Browsing by Author "Mirembe, Joy"

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    Coronavirus disease–2019 Morbidity and Mortality among Health Care Workers in Uganda
    (Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease, 2022) Ssetaba, Leoson Junior; Mirembe, Joy; Omega, Jotham; Okot, Jerom; Kiguli, Sarah; Nakwagala, Frederick Nelson; Bongomin, Felix
    Health care workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of acquiring coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to determine and compare the morbidity and mortality rates due to COVID-19 among the HCWs and the general population (non-HCWs). We conducted a retrospective chart review. We accessed electronic database of participants admitted at Mulago National Referral Hospital COVID-19 Treatment Unit (CTU) between March 2020 and September 2021. Participants with missing occupations were excluded. Of 594 eligible participants, 6.4% (n=38) were HCWs. Compared with non-HCWs, HCWs were much younger (48 versus 55 years, p=0.020). The proportion of participants with severe disease (73.7% versus 77.6%, p=0.442), who had not received COVID-19 vaccine (91.2% versus 94.7%, p=0.423), mortality rate (44.7% versus 54.8%, p=0.243) and the median length of hospitalization (6 versus 7 days, p=0.913) were similar among HCWs and non-HCWs, respectively. A higher proportion of HCWs required oxygen therapy (24.3% versus 9.7%, p<0.01). At admission, the presence of cough (p=0.723), breathlessness (p=0.722), fever (p=0.19), sore throat (p=0.133), comorbidities (p=0.403) and headache (p=0.162) were similar across groups. Rhinorrhoea was more common among HCWs (34.4% versus 16.6%, p=0.017). Among HCWs, nurses had the highest morbidity (52.6%) and mortality (58.8%). The morbidity and mortality among HCWs in Uganda were substantial, with a low COVID-19 vaccination rate and a higher requirement for oxygen therapy despite a younger age.
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    The Prevalence of Concurrent Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis in Uganda: a retrospective
    (Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease, 2022) Kyagulanyi, Eddy; Mirembe, Joy; Nantaayi, Brandy; Nalukenge, Sonita; Mukasa, David; Tamale, Jaffar; Oriekot, Anthony; Kamya, Moses R.; Baluku, Joseph Baruch
    Concurrent pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is associated with poor treatment outcomes yet its epidemiology in Uganda is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, associated factors, and treatment outcomes of concurrent PTB and EPTB among patients at a national tuberculosis (TB) treatment center located at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. We conducted a retrospective review of charts for people with TB who were enrolled in care between January 2015 and December 2019. Eligible charts were for people with pulmonary bacteriologically confirmed TB enrolled into care in the period under study. Concurrent PTB and EPTB was defined as PTB and bacteriological, histopathological, and/or radiological features of TB at another noncontiguous sites. Overall, 400 patient charts were eligible, of whom 240 (60.0%) were aged 15–34years and 205 (51.3%) were female. The prevalence of concurrent PTB and EPTB was 8.5% (34/400) [95% confidence interval (CI): 6.0–11.7%]. People with concurrent PTB and EPTB were more likely to have at least one comorbidity (82.4% versus 37.2%, p<0.001), of which HIV was the most frequent. Furthermore, people with concurrent PTB and EPTB were more likely to have empyema (15% versus 2.6%, p=0.028) but less likely to have bronchopneumonic opacification (0.0% versus 15.3%, p=0.043) on chest x-ray imaging. People with concurrent PTB and EPTB had higher mortality (26.5% versus 6.37%) and a lower cure rate (41.2% versus 64.8%), p=0.002. Our findings highlight the need for early detection of TB before dissemination particularly among people who use alcohol and people with HIV.