Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Piot

Publications and source records attributed to P Piot.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Evaluation of a clinical case definition of AIDS in African children.

In July 1986, a provisional clinical case definition of AIDS in children, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for surveillance purposes in Africa, was tested on 159 patients hospitalized in the Department of Pediatrics at Mama Yemo Hospital, Kinshasa, Zaire. Twenty-one (13%) of these children were seropositive for HIV. In this population, the clinical case definition of pediatric AIDS was found to be fairly specific (87%) but lacked sensitivity (35%). The positive predictive value for HIV seropositivity was 25%. This study suggests that it is more difficult to define AIDS clinically in children than in adults and that the utility of the proposed WHO clinical case definition for pediatric AIDS for surveillance of children's AIDS in Africa is limited.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Malnutrition and HIV infection in children in a hospital milieu in Burundi].

HIV infection was present in 18 out of 40 (45%) consecutive malnourished children aged 2 to 29 months in pediatric wards of Bujumbura, Burundi. No difference was observed within and between the seropositive and seronegative groups for sex and anthropometric measures. HIV seropositive cases could be explained by a HIV seropositive mother (83%) or by a transfusion history (17%). The onset of marasmus was earlier in the HIV seropositive group (5 cases observed less than 6 months old compared to none of the other group, Fischer's exact test: P = 0.026). A more complex clinical picture was seen in the HIV seropositive cases (12/18 compared to 4/22, Fischer's exact test: P = 0.004) with the presence of hepatomegaly, adenopathy, thrush, dyspnoea and skin disorders. No difference was observed concerning fever and diarrhoea. HIV seropositive group tended to show a higher hospitalisation frequency and did not well respond to high protein-energy diet: 7 were discharged without gain weight compared to none of the other group (Fischer's exact test: P = 0.011). These results suggest a high rate of vertical transmission mother-child for HIV infection and a frequent association of malnutrition and HIV infection in hospitalized children in Burundi. Marasmic children less than 6 months old should be highly suspected of HIV infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

AIDS in Africa: a public health priority.

AIDS and HIV infection are now endemic in many parts of Africa. The infection is mainly transmitted by heterosexual activity, as illustrated by a 1:1 female to male case ratio and high HIV seroprevalence rates in people at risk for sexually transmitted diseases and female prostitutes. Transmission by blood transfusions, contaminated injections and from mother to child is occurring more frequently than in Europe. AIDS will probably have a profound impact on health care programmes and economic development in the continent, and its control should be a public health priority.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Immunogenicity and tolerance of a yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine in homosexual men.

A yeast-derived recombinant DNA vaccine against hepatitis B was administered to 314 active homosexual men lacking serum markers for hepatitis B virus. Volunteers were vaccinated intramuscularly in the deltoid region at 0, 1, and 6 months with either a 20- or 40-micrograms dose per injection. Serologic tests for syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus were positive in 3.2% and 2.0%, respectively. The overall seroconversion rates for anti-HBs were 35%, 97%, and 98% after the first, second, and third injection, respectively. The geometric mean titres of anti-HBs antibodies at 7 months were 955 IU/l and 2541 IU/l, for the 20 and 40 micrograms doses, respectively. Among 183 completely vaccinated subjects, 97% had an anti-HBs titre greater than 10 IU/l. Tolerance of the vaccine was excellent. Among the 183 subjects followed up for at least 7 months, two volunteers developed HBsAg and anti-HBc within one month of the first vaccine injection and one anti-HBc just before the third dose of vaccine. However, no subject experienced clinical hepatitis or ALT elevations.

Adolescent↗

Clinical manifestations and the natural history of HIV infection in adults.

The clinical expression of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) appears increasingly complex. It includes manifestations due to opportunistic diseases, as well as illness directly caused by HIV itself. Neurologic disease may include involvement of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves and is probably directly caused by HIV, as is lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia. The etiology of the chronic diarrhea and a papular pruritic skin eruption associated with HIV infection is unclear. Between 2% and 8% of HIV-infected persons progress to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) per year, with no apparent decrease in the rate of disease progression over time. A chronically activated state secondary to chronic microbial antigenic exposure may increase both the susceptibility to HIV infection and development of disease. Increased HIV gene expression, followed by persistent antigenemia, appear to be triggering factors in clinical deterioration. The role, if any, of environmental and/or genetic cofactors remains unclear.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

HIV seroprevalence among hospital workers in Kinshasa, Zaire. Lack of association with occupational exposure.

A study of seroprevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus involving 2384 (96%) of Mama Yemo Hospital's (Kinshasa, Zaire) 2492 personnel found 152 (6.4%) to be seropositive. Prevalence was higher among women than among men (8.1% vs 5.2%); in women peak seroprevalence (13.9%) occurred in 20- to 29-year-olds. Workers most likely to be seropositive were those who were relatively young, those who were unmarried, those reporting a blood transfusion or hospitalization during the previous ten years, and those receiving medical injections during the previous three years. Medical, administrative, and manual workers had similar seroprevalence (6.5%, 6.4%, and 6.0%, respectively), and seropositivity was not associated with any measure of patient, blood, or needle contact. These findings are consistent with other hospital-based studies indicating low risks for occupational transmission of human immunodeficiency virus.

Adult↗

Single-dose therapy of gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum with ceftriaxone.

We conducted a randomized clinical trial comparing a single intramuscular dose of 125 mg of ceftriaxone with a single intramuscular dose of 75 mg of kanamycin followed by topical gentamicin for seven days, and with a single intramuscular dose of 75 mg of kanamycin followed by topical tetracycline for seven days, in the treatment of gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum in Nairobi, Kenya. Of 122 newborns with culture-proved gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum, 105 returned for follow-up. Sixty-one infants (54 percent) received ceftriaxone, 32 received kanamycin plus topical gentamicin, and 29 received kanamycin plus topical tetracycline. Sixty-six (54 percent) of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates were penicillinase producing. All 55 newborns who received ceftriaxone and returned for follow-up were clinically and microbiologically cured. One of 26 returning newborns who received kanamycin plus tetracycline and 2 of 24 returning newborns who received kanamycin plus gentamicin had persistent or recurrent gonococcal conjunctivitis. Ceftriaxone also eradicated oropharyngeal gonococcal infection in 18 newborns, whereas oropharyngeal infection persisted in 2 of 8 newborns who had received kanamycin (P not significant). We conclude that 125 mg of ceftriaxone as a single intramuscular dose is very effective therapy for gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum, with marked efficacy against extraocular infection and without the need for concomitant topical antimicrobial therapy.

Ceftriaxone↗

AIDS in Africa: an epidemiologic paradigm.

Cases of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) have been reported in countries throughout the world. Initial surveillance studies in Central Africa suggest an annual incidence of AIDS of 550 to 1000 cases per million adults. The male to female ratio of cases is 1:1, with age- and sex-specific rates greater in females less than 30 years of age and greater in males over age 40. Clinically, AIDS in Africans is often characterized by a diarrhea-wasting syndrome, opportunistic infections, such as tuberculosis, cryptococcosis, and cryptosporidiosis, or disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma. From 1 to 18% of healthy blood donors and pregnant women and as many as 27 to 88% of female prostitutes have antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The present annual incidence of infection is approximately 0.75% among the general population of Central and East Africa. The disease is transmitted predominantly by heterosexual activity, parenteral exposure to blood transfusions and unsterilized needles, and perinatally from infected mothers to their newborns, and will continue to spread rapidly where economic and cultural factors favor these modes of transmission. Prevention and control of HIV infection through educational programs and blood bank screening should be an immediate public health priority for all African countries.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity among children 1-24 months old in Kinshasa, Zaire.

A prevalence study of antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was conducted in Kinshasa, Zaïre, among 258 children 2-24 months old who were in hospital, 191 children 1-20 months old who were attending a well-child clinic, and their mothers. 8% of the mothers of both groups of children were seropositive. Among children under 9 months old, 12 of 102 (12%) hospital inpatients and 11 of 136 (8%) clinic attenders were seropositive, while in the 9-24-month age group 20 of 156 (13%) hospital children and only 1 of 55 (2%) clinic children were seropositive (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.01). 61% of the seropositive children had seropositive mothers, indicating a high rate of vertical transmission. Factors associated with seropositivity among hospital children with seronegative mothers included male sex, increased lifetime number of medical injections, and previous blood transfusion or hospital admission. Among children who had not previously been transfused or admitted to hospital the seropositives had received more medical injections than the seronegatives (median 34.5 versus 14.5; Wilcoxon rank sum test, p = 0.006). HIV infection accounted for or complicated a substantial proportion of hospital paediatric admissions. Public health measures are urgently required to prevent parenteral and vertical transmission of HIV to infants and young children in Kinshasa.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Surveillance for AIDS in a central African city. Kinshasa, Zaire.

Surveillance for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Kinshasa, Zaire, was initiated in July 1984, using a modified version of the case definition developed by the Centers for Disease Control. During the first eight months, 332 patients met all clinical and laboratory criteria; surveillance information was available for 295 (89%) of these patients. Of the sera tested from these patients, 99% had antibodies to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus by both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot procedures. The male-female case ratio was 1:1.1; the mean age of patients was 33.6 years (median, 32 years; range, 1.5 to 64 years); and men were significantly older than women (mean, 37.4 vs 30.0 years). The estimated incidence rate for adults in Kinshasa is 380 cases per 1 million people per year. Peak age-specific incidence rates for men and women occurred among the 30- to 39-year age group, although the rate for men in this age group was 24% higher than the rate for women (786 vs 601 per 1 million). A reasonable estimate of the current annual incidence of AIDS is 550 to 1,000 cases per 1 million people. Surveillance of AIDS in Zaire provides important information on transmission patterns and rates in Africa.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

AIDS virus infection in Nairobi prostitutes. Spread of the epidemic to East Africa.

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is epidemic in Central Africa. To determine the prevalence of AIDS virus infection in East Africa, we studied 90 female prostitutes, 40 men treated at a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases, and 42 medical personnel in Nairobi, Kenya. Antibody to human T-cell lymphotropic virus Type III (HTLV-III) was detected in the serum of 66 percent of prostitutes of low socioeconomic status, 31 percent of prostitutes of higher socioeconomic status, 8 percent of the clinic patients, and 2 percent of the medical personnel. The presence of the antibody was associated with both immunologic and clinical abnormalities. The mean T-cell helper/suppressor ratio was 0.92 in seropositive prostitutes and 1.82 in seronegative prostitutes (P less than 0.0001). Generalized lymphadenopathy was present in 54 percent of seropositive prostitutes and 10 percent of seronegative prostitutes (P less than 0.0001). No constitutional symptoms, opportunistic infections, or cases of Kaposi's sarcoma were present. Our results indicate that the epidemic of AIDS virus infection has, unfortunately, spread extensively among urban prostitutes in Nairobi, Kenya. Sexual exposure to men from Central Africa was significantly associated with HTLV-III antibody among prostitutes, suggesting transcontinental spread of the epidemic.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Treatment of genital chlamydial infection with ofloxacin.

42 men and women with a genital chlamydial infection were randomly treated with a single dose of 200 mg doxycycline daily for ten days or with 200 mg ofloxacin twice a day for nine days. Two weeks after starting treatment 40 patients were able to be reassessed. All 12 men and all seven women treated with doxycycline had clinically improved or healed and had negative cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis. Among the patients treated with ofloxacin, all 11 males had improved or healed and C. trachomatis was not reisolated. These data are promising but larger numbers of patients and a longer follow-up are needed in order to confirm the efficacy of ofloxacin for the treatment of genital chlamydial infections.

Adolescent↗