Buruli ulcer treatment: Rate of surgical intervention differs highly between treatment centers in West Africa
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Date
2019-10-28
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Abstract
Background
Antibiotic treatment proved itself as the mainstay of treatment for Buruli ulcer disease. This
neglected tropical disease is caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Surgery persists as an
adjunct therapy intended to reduce the mycobacterial load. In an earlier clinical trial, patients
benefited from delaying the decision to operate. Nevertheless, the rate of surgical interventions
differs highly per clinic.
Methods
A retrospective study was conducted in six different Buruli ulcer (BU) treatment centers in
Benin and Ghana. BU patients clinically diagnosed between January 2012 and December
2016 were included and surgical interventions during the follow-up period, at least one year
after diagnosis, were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to estimate the
effect of the treatment center on the decision to perform surgery, while controlling for interaction
and confounders.
Results
A total of 1193 patients, 612 from Benin and 581 from Ghana, were included. In Benin,
lesions were most frequently (42%) categorized as the most severe lesions (WHO criteria,
category III), whereas in Ghana lesions were most frequently (44%) categorized as small
lesions (WHO criteria, category I). In total 344 (29%) patients received surgical intervention.
The percentage of patients receiving surgical intervention varied between hospitals from
1.5% to 72%. Patients treated in one of the centers in Benin were much more likely to have
surgery compared to the clinic in Ghana with the lowest rate of surgical intervention (RR =46.7 CI 95% [17.5–124.8]). Even after adjusting for confounders (severity of disease, age,
sex, limitation of movement at joint at time of diagnosis, ulcer and critical sites), rates of surgical
interventions varied highly.
Conclusion
The decision to perform surgery to reduce the mycobacterial load in BU varies highly per clinic.
Evidence based guidelines are needed to guide the role of surgery in the treatment of BU
Description
An article published by PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007866
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Citation
PLoS Negl Trop Dis 13(10): e0007866. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007866