Paediatric and perinatal HIV/AIDS in Jamaica: an international leadership initiative, 2002-2007 / VIH/SIDA pediátrico y perinatal en Jamaica: iniciativa de liderazgo internacional, 2002-2007

BACKGROUND: Paediatric and Perinatal HIV/AIDS remain significant health challenges in the Caribbean where the HIV seroprevalence is second only to Sub-Saharan Africa. METHOD: We describe a collaborative approach to the prevention, treatment and care of HIV in pregnant women, infants and children in Jamaica. A team of academic and government healthcare personnel collaborated to address the paediatric and perinatal HIV epidemic in Greater Kingston as a model for Jamaica (population 2.6 million, HIV seroprevalence 1.5%). A five-point plan was utilized and included leadership and training, preventing mother-to-child transmission (pMTCT), treatment and care of women, infants and children, outcomes-based research and local, regional and international outreach. RESULTS: A core group of paediatric/perinatal HIV professionals were trained, including paediatricians, obstetricians, public health practitioners, nurses, microbiologists, data managers, information technology personnel and students to serve Greater Kingston (birth cohort 20 000). During September 2002 to August 2007, over 69 793 pregnant women presented for antenatal care. During these five years, significant improvements occurred in uptake of voluntary counselling (40% to 91%) and HIV-testing (53% to 102%). Eight hundred and eighty-three women tested HIV-positive with seroprevalence rates of 1-2% each year. The use of modified short course zidovudine or nevirapine in the first three years significantly reduced mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV from 29% to 6% (RR 0.27; 95% CI - 0.10, 0.68). During 2005 to 2007 using maternal highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with zidovudine and lamivudine with either nevirapine, nelfinavir or lopinavir/ritonavir and infant zidovudine and nevirapine, MTCT was further reduced to an estimated 1.6% in Greater Kingston and 4.75% islandwide. In five years, we evaluated 1570 children in four-weekly paediatric infectious diseases clinics in Kingston, St Andrew and St Catherine and in six rural outreach sites throughout Jamaica; 24% (377) had HIV/AIDS and 76% (1193) were HIV-exposed. Among the infected children, 79% (299 of 377) initiated HAART, resulting in reduced HIV-attributable childhood morbidity and mortality islandwide. An outcomes-based research programme was successfully implemented. CONCLUSION: Working collaboratively, our mission of pMTCT of HIV and improving the quality of life for families living and affected by HIV/AIDS in Jamaica is being achieved.

ANTECEDENTES: El VIH/SIDA pediátrico y el perinatal continúan siendo retos significativos para la salud en el Caribe, donde la seroprevalencia de VIH ocupa el segundo lugar tras el África Subsahariana. MÉTODO: Se describe un enfoque colaborativo para tratamiento, prevención y cuidado de embarazadas, bebés y niños en Jamaica. Un equipo de personal académico y gubernamental vinculados a la salud, colaboraron para abordar la epidemia de VIH pediátrico y perinatal en Greater Kingston, como modelo para Jamaica (población de 2.6 millones, 1.5% seroprevalencia VIH). Se utilizó un plan de cinco puntos que incluyó liderazgo y entrenamiento, prevención de la transmisión madre a hijo (PTMAH), tratamiento y cuidado de mujeres, bebés y niños, investigaciones basadas en resultados, y outreach local, regional e internacional. RESULTADOS: Un grupo básico de profesionales del VIH pediátrico/perinatal, que incluía pediatras, obstetras, trabajadores de la salud, enfermeras, microbiólogos, administradores de datos, así como personal y estudiantes de la tecnología de la información, fue entrenado para servir en Greater Kingston (cohorte de nacimiento 20 000). De septiembre de 2002 hasta Agosto de 2007, más de 69 793 embarazadas se presentaron para recibir atención prenatal. Durante estos cinco años, tuvieron lugar mejoras significativos en cuanto a la recepción de asesoramiento (40% to 91%) y pruebas (53% to 102%) de VIH voluntarios. Ochocientos ochenta y tres mujeres resultaron VIH positivas en las pruebas, con tasas de seroprevalencia de 1-2% cada año. El uso de un ciclo corto modificado de zidovudina o nevirapina en los primeros tres años, redujo la transmisión madre a hijo (TMAH) de VIH significativamente de 29% a 6% (RR 0.27; 95% CI - 0.10, 0.68). Durante el 2005 hasta 2007, usando terapia antiretroviral altamente activa (TARAA) materna, con zidovudina y lamivudina con nevirapina, nelfinavir o lopinavir/ritonavir y nevirapina y zidovudina para niños, la TMAH se redujo a un estimado de 1.6 % en Greater Kingston y a .75% a lo largo de la isla. En cinco años, evaluamos 1570 niños en cuatro clínicas infecciosas pediátricas semanales en Kingston, Saint Andrew y Saint Catherine, así como en seis otros lugares destinados al servicio comunitario (outreach) por toda Jamaica; 24% (377) tenían VIH/SIDA y 76% (1193) estaba expuestos al VIH. Entre los niños infectados, 79% (299 de 377) iniciaron el TARAA, lo que trajo como resultado una reducción de la mortalidad y la morbilidad infantil atribuible al VIH, en todo el país. Se implementó exitosamente un programa de investigación basado en resultados. CONCLUSIÓN: Trabajando en colaboración, estamos logrando nuestra misión de prevenir la TMAH del VIH, y mejorar la calidad de vida de las familias que viven afectadas por el VIH/SIDA en Jamaica.

Renal manifestations in HIV-infected Jamaican children / Manifestaciones renales en niños jamaicanos infectados por el VIH

BACKGROUND: Documentation regarding the renal complications of paediatric HIV infection from developing countries is scarce. In the era prior to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV-infected children in Jamaica who developed HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) progressed to end stage renal disease (ESRD) and death within a few months of diagnosis. With increased public access to antiretroviral therapy since 2002 and subsequent survival, renal complications are increasingly recognized among the surviving cohort of infected children. METHODS: A cohort of 196 HIV-infected children was followed in four multicentre ambulatory clinics from September 1, 2002 to August 31, 2005 as part of the Kingston Paediatric and Perinatal HIV/AIDS Programme, Jamaica. We describe the clinical presentations and natural history of those patients who developed renal complications. RESULTS: Urinary tract infections were the most common diagnosis, occurring in 16.8% of patients, with a high recurrence rate and the most common organism was Escherichia coli. Four of seven patients who started indinavir developed complications of nephrolithiasis and tubulointerstitial nephropathy. Six patients (3%) fulfilled the criteria for HIVAN, five of whom were male. Median age at diagnosis was five years; all presented with advanced HIV disease, nephrotic syndrome or nephrotic range proteinuria and three with chronic renal failure. Patients received standard medical management and were initiated on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and HAART. While the mortality ratio was 50%, only one death was associated with HIVAN and the median survival time was 3.1 years. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-infected children present with a variety of renal complications. With improved survival since the introduction of HAART, the incidence of HIVAN is expected to increase among this maturing paediatric cohort. Early detection and treatment will optimize the outcomes for these children.

ANTECEDENTES: La documentación en relación con las complicaciones renales de la infección pediátrica por VIH en países en vías de desarrollo, es escasa. En la era de la terapia antiretroviral pre-altamente activa (TARAA), los niños infectados por VIH en Jamaica que desarrollaron nefropatía asociada con VIH evolucionaron hacia la enfermedad renal en fase terminal (ERFT) y la muerte dentro de pocos meses de hecho el diagnóstico. Con el aumento del acceso público a la terapia antiretroviral a partir de 2002 y la subsiguiente supervivencia, cada vez más las complicaciones renales se observan entre la cohorte sobreviviente de niños infectados. MÉTODOS: A una cohorte de 196 niños infectados con VIH, se le practicó un seguimiento en cuatro clínicas ambulatorios multicentros, desde septiembre 1 de 2002 hasta agosto 31 de 2005, como parte del Programa VIH/SIDA Prenatal y Pediátrico de Kingston, Jamaica. El trabajo describe las presentaciones clínicas y la historia natural de los pacientes que desarrollaron complicaciones renales. RESULTADOS: Las infecciones de las vías urinarias fueron el diagnóstico más común en 16.8% de los pacientes, acompañadas de una alta tasa de recurrencia, y el organismo más común fue el Escherichia coli. Cuatro de siete pacientes que comenzaron tratamiento con indinair, desarrollaron complicaciones de nefrolitiasis y nefropatía tubulointersticial. Seis pacientes (3%), cinco de ellos varones, satisfacían los criterios de NAVIH. La edad promedio al momento del diagnóstico fue de cinco años. Todos representaron con la enfermedad de VIH avanzada, síndrome nefrótico o proteniuria de rango nefrótico, y tres con fallo renal crónico. Los pacientes recibieron tratamiento médico estándar y se iniciaron en el uso de inhibidores de enzimas convertidoras de angiotensina (IECAs) y el TARAA. Si bien la proporción de la mortalidad fue 50%, sólo una muerte estuvo asociada con NAVIH y el tiempo medio de supervivencia fue 3.1 años. CONCLUSIONES: Los niños infectados con VIH se presentaron con una variedad de complicaciones renales. Con el mejoramiento de la supervivencia a partir de la introducción del TARAA, se espera que la incidencia de NAVIH aumente entre la cohorte pediátrica en maduración. La detección precoz y el tratamiento temprano optimizarán los resultados obtenidos con estos niños.

HIV/AIDS following sexual assault in Jamaican children and adolescents: a case for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis

Reported sexual assault in Jamaica is highest among children and adolescents. The risk of HIV transmission after sexual assault, although small, may be significant in certain circumstances, and it is therefore reasonable that post-exposure prophylaxis should be offered. These HIV transmission rates are similar to those of healthcare workers after occupational exposure to known HIV-infected blood for which routine post-exposure prophylaxis is recommended. We present a case series of children/adolescents with HIV/AIDS post-sexual assault and make the case for post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV infection following sexual assault

Uptake of interventions, outcomes and challenges in caring for HIV-exposed infants in Kingston, Jamaica

BACKGROUND: In a few Caribbean islands, prevention of mother-to-child transmission (pMTCT) of HIV with zidovudine prophylaxis has reduced transmission rates from 27 - 44 to 5.5 - 9 . OBJECTIVES: To highlight the uptake of interventions, preliminary outcomes and challenges in caring for HIV-exposed infants in a pMTCT HIVprogramme in a resource-limited setting. METHOD: A cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women were identified at the leading maternity centres in Greater Kingston through HIV counselling and testing and enrolled in the Kingston Paediatric and Perinatal HIV/AIDS Programme. Antiretroviralprophylaxis with zidovudine or nevirapine was given to the HIV-positive women and their newborns along with formula feeding. Some infants were enrolled retrospectively and followed irrespective of whether they had or had not received antiretroviral prophylaxis. A multidisciplinary team at the paediatric centres supervised protocol-driven management of the infants. Infants were followed for clinical progress and definitive HIV-infection status was to be confirmed at 18 months of age by ELISA or the Determine Rapid Test. RESULTS: During September 1, 2002 through August 31, 2003, 132 HIV-exposed infants were identified. For those infants prospectively enrolled (78), 97 received antiretroviral prophylaxis and 90 were not breastfed For all HIV-exposed children, 90 received cotrimoxazole prophylaxis and 88 continued follow-up care. Ninety-two per cent of all the infants remained asymptomatic and five died; of these deaths one is possibly HIV-related (severe sepsis at 11 weeks). This infant was retrospectively identified, had received no antiretroviral prophylaxis and was breastfed The main programme challenges, which were overcome, included the impact of stigma, compliance with antiretroviral chemoprophylaxis, breast-milk substitution and follow-up care. Financial constraints and laboratory quality assurance issues limited early diagnosis of HIV infection. CONCLUSION: Despite the challenges, the expected outcome is to prevent 50 new cases of HIV/AIDS in children living in Greater Kingston per year (300 over six years)

Socio-demographic characteristics of HIV-exposed and HIV-infected Jamaican children

BACKGROUND: In the face of the continuing pandemic of HIV/AIDS, the burden of the disease is now largest in the resource-poor developing world. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has listed the adult prevalence rate for the Caribbean as second only to Sub-Saharan Africa. OBJECTIVE: To document the socio-demographic characteristics of paediatric and perinatal HIV/AIDS in Kingston, Jamaica. METHODS: A cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women were identified at the leading maternity centres in Kingston and St Catherine and were enrolled in the Kingston Paediatric and Perinatal HIV/AIDS Programme. Infants born to mothers within the programme were prospectively enrolled. Infants and children identified after delivery, whether HIV-exposed or infected, were also enrolled (retrospective group). All were followed according to standardized protocols. RESULTS: We report on a total of 239 children, 78 (prospective group) and 161 (retrospective group). Among the retrospective group, 68 were classified as infected. For the prospective group, the patients were recruited within twenty-four hours of birth in 98.7 of cases, whereas in the retrospective group, the median age of recruitment was 2.6 years. The median age of the mother was 27 years and that of the father was 33 years. There were seven teenage mothers. Twenty-six per cent of the children were in institutional care. Family size ranged from one to nine children--the median was two children. For those parents where occupation was reported, the majority held semi-skilled or unskilled jobs. Patients attended their regional clinics. CONCLUSION: HIV/AIDS represents a significant human and financial burden on a developing country such as Jamaica and this underscores the need for urgent and sustained interventions to stem the epidemic