade the electronic medical record system with capabilities for prompting staff regarding patients with missed visits and critical laboratory results demonstrating VF.The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid changes in healthcare systems and at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (RCWMCH), Cape Town, South Africa. Paediatric services in particular required adjustment, not only for the paediatric patients but also for their carers and the staff looking after them. Strategies were divided into streams, including the impact of COVID-19 on the hospital and the role of RCWMCH in Western Cape Province, communication strategies, adaptation of clinical services at the hospital, specifically with a paediatric-friendly approach, and staff engagement. Interventions utilised (i) Specific COVID-19 planning was required at a children's hospital, and lessons were learnt from other international children's hospitals. A similar number of patients and staff were infected by the virus (244 patients and 212 staff members by 21 December 2020). Dihydromyricetin (ii) Measures were put in place to assist creation of capacity at metro hospitals' adult services by accepting children with emergency issues dir visible management and leadership has allowed for flexibility and adaptability to manage clinical services in various contexts. It is important to utilise staff in different roles during a crisis and to consider the different perspectives of people involved in the services. The key to success, that included very early adoption of the above measures, has been hospital staff taking initiative, searching for answers and identifying and implementing solutions, effective communication, and leadership support. These lessons are useful in dealing with second and further waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.As South Africa continues to battle the second wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections, the imminent arrival of vaccines against COVID-19 offers hope. Vaccine roll-out has been accompanied by heightened media coverage that has created both excitement and anxiety, reporting on the shortened timeline of vaccine trials and approvals, as well as the recent series of anaphylaxis cases associated with the two approved mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Patients with allergic and other immune-based diseases are subgroups especially concerned about vaccine safety and efficacy. This practice guideline offers broad recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in various subgroups of allergic and immunebased disease, highlighting risk/benefit evaluation, and where and how routine vaccination should be altered.Some South African (SA) healthcare practitioners are promoting the prescription and use of products claiming to contain ivermectin for the treatment and/or prevention of COVID-19 in SA. This study qualitatively analysed seven samples of ivermectin formulations (5 tablet and 2 capsule formulations) being sold in SA for human use. The samples were analysed using a high-performance liquid chromatography instrument connected to a Sciex X500R quadrupole time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometer. The study found that all the samples had both the major homologues of ivermectin (B1a and B1b) and also that 4 out of the 5 tablet formulations tested had at least one additional undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredient.This is the second guideline from the Emergency Medicine Society of South Africa (EMSSA) on the use of emergency point-of-care ultrasound in South Africa. It supersedes and replaces the guidelines produced in 2009. This document contains information on the changes from the 2009 guidelines and details of the training and credentialing processes recommended by EMSSA. It also contains detailed information on the curricula of the Core Emergency Point-of-Care Ultrasound and Advanced Emergency Point-of-Care Ultrasound courses.
Delays to surgery for acute appendicitis in low- and middle-income countries lead to significant morbidity.
To investigate the role of time to surgery in the development of complicated appendicitis and surgical site infection (SSI) in a rural referral hospital in South Africa (SA).
A prospective cohort study was conducted of all patients presenting to a regional hospital in SA with acute appendicitis during 2017. Inpatient interview and data collection were followed by 30-day post-surgical follow-up to assess time periods to surgery and operative outcomes.
A total of 188 patients underwent surgery for acute appendicitis. The median (interquartile range (IQR)) age was 19 (3 - 73) years, and 62% were male. The median (IQR) time from symptoms to surgery was 60 (42 - 86) hours and from hospital admission to surgery 8(4 - 16)hours. Forty-one percent were managed laparoscopically, 62% had complicated appendicitis, and 25% developed SSI. Time from symptoms to surgery >72 hours was associated with an increased risk of complicated appendicitis (odds ratio (OR) 4.32; 95% confidence interval (CI)1.36- 13.75; p=0.013). Patients with SSI had an increased median delay of 15 hours (p=0.05) compared with those without SSI. Multivariable analysis showed that the risk of SSI increased with complicated appendicitis (OR 8.96; 95% CI 2.73 - 29.41; p<0,001) and decreased with laparoscopic surgery (OR 0.21; 95% CI 0.07 - 0.59; p=0.003). Time to surgery had no effect on the risk of SSI in adjusted analyses.
Delays to surgery beyond 72 hours significantly increased complicated appendicitis, an important risk factor for SSI. Access to facilities with surgical capability and the use of laparoscopic surgery are modifiable risk factors for SSI.
Delays to surgery beyond 72 hours significantly increased complicated appendicitis, an important risk factor for SSI. Access to facilities with surgical capability and the use of laparoscopic surgery are modifiable risk factors for SSI.
Difficult or failed intubation of obstetric patients may be up to 8 times higher than in general surgical patients. A decline in obstetric intubation opportunities may be a contributing factor, resulting in reduced training opportunities for junior doctors, who therefore do not acquire airway management skills.
To assess post-anaesthesia rotation interns' preparedness to manage a difficult/failed obstetric airway scenario.
We recruited 49 interns, obtained informed consent and individually assessed them on a simulation-based scenario using a high-fidelity manikin. Two independent assessors scored participants using a checklist assessment and a global rating scale. After the simulation-based scenario, participants completed a questionnaire on their internship training, rated the simulation experience and received debriefing. The borderline regression method was used to determine the checklist pass mark.
Analysis showed that 40% of interns passed. Correlation between assessors was strong for checklist sh all interns should receive, a high rate of success was not achieved in this study. Simulation-based training and assessment may be a valuable tool to improve intern training and preparedness.
An increasing number of girls living with perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV) are reaching adolescence and adulthood andbecoming pregnant. Youth living with PHIV (YLPHIV) may have HIV-associated infections/complications, long-term exposure toantiretroviral treatment (ART), drug resistance and increased psychosocial challenges, which may adversely affect pregnancy outcomes.There is a lack of published studies on pregnancy in YLPHIV in sub-Saharan Africa.Objectives. To describe characteristics of pregnant South African (SA) YLPHIV and their pregnancy outcomes.
We retrospectively identified pregnancies in YLPHIV, who were diagnosed with HIV when they were <12 years old and beforetheir first pregnancy (as a proxy for perinatal route of infection), from routinely collected data in Western Cape Province, SA (2007 - 2018).We combined these with pregnancies from a Johannesburg cohort of YLPHIV.Results. We identified 258 pregnancies among 232 females living with likely PHIV; 38.8% of pregnancies occurred in YLPHIV ≤16 yearsold, 39.
