Bacteraemia in Severely Malnourished Children in Uganda
Author Information
Author(s): Bachou Hanifa, Tylleskär Thorkild, Kaddu-Mulindwa Deogratias, Tumwine James K
Primary Institution: Makerere University Medical School
Hypothesis
To establish the magnitude of bacteraemia in severely malnourished children and describe the types of bacteria and antimicrobial sensitivity by HIV status.
Conclusion
Bacteraemia affects 1 in every 6 severely malnourished children and carries high mortality especially among the HIV-positive.
Supporting Evidence
- 36.7% of the children tested positive for HIV-1.
- 76 (17.1%) of 445 blood specimens grew bacterial isolates.
- Among bacteraemic children, mortality was higher (43.5% vs 20.5%) in the HIV-positive.
Takeaway
This study found that many severely malnourished children in Uganda have blood infections, which can be very dangerous, especially for those with HIV.
Methodology
Blood specimens were collected from 450 severely malnourished children, and bacterial cultures were performed to identify infections.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to lack of information on prior antimicrobial use and hospitalization history.
Limitations
The study was conducted in only one hospital and may not represent the larger Ugandan population.
Participant Demographics
Of the 450 children, 63% were male, with a median age of 17 months.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.0–8.6
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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