Etiology of meningitis among adults in three quaternary hospitals in Mozambique, 2016-2017: The role of HIV.

BACKGROUND: Meningitis remains an important cause of morbi-mortality in adults in sub-Saharan Africa. Data on the etiological investigation of meningitis in adults in Mozambique is limited and most studies were conducted in southern Mozambique. Identification of the etiology of meningitis in adults are crucial to guide prevention and treatments strategies. In this study, we determine the burden of fungal and bacterial meningitis among adults at the three largest hospitals in Mozambique. METHOD: We performed analysis of data from the routine sentinel surveillance system for meningitis in Mozambique from January 2016 to December 2017. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected from eligible adults (≥18 years old) who met World Health Organization (WHO) case definition criteria for Meningitis. All samples were tested by cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) lateral flow assay (LFA), culture and triplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay and all patients were tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) using the national algorithm for HIV testing. RESULTS: Retrospective analysis of 1501 CSF samples from adults clinically suspected of meningitis revealed that 10.5% (158/1501) were positive for bacterial and fungal meningitis. Of these 158 confirmed cases, the proportion of Cryptococcal meningitis and pneumococcal meningitis was38.6% (95% CI: 31.0% to 46.7%) and 36.7% (95% CI: 29.2% to 44.7%), respectively. The other bacterial agents of meningitis identified include Neisseria meningitidis (8.9%; 14/158), Escherichia coli (6.3%; 10/158), Haemophilus influenzae (5.1%; 8/158) and S. aureus (4.4%; 7/158), which represent (24.7%; 39/158) of the total confirmed cases. CONCLUSION: Altogether, our findings show a high burden of Cryptococcal meningitis among adults in Mozambique, especially in people living with HIV, followed by pneumococcal meningitis. Our findings suggest that rollout of CrAg Lateral Flow Assay in the health system in Mozambique for early detection of cryptococcus neoformans is necessary to improve overall patient care.

Barreiras e Facilitadores no Cumprimento da Quarentena e Isolamento Obrigatório em Pessoas Expostas e Diagnosticadas com SARS-CoV-2/ COVID-19 na Cidade e Província de Maputo, Moçambique / Barriers and Facilitators in Compliance with Quarantine and Mandatory Isolation in People Exposed to and Diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 in Maputo City and Province, Mozambique

A 30 de Janeiro de 2020, o Director-geral da Organização Mundial de Saúde determinou que a COVID-19 constitui uma preocupação de saúde pública de emergência internacional. Objectivo: Identificar as barreiras e facilitadores para o cumprimento da quarentena e do isolamento obrigatório em pessoas expostas e diagnosticadas com COVID-19 em Maputo. Material e Métodos: Foram realizadas entrevistas em profundidade durante os meses de Maio a Julho de 2020 com 30 pessoas expostas e diagnosticadas com COVID-19. Os participantes foram selecionados usando uma amostragem aleatória sistemática. Resultados: A maioria dos participantes mencionaram a redução de salário mensal/horas extras, a interdição de bens e serviços e, o apoio familiar e dos profissionais de saúde como factores condicionantes para o cumprimento adequado da quarentena e isolamento. Conclusão: As condições sócio-económicas jogam um papel fundamental para que as pessoas cumpram a quarentena ou isolamento.

Introduction: On January 30, 2020, the Director-General of the World Health Organization determined that COVID-19 is an international emergency public health concern. Objective: To identify barriers and facilitators for non-compliance with quarantine and mandatory isolation in people exposed and diagnosed with COVID-19 in Maputo. Material and Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted from May to July 2020 with 30 people exposed and diagnosed with COVID-19. Participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Results: Most participants mentioned the reduction of monthly wages/extra hours, the ban on goods and services and the support of family and health professionals as conditioning factors for the proper compliance with quarantine and isolation. Conclusion: Socio-economic conditions play a fundamental role for people to comply with quarantine or isolation.

HIV prevalence and TB in migrant miners communities of origin in Gaza Province, Mozambique: the need for increasing awareness and knowledge

As part of ongoing efforts to generate evidence needed on HIV and tuberculosis (TB) to inform policies and programs aimed to improve the health outcomes of migrants and communities affected by migration and mining, a preliminary investigation was conducted through a biological and behavioral (BBS) approach related to HIV and TB in two communities of origin of migrant mineworkers in Gaza Province. The main objective was to determine the prevalence of HIV and the rates of asymptomatic infection by TB, and the social and behavioral risk factors associated. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to June 2017 using a simple random sampling methodology. Eligible participants were individuals who were living in the community at the time the survey was conducted, which included adult mine workers and members of their families aged 18 and above. A socio-behavioral questionnaire was administered, blood specimens were collected for HIV testing (Determine/Unigold) and sputum for TB (GeneXpert MTB/RIF) was collected. The statistical analysis was performed using the R studio software to produce means, proportion and odds ratio at 95% confidence intervals. Results A total of 1012 participants were enrolled, 75.2% were females, with a median age of 34. The overall prevalence of HIV found in the two communities was 24.2% (CI: 21.6­27.0) and was higher in the rural community (31.6%; 95% CI: 27.0­35.3). The prevalence of active TB was found to be 0.3% (n = 3) while 7.5% of the participants self-reported to have been previously diagnosed with TB at some point in their life. Only 2.8% of participants had knowledge of the basic principles of TB transmission. Condom use at last sexual intercourse with a regular partner was low among both sexes (17.3% male and 12.6% female). A considerable proportion of participants had not been aware of their HIV positive serostatus(31.1% female and 25.0% male). About 1/3 of the participants had had a history of STIs. Conclusion The results of this survey confirm a high prevalence of HIV in communities of origin of migrant miners in Gaza province. Findings also demonstrated low levels of awareness/ knowledge and prevention of TB and HIV. It is important to strengthen strategies that encourage regular HIV testing and TB screening. Appropriate communication interventions on methods of transmission and prevention of HIV and TB in these communities must be intensified, as well as ensuring ongoing linkage to TB and HIV social and healthcare services.