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Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention Resources for Infectious Diseases in Sub-Saharan African Hospitals Caring for
Samiksha Tarun1, Workeabeba Abebe2, Maitry Mahida3
1NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
Insights
Sub-Saharan African children's hospitals need improved resources for infection control and antimicrobial stewardship. Enhancing these areas is crucial for better preparedness against epidemics and pandemics affecting children.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Sub-Saharan Africa faces significant challenges in pediatric healthcare.
- Children's hospitals require robust systems for emergency and pandemic preparedness.
- Assessing hospital readiness is vital for improving child health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the preparedness of sub-Saharan African hospitals for child-related emergencies, epidemics, and pandemics.
- To characterize hospital resources for diagnosing, treating, and preventing infections in children.
- To identify gaps in infection prevention and control, and antimicrobial stewardship.
Main Methods:
- A sub-study analyzed 56 survey questions from the Children's Hospitals in Africa Mapping Project.
- Twenty hospitals across 15 sub-Saharan African countries completed the survey (2018-2019).
- Data characterized hospital resources for infection diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
Main Results:
- Diagnostic assays for malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV were widely available (90-100%).
- Periodic shortages of antibiotics (45%), antimalarials (25%), and vaccines (20%) were reported.
- Formal infection prevention and control programs (79%) and antimicrobial stewardship (53%) were present, but healthcare-associated infection (HAI) surveillance was low (17%).
Conclusions:
- Significant opportunities exist to enhance the care of hospitalized children in Africa.
- Strengthening HAI surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship programs is essential.
- Improved resources in these areas will bolster epidemic and pandemic preparedness for children.
Abstract:
Objective. The Children's Hospitals in Africa Mapping Project survey was developed and implemented to assess the readiness of hospitals in sub-Saharan African to respond to emergencies, epidemics, and pandemics affecting children. Methods. This sub-study analyzed 56 survey questions that characterized the hospitals and assessed resources for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of community-acquired infections and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Results. Twenty-four sites were recruited and 20 (from 15 countries) completed the survey in 2018 to 2019. Overall, 90% to 100% of sites reported that diagnostic assays were available for malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV. Periodic shortages of antibiotics, antimalarial drugs, and vaccines were reported by 45%, 25%, and 20% of sites, respectively. Sites reported formal programs for infection prevention and control (79%), monitoring HAIs (17%), and antimicrobial stewardship (53%). Conclusions. Opportunities to improve care for hospitalized African children were identified. These included resources for HAI surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship which can facilitate epidemic and pandemic preparedness.
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