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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the Western Area Surge (WAS) program in the Ebola outbreak of Sierra Leone, and to analyze its implementing effect.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The subject of this study was 3,813 laboratory confirmed Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) cases reported in Sierra Leone from November 19, 2014 through January 27, 2015, a period before and after the implementation of the WAS program. To analyze and make conclusions according to the working experience of China Mobile Laboratory Reponses Team in the fight of Ebola outbreak, using WHO published EHF case definition to make diagnosis and compare the number of bed numbers, confirmed EHF cases, samples tested, and positive rates before and after implementation of WAS program.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From the implementation of WAS program on 17th December 2014 to half a month later, the total numbers of Ebola holding and treatment centers increased from 640 to 960, six additional laboratories were established. On January, 2015, another two laboratories from America and The Netherlands were established. The numbers of samples tested one month before and after WAS program were 7,891 and 9,783, respectively, with an increase of 24.0 percent, while the positive rate of Ebola virus decreased from 22.2% (1,752/7,891) to 11.0% (1,077/9,783). The positive rate of blood samples decreased from 39.6% (248/626) in the month before WAS program to 27.4% (131/478) (χ2=17.93, P<0.001) in the mother after WAS program, the positive rate of blood samples 22.7% (103/454) to 10% (62/609) (χ2=31.03, P<0.001), accordingly. After 3 weeks of WAS program, in addition to Western Area, another four hotspots in Sierra Leone had also reported a significant decrease of the numbers of confirmed EVD cases. Forty-two days after implementation of WAS program, the daily number of laboratory confirmed EHF cases decreased from 63 to 10.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>WAS program played a vital role in controlling the EHF outbreak rapidly in Sierra Leone. It could also provide guidance for the control similar large infectious diseases outbreak in the future.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , China , Disease Outbreaks , Ebolavirus , Foreign Professional Personnel , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola , Mobile Health Units , Sierra LeoneABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the short-term clinical efficacy and safety of administration of levosimendan or milrinone added to conventional therapy in patients with decompensated heart failure.Methods A total of 180 patients admitted due to heart failure [NYHA (New York Heart Association) class Ⅲ or Ⅳ] were randomly (random number) divided into control group,milrinone group and levosimendan group (n =60,each group).A continuous infusion of milrinone added to conventional therapy was administered for 72 hours in milrinone group,while administration of levosimendan for 24 hours in levosimendan group.The changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),left ventricle end-diastolic diameter (LVDD) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) plasma level were compared between before and after treatment,respectively,and comparisons of improvement in cardiac function (NYHA class) and hospital mortality were carried out among three groups.Patients were further followed up at 3 months after treatment.Results The LVEF in levosimendan group after treatment had significantly more increased than that in control group [(32.0±6.3)％ vs.(30.6 ±5.5)％,P =0.007].Compared BNP before treatment,the sums of BNP deducted were 444.0 (-74.0,1068.0) pg/mL,469.0 (141.5,1151.5) pg/mL and 936.5 (437.8,1566.8) pg/mL in control group,milrinone group and levosimendan group,respectively after treatment (all P ＜ 0.01).Moreover,the deduction in BNP was more dramatic in levosimendan group compared with control or milrinone group (t =3.256 or 2.665,P =0.004 or 0.026).After treatment for 5 days,the probability at least of achieving more effectively better improvement in NYHA class (cardiac function) in levosimendan group was 2.036 times that of control group (95％ CI:1.030-4.028,P =0.041).The incidence of combined end point events (death or readmission) in levosimendan group was significantly lower than that in milrinone group (50％ vs.70％,HR =0.573,95％ CI:0.358-0.917,P=0.020),while in hospital mortality,readmission or 3-month mortality incidence was similar among 3 groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The short-term clinical efficacy of levosimendan is superior to that of milrinone or conventional therapy in patients with decompensated heart failure.
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Objective To study the resistance and molecular profiles of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from the clinical specimens.Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested with 56 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a hospital from May to November 2011.The mecA and pvl genes were detected.The spa genetic types were analyzed.Results A total of 21 (37.5%)Staphylococcus aureus strains were resistant to methicillin (MRSA)and 35 (62.5%)were sensitive to methicillin (MSSA).Nineteen of the 21 (90.5%)MRSA strains carried mecA gene.Compared with MSSA,MRSA were much less sen-sitive to rifampin,fluoroqunolones,tetracycline and gentamicin (P <0.05).All the MRSA isolates were susceptible to vanco-mycin,linezolid,tigecycline,quinupristin-dalfopristin and nitrofurantoin.Six spa types were identified among the MRSA strains.Type t030 was the most prevalent,accounting for 66.7% (14/21)of all the MRSA strains.MRSA-t030 and MRSA-t002 were resistant to multiple antibiotics.Eighteen spa types were identified among the MSSA strains.Type t189,t377 and t034 were the top three spa types of MSSA,accounting for 14.3%,14.3% and 11.4%,respectively.A new MSSA spa typ-ing strain new1 was isolated from pus.There were five Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive isolates,3 of which was MSSA-t189 type. Conclusions Type t030 is the most prevalent spa type among clinical MRSA strains,which is resistant to many kinds of antibiotics and widely spreads in the hospital setting.There are many different spa types a-mong the MSSA strains.Type t389,t377 and t034 are the top three spa types of MSSA.
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Objective To evaluate the improvement effect of levosimendan by vein injection on short term cardiac function of patients with decompensated heart failure.Methods One hundred and sixty patients admitted due to heart failure were randomly divided into levosimendan group and control group (80 subjects for each group).Patients in control group were given a regular therapy including diuretics,vasodilators (including the recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide),angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor(ACEI) or angiotensin Ⅱ receptorantagonists(ARB),β blockers,spironolactone and stain.Patients in levosimendan were administered levosimendan for 24 hours plus regular therapy.The improvements of dyspnoea in 9 days and cardiac function classification in 30 days after therapy were assessed.Mortality of 1 month and 3 month in two group were calculated and compared during follow-up.Results The dyspnoea improvement rate was superior than that of control group during 9 days (OR =1.956,95％ CI:1.156-3.310,P =0.013).The improvements in the levosimendan group were better than in the control group at 1 st day (OR =2.261,95 ％ CI:1.280-3.999,P =0.005),at 3rd (OR =2.002,95 ％ CI:1.111-3.607,P =0.021) and 5th day (OR =1.846,95 ％ CI:1.009 -3.377,P =0.047).However,there was no significant difference in term of improving dyspnoea between the levosimendan group and the control group at 9th day (P =0.126).Similarly,the improvement of cardiac function classification in the levosimendan group was superior than the control group during 30 days (OR =1.933,95％ CI:1.229-3.040,P =0.004).Although no significant difference was seen regarding of improving cardiac function classification between the two groups at 30th day after treatment (P =0.115),the improvements in the levosimendan group were better than in the control group at 3rd (OR =1.986,95％ CI:1.195-3.300,P =0.008),5th (OR =2.268,95 ％ CI:1.329-3.873,P =0.003),9th (OR =2.627,95 ％ CI:1.419-4.860,P =0.002) and 14th day(OR =2.212,95％ CI:1.189-4.112,P =0.012).Moreover,there was a nonsignificant reduction in terms of mortality in levosimendan group during 1-month and 3-month follow-up compared with control group (P ＞ 0.05).Condusion Levosimendan can effectively improve the short-term cardiac function in patients with decompensated heart failure.
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Objective To investigate the short-term clinical efficacy of levosimendan on treating patients with decompensated cardiac insufficiency.Methods One hundred and twenty patients with heart failure (NYHA Ⅲ-Ⅳ or Killip Ⅲ) were randomly divided into levosimendan group(n =60) and control group(n =60).The patients in levosimendan group were given intravenous levosimendan for 24 hours beside conventional heart failure medications.The patients in control group were given the conventional heart failure medications.The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was recorded and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured before and after treatment.NYHA grade and mortality also were recorded.All patients were followed up for 3 months.Results The LVEF in the levosimendan group after the treatment was (35.6 ± 13.3)％,significantly higher than that in the control group ((31.4 ± 6.7) ％,F =8.952,P =0.002).The BNP in two groups after treatment were lower compared with before treatment(P ＜0.05).And it was more remarkable after treatment in levosimendan group compared with control group (441.0 (212.5,1050.0) ng/L vs.870.0 (435.0,1267.0) ng/L,P =0.014).The change of NYHA grade in levosimendan group was better than that in control group after 5 d.The recovery rate and ineffective or deterioration rate in levosimendan group were 45.0％ (27/60),26.7％ (16/30) and 43.3％ (26/60) respectively,higher than that of control group (28.3％ (17/60),20.0％ (12/60),36.7％ (22/60)) (OR =2.280,95％ CI 1.163-4.468,P =0.016).There was no significant difference in term of mortality between in hospital and 3 months follow-up in the levosimendan and the control group (20％ (12/60) vs.25％ (15/60),28.3％ (17/30) vs.41.7％ (25/60),x2 =1.543,P =0.214 and x2 =2.590,P =0.108).There was a decreasing trend regarding of readmission rate during 3 months in levosimendan group compared with that of the control group (21.7％ (13/60) vs.33.3％ (20/60),x2 =3.591,P =0.058),but mortality or readmission rate was lower than that in the control group (46.7 ％ (28/60)vs.66.7％ (40/60),x2 =4.835,P =0.028).Conclusion The short-term clinical efficacy of levosimendan on treating patients with decompensated cardiac insufficiency is remarkable better than the traditional treatment.
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Objective To evaluate the efficacy of intravenous recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide in acute anterior myocardial infarction complicated with heart failure.Methods Two hundred patients suffered from acute anterior myocardial infarction complicated with heart failure were randomly divided into two groups:rhBNP group ( n =100) and control group ( n =100 ).All patients were given conventional treatment,patients in rhBNP group were given rhBNP on the basis of conventional therapy.The clinical effectiveness including the improvement of cardiac function,cardiac ultrasound data,the incidence of hospital adverse cardiac events,and six month follow-up were compared between the two groups.Results The degree of decompensation and Killip class in rhBNP group were better than those of control group after treatment ( improved dyspnea:significantly improved:36 vs 27 ; improved:49 vs 46; no improvement:11 vs 20 ; deterioration:4 vs 7 ; Ridit value:0.4618 vs 0.5382,P =0.043) ( Killip class:significantly improved:26 vs 20; improved:56 vs 45; no improvement:14 vs 25 ; deterioration:4 vs 10; Ridit value:0.4553 vs 0.5447,P =0.017 ).After treatment for one week,The LVEF improvement in rhBNP group was more remarkable than that of control group ( [ 53.0 ± 5.2 ] ％vs.[ 50.0 ±:6.2 ] ％,P =0.014).The occurrence rate of angina ( 13.0％ vs.27.0％,P =0.013 ),heart failure ( 18.0％ vs.32.0％,P =0.022) and major adverse cardiac events(MACE) ( 17.0％ vs.30.0％,P =0.030) inrhBNP group was lower than that in control group.During 6 months follow-up period,event-free survival in rhBNP group was higher than that in control group ( 69.0％ vs.55.0％,P =0.041 ).Conclusion Transvenous injection of rhBNP combined with other routine treatment can improve cardiac function in patients with myocardial infarction in acute anterior myocardial infarction.It can also decrease adverse cardiac events during hospitalization and increase event-free survival in 6 months follow-up period.