Patients with knowlesi malaria were older and had lower parasitemia compared to human-only species. Severe knowlesi malaria occurred only in adults. Anemia was common in children despite lower parasitemia. Parasitemia predicted disease severity: Intravenous artesunate is warranted initially for parasitemia>15000/μL.

BackgroundPlasmodium knowlesi is reported increasingly across Southeast Asia and is the most common cause of malaria in Malaysia. No randomized trials have assessed the comparative efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) for knowlesi malaria.MethodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted in 3 district hospitals in Sabah, Malaysia to compare the efficacy of AL against chloroquine (CQ) for uncomplicated knowlesi malaria. Participants were included if they weighed >10 kg, had a parasitemia count <20 000/μL, and had a negative rapid diagnostic test result for Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2. Diagnosis was confirmed by means of polymerase chain reaction. Patients were block randomized to AL (total target dose, 12 mg/kg for artemether and 60 mg/kg for lumefantrine) or CQ (25 mg/kg). The primary outcome was parasite clearance at 24 hours in a modified intention-to-treat analysis.ResultsFrom November 2014 to January 2016, a total of 123 patients (including 18 children) were enrolled. At 24 hours after treatment 76% of patients administered AL (95% confidence interval [CI], 63%–86%; 44 of 58) were aparasitemic, compared with 60% administered CQ (47%–72%; 39 of 65; risk ratio, 1.3 [95% CI, 1.0–1.6]; P = .06). Overall parasite clearance was shorter after AL than after CQ (median, 18 vs 24 hours, respectively; P = .02), with all patients aparasitemic by 48 hours. By day 42 there were no treatment failures. The risk of anemia during follow-up was similar between arms. Patients treated with AL would require lower bed occupancy than those treated with CQ (2414 vs 2800 days per 1000 patients; incidence rate ratio, 0.86 [95% CI, .82–.91]; P < .001). There were no serious adverse events.ConclusionsAL is highly efficacious for treating uncomplicated knowlesi malaria; its excellent tolerability and rapid therapeutic response allow earlier hospital discharge, and support its use as a first-line artemisinin-combination treatment policy for all Plasmodium species in Malaysia.Clinical trials registrationNCT02001012.

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ObjectivesNeonatal mortality remains persistently high in low-income and middle-income countries. In Cambodia, there is a paucity of data on the perception of neonatal health and care-seeking behaviours at the community level. This study aimed to identify influencers of neonatal health and healthcare-seeking behaviour in a rural Cambodian province.DesignA qualitative study using focus group discussions and thematic content analysis.SettingFour health centres in a rural province of Northern Cambodia.ParticipantsTwenty-four focus group discussions were conducted with 85 community health workers in 2019.ResultsCommunity health workers recognised an improvement in neonatal health over time. Key influencers to neonatal health were identified as knowledge, sociocultural behaviours, finances and transport, provision of care and healthcare engagement. Most influencers acted as both barriers and facilitators, with the exception of finances and transport that only acted as a barrier, and healthcare engagement that acted as a facilitator.ConclusionUnderstanding health influencers and care-seeking behaviours is recognised to facilitate appropriate community health programmes. Key influencers and care-seeking behaviours have been identified from rural Cambodia adding to the current literature. Where facilitators have already been established, they should be used as building blocks for continued change.

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Medscape, LLC and Emerging Infectious Diseases. Medscape, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. Medscape, LLC designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.0 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit. All other clinicians completing this activity will be issued a certificate of participation. To participate in this journal CME activity: (1) review the learning objectives and author disclosures; (2) study the education content; (3) take the post-test with a 75% minimum passing score and complete the evaluation at http://www.medscape.org/journal/eid; and (4) view/print certificate. For CME questions, see page 1643.

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Objective Paediatric Assessment Illness Resuscitation and Stabilisation Course (PAIRS) is an accredited one day course developed in Dublin for resource limited settings. The aim of this project was to deliver this course to front line paediatric staff in a south eastern Nigerian hospital. Methods The course was delivered over 8 hours daily for 3 days with breaks in-between. On the 4th day, a number of delegates including doctors and senior nurses who had attended one of the 3 days were invited to participate in a more intensive course to develop more advanced skills in paediatric resuscitation and management of sick children. Delegates' knowledge was tested and they received certificates of completion at the end of the course. Results Over the 4 days, 214 paediatric healthcare workers (136 doctors, 77 nurses, 1 'other') representing 21 hospitals were trained on a structured approach in the assessment and resuscitation of serious illness in children, team work and communication, paediatric early warning system and basic life support. Delegates reported increased knowledge and competency in the management of paediatric emergencies. Conclusion The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about five children under 5 years of age die in Africa every minute. More than half of these child deaths are due to conditions that are preventable or treatable with simple interventions. Teaching paediatric resuscitation enhances the skills of paediatric responders and has been shown to directly reduce morbidity and improve patient survival. This course enhanced their knowledge and helped the participants formulate tools required for early recognition and monitoring of illness progression in paediatric patients. On completion of the course, a local faculty was also instated to commence simulation training in the local hospital with support from the Ireland faculty. The training was well received and had a lot of positive feedback.

Background Neonatal mortality remains unacceptably high. Many studies successful at reducing neonatal mortality have failed to realise similar gains at scale. Effective implementation and scale-up of interventions designed to tackle neonatal mortality is a global health priority. Multifaceted programmes targeting the continuum of neonatal care, with sustainability and scalability built into the design, can provide practical insights to solve this challenge. Cambodia has amongst the highest neonatal mortality rates in South-East Asia, with rural areas particularly affected. The primary objective of this study is the design, implementation, and assessment of the Saving Babies’ Lives programme, a package of interventions designed to reduce neonatal mortality in rural Cambodia. Methods This study is a five-year stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial conducted in a rural Cambodian province with an estimated annual delivery rate of 6615. The study is designed to implement and evaluate the Saving Babies’ Lives programme, which is the intervention. The Saving Babies’ Lives programme is an iterative package of neonatal interventions spanning the continuum of care and integrating into the existing health system. The Saving Babies’ Lives programme comprises two major components: participatory learning and action with community health workers, and capacity building of primary care facilities involving facility-based mentorship. Standard government service continues in control arms. Data collection covering the whole study area includes surveillance of all pregnancies, verbal and social autopsies, and quality of care surveys. Mixed methods data collection supports iteration of the complex intervention, and facilitates impact, outcome, process and economic evaluation. Discussion Our study uses a robust study design to evaluate and develop a holistic, innovative, contextually relevant and sustainable programme that can be scaled-up to reduce neonatal mortality. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04663620. Registered on 11th December 2020, retrospectively registered.