Browsing by Author "Nakanwagi, Cephas"

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    An Early Warning Mobile Health Screening and Risk Scoring App for Preventing In-Hospital Transmission of COVID-19 by Health Care Workers: Development and Feasibility Study
    (JMIR Formative Research, 2021) Mbiine, Ronald; Nakanwagi, Cephas; Lekuya, Herve Monka; Aine, Joan; Kawesi, Hakim; Nabunya, Lilian; Tomusange, Henry
    Hospitals have been identified as very high-risk places for COVID-19 transmission between health care workers and patients who do not have COVID-19. Health care workers are the most at-risk population to contract and transmit the infection, especially to already vulnerable patients who do not have COVID-19. In low-income countries, routine testing is not feasible due to the high cost of testing; therefore, presenting the risk of uncontrolled transmission within non–COVID-19 treatment wards. This challenge necessitated the development of an affordable intermediary screening tool that would enable early identification of potentially infected health care workers and for early real time DNA–polymerase chain reaction testing prioritization. This would limit the contact time of potentially infected health care workers with the patients but also enable efficient use of the limited testing kits. Objective: The aims of this study are to describe an early warning in-hospital mobile risk analysis app for screening COVID-19 and to determine the feasibility and user-friendliness of the app among health care workers. Methods: The primary result of this research project was the development of a mobile-based daily early warning system for in-hospital transmission of COVID-19. Overall, the Early Warning System for In-Hospital Transmission of COVID-19 (EWAS) mobile app was found to be feasible, with over 69% of the health care workers having logged more than 67% of the required times. Over 93% of the participants reported that the tool was easy to use. Results: The primary result of this research project was the development of a mobile-based daily early warning system for in-hospital transmission of COVID-19. Overall, the Early Warning System for In-Hospital Transmission of COVID-19 (EWAS) mobile app was found to be feasible, with 69% of the health care workers (69/100) having logged more than 67% of the required times. Of the 100 participants, 93 reported that the tool was easy to use. Conclusions: The EWAS mobile app is a feasible and user-friendly daily risk scoring tool for preventing in-hospital transmission of COVID-19. Although it was not designed to be a diagnostic tool but rather a screening tool, there is a need to evaluate its sensitivity in predicting persons likely to have contracted COVID-19.
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    High rates of gastroesophageal cancers in patients with dyspepsia undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in Uganda
    (Endoscopy International Open, 2021) Mbiine, Ronald; Nakanwagi, Cephas; Kituuka, Olivia
    Background and study aims Dyspepsia is the most common presenting symptom in the gastrointestinal clinic of Mulago National Referral hospital. The etiology is essentially not fully described in our patient population. This study was therefore conducted to establish the causes of dyspepsia based on endoscopic diagnosis among patients with dyspepsia seeking care at the National Referral hospital of Uganda. Patients and methods This retrospective study conducted in the endoscopy unit of Mulago hospital reviewed 356 patient endoscopy reports spanning January 2018 to July 2020 with a focus on those with a referral indication of dyspepsia. Age and sex were the independent variables of interest while the endoscopy findings as reported by the endoscopist were the outcome variable of interest. Results Of the 356 endoscopy reports reviewed, 159 met the inclusion criterion of dyspepsia as the indication. Participant mean age was 47.7 years (± 16.53) with the majority (25.79 %) in the fifth decade while the male to female ratio was 1. The majority of patients had organic dyspepsia (90.57 %) while the commonest finding was gastritis 69 (43.4%). Gastroesophageal cancers represented (18) 11.32% of all findings. There was a positive association between age > 50 years with gastroesophageal cancers (7.639) as well as age < 50 years and functional dyspepsia (2.794); however, all these were not statistically significant (P = 0.006 and (P = 0.095, respectively). Conclusions Organic/structural dyspepsia comprises over 90% of investigated dyspepsia with 11% comprising cancer among patients seeking endoscopy at the National Referral Hospital of Uganda.
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    Intra-abdominal hypertension in severe burns: prevalence, incidence and mortality in a sub-Saharan African hospital
    (International journal of burns and trauma, 2017) Mbiine, Ronald; Alenyo, Rose; Kobusingye, Olive; Kuteesa, Job; Nakanwagi, Cephas; Monka Lekuya, Hervé; Kituuka, Olivia; Galukande, Moses
    Severe burns have been shown to be a risk factor for developing intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH). Fluid resuscitation practices used in burns management further predispose patients to intra-abdominal hypertension. The mortality associated with IAH in severe burns is estimated to be more than 74.5% once organ dysfunction occurs. Despite 95% of all burns occurring in Low and Middle income countries (LMIC), there is paucity of published data on this topic in sub-Saharan Africa. Objectives: To determine the prevalence, incidence, organ dysfunction and mortality of intra-abdominal hypertension among severe burns patients. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted over a 6 months period in the Burns Unit of Mulago National Referral Hospital. Patients of all age groups with burns ≥25% and 20% in adults and children respectively were recruited and followed up for 7 days or until death occurred. Patients with burns older than 48 hours were excluded. The outcome variables were intra-abdominal pressure, organ dysfunction and seven day mortality. Results: Of all the 335 burns patients admitted, 64 patients met the inclusion criteria. The overall prevalence of IAH was 57.8% while the prevalence in the children and adults was 54.5% and 61.3% respectively. The incidence of IAH was 13.1 cases/100 person days with the incidence in adults being twice that of the children. The one week mortality of patients with IAH was 82.6% with the risk of dying being 3.34 (p=0.0035) and seven day survival being less than 50%. Conclusion: One in two patients with severe burns exceeding 20% or 25% in children or adults respectively developed IAH. Adults had a higher prevalence and incidence of IAH. Mortality associated with IAH exceeded 80%.
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    Safety and feasibility of autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction in the treatment of keloids: a phase one randomized controlled pilot trial
    (American Journal of Stem Cells, 2023) Mbiine, Ronald; Kayiira, Anthony; Wayengera, Misaki; Guyton, Munabi Ian; Kiwanuka, Noah; Alenyo, Rose; Wamala Kalanzi, Edris; Muwonge, Haruna; Nakanwagi, Cephas; Joloba, Moses; Galukande, Moses
    Autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) has been described to have therapeutic benefits in the treatment of keloids. However, most of the evidence on its efficacy is based on observational studies the majority of which are conducted in high-income countries and yet the highest burden of keloids is in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Objectives: We set out to determine the safety and feasibility of using autologous adipose derived stromal vascular fraction in the treatment of keloids in LMICs. Methods: In this phase II randomized controlled pilot clinical trial conducted in the Plastic Surgery Unit of Kirruddu National Referral Hospital in Kampala Uganda, 8 patients were assigned a 1:1 ratio to either SVF or triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) arms. In the SVF arm, a median (Inter quartile range) amount of stromal cell infiltration of 2.7×106 (11×106) was administered, while the controls received 10 mg/ml TAC at a ratio of 1:1 TAC to keloid volume. Primary endpoints were adverse event development based on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0 tool and feasibility assessment based on ≥ 70% recruitment feasibility and ≥ 80% interventional feasibility rates. Results: The participants’ mean age was 27.9 (±6.5) years, with a female predilection of 5 (63%). Overall, no adverse events were reported in the SVF arm, while ulceration in a single patient in the TAC arm, which was a grade II adverse event, was reported. Recruitment feasibility of 80% and interventional feasibility with 100% completion were reported. Conclusion: Based on our findings, an autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction is feasible and safe for the treatment of keloids in LMICs.