ABSTRACT
Colistin is a last-resort antimicrobial for treating multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Phenotypic colistin resistance is highly associated with plasmid-mediated mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes. mcr-bearing Enterobacteriaceae have been detected in many countries, with the emergence of colistin-resistant pathogens a global concern. This study assessed the distribution of mcr-1, mcr-2, mcr-3, mcr-4, and mcr-5 genes with phenotypic colistin resistance in isolates from diarrheal infants and children in Bangladesh. Bacteria were identified using the API-20E biochemical panel and 16s rDNA gene sequencing. Polymerase chain reactions detected mcr gene variants in the isolates. Their susceptibilities to colistin were determined by agar dilution and E-test by minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) measurements. Over 31.6% (71/225) of isolates showed colistin resistance according to agar dilution assessment (MIC > 2 µg/mL). Overall, 15.5% of isolates carried mcr genes (7, mcr-1; 17, mcr-2; 13, and mcr-3, with co-occurrence occurring in two isolates). Clinical breakout MIC values (≥4 µg/mL) were associated with 91.3% of mcr-positive isolates. The mcr-positive pathogens included twenty Escherichia spp., five Shigella flexneri, five Citrobacter spp., two Klebsiella pneumoniae, and three Pseudomonas parafulva. The mcr-genes appeared to be significantly associated with phenotypic colistin resistance phenomena (p = 0.000), with 100% colistin-resistant isolates showing MDR phenomena. The age and sex of patients showed no significant association with detected mcr variants. Overall, mcr-associated colistin-resistant bacteria have emerged in Bangladesh, which warrants further research to determine their spread and instigate activities to reduce resistance.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Burns are most prevalent in low- and middle-income countries but the risk factors for burn contractures in these settings are poorly understood. There is some evidence from low- and middle-income country studies to suggest that non-medical factors such as socio-economic and health system issues may be as, or possibly more, important than biomedical factors in the development of post-burn contractures. Methods: Four cases are presented to illustrate the impact of non-biomedical factors on contracture outcomes in a low-income setting. The cases were drawn from participants in a cross-sectional study which examined risk factors for contracture in Bangladesh. Discussion: The two cases had similar burns but different standards of care for socio-economic reasons, leading to very different contracture outcomes The two cases both had access to specialist care but had very different contracture outcomes for non-medical reasons. The risk factors and contracture outcomes in each case are documented and compared. Conclusion: The impact of non-biomedical factors in contracture development after burns in low- and middle-income countries is highlighted and discussed. Lay Summary: Burns are common in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) but the risk factors for burn contractures in these settings are poorly understood. Burn contractures are formed when scarring from a burn injury is near or over a joint and results in limited movement. There is some evidence from LMIC studies which suggests that non-medical factors such as socio-economic (e.g., household income, level of education) and health system issues (e.g., whether specialist burn care could be accessed) may be as, or possibly more, important than non-medical factors (such as the type and depth of burn and the treatments received) in the development of contractures following burn injuries.Four cases are presented to illustrate the impact of non-biomedical factors on contracture outcomes in a low-income setting. The cases were drawn from participants in a larger study which examined risk factors for contracture in Bangladesh. Two cases had similar burns but different standards of care and different outcomes. Two cases had similar access to specialist care but very different outcomes for non-medical reasons. The risk factors present and contractures outcomes in each case are documented and compared.The importance of non-biomedical factors in contracture development after burns in LMICs is highlighted and discussed.
ABSTRACT
Risk factors for burn contractures require further study, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs); existing research has been predominantly conducted in high income countries (HICs). This study aimed to identify risk factors for burn contractures of major joints in a low-income setting. Potential risk factors (n = 104) for burn contracture were identified from the literature and a survey of clinicians with extensive experience in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). An observational cross-sectional study of adult burn survivors was undertaken in Bangladesh to evaluate as many of these risk factors as were feasible against contracture presence and severity. Forty-eight potential risk factors were examined in 48 adult patients with 126 major joints at risk (median 3 per participant) at a median of 2.5 years after burn injury. Contractures were present in 77% of participants and 52% of joints overall. Contracture severity was determined by measurement of loss of movement at all joints at risk. Person level risk factors were defined as those that were common to all joints at risk for the participant and only documented once, whilst joint level risk factors were documented for each of the participant's included joints at risk. Person level risk factors which were significantly correlated with loss of range of movement (ROM) included employment status, full thickness burns, refusal of skin graft, discharged against medical advice, low frequency of follow up and lack of awareness of contracture development. Significant joint level risk factors for loss of ROM included anatomical location, non-grafted burns, and lack of pressure therapy. This study has examined the largest number of potential contracture risk factors in an LMIC setting to date. A key finding was that risk factors for contracture in low-income settings may differ substantially from those seen in high income countries, which has implications for effective prevention strategies in these countries. Better whole person and joint outcome measures are required for accurate determination of risk factors for burn contracture. Recommendations for planning and reporting on future contracture risk factor studies are made.
