Browsing by Author "Saidi, Alexuse Mustaph"

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    Comparison of malaria parasites clearance times during quinine and artesunate administration for cerebral malaria in Blantyre Malawi
    (Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, 2021-03-04) Saidi, Alexuse Mustaph
    Type of study: This study involves analyzing previously collected data and samples from cerebral malaria children admitted under Malaria Pathogenesis (MP) study, therefore; it will be a retrospective cross-sectional study type. The problem: A major current concern is the emergence of malaria resistance to a number of antimalarial drugs including artemisinin derivatives. Possible global antimalarial drug resistance emergence is threatening the worldwide goal of reducing the heavy burden of malaria. The global Technical Strategy for malaria 2016-2030 asks countries in endemic regions and all malaria partners to continuously monitor the effectiveness of anti-malaria drugs in order to contain and prevent the spread of resistance to other parts of the world. Our goal is to determine if increased usage of quinine or artesunate has led to increased drug resistance-which would in turn effect malaria parasite clearance times in children with cerebral malaria. Study Objective: To compare malaria parasites clearance times during quinine and artesunate administration periods in cerebral malaria children. Specific Objectives i. To monitor quinine and artesunate’s effectiveness in treating Plasmodium falciparum over a period of 3 and 5 years respectively. ii. To relate parasite clearance to parasitic load (as measured by HRP2). iii. To estimate parasite resistance development to quinine and artesunate. iv. To determine proportion of patients who were still parasitaemic after a standard treatment course of quinine or artesunate. Methodology: We will obtain blood film and Histidine Rich Protein-2 (HRP-2) concentration data and samples collected from cerebral malaria children admitted between the years 2010 to 2019. Each child’s blood film results will be arranged in sequential order of sampling points (every 6 hours). The investigator will be pulling blood film slides and plasma from the archive and quantify the parasitaemia and HRP-2 concentrations respectively for any missing sampling point results. Data collected will be analyzed using Parasite Clearance Estimator (PCE) beta 0.9. Expected Findings: We expect to see a significant difference in the parasite clearance time within each drug and in between the two antimalarial drugs, quinine and Artesunate. Results dissemination: Findings of this project are expected to be presented to COMREC, Malaria Study management team and to the general public through different research dissemination conferences and in journal clubs.