Research teams undertaking randomized clinical trials in low-and middle-income countries frequently encounter significant challenges, including limited infrastructure, cultural barriers to trust, and limited resources. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) trials can be especially difficult because early stages of RHD often show no symptoms, there is low disease awareness among healthcare workers and the public, pediatric heart disease is often stigmatized, and disease management requires burdensome secondary antibiotic prophylaxis. To address these challenges, the RHD Research Collaborative in Uganda (RRCU) partnered with community members to establish a community-centered framework for trial design and implementation that incorporates group-based consent, frequent and personalized communication, and convenient, family-friendly participation structures. These components have been successfully adapted and applied across a series of RRCU studies, contributing to exceptionally high rates of consent, retention, and prophylaxis adherence. The RRCU's community-informed approach to trial design and implementation challenges assumptions about research feasibility in low-resource settings and demonstrates that high-quality, ethical pediatric research can be successfully conducted by engaging communities and integrating their values into all aspects of study design and execution.

Introduction Detection and treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis in children reduces acute rheumatic fever by 70–80%. However, investment in primary prevention is limited in rheumatic heart disease (RHD) endemic countries due to lack of diagnostic capacity. We conducted a pragmatic public health trial (Rheumatic Heart Disease Community Streptococcal Treatment Program (RESET)) to determine the effect of an integrated group A streptococcal (GAS) education and treatment programme on the echocardiographic burden of RHD among children aged 5–15 years in Uganda.Methods We implemented our interventions within the primary healthcare system of Tororo district, Eastern Uganda, over 2 years. The primary outcome was a reduction in RHD prevalence. Secondary outcomes included improved provider and community knowledge and increased health-seeking behaviour for sore throat. Interventions targeted three key barriers to primary prevention: limited provider expertise in diagnosing and treating GAS pharyngitis, poor uptake of guideline-based treatment and low public awareness of the link between sore throat and RHD.Results There was no significant change in RHD prevalence from baseline (0.66%, 95% CI 0.58% to 0.73%) to 2 years post-implementation (0.61%, 95% CI 0.51% to 0.71%). Primary training was completed by 101 healthcare workers with knowledge scores improving from 55% pre-training to 75% post-training. Secondary training reached 470 providers across 81 facilities. Facility assessments found only one-third met nearly all readiness metrics. Over 2000 community education events reached an estimated 380 000 people. Recognition of sore throat as a serious issue improved with 89% post-campaign identifying its link to heart disease. Health centre logs showed no increase in sore throat presentations over 22 months.Conclusion As the first large-scale integrated primary prevention programme for RHD in sub-Saharan Africa, RESET demonstrated both feasibility of scaling up patient and provider education and implementation challenges in translating education into action. Ongoing research aims to identify care-seeking barriers and co-design a sore throat treatment model tailored to the community’s cultural and contextual needs.Trial registration number NCT05276999.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a critical issue for patients undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) but has never been assessed in a low-income country. We conducted a cross-sectional mixed methods study with age-matched healthy siblings serving as controls at the Uganda Heart Institute. Methods: One-hundred fifteen CHD pediatric and young adult patients and sibling control participants were recruited. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Version 4.0 in participants ages 5–17 and 36-Item Short Form Survey for young adults aged 18–25. A subset of 27 participants completed face-to-face interviews to supplement quantitative findings. Results: Eighty-six pediatric (age 5–17) sibling and parent pairs completed Peds QOL surveys, and 29 young adult (age 18–25) sibling pairs completed SF-36 surveys. One third of patients had surgery in Uganda. Ventricular septal defects and tetralogy of Fallot were the most common diagnoses. Health-related quality of life scores in patients were lower across all domains compared to control participants in children. Reductions in physical and emotional domains of HRQOL were also statistically significant for young adults. Variables associated with lower HRQOL score on multivariate analysis in pediatric patients were younger age in the physical and emotional domains, greater number of surgeries in the physical domain and surgery outside Uganda in the school domain. The only predictor of lower HRQOL score in young adults was surgery outside Uganda in the social domain. Qualitative interviews identified a number of themes that correlated with survey results including abandonment by family, isolation from peers and community, financial hardship and social stigmatization. Conclusion: Health-related quality of life was lower in Ugandan patients after CHD surgery than siblings. Younger patients and those who had surgery outside of Uganda had lower HRQOL. These data have important implications for patients undergoing CHD surgery in LMIC and have potential to inform interventions.

Background: Patients requiring extracorporeal life support (ECLS) support post-Norwood operation constitute an extremely high-risk group. Materials and methods: We retrospectively aimed to evaluate the relationship of hyperoxia with mortality and other clinical outcomes in patients who required ECLS following Norwood operation between January/2010 and December/2020 in a large volume center. Results: During the study period 65 patients required ECLS post-Norwood. Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, mean PaO2 of 182 mmHg in the first 48-hour on ECLS was determined to have the optimal discriminatory ability for mortality (sensitivity 68%, specificity 70%). Of the 65 patients, 52% had PaO2 > 182 mmHg and were designated as hyperoxia group. Patients in the hyperoxia-group had longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (187 vs. 165 min, p = 0.023), shorter duration from CICU arrival to ECLS-cannulation (13.28 vs. 132.58 h, p = 0.003), higher serum lactate within 2-hours from ECLS-canulation (14.55 vs. 5.80, p = 0.01), higher ECLS flows in the first 4-hours (152.68 vs. 124.14, p = 0.006), and higher mortality (77% vs. 39%, p = 0.005). In the unadjusted-analysis, using a derived cut-point, patients in the hyperoxia-group had 5.15 higher odds of mortality (p = 0.003). However, this association was insignificant when adjusting for confounding variables (p = 0.104). Using a functional status scale, new morbidity (38% vs. 21%), and unfavorable outcomes (13% vs. 5%) were higher in the hyperoxia group. Despite being higher in the hyperoxia group, this did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Neonates with hyperoxia (PaO2 > 182 Torr) during the first 48-hour of ECLS post-Norwood operation had 5 times higher odds of mortality in the unadjusted analysis, however, this was insignificant when adjusting for confounding variables. Patients in the hyperoxia group had shorter duration from CICU arrival to ECLS-cannulation, higher serum lactate prior to ECLS-canulation, and higher ECLS flows in the first 4-hours, (p < 0.05). Multicenter evaluation of this modifiable risk factor is imperative to improve the care of this high-risk cohort.

Background: The Norwood operation (NO) for infants with univentricular physiology has high interstage mortality. This study evaluated outcomes and risk factors for mortality following NO. Methods: Retrospective single-center study of patients undergoing NO from 2010 to 2020. Analysis used appropriate statistics. Results: Of 269 patients undergoing NO, 213 (79.2 %) survived to discharge. Non-survivors had longer bypass times, delayed sternal closure, required nitric oxide, higher vasoactive scores, required post-operative catheterization, Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS), and longer ventilation (p < 0.05). Logistic regression showed moderate-severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation on intraoperative TEE (OR 2.6), requiring nitric oxide (OR 2.63), delayed sternal closure (OR 2.94), post-operative catheterization (OR 10.48), and ECLS (OR 14.54) increased mortality odds (p < 0.05). Multivariable analysis confirmed catheterization (aOR 10.48) and ECLS (aOR 14.54) as significant predictors. Of survivors, 26 (12.3 %) developed new morbidity, 9 (4.2 %) had unfavorable outcomes. Functional status improved from 6.0 to 8.04, mainly in feeding and respiratory domains (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Norwood survival was 79.2 %. Requiring post-operative catheterization and ECLS significantly increased mortality risk. Multicenter evaluation of these modifiable risk factors is needed to improve outcomes in this high-risk population.

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) living with HIV have high rates of co-sexually transmitted infections (STIs). During the coronavirus disease (COVID) pandemic, STI prevention strategies, including access to testing/treatment facilities, availability of health care workers, and condom availability, may have decreased. This study aimed to determine if differences in STI incidence for first infection and reinfection existed between the pre-COVID and COVID eras in a cohort of AYAs living with HIV in Atlanta, GA. Retrospective chart review was conducted for all patients between ages 13 and 24 at the Grady Ponce Clinic. Two eras were identified: a pre-COVID era (January 1, 2009-December31, 2019) and a COVID era (January 1, 2020-June 30, 2021). STIs recorded included gonorrhea, chlamydia, human papillomavirus, syphilis, trichomonas, herpes simplex virus, lymphogranuloma venereum, hepatitis C, bacterial vaginosis, and chancroid. First and recurrent incidence rates for any STIs were reported. Our sample included 766 sexually active AYAs with HIV. A total of 721 patients were included in the pre-COVID era and 583 (80.9%) had at least one STI. A total of 337 patients were included in the COVID era, and 158 had at least one STI (46.9%). The overall first STI incidence rate increased from 42.47 to 58.67 per 100 person-years (PY) and the recurrent STI incidence rate increased from 121.50 to 169.85 per 100 PY from the pre-COVID to the COVID era (p < 0.001). Our study demonstrated significantly higher incidence rates of first and recurrent STIs in AYAs living with HIV in the COVID era. We urge continuation of existing STI prevention programs to avoid secondary clinical and economic adverse effects of increased infections.

Patients requiring extracorporeal life support (ECLS) post-Norwood operation constitute an extremely high-risk group. We retrospectively described short-term outcomes, functional status, and assessed risk factors for requiring ECLS post-Norwood operation between January 2010 and December 2020 in a high-volume center. During the study period, 269 patients underwent a Norwood procedure of which 65 (24%) required ECLS. Of the 65 patients, 27 (41.5%) survived to hospital discharge. Mean functional status scale (FSS) score at discharge increased from 6.0 on admission to 8.48 (p < 0.0001). This change was primary in feeding (p < 0.0001) and respiratory domains (p = 0.017). Seven survivors (26%) developed new morbidity, and two (7%) developed unfavorable functional outcomes. In the regression analysis, we showed that patients with moderate—severe univentricular dysfunction on pre-Norwood transthoracic echocardiogram (odds ratio [OR] = 6.97), modified Blalock Taussig Thomas (m-BTT) shunt as source of pulmonary blood flow (OR = 2.65), moderate—severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation on transesophageal echocardiogram (OR = 8.50), longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (OR = 1.16), longer circulatory arrest time (OR = 1.20), and delayed sternal closure (OR = 3.86), had higher odds of requiring ECLS (p < 0.05). Careful identification of these risk factors is imperative to improve the care of this high-risk cohort and improve overall outcomes.

OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to evaluate factors associated with anal high-grade intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and anal carcinoma among young men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) with HIV in Atlanta, GA, to better inform screening guidelines and preventative measures.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Cross-sectional retrospective chart review was completed for cisgender MSM and TW with HIV aged 13-25 years at the Grady Ponce and Family Youth Clinic in Atlanta, GA, from 2009 to 2020. High-grade anal disease was defined as anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) 2, 3, or anal carcinoma (AIN 2+). Associations between clinical and demographic factors with AIN 2+ were estimated using logistic regression. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and associated 90% CIs are reported.RESULTS:One hundred nine MSM and TW with HIV who underwent anoscopy were included. One hundred three participants received anal biopsies, and 62% had AIN 2+. Being incompletely or unvaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV, 0-2 doses) relative to being fully vaccinated (3 doses; aOR = 5.85; 90% CI = 1.28-26.83; p = .06) and having ever received surgical treatment for anogenital HPV (aOR = 2.89; 90% CI = 1.10-7.65; p = .07) were associated with AIN 2+, controlling for age and CD4 T-cell count at time of biopsy.CONCLUSIONS:Our study found a high prevalence of anal HSIL among young MSM and TW with HIV. Those who had ever received surgical treatment for anogenital HPV and those who were incompletely or unvaccinated against HPV were more likely to have HSIL. Our data emphasize the urgent need to improve HPV vaccination efforts and to pursue larger surveillance studies of anal HSIL and carcinoma among young MSM and TW with HIV.

Children with cardiac disease are at significantly higher risk for in-hospital cardiac arrest (CA) compared with those admitted without cardiac disease. CA occurs in 2–6

Abstract Background Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) living with HIV have high rates of co-sexually transmitted infections (STIs). During the COVID pandemic, STI prevention strategies including access to testing and treatment facilities, availability of public health practitioners and healthcare workers, and condom availability may have decreased. The aim of this study was to determine if differences in STI incidence for first infection and re-infection existed between the pre-COVID and COVID eras in a cohort of AYAs living with HIV in Atlanta, GA. Methods Retrospective chart review was conducted for all patients aged 13-24 at the Grady Ponce and Family Youth Clinic in Atlanta, GA. Two eras were identified: a pre-COVID era from 1/1/2009 – 12/31/2019 and a COVID era from 1/1/2020 – 6/30/2021. Patients could be followed in both eras, where follow-up for first and recurrent STI incidences were reinitiated at the start of the COVID era. STIs recorded included gonorrhea, chlamydia, human papillomavirus, syphilis, trichomonas, herpes simplex virus, lymphogranuloma venereum, hepatitis C, bacterial vaginosis, and chancroid. First and recurrent incidence rates for any STIs were reported. Results Our sample included 766 sexually active AYAs with HIV. The mean age of first observation was 18.91 (±2.86) years. 72.3% of our patients were male and 90.7% were black. 721 patients were included in the pre-COVID era and 583 (80.9%) had at least one STI. 337 patients were included in the COVID era, and 158 had at least one STI (46.9%). The overall first STI incidence rate increased from 42.47 to 58.67 per 100 person-years from the pre-COVID to the COVID era (p< 0.001). Gonorrhea, trichomonas and syphilis had significantly higher rates during the COVID era (Table 1). The recurrent STI incidence rate for any STI also significantly increased from 121.50 to 169.85 per 100 person-years (p< 0.001) (Table 2). Conclusion Our study demonstrated significantly higher incidence rates of first and recurrent STIs in AYAs living with HIV in the COVID era compared to the pre-COVID era. Reallocation of resources during pandemics should emphasize continuation of existing STI prevention programs to avoid secondary clinical and economic adverse effects of increased infections. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

HomeCirculationVol. 147, No. 24Refining Risk Stratification Among Children With Latent Rheumatic Heart Disease No AccessLetterRequest AccessFull TextAboutView Full TextView PDFView EPUBSections ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationsTrack citationsPermissionsDownload Articles + Supplements ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InMendeleyReddit Jump toSupplemental MaterialNo AccessLetterRequest AccessFull TextRefining Risk Stratification Among Children With Latent Rheumatic Heart Disease Andrea Beaton, Emmy Okello, Joselyn Rwebembera, Anneke Grobler, Daniel Engelman, Juliet Alepere, Jonathan Carapetis, Alyssa DeWyer, Peter Lwabi, Mariana Mirabel, Ana Olga Mocumbi, Miriam Nakitto, Emma Ndagire, Maria Carmo P. Nunes, Isaac Otim Omara, Rachel Sarnacki, Amy Scheel, Nigel Wilson, Liesl Zühlke, Ganesan Karthikeyan, Craig A. Sable and Andrew C. Steer Andrea BeatonAndrea Beaton Correspondence to: Andrea Beaton, MD, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229. Email E-mail Address: [email protected] https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4963-355X Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH (A.B.). Department of Pediatrics, The University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, OH (A.B.). , Emmy OkelloEmmy Okello https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6109-0092 The Uganda Heart Institute, Kampala (E.O., J.R., J.A., P.L., M.N., E.N., I.O.O.). Department of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda (E.O.). , Joselyn RwebemberaJoselyn Rwebembera https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8453-818X The Uganda Heart Institute, Kampala (E.O., J.R., J.A., P.L., M.N., E.N., I.O.O.). , Anneke GroblerAnneke Grobler Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia (A.G., D.E., C.A.S.). , Daniel EngelmanDaniel Engelman https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4909-1287 Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia (A.G., D.E., C.A.S.). Melbourne Children's Global Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Australia (D.E., A.C.S.). , Juliet AlepereJuliet Alepere The Uganda Heart Institute, Kampala (E.O., J.R., J.A., P.L., M.N., E.N., I.O.O.). , Jonathan CarapetisJonathan Carapetis Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia and Perth Children's Hospital (J.C., A.C.S.). , Alyssa DeWyerAlyssa DeWyer https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3588-2712 Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke (A.D.). , Peter LwabiPeter Lwabi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2895-3626 The Uganda Heart Institute, Kampala (E.O., J.R., J.A., P.L., M.N., E.N., I.O.O.). , Mariana MirabelMariana Mirabel Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris Centre, Université de Paris, Cardio-Oncologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, France (M.M.). , Ana Olga MocumbiAna Olga Mocumbi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9564-2860 Instituto Nacional de Saude, Maputo, Mozambique (A.O.M.). , Miriam NakittoMiriam Nakitto The Uganda Heart Institute, Kampala (E.O., J.R., J.A., P.L., M.N., E.N., I.O.O.). , Emma NdagireEmma Ndagire The Uganda Heart Institute, Kampala (E.O., J.R., J.A., P.L., M.N., E.N., I.O.O.). , Maria Carmo P. NunesMaria Carmo P. Nunes https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8801-1828 Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (M.C.P.N.). , Isaac Otim OmaraIsaac Otim Omara The Uganda Heart Institute, Kampala (E.O., J.R., J.A., P.L., M.N., E.N., I.O.O.). , Rachel SarnackiRachel Sarnacki Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC (R.S.). , Amy ScheelAmy Scheel Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA (A.S.). , Nigel WilsonNigel Wilson https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0551-4655 Green Lane Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Services, Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand (N.W.). , Liesl ZühlkeLiesl Zühlke Division of Paediatric Cardiology, Department of Paediatrics, Red Cross Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa (L.Z.). Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa (L.Z.). , Ganesan KarthikeyanGanesan Karthikeyan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2073-2917 All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi (G.K.). , Craig A. SableCraig A. Sable Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia (A.G., D.E., C.A.S.). and Andrew C. SteerAndrew C. Steer Melbourne Children's Global Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Australia (D.E., A.C.S.). Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia and Perth Children's Hospital (J.C., A.C.S.). Originally published12 Jun 2023https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.122.063194Circulation. 2023;147:1848–1850Footnotes*A. Beaton and E. Okello contributed equally.The podcast and transcript are available with this article at https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/suppl/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.122.063194.Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03346525.For Sources of Funding and Disclosures, see page 1850.Circulation is available at www.ahajournals.org/journal/circCorrespondence to: Andrea Beaton, MD, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229. Email andrea.beaton@cchmc.orgReferences1. Beaton A, Okello E, Engelman D, Grobler A, Scheel A, DeWyer A, Sarnacki R, Omara IO, Rwebembera J, Sable C, et al. Determining the impact of benzathine penicillin G prophylaxis in children with latent rheumatic heart disease (GOAL trial): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Am Heart J. 2019; 215:95–105. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2019.06.001CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Beaton A, Okello E, Rwebembera J, Grobler A, Engelman D, Alepere J, Canales L, Carapetis J, DeWyer A, Lwabi P, et al. Secondary antibiotic prophylaxis for latent rheumatic heart disease.N Engl J Med. 2022; 386:230–240. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2102074CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. US National Library of Medicine. Determining the Impact of Penicillin in Latent RHD: The GOAL Trial (GOAL).ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03346525. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03346525Google Scholar4. Remenyi B, Wilson N, Steer A, Ferreira B, Kado J, Kumar K, Lawrenson J, Maguire G, Marijon E, Mirabel M, et al. World Heart Federation criteria for echocardiographic diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease: an evidence-based guideline.Nat Rev Cardiol. 2012; 9:297–309. doi: 10.1038/nrcardio.2012.7CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Psaki SR, Seidman JC, Miller M, Gottlieb M, Bhutta ZA, Ahmed T, Ahmed AS, Bessong P, John SM, Kang G, et al; Investigators M-EN. Measuring socioeconomic status in multicountry studies: results from the eight-country MAL-ED study.Popul Health Metr. 2014; 12:8. doi: 10.1186/1478-7954-12-8CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar eLetters(0)eLetters should relate to an article recently published in the journal and are not a forum for providing unpublished data. Comments are reviewed for appropriate use of tone and language. Comments are not peer-reviewed. Acceptable comments are posted to the journal website only. Comments are not published in an issue and are not indexed in PubMed. Comments should be no longer than 500 words and will only be posted online. References are limited to 10. Authors of the article cited in the comment will be invited to reply, as appropriate.Comments and feedback on AHA/ASA Scientific Statements and Guidelines should be directed to the AHA/ASA Manuscript Oversight Committee via its Correspondence page.Sign In to Submit a Response to This Article Previous Back to top Next FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails June 13, 2023Vol 147, Issue 24 Advertisement Article InformationMetrics © 2023 American Heart Association, Inc.https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.122.063194PMID: 37307310 Originally publishedJune 12, 2023 Keywordsrheumatic heart diseaseriskchildPDF download Advertisement SubjectsClinical Studies

Background: This study aimed to determine the overall incidence and reinfection rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the discrepancy between self-reported exposure history and anatomic site positivity of STIs among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with HIV in Atlanta, GA. Methods: Retrospective chart review was conducted on all patients 13-24 years of age at the Grady Ponce and Family Youth Clinic from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2018. Data were collected on patient demographics, self-reported sexual history and STI events. First STI incidence and incidence of reinfections were calculated by dividing new cases over corresponding person follow-up time. Results: A total of 626 sexually active AYAs with HIV were included in analysis. The mean age at first observation was 18.9 (SD: +/- 2.8) years; 72% were male, 92% were Black and 80% were horizontally infected. The cumulative first STI incidence rate was 45.49 cases per 100 person-years, and the recurrent STI incidence rate was 119.86 cases per 100 person-years. Among all Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) cases, the most common site of infection was the rectum (48.6% and 49.6%, respectively). Disagreement between exposure history and presence of GC or CT infection was statistically significant for nearly all anatomic sites and types of intercourse. Conclusions: AYAs with HIV in Atlanta have disproportionately high first and recurrent incidence rates of STIs, with many patients not reporting exposure at their site of infection. There is considerable need to increase screening for STIs, including routine extragenital testing for GC and CT, among AYAs with HIV regardless of self-reported exposure history.

BackgroundScreening programmes using echocardiography offer opportunity for intervention through identification and treatment of early (latent) rheumatic heart disease (RHD). We aimed to compare two methods for classifying progression or regression of latent RHD: serial review method and blinded, side-by-side review.MethodsA four-member expert panel reviewed 799 enrolment (in 2018) and completion (in 2020) echocardiograms from the GOAL Trial of latent RHD in Uganda to make consensus determination of normal, borderline RHD or definite RHD. Serial interpretations (enrolment and completion echocardiograms read at two different time points, 2 years apart, not beside one another) were compared with blinded side-by-side comparisons (enrolment and completion echocardiograms displayed beside one another in random order on same screen) to determine outcomes according to prespecified definitions of disease progression (worsening), regression (improving) or no change. We calculated inter-rater agreement using Cohen's kappa.ResultsThere were 799 pairs of echocardiogram assessments included. A higher number, 54 vs 38 (6.8% vs 4.5%), were deemed as progression by serial interpretation compared with side-by-side comparison. There was good inter-rater agreement between the serial interpretation and side-by-side comparison methods (kappa 0.89). Disagreement was most often a result of the difference in classification between borderline RHD and mild definite RHD. Most discrepancies between interpretation methods (46 of 47, 98%) resulted from differences in valvular morphological evaluation, with valves judged to be morphologically similar between enrolment and final echocardiograms when compared side by side but classified differently on serial interpretation.ConclusionsThere was good agreement between the methods of serial and side-by-side interpretation of echocardiograms for change over time, using the World Heart Federation criteria. Side-by-side interpretation has higher specificity for change, with fewer differences in the interpretation of valvular morphology, as compared with serial interpretation.

BACKGROUND Rheumatic heart disease affects more than 40.5 million people worldwide and results in 306,000 deaths annually. Echocardiographic screening detects rheumatic heart disease at an early, latent stage. Whether secondary antibiotic prophylaxis is effective in preventing progression of latent rheumatic heart disease is unknown. METHODS We conducted a randomized, controlled trial of secondary antibiotic prophylaxis in Ugandan children and adolescents 5 to 17 years of age with latent rheumatic heart disease. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either injections of penicillin G benzathine (also known as benzathine benzylpenicillin) every 4 weeks for 2 years or no prophylaxis. All the participants underwent echocardiography at baseline and at 2 years after randomization. Changes from baseline were adjudicated by a panel whose members were unaware of the trial-group assignments. The primary outcome was echocardiographic progression of latent rheumatic heart disease at 2 years. RESULTS Among 102,200 children and adolescents who had screening echocardiograms, 3327 were initially assessed as having latent rheumatic heart disease, and 926 of the 3327 subsequently received a definitive diagnosis on the basis of confirmatory echocardiography and were determined to be eligible for the trial. Consent or assent for participation was provided for 916 persons, and all underwent randomization; 818 participants were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis, and 799 (97.7%) completed the trial. A total of 3 participants (0.8%) in the prophylaxis group had echocardiographic progression at 2 years, as compared with 33 (8.2%) in the control group (risk difference, -7.5 percentage points; 95% confidence interval, -10.2 to -4.7; P<0.001). Two participants in the prophylaxis group had serious adverse events that were attributable to receipt of prophylaxis, including one episode of a mild anaphylactic reaction (representing <0.1% of all administered doses of prophylaxis). CONCLUSIONS Among children and adolescents 5 to 17 years of age with latent rheumatic heart disease, secondary antibiotic prophylaxis reduced the risk of disease progression at 2 years. Further research is needed before the implementation of population-level screening can be recommended.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a long-term sequela of acute rheumatic fever (ARF), which classically begins after an untreated or undertreated infection caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A). RHD develops after the heart valves are permanently damaged due to ARF. RHD remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in young adults in resource-limited and low- and middle-income countries. This article presents case definitions for latent, suspected, and clinical RHD for persons with and without a history of ARF, and details case classifications, including differentiating between definite or borderline according to the 2012 World Heart Federation echocardiographic diagnostic criteria. This article also covers considerations specific to RHD surveillance methodology, including discussions on echocardiographic screening, where and how to conduct active or passive surveillance (eg, early childhood centers/schools, households, primary healthcare), participant eligibility, and the surveillance population. Additional considerations for RHD surveillance, including implications for secondary prophylaxis and follow-up, RHD registers, community engagement, and the negative impact of surveillance, are addressed. Finally, the core elements of case report forms for RHD, monitoring and audit requirements, quality control and assurance, and the ethics of conducting surveillance are discussed.

Introduction: Secondary antibiotic prophylaxis improves outcomes for children diagnosed with latent rheumatic heart disease (RHD). However, many children with latent RHD show improvement without prescription of prophylaxis. The objective of this study was to determine if specific sociodemographic or echocardiographic features are associated with progression of latent RHD. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of the GOAL Trial, a randomized controlled trial of secondary antibiotic prophylaxis in children with latent RHD conducted in Uganda. Sociodemographic and echocardiographic variables were collected at trial entry. Progression was defined by a change in echocardiographic category according to the World Heart Federation Criteria (WHF; normal, borderline RHD, mild definite RHD, moderate/severe RHD), determined by consensus of a blinded 4-member adjudication panel. The association of risk factors with progression were calculated as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using logistic regression models adjusted for the randomized treatment arm and the stratification variable (definite/borderline RHD). Results: Outcomes for the 799 children who completed the GOAL Trial were included in this analysis. Female sex (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.19-5.68, p=0.016) and poorer socioeconomic conditions (WAMI Index 0-1 with 1 being the least deprived, OR 0.48 for every 0.10-point increase) were associated with progression. There was no difference in risk of progression or regression between those with borderline RHD or mild definite RHD. Conclusions: Females and those living in less advantaged conditions were more likely to show progression of latent RHD. The strength of these associations was relatively low and does not warrant restricting prophylaxis to subgroups based on risk factors. The lack of difference in progression risk between those with borderline and those with definite RHD may impact revisions of the World Heart Federation Criteria for latent RHD diagnosis and calls into question the use of the term ‘borderline RHD’.

Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) is an immune complex-induced glomerulonephritis that develops as a sequela of streptococcal infections. This article provides guidelines for the surveillance of APSGN due to group A Streptococcus (Strep A). The primary objectives of APSGN surveillance are to monitor trends in age- and sex-specific incidence, describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with APSGN, document accompanying risk factors, then monitor trends in frequency of complications, illness duration, hospitalization rates, and mortality. This document provides surveillance case definitions for APSGN, including clinical and subclinical APSGN based on clinical and laboratory evidence. It also details case classifications that can be used to differentiate between confirmed and probable cases, and it discusses the current investigations used to provide evidence of antecedent Strep A infection. The type of surveillance recommended depends on the burden of APSGN in the community and the objectives of surveillance. Strategies for minimal surveillance and enhanced surveillance of APSGN are provided. Furthermore, a discussion covers the surveillance population and additional APSGN-specific surveillance considerations such as contact testing, active follow up of cases and contacts, frequency of reporting, surveillance visits, period of surveillance, and community engagement. Finally, the document presents core data elements to be collected on case report forms, along with guidance for documenting the course and severity of APSGN.