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Biomedical subjects

S M Bhatt

Publications and source records attributed to S M Bhatt.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Efficacy and safety of an artesunate/mefloquine combination, (artequin) in the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Although artesunate and mefloquine have been used as monotherapies in the treatment of malaria in Kenya for a long time, there is insufficient data on the clinical outcome when used as combination therapy in this population. OBJECTIVE: To derive data on the efficacy and safety profile of artesunate-mefloquine combination in the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Kenya. DESIGN: An open label single arm clinical trial. SETTING: Bungoma district Hospital. Study area was Bungoma District of Kenya, an endemic area of malaria. The study was conducted between January 2004 and April 2004. SUBJECTS: A total of 200 males and females with uncomplicated plasmodium falciparum malaria weighing 35kg and above were recruited in the study. RESULTS: In the evaluable patient population the day 28 cure rate was 98.4% while day 14 and 7 cure rates were 98.4% and 99.2% respectively. There was rapid relief of symptoms the median time of fever clearance was one day and the most common drug related adverse events were headache dizziness and asthenia. There was no significant derangement in the haematological, biochemical and ECG parameters in the patients on treatment. CONCLUSION: Artesunate-mefloquine combination given simultaneously was found to be highly effective and safe in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Anthrax revisited.

BACKGROUND: Anthrax is an ancient disease affecting animals and humans. Sporadic cases of anthrax and small epidemics have been seen from time to time in different parts of the world and in Africa. However many clinicians are not very familiar with the various presentations and management of anthrax. It is relevant for the health care workers to re-familiarise themselves with all aspects of anthrax, with the impending threat of bioterrorism. OBJECTIVE: To familiarise healthcare workers on all aspects of anthrax. STUDY SELECTION: To describe epidemiology pathogenesis, clinical features, management and prevention of anthrax including measures to take when weapons grade anthrax is suspected. DATA SYNTHESIS: Three forms of the disease are recognised, cutaneous, inhalational and intestinal. Cutaneous anthrax is the most common form. Inhalation anthrax is the most severe form of anthrax. The treatment of anthrax in most cases is penicillin, however with the threat of bioterrorism, intentional releases of anthrax spores in the environment has caused much concern. Weapons grade anthrax of more virulent strain and resistant to commonly used antibiotics is possible. CONCLUSION: In view of the different clinical presentations and outcomes it is important that health care workers re-familiarise themselves with the disease and in the event of bioterrorism are able to take appropriate measures.

Africa↗
PubMed2001

Trends in bloodstream infections among human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults admitted to a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, during the last decade.

Bloodstream infections are a frequent complication in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults in Africa and usually associated with a poor prognosis. We evaluated bloodstream infections across a decade in 3 prospective cross-sectional surveys of consecutive medical admissions to the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. Participants received standard clinical care throughout. In 1988-1989, 29.5% (28 of 95) of HIV-positive patients had bloodstream infections, compared with 31.9% (46 of 144) in 1992 and 21.3% (43 of 197) in 1997. Bacteremia and mycobacteremia were significantly associated with HIV infection. Infections with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, non-typhi species of Salmonella (NTS), and Streptococcus pneumoniae predominated. Fungemia exclusively due to Cryptococcus neoformans was uncommon. Clinical features at presentation remained similar. Significant improvements in the survival rate were recorded among patients with NTS bacteremia (20%-83%; P<.01) and mycobacteremia (0%-73%; P<.01). Standard clinical management can improve outcomes in resource-poor settings.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2001

Under-diagnosis of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Nairobi, Kenya.

SETTING: Nairobi City Council Chest Clinic, Nairobi, Kenya. OBJECTIVE: To determine if under-reading of sputum smears is a contributing factor in the disproportionate increase in smear-negative tuberculosis in Nairobi, Kenya. METHODOLOGY: Between October 1997 and November 1998, patients fulfilling the local programme definition of smear-negative presumed pulmonary tuberculosis were enrolled in the study. Two further sputum specimens were collected for examination in a research laboratory by fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS: Of 163 adult subjects enrolled, 55% were seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). One hundred subjects had had two pre-study sputum smears assessed before recruitment and produced two further sputum specimens for re-examination in the research laboratory; of these 19 (19%) were sputum smear-positive on re-examination and a further seven (7%) became smear-positive on second re-examination. CONCLUSIONS: Of those patients with smear-negative presumed pulmonary tuberculosis by the local programme definition, 26% were smear-positive when reexamined carefully with two repeat sputum smears. This suggests that the high rates of smear-negative tuberculosis being seen may in part be due to under-reading. This is probably as a result of the overwhelming burden of tuberculosis leading to over rapid and inaccurate sputum examination. Retraining of existing technicians and training of more technicians is likely to reduce underreading and increase the yield of smear-positive tuberculosis. This finding also stresses the need for regular quality assurance.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2000

The changing impact of HIV/AIDS on Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi from 1988/89 through 1992 to 1997.

OBJECTIVE: Consequences of the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic for health services in sub-Saharan Africa remain poorly defined. Longitudinal data from the same centre are scarce. We aimed to describe the impact of a rapidly rising HIV/AIDS disease burden on an urban hospital over the last decade. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional observational study in 1997, compared to similar data from 1988/89 and 1992. The study was carried out in the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. METHOD: Consecutive adult medical patients were enrolled on admission and then followed up until death or discharge. The main outcome measures were clinical stage, HIV status, bacteraemia, length of stay, bed occupancy, final diagnosis and outcome of hospital admission. RESULTS: In 1997, 518 patients, 493 with HIV serology, were enrolled: HIV prevalence was 40.0%, bed occupancy 190%, the mean length of stay 9.5 days (SD 12) and overall mortality 18.5%. The mean number of HIV-positive admissions per day steadily rose from 4.3 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.6] patients in 1988/89, through 9.6 (95% CI, 1.4) in 1992, to 13.1 (95% CI, 2.8) or 13.9 adjusted for those enrolled without HIV serology in 1997. In contrast the mean number admitted with clinical AIDS, 1.7 in 1988/89 and 3.3 in 1992, fell to 2.6 cases per day in 1997. With HIV-negative admissions increasing by 37% and bed occupancy nearly doubling in 1997, HIV prevalence appeared to be stabilizing (19 then 39 and 40% respectively). Over time fewer HIV-infected patients were bacteraemic (26, 24 and 14%; P < 0.01); had clinical AIDS (39, 34 and 24% respectively; P < 0.01); or died (36, 35 and 22.6%; P < 0.02). HIV-negative mortality, 14% in 1988/89, rose to 23% in 1992 but fell to 15% in 1997. The mean length of hospital stay (9.5-10 days) did not differ according to HIV status nor did it change across the decade. CONCLUSION: The HIV/AIDS disease burden in Kenyatta National Hospital medical wards has risen inexorably over the last decade. Most recently, the number of HIV-uninfected patients has also risen, leading to bed occupancy figures of 190%. Despite overcrowding and irrespective of HIV status, in-patient mortality has fallen. Time trends suggest fewer clinical AIDS patients are presenting for hospital care, implying a rising community burden of chronic HIV/AIDS disease. Although widely predicted, it is not inevitable that medical services in urban African hospitals dealing with large volumes of HIV/AIDS disease, will collapse or become overwhelmed with chronic, end-stage disease and death.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Autopsy study of HIV-1-positive and HIV-1-negative adult medical patients in Nairobi, Kenya.

HIV infection has now been consistently identified as the major cause of death in young Africans in both urban and rural areas. In Africa, several studies have defined the clinical presentation of HIV disease but there have only been a limited number of autopsy studies. Because of the scarcity of autopsy data and the possibility of differing type and frequency of opportunistic infections between different geographic locations we set out to study consecutive new adult medical admissions to a tertiary referral hospital in Nairobi and perform autopsies on a sample of HIV-1-positive and HIV-1-negative patients who died in the hospital ward. Basic demographic data were collected on all patients admitted to two acute medical wards over an 11-month period. Final outcome and final clinical diagnoses were recorded at discharge or death. An autopsy examination was requested if the patient died in the ward. Autopsy examination was performed in 75 HIV-1-positive (40 men, 35 women) and 47 HIV-1-negative (28 men, 19 women) adults who died in the hospital. This represented 48.4% of all HIV-1-positive deaths and 33.3% of all HIV-1-negative deaths. Tuberculosis (TB) and bacterial and interstitial bronchopneumonia accounted for 96% of the major pathology in patients found to be HIV-1-positive at autopsy. TB was present in half the HIV-1-positive autopsy patients and was disseminated in over 80% of cases. Meningeal involvement was present in 26% of those with disseminated TB. By contrast, TB was much less common in the HIV-1-negative patients at autopsy in whom bacterial bronchopneumonia and malignancies were the most common pathologies. The type pathology found in the HIV-1-positive autopsy patients was not different than that found in other areas in Africa so far studied.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1999

Prevention of hearing loss in experimental pneumococcal meningitis by administration of dexamethasone and ketorolac.

Pneumococcal meningitis remains a significant cause of morbidity, particularly sensorineural hearing loss. Recent literature has suggested that a vigorous host immune response to Streptococcus [corrected] pneumoniae is responsible for much of the neurologic sequelae, including deafness, after bacterial meningitis. This study used a rabbit model of hearing loss in experimental pneumococcal meningitis to evaluate the therapeutic effect of two anti-inflammatory agents, dexamethasone and ketorolac, coadministered with ampicillin. Both adjunctive drugs minimized or prevented sensorineural hearing loss compared with placebo. Dexamethasone, administered 10 min before ampicillin, was particularly effective in minimizing mean hearing threshold change compared with placebo for both clicks (dexamethasone: 6.7-dB sound pressure level [SPL] vs. placebo: 33. 4-dB SPL, P=.0078) and 10-kHz tone bursts (dexamethasone: 8.4-dB SPL vs. placebo: 53.4-dB SPL, P=.0003). These findings support the beneficial role of anti-inflammatory agents in reducing the incidence of hearing loss from pneumococcal meningitis, especially if therapy is instituted early in the course of infection.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1999

Electron microscopic temporal bone histopathology in experimental pneumococcal meningitis.

Bacterial meningitis is one of the most common causes of acquired profound sensorineural deafness in children. Measurement of hearing and examination of the cochlea is limited in patients suffering from acute meningitis. A rabbit model of pneumococcal meningitis was developed to identify the temporal bone histopathologic changes that occur in meningogenic labyrinthitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Light microscopy was previously performed on temporal bones from acutely meningitic rabbits with profound hearing loss as determined electrophysiologically. Extensive inflammation of the cochlea with endolymphatic hydrops was observed. The organ of Corti, however, showed preserved architecture in the majority of these animals. In order to further investigate these findings, a protocol was used to create meningitic rabbits with hearing loss ranging from early high-frequency loss to profound deafness. The temporal bones from 7 rabbits were examined by transmission electron microscopy. In cases of mild hearing loss, partial degeneration of the inner row of outer hair cells, as well as edema of efferent cochlear nerve endings and marginal cells of the stria vascularis, was seen. With increasing degrees of hearing loss, the remainder of the organ of Corti and intermediate cells of the stria showed ultrastructural abnormalities. Spiral ganglion cells and basal cells of the stria vascularis remained intact in all subjects. This study provides unique information regarding the histology and pathophysiology of meningogenic deafness. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed, with an emphasis on potentially reversible changes and therapeutic intervention.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Some effects of the rising case load of adult HIV-related disease on a hospital in Nairobi.

Increasing numbers of HIV-infected adults in Africa need hospital care. It remains unclear what impact this has on health care services or on how hospitals respond. The aim of this study was to describe the effects of a rising case load of adult HIV-related disease by comparing results from a prospective cross-sectional study of acute adult medical admissions to a government hospital in Nairobi conducted in 1992 with results from a previous study done in 1988 and 1989 in the same hospital, using the same study design and protocol. Data on age, gender, number admitted, length of stay, HIV status, clinical AIDS, final diagnosis, case mix, and outcome were compared. In 1992, 374 consecutive patients were admitted in 15 24-hour periods (24.9 patients/period) compared with the 1988 to 1989 study, which enrolled 506 patients in 22 24-hour periods (23.0 patients/period). Patients' age, gender, and length of hospital stay were similar in both studies. In 1992, 39% of patients were HIV-positive compared with 19% in 1988 to 1989 (p < 10(-6)); whereas seropositive admissions rose 123% between the two periods (p < .0001), HIV-negative admissions declined 18% (p < .05). Clinical surveillance for AIDS consistently identified <40% of HIV-positive patients. Irrespective of HIV status, tuberculosis and pneumococcal pneumonia were the leading diagnoses in both surveys. No change was found in the diagnoses recorded for HIV-positive patients, but in HIV-negative patients, reductions were significant in the case mix (p < .00001) and range of diagnoses (p < .001) seen in 1992. Outcome remained unchanged for HIV-positive patients with approximately 35% mortality in both surveys. Outcome significantly worsened, in relative and absolute terms, for HIV-negative patients: in 1992, mortality was 23%, compared with 13.9% in 1988 to 1989 (p < .005), with 3.5 deaths per 24-hour period in 1992 compared with 2.6 deaths per 24-hour period in 1988 to 1989 (p < .05, one-tailed). These data suggest that increasing selection for admission is taking place as demand for care increases because of HIV/AIDS. This process appears to favor HIV-positive patients at the expense of HIV-negative patients who seem to be crowded out and, once admitted, experience higher mortality rates. The true social costs of the HIV epidemic are underestimated by not including the effects on HIV-negative people.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Meningococcal meningitis.

Meningococcal meningitis has been recognised as serious problem for almost 200 years. In Africa the disease occurs in epidemics periodically during the hot and dry weather in the "meningitis belt" and in east Africa, which is outside this belt the epidemics tend to occur during the cold and dry months. The infection is mainly transmitted from person to person by nasopharyngeal carriers in crowded places like refugee camps and army barracks. The rural/urban migration, the basic structural conditions of housing in squatter settlements and slums together with an overcrowded transport system have also contributed to the transmission of meningococcal meningitis. The earlier treatment of meningococcal meningitis was by the way of repeated CSF drainage. The first important advance in the treatment was intrathecal injection of antimeningococcal serum. A major break through in the treatment was the introduction of sulphonamides which was the preferred treatment until emergence of resistance to sulphonamides in mid 1960's. Penicillin remains the drug of choice currently. Mass immunisation of selected communities using polyvalent A and C polysaccharide vaccine is a useful control measure. Chemoprophylaxis is generally not recommended during epidemics. Given the current population densities and rural/urban migration together with financial constraints, future epidemic in Kenya may be more explosive unless strict surveillance programmes are maintained.

Africa, Eastern↗
PubMed1996

Peripheral neuropathy in AIDS patients at Kenyatta National Hospital.

Between June and December 1992 forty AIDS patients as defined by the CDC criteria, admitted to the medical wards of the Kenyatta National Hospital, were studied to determine the prevalence and pattern of peripheral neuropathy. Their mean age was 33 +/- 3 years with a range of 16 to 55 years. Clinical and laboratory assessment were carried out both to confirm peripheral neuropathy and exclude other causes of peripheral neuropathy apart from AIDS. All the patients had nerve conduction and electromyographic studies done. Eighteen patients were asymptomatic while fourteen had both signs and symptoms. The commonest symptom was painful paresthesiae of the limbs (35%) while the commonest sign was loss of vibration sense (60%). When symptoms, signs, and electrophysiological studies were combined, all the patients fitted the definition of peripheral neuropathy. The commonest type of peripheral neuropathy was distal symmetrical peripheral neuropathy (DSPN) (37.5%).

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

The impact of dexamethasone on hearing loss in experimental pneumococcal meningitis.

Bacterial meningitis, particularly that resulting from Streptococcus pneumoniae, is a common cause of acquired profound sensorineural deafness in children. The pathogenesis of meningogenic hearing loss has been investigated in an experimental rabbit model. In this study significant deafness was documented within the first 15 hours of infection. Initiation of antibiotic therapy at this time diminished the severity of hearing loss in most animals. The addition of dexamethasone to antibiotic therapy prevented the development of profound deafness. These results suggest this model will be useful in developing antiinflammatory strategies to improve the outcome of bacterial meningitis.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Blackwater fever at the Kenyatta National Hospital in Kenya: a case report.

Blackwater fever was an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the beginning of this century particularly in West and Central Africa. There has been a marked reduction in the incidence of blackwater fever since 1950 and only sporadic cases occur nowadays. At the Kenyatta National Hospital, three cases of blackwater fever have been seen in the past four years whereas not a single case had been reported between 1975 and 1988. Two of the patients fit into the classical description of blackwater fever and one was possibly due to drug induced haemolysis in a G6PD deficiency patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Recurrent polyneuropathy in pregnancy: a case report.

A 33-year old female patient presented with recurrent polyneuropathy during two consecutive pregnancies and recovered completely after spontaneous abortion the first time and after a normal delivery the second time. The patient has had a tubal ligation since then and has remained well up to date.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1993

Progression of hearing loss in experimental pneumococcal meningitis: correlation with cerebrospinal fluid cytochemistry.

The development of hearing loss and concomitant cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytochemical changes in a model of pneumococcal meningitis were examined. Rabbits were injected intracisternally with 10(5) pneumococci. Auditory evoked potentials to clicks and to 10- and 1-kHz tone bursts were recorded hourly; CSF was analyzed every 4 h. Sensorineural hearing loss developed in all animals beginning 12 h after infection and progressed to severe deafness. The onset of hearing loss was preceded by a CSF leukocytosis of > 2000 cells/microL and elevation of CSF protein and lactate concentrations to > or = 1 mg/mL. Temporal bone histopathology showed pneumococci and leukocytes extending from the CSF to the perilymph via the cochlear aqueduct. Hearing loss can develop early in the course of meningitis and is preceded by the abrupt onset of inflammatory changes in CSF. Progression of hearing loss is rapid and proceeds from cochlear base to apex in parallel with the degree of inflammation.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The presentation and outcome of HIV-related disease in Nairobi.

The range of clinical presentations of HIV-related disease in Africa has not been adequately described, despite the fact that many hospitals have to rely heavily on clinical diagnosis. Six hundred adult medical patients seen in the Casualty Department of the main Government hospital in Nairobi were enrolled in a study of the presentation and outcome of HIV-related disease: 506 of these patients were admitted, of whom 19 per cent (95) were HIV seropositive. The remaining 94 were dealt with as outpatients: 11 percent (10) of these were seropositive. A history of prior treatment for sexually transmitted disease and, if male, being uncircumcised, were associated with being seropositive. Three presentations were strongly associated with HIV infection: acute fever with no focus except the gastrointestinal tract (enteric fever-like illness), acute cough with fever (community-acquired pneumonia) and chronic diarrhoea with wasting. The WHO clinical case definition (CCD) for AIDS missed a substantial amount of HIV-related morbidity (sensitivity 39 per cent) and misidentified many seronegative patients (positive predictive value 59 per cent). In comparison with the Centers for Disease Control surveillance definition for AIDS, the CCD was specific (91 per cent) and sensitive (79 per cent) but only had a positive predictive values of 30 per cent: the CCD may therefore be a poor surveillance tool for AIDS. Seropositive patients were much more likely to die than were seronegative patients (39 per cent vs. 15 per cent mortality). Enteric fever-like illness was the presentation which most commonly proved fatal. A wider spectrum of disease is associated with underlying HIV immunosuppression than has previously been described in Africa.

Acute Disease↗