Tropical Medicine
Phase 2a RCT | Emodepside demonstrates superior efficacy to albendazole in treating Trichuris trichiura and Hookworm Infection
25 May, 2023 | 11:33h | UTCEmodepside for Trichuris trichiura and Hookworm Infection – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Liver cystic echinococcosis: a parasitic review
25 May, 2023 | 11:19h | UTCLiver cystic echinococcosis: a parasitic review – Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease
RCT | Safety of integrated MDA of azithromycin, albendazole and ivermectin vs. standard treatment regimens
10 May, 2023 | 15:24h | UTC
Burden of typhoid and paratyphoid fever in India
25 Apr, 2023 | 14:32h | UTCBurden of Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fever in India – New England Journal of Medicine
Commentary on Twitter
From 2017 through 2020 in India, weekly surveillance for blood-confirmed typhoid and paratyphoid among children showed an incidence of 576 to 1173 cases of typhoid fever per 100,000 child-years in urban sites. Full NSSEFI study: https://t.co/BbweY5hVcQ#InfectiousDisease pic.twitter.com/S2D3bM29f5
— NEJM (@NEJM) April 19, 2023
Cluster RCT | Long-lasting insecticidal nets compared for malaria control
12 Apr, 2023 | 13:04h | UTCInvited Commentary: Getting ahead of insecticide-resistant malaria vector mosquitoes – The Lancet (free registration required)
WHO Report | Dengue & Chikungunya cases spreading beyond known transmission zones in the Americas
10 Apr, 2023 | 14:04h | UTCCommentary: WHO: Concerning Spread of Dengue, Chikungunya in Latin America – JAMA
RCT | Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine vs. dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine for preventive treatment of malaria in pregnant women in Africa
13 Mar, 2023 | 14:43h | UTC
RCT | Combination of intravenous doxycycline and azithromycin better than either drug alone for severe scrub typhus
8 Mar, 2023 | 14:36h | UTCSummary:
The study aimed to compare the efficacy of intravenous doxycycline, azithromycin, or a combination of both drugs in treating severe scrub typhus. The study randomized 794 patients with severe scrub typhus and at least one organ involvement to receive a 7-day course of intravenous doxycycline, azithromycin, or both.
The primary outcome was a composite of death from any cause at day 28, persistent complications at day 7, and persistent fever at day 5. The study found that combination therapy with intravenous doxycycline and azithromycin was a better therapeutic option for treating severe scrub typhus than monotherapy with either drug alone.
Article: Intravenous Doxycycline, Azithromycin, or Both for Severe Scrub Typhus – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
News Release: A combination therapy is found to be more effective on severe scrub typhus – University of Oxford
Commentary on Twitter
Original Article: Intravenous Doxycycline, Azithromycin, or Both for Severe Scrub Typhus https://t.co/uZ4Y51zoZ2#InfectiousDisease pic.twitter.com/xzmeAV8Tyi
— NEJM (@NEJM) March 4, 2023
Early diagnostic indicators of dengue vs. other febrile illnesses in Asia and Latin America: a multicenter, prospective, observational study
8 Mar, 2023 | 14:16h | UTCSummary:
The IDAMS study is a large, prospective, observational study conducted in eight countries in Asia and Latin America to investigate early diagnostic indicators of dengue compared to other febrile illnesses. The study included 7428 patients with undifferentiated fever, of whom 2694 were diagnosed with laboratory-confirmed dengue and 2495 with other febrile illnesses.
Platelet count, white blood cell count, and their changes over time were strongly associated with dengue, while cough and rhinitis were strongly associated with other febrile illnesses. The study found that a set of 14 clinical and three laboratory predictors can distinguish between dengue and other febrile illnesses during the early phase of symptoms, with sensitivities of 80-87% and specificities of 80-91%. The study also found that models that include laboratory markers outperform those based solely on clinical variables.
The study’s results provide important information for updating guidelines on the management of febrile illnesses, particularly in resource-limited settings where distinguishing between dengue and other febrile illnesses is crucial for patient management.
Invited Commentary: Differentiating dengue from other febrile illnesses: a dilemma faced by clinicians in dengue endemic countries – The Lancet Global Health
Commentary on Twitter
From the March Issue: Early diagnostic indicators of dengue versus other febrile illnesses in Asia and Latin America (IDAMS study): a multicentre, prospective, observational study https://t.co/xyvYpoiyWM (1/2) pic.twitter.com/xgvkA39PV5
— The Lancet Global Health (@LancetGH) February 23, 2023
Mpox outbreak in advanced HIV cases | Global case series reveals higher mortality and clinical complications
23 Feb, 2023 | 13:44h | UTCSummary: This article discusses a case series investigating monkeypox (mpox) in people with HIV and low CD4 cell counts. The mpox outbreak in 2022 has affected a significant percentage of people living with HIV, and data suggest worse clinical outcomes and higher mortality in those with more advanced HIV. The case series includes data from 382 confirmed mpox cases in people living with HIV from 19 countries. The individuals included were predominantly cisgender men, with a median age of 35. Most individuals were adherent to antiretroviral therapy, and the median CD4 count was 211 cells per mm3. Severe complications were more common in those with lower CD4 cell counts, including necrotizing skin lesions, lung involvement, secondary infections, and sepsis. Approximately 28% of individuals were hospitalized, and 25% of those hospitalized died. All deaths occurred in people with CD4 counts of less than 200 cells per mm3. The study reinforces the importance of HIV and CD4 testing in mpox cases, prioritization of preventive mpox vaccination in people with HIV and a CD4 cell count of less than 200 cells per mm3, and the use of potential mpox antivirals where available. The authors suggest that a severe, disseminated, and necrotizing form of mpox should be considered an AIDS-defining condition in CDC and WHO HIV disease classifications. Clinicians should also be aware that starting antiretroviral therapy in people with advanced HIV and mpox could contribute to deterioration and possible death, possibly as part of an immune reconstitution syndrome.
Article: Mpox in people with advanced HIV infection: a global case series – The Lancet (free registration required)
News Release: Clinicians identify severe form of mpox with high mortality in people with advanced HIV – Queen Mary University of London
Commentaries:
Mpox: Clinicians identify severe form with high mortality in advanced HIV patients – The BMJ
Commentary from the author on Twitter (thread – click for more)
📣 📣 Our global case series on MPOX in people with advanced HIV infection is at #CROI2023 and in @TheLancet today: 382 cases of human MPOX infection in PLWH with CD4 counts <350 cells/mm3 in 19 countries
**We found MPOX is an opportunistic pathogen** /1https://t.co/WodDN4Ujoj pic.twitter.com/IlK7viABmy— Chloe Orkin (@profchloeorkin) February 21, 2023
M-A | Oral manifestation of the monkeypox virus
23 Feb, 2023 | 13:42h | UTCOral manifestation of the monkeypox virus: a systematic review and meta-analysis – eClinicalMedicine
Current pharmacotherapeutic strategies for Strongyloidiasis and the complications in its treatment
23 Feb, 2023 | 13:13h | UTC
Eight countries eliminated a neglected tropical disease in 2022
14 Feb, 2023 | 10:45h | UTCEight countries eliminated a neglected tropical disease in 2022 – Nature
Original report: WHO Global report on neglected tropical diseases 2023
Brief Review | Mpox — A rapidly evolving disease
10 Feb, 2023 | 13:56h | UTCMpox—A Rapidly Evolving Disease – JAMA Dermatology
Related:
Monkeypox (hMPXV infection): A practical review – American Journal of Medicine
WHO renames “monkeypox” as “mpox” to help destigmatize the disease.
Study shows there is substantial monkeypox transmission before symptoms appear.
Monkeypox – New England Journal of Medicine
Monkeypox: disease epidemiology, host immunity and clinical interventions.
Monkeypox: A clinical update for paediatricians – Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health
CDC Report | Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of Monkeypox cases in the US.
Update on the Monkeypox Outbreak – JAMA
WHO Declares Global Public Health Emergency Over Monkeypox Virus Outbreak – Health Policy Watch
Monkeypox: A Contemporary Review for Healthcare Professionals – Open Forum Infectious Diseases
Video | Malaria — Epidemiology, treatment, and prevention
8 Feb, 2023 | 12:37h | UTCMalaria — Epidemiology, Treatment, and Prevention | NEJM
WHO Global report on neglected tropical diseases 2023
31 Jan, 2023 | 14:09h | UTCGlobal report on neglected tropical diseases 2023 – World Health Organization
News Release: More countries eliminate neglected tropical diseases but investments key to sustain progress – World Health Organization
Commentary on Twitter
It's World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day!
Chagas disease
Chikungunya
Dengue
Dracunculiasis
Leishmaniasis
Leprosy
Elephantiasis
Mycetoma
River blindness
Rabies
Sleeping sickness
Trachoma& other neglected tropical diseases affect 1 BILLION people 🌍!
➡️https://t.co/qni6m5CjiQ pic.twitter.com/N1sU1w6YWf
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January 29, 2023
SR | Interventions to improve sanitation for preventing diarrhea
27 Jan, 2023 | 12:15h | UTCInterventions to improve sanitation for preventing diarrhoea – Cochrane Library
Summary: Interventions to improve sanitation for preventing diarrhoea – Cochrane Library
Commentary on Twitter
New @Cochrane_IDG review: Interventions to improve #sanitation for preventing #diarrhoea https://t.co/pMvEzGNJ7q
⭐️sanitation interventions are effective, for young children and all age populations
⭐️effectiveness varies by intervention type & setting
⭐️further research needed— Cochrane_IDG (@Cochrane_IDG) January 25, 2023
WHO Report | Cholera global situation
26 Jan, 2023 | 12:56h | UTCCholera – Global situation – World Health Organization
Commentary: WHO Report: Cholera Resurgent in 2022 After Years of Decline – JAMA
Retrospective Study | Clinical features and management of individuals admitted to hospital with monkeypox
13 Jan, 2023 | 13:33h | UTC
Rapid review on monkeypox policies among the G20 nations: relevance to policy and practitioner
13 Jan, 2023 | 13:34h | UTC
Monkeypox (hMPXV infection): a practical review
11 Jan, 2023 | 14:25h | UTCMonkeypox (hMPXV infection): A practical review – American Journal of Medicine
WHO Interim Guidance | Surveillance, case investigation and contact tracing for mpox (monkeypox)
10 Jan, 2023 | 14:45h | UTC
RCTs | Vaccines for Zaire Ebola virus disease.
16 Dec, 2022 | 13:46h | UTCRandomized Trial of Vaccines for Zaire Ebola Virus Disease – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
News Release: Ebola vaccine regimens safe, immunogenic in adults and children – NIH News Releases
Commentaries:
Ebola vaccine strategies show safety and immune response – CIDRAP
Commentary on Twitter
In two randomized trials of Ebola vaccines, safety and immune responses in adults and children were assessed for three regimens with two different vaccines. All three induced immune responses lasting at least 1 year. https://t.co/JUMN8Ieygv pic.twitter.com/NajlnA2B7y
— NEJM (@NEJM) December 14, 2022
SR | Treatment of enteric fever (typhoid and paratyphoid fever) with cephalosporins.
14 Dec, 2022 | 14:51h | UTCTreatment of enteric fever (typhoid and paratyphoid fever) with cephalosporins – Cochrane Library
WHO World malaria report 2022.
9 Dec, 2022 | 13:41h | UTCWorld malaria report 2022 – World Health Organization
News Release: Despite continued impact of COVID-19, malaria cases and deaths remained stable in 2021 – World Health Organization
Commentaries:
WHO: COVID disruption resulted in 63,000 more malaria deaths – Associated Press
WHO: Malaria cases, deaths remained stable in 2021, despite COVID – CIDRAP