Self-reported beta-lactam allergy in government and private hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Up to a quarter of inpatients in high-income countries (HICs) self-report beta-lactam allergy (BLA), which if incorrect,increases the use of alternative antibiotics, worsening individual health outcomes and driving bacterial resistance. In HICs, up to 95% ofself-reported BLAs are incorrect. The epidemiology of BLA in low- and middle-income African countries is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology and de-labelling outcomes of self-reported BLA in hospitalised South African (SA) patients. METHODS: Point-prevalence surveys were conducted at seven hospitals (adult, paediatric, government and privately funded, district andtertiary level) in Cape Town, SA, between April 2019 and June 2021. Ward prescription records and in-person interviews were conductedto identify and risk-stratify BLA patients using the validated PEN-FAST tool. De-labelling was attempted at the tertiary allergy clinic atGroote Schuur Hospital. RESULTS: A total of 1 486 hospital inpatients were surveyed (1 166 adults and 320 children). Only 48 patients (3.2%) self-reported a BLA,with a higher rate in private than in government-funded hospitals (6.3% v. 2.8%; p=0.014). Using the PEN-FAST tool, only 10.4% (n=5/48)of self-reported BLA patients were classified as high risk for true penicillin hypersensitivity. Antibiotics were prescribed to 70.8% (n=34/48)of self-reported BLA patients, with 64.7% (n=22/34) receiving a beta-lactam. Despite three attempts to contact patients for de-labelling atthe allergy clinic, only 3/36 underwent in vivo testing, with no positive results, and 1 patient proceeded to a negative oral challenge. CONCLUSION: Unlike HICs, self-reported BLA is low among inpatients in SA. The majority of those who self-reported BLA were low risk fortype 1 hypersensitivity, but outpatient de-labelling efforts were largely unsuccessful.

Non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure ventilation and high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy use in children without primary lung pathology: A prospective observational study

Background. Non-invasive nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) and high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) are non-invasive ventilation (NIV) modalities appropriate for children in developing countries. There is minimal literature describing nCPAP and HFNC use in children with respiratory compromise secondary to non-pulmonary disease. Objectives. Th present study aimed to describe the characteristics and outcomes of children without primary lung pathology, who received nCPAP and HFNC during their admission to Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Methods. This was a prospective observational study of routinely collected data, between August 2015 and January 2016. Primary and secondary outcome measures were NIV failure (progression to intubation and invasive ventilation) and paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission, respectively. Comparative statistics were conducted using Mann-Whitney U or t-tests. Data significantly associated with the primary and secondary outcomes on univariate analysis were entered into backward stepwise logistic regression models to determine independent predictive factors. Results. There were 31 cases of nCPAP and 1 case of HFNC use in 31 patients (median age 3.5 (interquartile range (IQR) 1.8 - 7.6) months). The majority (n=23; 71.9%) presented with primary diarrhoeal disease. There were 2 deaths (6.5%), 17 (53.1%) PICU admissions, and 5 (15.6%) cases received invasive ventilation (NIV failure). The median duration of hospital stay was 11.5 (IQR 6.0 - 17.5) days. Patients who failed NIV had lower admission SaO2 levels than those without treatment failure (95% (IQR 95 - 99) v. 100% (IQR 100 - 100); p=0.03). On multiple logistic regression, lower temperature (adjusted OR (aOR) 0.19; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.05 - 0.78; p=0.02) and receiving inotropes in the emergency setting (aOR 23.05; 95% CI 1.64 - 325.06; p=0.02) were independently associated with PICU admission. Conclusion. nCPAP was used clinically for the management of children with respiratory compromise secondary to non-pulmonary illnesses, particularly diarrhoeal disease. Larger controlled clinical studies are needed to determine the effectiveness and utility of nCPAP in this population. HFNC was not commonly used, and this modality requires further investigation in this population