Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases最新文献

{"title":"Prescribing patterns of echinocandins in adult patients in a private hospital in Gauteng, South Africa.","authors":"Anja Grey,&nbsp;Rianda Joubert,&nbsp;Stephan Steyn,&nbsp;Marlene Julyan","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v38i1.470","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajid.v38i1.470","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Worldwide, the leading cause of invasive candidiasis and the fourth leading cause of hospital-acquired infections are the Candida species (spp.) group. One of the most important tools in fighting such drug-resistant fungi is the appropriate use of antifungal agents.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The study aimed to determine echinocandins' general prescribing patterns and how they are associated with the treatment period.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A quantitative, observational, and descriptive was used, and included patients receiving antifungal treatment in a private hospital in Gauteng, South Africa between 01 January 2015 to 31 December 2015.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 146 patient files included, 102 patients (69.9%) received caspofungin and 44 patients (30.1%) were treated with anidulafungin. For the former, 99 (97.1%) patients received a loading dose (LD) of 70 mg, while 200 mg anidulafungin was only prescribed to 30 patients (68.2%). In line with maintenance dose guidelines, the majority (98.1%) of caspofungin-treated patients received 50 mg IV daily, whereas 4 (3.9%) patients were treated at higher doses (70 mg daily). Anidulafungin was administered at various maintenance doses, including 400 mg (2.3% of patients), 200 mg (52.3%), 100 mg (43.2%) and 50 mg (2.3%) IV daily.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results can be utilised to produce a hospital-specific algorithm in terms of Candida-infected patients.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>These findings contribute to our understanding of prescribing patterns of antifungal agents and the impact thereof on treating <i>Candida</i> spp. Infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"38 1","pages":"470"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10091186/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9316209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antibiotic consumption by Access, Watch and Reserve index in public sector of Limpopo province, South Africa: 2014-2018.","authors":"Tiyani C Mthombeni,&nbsp;Johanita R Burger,&nbsp;Martha S Lubbe,&nbsp;Marlene Julyan","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v37i1.463","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajid.v37i1.463","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The World Health Organization (WHO) classified antibiotics into three categories in 2017 - Access, Watch and Reserve (AWaRe) - intending to reduce the consumption of Watch and Reserve antibiotics while increasing the use of Access antibiotics. Antibiotic consumption by AWaRe in South Africa is undetermined because of data and research scarcity.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim of this study was to quantify, describe and track antibiotic consumption between 2014 and 2018 in the public sector of the Limpopo province, South Africa, using the WHO's AWaRe classification for 2021.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Antibiotic consumption was quantified from pharmaceutical sales data for 2014-2018 by defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID) and described according to the AWaRe classification. The change in antibiotic consumption was measured by compound annual growth rate (CAGR), Access-to-Watch index (AW-I), 75% drug utilisation index (DU75%) and amoxicillin index (AI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The absolute consumption of Access antibiotics decreased by a 4.0% CAGR from 3.7 DID in 2014 to 3.0 DID in 2018, with relative consumption remaining above 80.0%. Relative consumption of Watch antibiotics increased by 15.8% CAGR from 7.8% in 2014 to 19.7% by 2018. The AW-I decreased from 10.4 in 2015 to 4.1 in 2018. The AI increased from 17.8% in 2015 to 42.0% in 2018. Parenteral formulations' DU75% comprised one Watch (ceftriaxone) and two Access (metronidazole and benzylpenicillin) antibiotics.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In Limpopo province's public sector, the consumption of Watch antibiotics increased, while Access antibiotics consumption decreased, as reflected by both relative consumption and the decrease in the AW-I. The determinants of the Watch antibiotics increase require research attention.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>Our study addressed the paucity of surveillance and research data on antibiotic consumption in the Limpopo province, South Africa, according to the WHO AWaRe classification.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"463"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2022-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9634851/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40667017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Malaria and COVID-19 prevalence in a population of febrile children and adolescents living in Libreville.","authors":"Bridy C Moutombi Ditombi,&nbsp;Bedrich Pongui Ngondza,&nbsp;Charleine Manomba Boulingui,&nbsp;Ornella A Mbang Nguema,&nbsp;Jack M Ndong Ngomo,&nbsp;Noe P M'Bondoukwé,&nbsp;Reinne Moutongo,&nbsp;Denise P Mawili-Mboumba,&nbsp;Marielle K Bouyou Akotet","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v37i1.459","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajid.v37i1.459","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Patients with acute febrile illness need to be screened for malaria and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in malaria-endemic areas to reduce malaria mortality rates and to prevent the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To estimate the frequency of children and adolescents with COVID-19 and/or malaria among febrile patients attending for malaria diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This cross-sectional study was conducted in a sentinel site for malaria surveillance during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (Omicron variant), from October 2021 to December 2021 in Gabon. All febrile patients were tested for malaria using microscopy. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid antigen tests developed by Sansure Biotech^®.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 135 patients were screened. Their median age was 6 (interquartile range [IQR]: 3-14) years. Malaria was confirmed for 49 (36.3%) patients, 29 (32.5%) children, 13 (59.0%) adolescents and 7 (29.2%) adults. The frequency of COVID-19 cases was 7.4% (<i>n</i> = 10/135), and it was comparable between children (<i>n</i> = 6; 6.7%), adolescents (<i>n</i> = 2; 9.1%) and adults (<i>n</i> = 2; 8.3%) (<i>p =</i> 0.17). Malaria and COVID-19 co-infections were diagnosed in 3 (6.1%) patients from all the age groups. Participants with a co-infection had a higher median temperature, a higher median parasitaemia, and were mostly infected with non-<i>falciparum</i> malaria.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>COVID-19 cases and cases of malaria/COVID-19 co-infections were found in febrile children and adolescents. SARS-CoV-2 testing should be included in the screening of suspected malaria cases.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>This study highlights the presence of malaria-COVID-19 coinfection among children and adolescents who should also be screened for both diseases, like for adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"459"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2022-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9634652/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40667979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antibiotic consumption in the public sector of the Limpopo province, South Africa, 2014-2018.","authors":"Tiyani C Mthombeni,&nbsp;Johanita R Burger,&nbsp;Martha S Lubbe,&nbsp;Marlene Julyan","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v37i1.462","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajid.v37i1.462","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Antibiotic consumption (ABC) surveillance is a critical component of the strategic priority response to the increasing antibiotic resistance threat. Levels of ABC at the national and provincial levels in South Africa are unknown because of inadequate ABC surveillance systems and literature. Antibiotic consumption in the public sector of Limpopo province, South Africa, 2014-2018.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study used sales data retrieved from a pharmaceutical warehouse distribution database to quantify ABC. Antibiotic consumption was measured by the defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID) and 75% drug utilisation index (DU75%). Change in consumption was measured by the compound annual growth rate (CAGR).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between 2014 and 2018, the mean ABC was 4.6 ± 1.0 DID, with an overall decrease of 1.6% in the CAGR. Penicillins (2.3 ± 0.8; 50.0%), sulphonamide and trimethoprim combinations (1.4 ± 0.3 DID; 30.4%) were the most consumed antibiotics. Macrolides had the highest relative increase in consumption during the study period, with a CAGR of 18.5%. In contrast, tetracyclines had the highest relative decrease in consumption, with a CAGR of 100.0%. The CAGR ratio for broad- to narrow-spectrum increased by 39.3%, from 0.4 in 2014 to 2.1 in 2018. The DU75% comprised amoxicillin (28.4%), sulphamethoxazole and trimethoprim (SMX-TMP) (27.2%), doxycycline (12.3%) and azithromycin (9.2%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>While ABC remained relatively stable throughout the study, there was an increase in broad-spectrum ABC that requires further investigation.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>This study contributes ABC surveillance data in Southern Africa, described by ATC classification, which is essential for monitoring and evaluating antibiotic stewardship programmes.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"462"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2022-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9634943/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40667984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Best practices: Appropriate use of the new β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, ceftazidime-avibactam and ceftolozane-tazobactam in South Africa.","authors":"Adrian J Brink,&nbsp;Jennifer Coetzee,&nbsp;Guy A Richards,&nbsp;Charles Feldman,&nbsp;Warren Lowman,&nbsp;Hafsah D Tootla,&nbsp;Malcolm G A Miller,&nbsp;Abraham J Niehaus,&nbsp;Sean Wasserman,&nbsp;Olga Perovic,&nbsp;Chetna N Govind,&nbsp;Natalie Schellack,&nbsp;Marc Mendelson","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v37i1.453","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajid.v37i1.453","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antibiotic stewardship of hospital-acquired infections because of difficult-to-treat resistant (DTR) Gram-negative bacteria is a global challenge. Their increasing prevalence in South Africa has required a shift in prescribing in recent years towards colistin, an antibiotic of last resort. High toxicity levels and developing resistance to colistin are narrowing treatment options further. Recently, two new β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, ceftazidime-avibactam and ceftolozane-tazobactam were registered in South Africa, bringing hope of new options for management of these life-threatening infections. However, with increased use in the private sector, increasing levels of resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam are already being witnessed, putting their long-term viability as treatment options of last resort, in jeopardy. This review focuses on how these two vital new antibiotics should be stewarded within a framework that recognises the resistance mechanisms currently predominant in South Africa's multi-drug and DTR Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, the withholding of their use for resistant infections that can be treated with currently available antibiotics is a critical part of stewardship, if these antibiotics are to be conserved in the long term.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"453"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2022-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9634826/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40667981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characteristics of hospitalised COVID-19 patients during the first two pandemic waves, Gauteng.","authors":"Mpho L Sikhosana,&nbsp;Waasila Jassat,&nbsp;Zinhle Makatini","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v37i1.434","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajid.v37i1.434","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Gauteng province (GP) was one of the most affected provinces in the country during the first two pandemic waves in South Africa. We aimed to describe the characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients admitted in one of the largest quaternary hospitals in GP during the first two waves.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Study objectives were to determine factors associated with hospital admission during the second wave and to describe factors associated with in-hospital COVID-19 mortality.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Data from a national hospital-based surveillance system of COVID-19 hospitalisations were used. Multivariable logistic regression models were conducted to compare patients hospitalised during wave 1 and wave 2, and to determine factors associated with in-hospital mortality.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The case fatality ratio was the highest (39.95%) during wave 2. Factors associated with hospitalisation included age groups 40-59 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-4.27), 60-79 years (aOR: 2.49, 95% CI: 1.23-5.02) and ≥ 80 years (aOR: 3.39, 95% CI: 1.35-8.49). Factors associated with in-hospital mortality included age groups 60-79 years (aOR: 2.55, 95% CI: 1.11-5.84) and ≥ 80 years (aOR: 5.66, 95% CI: 2.12-15.08); male sex (aOR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.22-1.99); presence of an underlying comorbidity (aOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.37-2.26), as well as being admitted during post-wave 2 (aOR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.33-4.42).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Compared to the recent omicron-driven pandemic waves characterised by lower admission rates and less disease severity among younger patients, COVID-19 in-hospital mortality during the earlier waves was associated with older age, being male and having an underlying comorbidity.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>This study showed how an active surveillance system can contribute towards identifying changes in disease trends.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"434"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2022-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9557933/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40321943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Maternal vaccination: A narrative review.","authors":"Sahra Ashkir,&nbsp;Olive P Khaliq,&nbsp;Mehreen Hunter,&nbsp;Jagidesa Moodley","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v37i1.451","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajid.v37i1.451","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Vaccinations in general are considered to be one of the greatest achievements in medicine, saving millions of lives globally.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This narrative review highlights issues related to vaccination in pregnancy and provides information on those vaccines registered for use in pregnancy.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Published articles on vaccinations in pregnancy are included in this review. The search engines used included PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Vaccinations during pregnancy are more likely to be administered in high income countries (HICs) compared to low-income countries (LICs) due to easier access to healthcare services and better communicable disease awareness. Maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality rates associated with infectious diseases are higher in LICs with access to maternal care services, infrastructure and hospital equipment lacking in these settings.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Suitable vaccinations are recommended for use in pregnancy to prevent harm to women, their foetuses and newborns from some communicable diseases, and they have resulted in declines in maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, this review has shown that vaccination during pregnancy is not only safe for both the woman and her foetus but also effective. Therefore, health professionals and national governments should strongly consider approved vaccinations prior to or during pregnancy.</p><p><strong>Contribution: </strong>This review provides insight on the necessity of vaccination during pregnancy. In addition, it urges health professionals to inform patients of the importance of regular antenatal visits, and to receive the required vaccinations for a better health outcome.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"451"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2022-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9575370/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40646404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A retrospective review of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis queries, South Africa, 2016-2019.","authors":"Trisha A Whitbread,&nbsp;Kathleen J Kabuya,&nbsp;Nimesh Naran,&nbsp;Amilcar M Juggernath,&nbsp;Moushumi A Mathews,&nbsp;Lucille H Blumberg,&nbsp;Jacqueline Weyer,&nbsp;Vivien Essel","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v37i1.354","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajid.v37i1.354","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICDs) of South Africa (SA) provides technical support to healthcare workers (HCWs) with regard to infectious diseases through the NICD clinician hotline. Queries to the hotline are often about rabies prophylaxis. An analysis of these queries may help to identify knowledge gaps amongst HCWs regarding prevention of rabies in humans in SA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective descriptive review was conducted to analyse rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) queries received by the NICD from 01 January 2016 to 31 December 2019.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 4655 queries were received by the NICD clinician hotline for the study period, of which 2461 pertained to rabies PEP (52.87%). The largest number of calls were placed by HCWs (<i>n</i> = 2313/2437; 94.9%). Queries originated mainly from Gauteng (<i>n</i> = 912/2443; 37.3%) and KwaZulu-Natal (<i>n</i> = 875/2443; 35.8%) provinces. A total of 50 different types of animals were related to exposures involving humans. Dogs (67.7%) and cats (11.8%) were the animals most frequently reported and exposure category III was most common (88.6%). Approximately equal numbers of callers were advised active management of administering rabies PEP and conservative management of withholding PEP. This did not seem to be affected by the exposure category related to the call.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This analysis shows the ongoing demand by HCWs for technical support regarding patient management following potential exposure to rabies. Gaps in HCWs rabies knowledge provide unique learning points on guiding training to achieve the goal of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"354"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2022-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9558765/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"33513445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Erratum: Anaesthetists' knowledge of airborne infections.","authors":"Ahmed Elghobashy,&nbsp;Juan Scribante,&nbsp;Helen Perrie,&nbsp;Dorinka Nel","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v37i1.456","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajid.v37i1.456","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>[This corrects the article DOI: 10.4102/sajid.v37i1.351.].</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"456"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2022-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9453167/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40360039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Validation of the COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette (BNCP - 402 and BNCP402) in a South African setting.","authors":"Gilad Mensky,&nbsp;Tristan Pillay,&nbsp;Alexander von Klemperer,&nbsp;Merika J Tsitsi,&nbsp;Michelle Venter,&nbsp;Colin N Menezes,&nbsp;Sarah A van Blydenstein","doi":"10.4102/sajid.v37i1.431","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajid.v37i1.431","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Different diagnostic tools could improve early detection of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A number of antibody-based serological point-of-care tests have been developed to supplement real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based diagnosis. This study describes the validity of an antibody test, namely the immunoglobulin G (IgG)/immunoglobulin M (IgM) Rapid Test Cassette^® (BNCP - 402 and BNCP402), manufactured by Spring Healthcare Services.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective cohort validation study was undertaken at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital between 16 July 2020 and 12 August 2020. A total of 101 patients admitted as COVID-19 cases under investigation were included in the study. They were divided into two categories depending on time since symptom onset: testing performed within seven days (early cohort) and after seven days (late cohort). The rapid antibody test was compared to the RT-PCR.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, the test has a sensitivity and specificity of 85.2% and 80.0%, respectively, for a combination of IgG and IgM. Sensitivity and specificity of IgG testing alone were 81.5% and 85%. Sensitivity improved for testing with increasing time from symptom onset; however, specifity was not significantly different.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study data adds to the body of evidence that because of relatively low sensitivity and specificity, there is a limited role for antibody-based point-of-care testing in the acute phase of COVID-19 infection, as was the case with this IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette (BNCP - 402 and BNCP402). There may exist a role for such testing in patients recovered from prior COVID-19 infection or in seroprevalence studies; however, additional evaluations at later timepoints from symptom onset are required.</p>","PeriodicalId":44007,"journal":{"name":"Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"431"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2022-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9452929/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"33461176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}