Genomic Epidemiology of 2015-2016 Zika Virus Outbreak in Cape Verde.

During 2015-2016, Cape Verde, an island nation off the coast of West Africa, experienced a Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak involving 7,580 suspected Zika cases and 18 microcephaly cases. Analysis of the complete genomes of 3 ZIKV isolates from the outbreak indicated the strain was of the Asian (not African) lineage. The Cape Verde ZIKV sequences formed a distinct monophylogenetic group and possessed 1-2 (T659A, I756V) unique amino acid changes in the envelope protein.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices about malaria in Cabo Verde: a country in the pre-elimination context.

Background: Malaria in Cape Verde is unstable, with a sporadic and seasonal transmission of low endemicity. In this sense, the community perceptions regarding malaria transmission, their attitudes and practices against the disease are very important to understand and to better develop the best strategical policies to achieve malaria elimination goal. This study aim to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of Cape Verdean population about malaria, a country in the elimination step of disease.

Hemolysis in In-Date RBC Concentrates.

Objectives: Hemolysis is one of the most prominent changes that occur during the liquid storage of RBCs in additive solution (AS), but most studies have measured hemolysis only on day 42.

Methods: Prestorage leukoreduced RBCs in AS-1 and AS-3 were studied, one group on day 42 and a second group between day 0 and day 40. Each product was sampled for direct measurement of supernatant hemoglobin and hematocrit.

How do we reduce plasma transfusion in Rhode Island?

Background: Plasma transfusions are given to patients with coagulopathy, either prophylactically, before an invasive procedure; or therapeutically, in the presence of active bleeding; and as an exchange fluid in therapeutic plasma exchange for disorders such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. There is consensus that many prophylactic plasma transfusions are non-efficacious, and the misdiagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura results in unnecessary therapeutic plasma exchange.

Study Design And Methods: Beginning in 2001, programs to reduce plasma transfusion in the three major teaching hospitals in Rhode Island were initiated.

Rapid response to intravenous vitamin K may obviate the need to transfuse prothrombin complex concentrates.

Background: Patients on warfarin who present with bleeding or who require an urgent procedure are commonly treated with intravenous (IV) vitamin K, which is supplemented with repletion of the vitamin K factors using either plasma or a prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC). In some such cases, use of vitamin K alone could be adequate to achieve acceptable hemostasis.

Study Design And Methods: An algorithm emphasizing the use of vitamin K alone in patients presenting with non-life-threatening bleeding was encouraged, with repeat testing of the international normalized ratio (INR) within 5 hours.