Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a Gram-negative bacterium capable of colonizing the human stomach, which can lead to various gastrointestinal conditions. Several invasive and non-invasive methods exist for diagnosing H.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnn Glob Health
December 2024
African research capacity is challenged by insufficient infrastructure to solicit and manage grants from local and international funding agencies. The manuscript provides an overview and discusses lessons learned about the pioneering role of the Mozambique Institute for Health Education and Research (MIHER) as the first research support center (RSC) in supporting the management of research grants in Mozambique, emphasizing its impact on research capacity development. Using mixed methods, data were comprehensively collected to identify MIHER's primary achievements from 2010 to 2023.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Alterations in haematological, biochemical parameters and cytokine levels, were reported in patients with COVID-19, however, there is an underrepresentation of the African population, which could provide evidence for understanding SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and useful tools for clinical management of cases. In this study, we aimed to determine the haematological, biochemical and cytokine profile in Mozambican individuals with SARS-CoV-2.
Methods: A cohort of 85 Mozambican individuals with RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 results, was stratified into negative, asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and severe categories.
Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy is known to be associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, including pre-eclampsia (PE), prematurity, perinatal and maternal mortality. Data on the burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection among pregnant women and their offspring in Sub-Saharan Africa is limited. We aimed to estimate SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and determine PE biomarkers in Mozambican pregnant women with perinatal loss.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntimicrobials are the most frequently prescribed drug in pediatrics, with an estimated 37% of infants and 61% of hospitalized children having received them. Approximately 20-50% of prescriptions have been shown to be potentially unnecessary or inappropriate. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the continued increase in antimicrobial resistance by the year 2050 will lead to the death of 10 million people per year.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: HIV remains a critical global public health challenge. In 2022, it was estimated that approximately 39.0 million people worldwide were living with HIV, and of these, around 29.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: epidemiological estimates from the 2021 Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) emphasize the existing gender disparities, where women face a higher risk of HIV/AIDS exposure. In Mozambique, as of 2021, the HIV prevalence rate among the adult population stood at 12.5%, with an even more concerning rate of 15.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Mozambique is a high-prevalence country for HIV and early detection of new HIV infections is crucial for control of the epidemic. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the 4th-generation rapid diagnostic test (RDT) AlereTM HIV Combo in detecting acute and seroconverted HIV-infection, among sexually-active women attending three clinical health centers in Maputo, Mozambique.
Methods: Women aged 14-55 years (n = 920) seeking care at the Mavalane Health Area, Maputo (February 2018-January 2019) were included, and blood specimens sampled.
Res Rep Trop Med
February 2024
Introduction: This study aims to determine the baseline seroprevalence of leptospirosis, a zoonotic and neglected disease, in people living with HIV (PWH) in Maputo, Mozambique, and to evaluate the relationship between selected HIV-related factors that might influence risk of coinfection with leptospirosis, such as degree of immunosuppression, as assessed by CD4 cell count, World Health Organization (WHO) HIV/AIDS clinical stage and antiretroviral therapy (ART) intake.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional analysis of 157 PWH, aged over 18 years old, admitted to the Maputo Central Hospital, in Maputo, Mozambique, between March 2020 and October 2021. The study participants were recruited as a convenience sample regardless of the reasons for their admission.
Background: Physicians' communication with patients and their families is important during both the disease diagnosis and prognosis stages and through the follow-up process. Effective physician communication improves patients' quality of life and satisfaction with care and helps reduce suffering for those newly diagnosed with advanced progressive illnesses. This study aims to identify the communication strategies physicians use in the transition to palliative care and how these professionals perceive their academic and clinical preparation concerning this task.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe RTS,S/AS02A malaria vaccine is based on the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP), which is O-fucosylated on the sporozoite surface. We determined whether RTS,S/AS02A-induced immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies recognize vaccine-like nonfucosylated PfCSP better than native-like fucosylated PfCSP. Similar to previous vaccine trials, RTS,S/AS02A vaccination induced high anti-PfCSP IgG levels associated with malaria protection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Helicobacter pylori strains show a high level of genotypic diversity and express several genes that contribute to their pathogenicity and resistance. In Mozambique, there is lack of information regarding its resistance pattern to antibiotics. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of H.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the past ten years, the prevalence of primary Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) drug resistance has ranged from zero to 25%, with higher and increasing rates in countries with access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), a specific case in Mozambique. World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that countries implement and routinely evaluate representative HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) research to monitor the emergency and transmission of HIV drug resistance mutations. This study aimed to describe the functioning of the system and also to identify gaps in the sensitivity, representativeness and quality of the data using the WHO methodology for Pre-Treatment and Acquired Approaches.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Fungal infections are common causes of death and morbidity in those with advanced HIV infection. Data on access to diagnostic tests in Africa are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic capacity for invasive fungal infections in advanced HIV disease in Africa.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS Negl Trop Dis
December 2022
Background: Leptospirosis is an occupational, neglected febrile disease of bacterial origin transmitted between humans and animals. In this manuscript we summarize available data on Leptospira infection in HIV uninfected and in people living with HIV from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, identifying gaps in knowledge and recommend future research priorities.
Methodology: Articles published between 1990 and 2021 were accessed by an online search of Google Scholar and Medline/PubMed performed between February 2020 and July 2022.
Background: The hospital environment serves as a reservoir of microorganisms which may be associated with healthcare-associated infections (HCAI). The study of environmental contamination with microorganisms is a method for the assessment of hospital environmental hygiene. We sought to evaluate the environmental colonisation of a national reference hospital unit, using the total aerobic colony count (ACC) and the isolated microorganisms, as assessment tools.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Mozambique antiretroviral therapy is a database used to monitor patients receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART). This study's objective was to evaluate the system for the purpose to monitor patients receiving ART.
Methods: data from 287,052 patients who started ART from January to December 2017 were verified, and retention in care was assessed for 2018 in Mozambique.
Background: RTS,S is the first malaria vaccine recommended for implementation among young children at risk. However, vaccine efficacy is modest and short-lived. Antibodies play the major role in vaccine-induced immunity, but knowledge on the induction, decay, and determinants of antibody function is limited, especially among children.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExtended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC), particularly high-risk lineages, are responsible for severe infections and increased mortality and hospital costs worldwide, with a major burden in low-income countries. Here we determined the antimicrobial susceptibility and performed whole-genome sequencing of E. coli isolates from extraintestinal infections of patients during 2017-2018 at Maputo Central Hospital (Mozambique).
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