Journal Article > LetterAbstract Only
Lancet HIV. 1 October 2024; Volume 11 (Issue 10); e711-e716.; DOI:10.1016/S2352-3018(24)00173-5
Venter WDF, Gandhi M, Sokhela S, Sikwese K, Bygrave H, et al.
Lancet HIV. 1 October 2024; Volume 11 (Issue 10); e711-e716.; DOI:10.1016/S2352-3018(24)00173-5
Journal Article > CommentaryFull Text
Southern African Journal of HIV medicine. 1 March 2012
Andrieux-Meyer I, Clayden P, Collins S, Geffen N, Goemaere E, et al.
Southern African Journal of HIV medicine. 1 March 2012
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
BMC Nutr. 1 January 2013; Volume 29 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1016/j.nut.2012.04.016
Dibari F, Bahwere P, Huerga H, Hailu ADE, Owino V, et al.
BMC Nutr. 1 January 2013; Volume 29 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1016/j.nut.2012.04.016
To develop a method for determining the acceptability and safety of ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) before clinical trialing. Acceptability was defined using a combination of three consumption, nine safety, and six preference criteria. These were used to compare a soy/maize/sorghum RUTF (SMS-RUTFh), designed for the rehabilitation of human immunodeficiency virus/tuberculosis (HIV/TB) wasted adults, with a peanut-butter/milk-powder paste (P-RUTF; brand: Plumpy'nut) designed for pediatric treatment.
Journal Article > CommentaryFull Text
BMJ. 29 September 2001; Volume 323 (Issue 7315); 740-742.; DOI:10.1136/bmj.323.7315.740
Griekspoor A, Collins S
BMJ. 29 September 2001; Volume 323 (Issue 7315); 740-742.; DOI:10.1136/bmj.323.7315.740
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 9 February 2022; Volume 16 (Issue 2); e0010148.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0010148
Steegemans IM, Sisay K, Nshimiyimana E, Gebrewold G, Piening T, et al.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 9 February 2022; Volume 16 (Issue 2); e0010148.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0010148
BACKGROUND
Millions of people are bitten by venomous snakes annually, causing high mortality and disability, but the true burden of this neglected health issue remains unknown. Since 2015, Médecins Sans Frontières has been treating snakebite patients in a field hospital in north-west Ethiopia. Due to the poor market situation for effective and safe antivenoms for Sub-Saharan Africa, preferred antivenom was not always available, forcing changes in choice of antivenom used. This study describes treatment outcomes and the effectiveness and safety of different antivenoms used.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:
This retrospective observational study included 781 snakebite patients presenting at the field hospital between 2015 and 2019. Adjusted odds ratios, 95%-CI and p-values were used to compare the treatment outcome of patients treated with Fav-Afrique (n = 149), VacSera (n = 164), and EchiTAb-PLUS-ICP (n = 156) antivenom, and to identify the risk of adverse reactions for each antivenom. Whereas only incidental snakebite cases presented before 2015, after treatment was made available, cases rapidly increased to 1,431 in 2019. Envenomation was mainly attributed to North East African saw-scaled viper (Echis pyramidum) and puff adder (Bitis arietans). Patients treated with VacSera antivenom showed lower chance of uncomplicated treatment outcome (74.4%) compared to Fav-Afrique (93.2%) and EchiTAb-PLUS-ICP (90.4%). VacSera and EchiTAb-PLUS-ICP were associated with 16- and 6-fold adjusted odds of treatment reaction compared to Fav-Afrique, respectively, and VacSera was weakly associated with higher odds of death.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE
Snakebite frequency is grossly underreported unless treatment options are available. Although EchiTAb-PLUS-ICP showed favorable outcomes in this retrospective analysis, prospective randomized trials are needed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the most promising antivenoms for Sub-Saharan Africa. Structural investment in sustained production and supply of antivenom is urgently needed.
Millions of people are bitten by venomous snakes annually, causing high mortality and disability, but the true burden of this neglected health issue remains unknown. Since 2015, Médecins Sans Frontières has been treating snakebite patients in a field hospital in north-west Ethiopia. Due to the poor market situation for effective and safe antivenoms for Sub-Saharan Africa, preferred antivenom was not always available, forcing changes in choice of antivenom used. This study describes treatment outcomes and the effectiveness and safety of different antivenoms used.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:
This retrospective observational study included 781 snakebite patients presenting at the field hospital between 2015 and 2019. Adjusted odds ratios, 95%-CI and p-values were used to compare the treatment outcome of patients treated with Fav-Afrique (n = 149), VacSera (n = 164), and EchiTAb-PLUS-ICP (n = 156) antivenom, and to identify the risk of adverse reactions for each antivenom. Whereas only incidental snakebite cases presented before 2015, after treatment was made available, cases rapidly increased to 1,431 in 2019. Envenomation was mainly attributed to North East African saw-scaled viper (Echis pyramidum) and puff adder (Bitis arietans). Patients treated with VacSera antivenom showed lower chance of uncomplicated treatment outcome (74.4%) compared to Fav-Afrique (93.2%) and EchiTAb-PLUS-ICP (90.4%). VacSera and EchiTAb-PLUS-ICP were associated with 16- and 6-fold adjusted odds of treatment reaction compared to Fav-Afrique, respectively, and VacSera was weakly associated with higher odds of death.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE
Snakebite frequency is grossly underreported unless treatment options are available. Although EchiTAb-PLUS-ICP showed favorable outcomes in this retrospective analysis, prospective randomized trials are needed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the most promising antivenoms for Sub-Saharan Africa. Structural investment in sustained production and supply of antivenom is urgently needed.