Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
10:38
High Yield Purification of Plasmodium falciparum Merozoites For Use in Opsonizing Antibody Assays
Published on: July 17, 2014
[Malaria prevention: the general practitioners experience on the Reunion Island]
S Di Bernardo1, B Guihard, G Wartel
1CHR Félix-Guyon, Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France. serv-bert@orange.fr
Bulletin De La Societe De Pathologie Exotique (1990)
|June 30, 2012
Summary
Malaria prevention practices among Reunion Island general practitioners are suboptimal, with many not adhering to guidelines for chemoprophylaxis or mosquito bite protection. This increases the risk of malaria resurgence despite official eradication.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Tropical Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Malaria officially eradicated from Reunion Island in 1979, but the persistent vector Anopheles arabiensis poses a resurgence risk.
- A significant proportion of malaria cases in Reunion Island are imported by travelers from endemic regions like Madagascar and Comoros.
- Many imported malaria cases involved patients who did not follow recommended chemoprophylaxis regimens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the malaria prevention practices of general practitioners (GPs) in Reunion Island.
- To identify gaps in GPs' knowledge and adherence to malaria prevention guidelines, including chemoprophylaxis and mosquito bite protection.
- To understand factors influencing GPs' prescribing habits and information sources for malaria prevention.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted among 100 general practitioners on Reunion Island.
- The survey focused on their practices regarding malaria prevention, including patient consultations, chemoprophylaxis recommendations, and mosquito bite protection advice.
- Practices were compared against national guidelines and information sources were investigated.
Main Results:
- GPs themselves exhibit suboptimal malaria prevention practices, neglecting mosquito bite protection.
- Only 40% of GPs adhere to official recommendations for malaria chemoprophylaxis prescriptions.
- GPs rely heavily on pharmaceutical industry information and find national references difficult to access, sometimes deliberately deviating from guidelines due to treatment costs.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need to improve malaria prevention practices among GPs in Reunion Island.
- Enhancing networking between GPs and reference centers is crucial for promoting optimal chemoprophylaxis and mosquito bite protection strategies.
- Targeted interventions are necessary, especially for high-risk travelers, to mitigate the risk of malaria resurgence.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
Essential infection prevention measures are based on the knowledge of the infection chain, the modes of transmission in healthcare settings, and the use of the best practices in all healthcare settings. Compulsory public reporting of healthcare-associated infection rates is needed to allow individuals and the community to make informed choices regarding selecting a healthcare facility.
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Transmission-based precautions are for patients infected or suspected to be infected (or colonized) with organisms posing a significant risk to others. The transmission precautions include airborne and protective environment precautions.
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
01:30Primary Healthcare Services
Primary care promotes wellness and prevents disease. This care includes health promotion, education, protection (such as immunizations), early disease screening, and environmental considerations. Settings providing this type of healthcare include physician offices, public health clinics, school nursing, and community health nursing.
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
01:30Preventive Healthcare Services
Preventive healthcare services keep people healthy via frequent check-ups, screening, and counseling. They primarily aid in disease prevention rather than treating an acute or chronic illness. Preventive treatment also keeps individuals productive and energetic, allowing them to work well into their retirement years. Examples of preventive care services include:
01:17Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
Transmission-based precautions are for patients known to be infected or suspected to be infected or colonized with organisms that pose a significant risk to others. Some transmission-based precautions include contact, enteric, and droplet.
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...