Pathology Commons^™

P16 Expression And Recurrent Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia After Cryotherapy Among Women Living With Hiv, Daniel Maina, Michael H. Chung, Marleen Temmerman, Zahir Moloo, Jonathan Wawire, Sharon A. Greene, Elizabeth Unger, Shahin Sayed, Samah Sakr, Nelly Mugo

Pathology, East Africa

Background: The expression of p16 protein, a surrogate marker for high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV), is associated with cervical dysplasia. We evaluated correlates of p16 expression at treatment for high-grade cervical lesions and its utility in predicting the recurrence of cervical intraepithelial lesions grade 2 or higher (CIN2+) following cryotherapy among women with HIV.

Methods: This is a subgroup analysis of women with HIV in Kenya with baseline cervical biopsy-confirmed CIN2+ who were randomized to receive cryotherapy and followed every six-months for two-years for biopsy-confirmed recurrence of CIN2+. P16 immunohistochemistry was performed on the baseline cervical biopsy with a positive result …

Pitfalls In Machine Learning-Based Assessment Of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes In Breast Cancer: A Report Of The International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group On Breast Cancer, Jeppe Thagaard, Glenn Broeckx, Chowdhury Arif Jahangir, Sara Verbandt, Rajarsi Gupta, Reena Khiroya, Khalid Abduljabbar, Gabriela Acosta Haab, Balazs Acs, Shahin Sayed

Pathology, East Africa

Abstract: The clinical significance of the tumor-immune interaction in breast cancer is now established, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have emerged as predictive and prognostic biomarkers for patients with triple-negative (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2-negative) breast cancer and HER2-positive breast cancer. How computational assessments of TILs might complement manual TIL assessment in trial and daily practices is currently debated. Recent efforts to use machine learning (ML) to automatically evaluate TILs have shown promising results. We review state-of-the-art approaches and identify pitfalls and challenges of automated TIL evaluation by studying the root cause of ML discordances in comparison to manual TIL …

Spatial Analyses Of Immune Cell Infiltration In Cancer: Current Methods And Future Directions: A Report Of The International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group On Breast Cancer, David Page, Chowdhury Jahangir, Sara Verbandt, Rajarsi Gupta, Jeppe Thagaard, Reena Khiroya, Zuzana Kos, Khalid Abduljabbar, Sunil Badve, Shahin Sayed

Pathology, East Africa

Abstract: Modern histologic imaging platforms coupled with machine learning methods have provided new opportunities to map the spatial distribution of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. However, there exists no standardized method for describing or analyzing spatial immune cell data, and most reported spatial analyses are rudimentary. In this review, we provide an overview of two approaches for reporting and analyzing spatial data (raster versus vector-based). We then provide a compendium of spatial immune cell metrics that have been reported in the literature, summarizing prognostic associations in the context of a variety of cancers. We conclude by discussing two well-described …

Development, Roll-Out And Implementation Of An Antimicrobial Resistance Training Curriculum Harmonizes Delivery Of In-Service Training To Healthcare Workers In Kenya, Josiah Njeru, Joshua Odero, Sheilla Chebore, Mungai Ndung’U, Emmanuel Tanui, Evelyn Wesangula, Romona Ndanyi, Susan Githii, R Gunturu, Willy Mwangi

Pathology, East Africa

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasingly severe threat to global public health that requires action across different sectors. Selection of appropriate antimicrobials is an urgent challenge due to the emergence of drug resistance. In 2017, Kenya developed an AMR policy and National Action Plan to drive prevention and containment of AMR. A priority activity under AMR surveillance strategic objective was to develop a national AMR training curriculum for in-service healthcare workers. In this paper we discuss the development process, gains achieved through implementation across the country and lessons learned.

Methods: An initial stakeholders’ forum was convened to …

Immunophenotypic Expression Profile Of Multiple Myeloma Cases At A Tertiary Hospital In Nairobi Kenya, Isabella Mengich, Sheerien Rajput, Riyat Malkit, Zahir Moloo, Elizabeth Kagotho, El-Nasir Lalani, Anne Mwirigi

Pathology, East Africa

Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell neoplasm that constitutes 10–15% of all hematopoietic neoplasms. Kenya is placed among the top five African countries for MM incidence and MM-related mortality. Prior studies have suggested that the aberrant expression of Cyclin D1, CD56, CD117 and Ki-67 on neoplastic plasma cells is useful in disease prognostication. The prevalence and significance of expression of these markers in a cohort of MM cases in Kenya has not been studied previously.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. The study population included 83 MM …

Neonatal Reference Intervals For Thyroid Stimulating Hormone And Free Thyroxine Assayed On A Siemens Atellica® Im Analyzer: A Cross Sectional Study, Geoffrey Omuse, David Kawalya, Patrick Mugaine, Assumpta Chege, Daniel Maina

Pathology, East Africa

Background Deriving population specific reference intervals (RIs) or at the very least verifying any RI before adoption is good laboratory practice. Siemens has provided RIs for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) determined on their Atellica® IM analyzer for all age groups except the neonatal age group which provides a challenge for laboratories that intend to use it to screen for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and other thyroid disorders in neonates. We set out to determine RIs for TSH and FT4 using data obtained from neonates undergoing routine screening for CH at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. …

Pattern And Trends Of Helicobacter Pylori Genotypes In Gastric Cancer: A Kenyan 8-Year Study, Priscilla Njenga, Allan Njau, Zahir Moloo, Gunturu Revathi, Evariste Tshibangu, Yoshio Yamaoka

Pathology, East Africa

Background: Notable geographic and temporal variations in the prevalence and genotypes of Helicobacter pylori, in relation to gastric pathologies, have been observed; however, their significance and trends in African populations is scarcely described. The aim of this study, was to investigate the association of H. pylori and its respective CagA and vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA) genotypes with gastric adenocarcinoma, and to describe the trends of H. pylori genotypes over an 8-year period (2012–2019).

Materials and methods: A total of 286 samples of gastric cancer cases and benign controls (one-to-one matching), from three main cities in Kenya, between …

Clinicopathologic Features Of Renal Cell Carcinomas Seen At The Aga Khan University Hospital In Kenya, Anderson Mutuiri, Samuel Gakinya

Pathology, East Africa

Introduction: Kidney cancer accounted for 1. 8% of global cancer deaths according to Globocan 2020 estimates, with most of these being renal cell carcinomas. Lower rates of renal cell carcinoma are reported for Africa and these are expected to change for a combination of reasons. The clinical and morphologic characteristics of renal cell carcinoma seen within Kenya have not been described before. This study aims to partially fill this gap.

Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study examining electronic histopathology reports from the Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi Laboratory for the period January 2016 to May 2022.

Results: …

Informing Healthcare Operations With Integrated Pathology, Clinical, And Epidemiology Data: Lessons From A Single Institution In Kenya During Covid-19 Waves, Allan Njau, Jemimah Kimeu, Jaimini Gohil, David Nganga

Pathology, East Africa

Pathology, clinical care teams, and public health experts often operate in silos. We hypothesized that large data sets from laboratories when integrated with other healthcare data can provide evidence that can be used to optimize planning for healthcare needs, often driven by health-seeking or delivery behavior. From the hospital information system, we extracted raw data from tests performed from 2019 to 2021, prescription drug usage, and admission patterns from pharmacy and nursing departments during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya (March 2020 to December 2021). Proportions and rates were calculated. Regression models were created, and a t-test for differences between …

The 5th Edition Of The World Health Organization Classification Of Haematolymphoid Tumours: Lymphoid Neoplasms, Rita Alaggio, Catalina Amador, Ioannis Anagnostopoulos, Ayoma D. Attygalle, Iguaracyra Barreto De Oliveira Araujo, Emilio Berti, Govind Bhagat, Anita Maria Borges, Daniel Boyer, Shahin Sayed

Pathology, East Africa

We herein present an overview of the upcoming 5th edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Haematolymphoid Tumours focussing on lymphoid neoplasms. Myeloid and histiocytic neoplasms will be presented in a separate accompanying article. Besides listing the entities of the classification, we highlight and explain changes from the revised 4th edition. These include reorganization of entities by a hierarchical system as is adopted throughout the 5th edition of the WHO classification of tumours of all organ systems, modification of nomenclature for some entities, revision of diagnostic criteria or subtypes, deletion of certain entities, and introduction of new entities, as …

Clinical Validation Of A Multiplex Pcr-Based Detection Assay Using Saliva Or Nasopharyngeal Samples For Sars-Cov-2, Influenza A And B, Nikhil S. Sahajpal, Ashis K. Mondal, Sudha Ananth, Allan Njau, Kimya Jones, Pankaj Ahluwalia, Eesha Oza, Ted M. Ross, Vamsi Kota, Arvind Kothandaraman

Pathology, East Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant diversion of human and material resources to COVID-19 diagnostics, to the extent that influenza viruses and co-infection in COVID-19 patients remains undocumented and pose serious public-health consequences. We optimized and validated a highly sensitive RT-PCR based multiplex-assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and B viruses in a single-test. This study evaluated clinical specimens (n = 1411), 1019 saliva and 392 nasopharyngeal swab (NPS), tested using two-assays: FDA-EUA approved SARS-CoV-2 assay that targets N and ORF1ab gene, and the PKamp-RT-PCR based assay that targets SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses A and B. Of the …

Molecular Epidemiology Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex Strains In Urban And Slum Settings Of Nairobi, Kenya, Glennah Kerubo, Perpetua Ndungu, Yassir Adam Shuaib, Evans Amukoye, Gunturu Revathi, Susanne Homolka, Samuel Kariuki, Matthias Merker, Stefan Niemann

Pathology, East Africa

Kenya is a country with a high tuberculosis (TB) burden. However, knowledge on the genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) strains and their transmission dynamics is sparsely available. Hence, we used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to depict the genetic diversity, molecular markers of drug resistance, and possible transmission clusters among MTBC strains in urban and slum settings of Nairobi. We analyzed 385 clinical MTBC isolates collected between 2010 and 2015 in combination with patients’ demographics. We showed that the MTBC population mainly comprises strains of four lineages (L1–L4). The two dominating lineages were L4 with 55.8% (n = 215) and …

Availability Of Essential Diagnostics In Ten Low-Income And Middle-Income Countries: Results From National Health Facility Surveys, Harika Yadav, Devanshi Shah, Shahin Sayed, Susan Horton, Lee F. Schroeder

Pathology, East Africa

Background: Pathology and laboratory medicine diagnostics and diagnostic imaging are crucial to achieving universal health coverage. We analysed Service Provision Assessments (SPAs) from ten low-income and middle-income countries to benchmark diagnostic availability.

Methods: Diagnostic availabilities were determined for Bangladesh, Haiti, Malawi, Namibia, Nepal, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda, with multiple timepoints for Haiti, Kenya, Senegal, and Tanzania. A smaller set of diagnostics were included in the analysis for primary care facilities compared with those expected at hospitals, with 16 evaluated in total. Surveys spanned 2004–18, including 8512 surveyed facilities. Country-specific facility types were mapped to basic primary …

High-Throughput Next-Generation Sequencing Respiratory Viral Panel: A Diagnostic And Epidemiologic Tool For Sars-Cov-2 And Other Viruses, Nikhil S. Sahajpal, Ashis K. Mondal, Allan Njau, Zachary Petty, Jiani Chen, Sudha Ananth, Pankaj Ahluwalia, Colin Williams, Ted M. Ross, Alka Chaubey

Pathology, East Africa

Two serious public health challenges have emerged in the current COVID-19 pandemic namely, deficits in SARS-CoV-2 variant monitoring and neglect of other co-circulating respiratory viruses. Additionally, accurate assessment of the evolution, extent, and dynamics of the outbreak is required to understand the transmission of the virus. To address these challenges, we evaluated 533 samples using a high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS) respiratory viral panel (RVP) that includes 40 viral pathogens. The performance metrics revealed a PPA, NPA, and accuracy of 95.98%, 85.96%, and 94.4%, respectively. The clade for pangolin lineage B that contains certain distant variants, including P4715L in ORF1ab, Q57H …

Whole-Genome Sequence-Informed Maldi-Tof Ms Diagnostics Reveal Importance Of Klebsiella Oxytoca Group In Invasive Infections: A Retrospective Clinical Study, Aline Cuénod, Daniel Wüthrich, Helena M. B. Seth-Smith, Chantal Ott, Christian Gehringer, Frédéric Foucault, Roxanne Mouchet, Ali Kassim, Gunturu Revathi, Deborah R. Vogt

Pathology, East Africa

Background: Klebsiella spp. are opportunistic pathogens which can cause severe infections, are often multi-drug resistant and are a common cause of hospital-acquired infections. Multiple new Klebsiella species have recently been described, yet their clinical impact and antibiotic resistance profiles are largely unknown. We aimed to explore Klebsiella group- and species-specific clinical impact, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence.

Methods: We analysed whole-genome sequence data of a diverse selection of Klebsiella spp. isolates and identified resistance and virulence factors. Using the genomes of 3594 Klebsiella isolates, we predicted the masses of 56 ribosomal subunit proteins and identified species-specific marker masses. …

Clinical Validation Of A Sensitive Test For Saliva Collected In Healthcare And Community Settings With Pooling Utility For Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Mass Surveillance, Panelnikhil S. Sahajpal, Ashis K. Mondal, Sudha Ananth, Allan Njau, Pankaj Ahluwalia, Vamsi Kota, Kevin Caspary, Ted M. Ross, Michael Farrell, Michael P. Shannon

Pathology, East Africa

The clinical performance of saliva compared with nasopharyngeal swabs (NPSs) has shown conflicting results in healthcare and community settings. In the present study, a total of 429 matched NPS and saliva sample pairs, collected in either healthcare or community setting, were evaluated. Phase-1 (protocol U) tested 240 matched NPS and saliva sample pairs; phase 2 (SalivaAll protocol) tested 189 matched NPS and saliva sample pairs, with an additional sample homogenization step before RNA extraction. A total of 85 saliva samples were evaluated with both protocols. In phase-1, 28.3% (68/240) samples tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) …

Plasma Cell Leukemia: A Review Of 3 Cases Managed In Kenya, Matilda Ong’Ondi, Elizabeth Kagotho

Pathology, East Africa

Plasma Cell Leukemia (PCL) is a rare and aggressive form of plasma cell dyscrasia that can arise either de novo (primary plasma cell leukemia) or evolve from previously diagnosed and treated multiple myeloma (secondary PCL). We highlight three clinical cases with very different presentations as a reminder of this diagnosis. (e cases also highlight the diversity and variability that cover a patient’s journey that is highly dependent on accessibility based on financial capability and social support. (e clinical presentation is more aggressive due to the higher tumour burden and more proliferative tumor cells with cytopenias being profound and more organomegaly. …

High Prevalence Of Multidrug-Resistant Clostridioides Difficile Following Extensive Use Of Antimicrobials In Hospitalized Patients In Kenya, Winnie C. Mutai, Marianne W. Mureithi, Omu Anzala, Gunturu Revathi, Brian Kullin, Magdaline Burugu, Cecilia Kyany’A, Erick Odoyo, Peter Otieno, Lillian Musila

Pathology, East Africa

Introduction: Clostridioides difficile is a neglected pathogen in many African countries as it is generally not regarded as one of the major contributors toward the diarrheal disease burden in the continent. However, several studies have suggested that C. difficile infection (CDI) may be underreported in many African settings. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of CDI in hospitalized patients, evaluate antimicrobial exposure, and detect toxin and antimicrobial resistance profiles of the isolated C. difficile strains.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 333 hospitalized patients with hospital-onset diarrhoea were selected. The stool samples were collected and cultured on …

Epidemiology Of Staphylococcus Aureus Infections In Kenya: Current State, Gaps And Opportunities, Justin Nyasinga, Geoffrey Omuse, John Njenga, Andrew Nyerere, Shima Abdulgader, Mae Newton, Andrew Whitelaw, Gunturu Revathi

Pathology, East Africa

Staphylococcus aureus has maintained its clinical relevance as a major cause of hospital and community acquired infections globally with a high burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Though reported, the burden of infection, antimicrobial resistance and molecular epidemiology of S. aureus are not well defined in Kenya. This descriptive review evaluated reported data on the detection and characterization of S. aureus infections in Kenya. Published data between 2000 and 2020 were evaluated. S. aureus isolation frequencies varied from 1% in blood specimens to 52.6% among skin and soft tissues infections while MRSA rates ranged from 1% to 84.1%. While penicillin resistance …

Implementation Of Surgical Site Infection Surveillance In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: A Position Statement For The International Society For Infectious Diseases, Shaheen Mehtar, Anthony Wanyoro, Folasade Ogunsola, Emmanuel A. Ameh, Peter Nthumba, Claire Kilpatrick, Gunturu Revathi, Anastasia Antoniadou, Helen Giamarelou, Anucha Apisarnthanarak

Pathology, East Africa

Surgical site infection (SSI) rates in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) range from 8 to 30% of procedures, making them the most frequent healthcare-acquired infection (HAI) with substantial morbidity, mortality, and economic impacts. Presented here is an approach to surgical site infection prevention based on surveillance and focused on five critical areas identified by international experts. These five areas include 1. Collecting valid, high-quality data; 2. Linking HAIs to economic incapacity, underscoring the need to prioritize infection prevention activities; 3. Implementing SSI surveillance within infection prevention and control (IPC) programs to enact structural changes, develop procedural skills, and alter healthcare …

Clinical Performance And Utility Of A Comprehensive Next-Generation Sequencing Dna Panel For The Simultaneous Analysis Of Variants, Tmb And Msi For Myeloid Neoplasms, Nikhil Shri Sahajpal, Ashis K. Mondal, Sudha Ananth, Allan Njau, Pankaj Ahluwalia, Kimya Jones, Meenakshi Ahluwalia, Nwogbo Okechukwu, ,Natasha M. Savage, Vamsi Kota

Pathology, East Africa

The extensively employed limited-gene coverage NGS panels lead to clinically inadequate molecular profiling of myeloid neoplasms. The aim of the present investigation was to assess performance and clinical utility of a comprehensive DNA panel for myeloid neoplasms. Sixty-one previously well characterized samples were sequenced using TSO500 library preparation kit on NextSeq550 platform. Variants with a VAF ≥ 5% and a total read depth of >50X were filtered for analysis. The following results were recorded-for clinical samples: clinical sensitivity (97%), specificity (100%), precision (100%) and accuracy (99%) whereas reference control results were 100% for analytical sensitivity, specificity, precision and accuracy, with …

Proposal Of Rt-Pcrebased Mass Population Screening For Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (Coronavirus Disease 2019), Nikhil S. Sahajpal, Ashis K. Mondal, Allan Njau, Sudha Ananth, Kimya Jones, Pankaj K. Ahluwalia, Meenakshi Ahluwalia, Yasmeen Jilani, Alka Chaubey, Madhuri Hegde, Vamsi Kota, Amyn Rojiani, Ravindra Kolhe

Pathology, East Africa

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing has lagged in many countries because of test kit shortages and analytical process bottlenecks. This study investigated the feasibility and accuracy of a sample pooling approach for wide-scale population screening for coronavirus disease 2019. A total of 940 nasopharyngeal swab samples (934 negative and 6 positive) previously tested for SARS-CoV-2 were deidentified and assigned random numbers for analysis, and 94 pools of 10 samples each were generated. Automated RNA extraction, followed by RT-PCR, was performed in a 96-well plate. Positive pools were identified, and the individual samples were reanalyzed. Of the 94 …

Whole Genome Sequencing Reveals Virulence Potentials Of Helicobacter Pylori Strain Ke21 Isolated From A Kenyan Patient With Gastric Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma, Catherine Mwangi, Stephen Njoroge, Evariste Tshibangu-Kabamba, Zahir Moloo, Allan Rajula, Smita Devani, Takashi Matsumoto, Kimang’A Nyerere, Samuel Kariuki, Gunturu Revathi, Yoshio Yamaoka

Pathology, East Africa

Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection is etiologically associated with severe diseases including gastric cancer; but its pathogenicity is deeply shaped by the exceptional genomic diversification and geographic variation of the species. The clinical relevance of strains colonizing Africa is still debated. This study aimed to explore genomic features and virulence potentials of H. pylori KE21, a typical African strain isolated from a native Kenyan patient diagnosed with a gastric cancer. A high-quality circular genome assembly of 1,648,327 bp (1590 genes) obtained as a hybrid of Illumina Miseq short reads and Oxford Nanopore MinION long reads, clustered within hpAfrica1 population. This genome …

Determination Of Reference Intervals For Common Chemistry And Immunoassay Tests For Kenyan Adults Based On An Internationally Harmonized Protocol And Up-To-Date Statistical Methods, Geoffrey Omuse, Kiyoshi Ichihara, Daniel Maina, Mariza Hoffman, Elizabeth Kagotho, Alice Kanyua, Jane Mwangi, Caroline Wambua, Angela Amayo, Peter Ojwang, Zul Premji, Rajiv Erasmus

Pathology, East Africa

Background: Due to a lack of reliable reference intervals (RIs) for Kenya, we set out to determine RIs for 40 common chemistry and immunoassay tests as part of the IFCC global RI project.

Methods: Apparently healthy adults aged 18–65 years were recruited according to a harmonized protocol and samples analyzed using Beckman-Coulter analyzers. Value assigned serum panels were measured to standardize chemistry results. The need for partitioning reference values by sex and age was based on between-subgroup differences expressed as standard deviation ratio (SDR) or bias in lower or upper limits (LLs and ULs) of the RI. RIs …

Establishing The College Of Pathologists Of East, Central And Southern Africa – The Regional East Central And Southern Africa College Of Pathology, Shahin Sayed, Rudo Mutasa, Ephata Kaaya, Victor Mudenda, Erasmus Rajiv, Edda Vuhahula, Jamilla Rajab, Robert Lukande, Edwin Walong, Angela Mutuku, Kenneth Fleming

Pathology, East Africa

Issues: The scarcity of pathologists in sub-Saharan Africa is a well established fact that is attributable to few training programmes in the region; this is further compounded by the lack of harmonised curricula, training and exams within and without member countries.

Description of the intervention: Through the Association of Pathologists of East, Central and Southern Africa, the College of Pathologists of East, Central and Southern Africa (COPECSA) was formed with the clear-cut goal of establishing a regional and internationally recognised college to support and inform good quality medical and laboratory practice by promoting leadership, mentorship and excellence in the safe …

Addressing The Shortage Of Pathologists In Africa: Creation Of A Mmed Programme In Pathology In Zambia, Victor Mudenda, Evans Malyangu, Shahin Sayed, Kenneth Fleming

Pathology, East Africa

Background: With approximately one pathologist for one million people compared to ratios of approximately 1 to 25 000 in the United States and United Kingdom, there is a severe shortage of pathologists in much of Africa. The situation is particularly severe in Zambia, where, in 2009, the ratio was 1 to 1.4 million.

Objective: To address this, a postgraduate Master of Medicine (MMed) training programme was launched in Lusaka in 2011.

Methods: The process and most significant challenges and lessons learned were documented, as they may be of value to other countries facing similar challenges.

Results: …

Prognosticating Covid-19: A Need For Africa-Specific Laboratory Predictors, Geoffrey Omuse, Janet Maranga, Abubakar Abdillah, Daniel Maina

Pathology, East Africa

No Abstract

Combating Antibiotic Resistance Using Guidelines And Enhanced Stewardship In Kenya: A Protocol For An Implementation Science Approach, Jesse Gitaka, Moses Kamita, Dominic Mureithi, Davies Ndegwa, Moses Masika, Geoffrey Omuse, Moses Ngari, Francis Makokha, Peter Mwaura, Ronald Mathai, Francis Muregi, Matilu Mwau

Pathology, East Africa

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing problem globally especially in Sub-Saharan Africa including Kenya. Without any intervention, lower/middle-income countries (LMICs) will be most affected due to already higher AMR levels compared with higher income countries and due to the far higher burden of diseases in the LMICs. Studies have consistently shown that inappropriate use of antimicrobials is the major driver of AMR. To address this challenge, hospitals are now implementing antibiotic stewardship programmes (ASPs), which have been shown to achieve reduced antibiotic usage, to decrease the prevalence of resistance and lead to significant economic benefits. However, the implementation of …

Point-Of-Care Hpv Molecular Diagnostics For A Test-And-Treat Model In High-Risk Hiv Populations, Shahin Sayed, Michael Chung, Marleen Temmerman

Pathology, East Africa

Strategies for cervical cancer prevention and control in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) require concerted efforts to improve screening and access to treatment, especially in high-risk HIV populations. LMICs bear the largest burden of HIV infection, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is common among HIV-infected women, risk of cervical cancer is increased in women with HIV/AIDS, and HIV clinics provide opportunities to screen and treat for cervical cancer in this population.

Xpert® Mtb/Rif Assay On Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tissues In The Diagnosis Of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis, Allan Njau, Samuel Gakinya, Shahin Sayed, Zahir Moloo

Pathology, East Africa

Background: Diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis continues to be a challenge due to the complexity of the causative organism and the wide array of pathologic features seen in this infection. Xpert MTB/RIF can be used on fresh or frozen tissue specimens for diagnosis of tuberculosis with good results. However, there is little data on its use with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the potential utility of Xpert MTB/RIF and to compare its performance to Ziehl-Neelsen staining for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from FFPE tissues using histological features from haematoxylin and eosin staining …