Conference Papers
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/6561
This collection contains abstracts of conference papers, presented at local and international conferences by the staff of the Faculty of Medicine
Browse
6 results
Search Results
Item Projected cost- effectivenes of rotavirus vaccination in Sri Lanka(The Bulletin of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists, 2007) Chandrasena, T.G.A.N.; Rajindrajith, S.; Gunawardane, R.; Adhihetty, D.; Ahmed, K.; Pathmeswaran, A.; Nakagomi, O.OBJECTIVES: The disease and economic burden of rotavirus infection among children hospitalised for gastroenteritis in Sri Lanka was assessed, in anticipation of the availability of new rotavirus vaccines. METHODS: A prospective gastroenteritis case surveillance was conducted between April 2005-October 2006 at the paediatric units of the Colombo North Teaching Hospital. Stool samples of children admitted with diarrhoea were screened for group A rotavirus antigens by enzyme-immuno assay (ElA)(Rotaclone®).Information regarding medical and non- medical costs during the event was obtained among randomly selected rotavirus cases (n=45) through an interviewer administered questionnaire. Cost effectiveness of universal rotavirus vaccination was investigated assuming a cost Of ≤ US$.7 per vaccine dose (two dose regime) in accordance with the World Bank cost effectiveness standard for low-income countries. RESULTS: Total of 606 children (335 males)[ mean age 27.3 months,(range 1-144) were analyzed. 116 (19.1%) had rotavirus antigens. The prevalence among the 0-5 years age group was 20.8. The average cost per episode of rotavirus gastroenteritis was Rs. 3004(US$ 27). Estimated initial and recurrent expenditure of universal vaccination was US$ 23.7 and five million respectively. Costs saved through averting rotavirus diarrhoea hospitaljsations per year (assuming a vaccine of 100% efficacy) were US$ 0.21 million. Deaths averted were eight per year. CONCLUSION: Universal rotavirus vaccination at 5 US$.7 per dose may not be cost-saving in Srilanka. However decisions regarding vaccine use should be based not only on whether the intervention provides cost savings but also on the value of preventing associated morbidity and mortality.Item Surveillance of rotavirus in three hospital settings of Sri Lanka 2007 - 2010(Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists, 2014) Chandrasena, T.G.A.N.; Rajindrajith, S.; Gunawardena, N.K.; Liyanarachchi, N.; Abeysekera, C.K.; Matsomoto, T.; Yahiro, T.; Nishizono, A.; Ahmed, K.INTRODUCTION: Rotavirus is an important aetiological agent of childhood diarrhoeas in Sri Lanka. OBJECTIVES: To study the rotavirus epidemiology and genotypic diversity of cases hospitalized in three geographical locations of Sri Lanka, Ragama, Galle and Kandy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was approved by the ethical review board of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians. Stool samples were collected from children < 5 years, hospitalized at the Teaching Hospitals at Ragama (RTH) (November 2007 - October 2010) Galle (GTH) and Kandy (KTH) (mid and late 2008) respectively for acute gastroenteritis. Rotavirus was detected using EIA kit, Rotaclone®. A subset of rotavirus positive samples was genotyped by reverse-transcription(Rt)-PCR and polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoresis (PAGE). RESULTS: Stool samples of 1245 children (69.2%, 23.3% and 7.3% from RTH, GTH and KTH respectively) were screened for rotavirus. Of them, 476 were positive by EIA. The overall rate of prevalence of rotavirus infection was 38.2%. The median age of infection ranged from 13-20 months. Rotavirus genotyping was done on 375 (78.8 %) samples. G1 [P8] was the overall dominant strain (44.8%) followed by G9[P8] (10.1%), G2[P4] (5.3%), G3[P8] (3.2%), G1[P6] (2.1%), G12[P6] (1.3%), G2[P8] (1.06%) and 0.26% of G4[P6], G4[P4] and G4[P8]. The G or P serotype was untypable in 25.6% of samples and 5.6% were of mixed-G and P type. PAGE yeilded 25 electropherotypes (E1-E12 and E16-E29), with E5 and E20 causing 19 and 14 percent of infections respectively. The electropherotype could not be determined in 26%. CONCLUSIONS: Rotavirus continues to be an important cause of childhood diarrhoreas in Sri Lanka. Strain G1P8 predominated in all areas during the surveillance period with a notable percentage of mixed-G and P infections. Multiple E types identified indicate increasing strain diversityItem Paediatric rotavirus diarrhoea in Sri Lanka: a preliminary report(Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, 2007) Chandrasena, T.G.A.N.; Rajindrajith, S.; Ahmed, K.; Pathmeswaran, A.; Abeyewickreme, W.; Nakagomi, O.BACKGROUND: Group A rotavirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in children. Serotypes Gl, G2, G3 and G4 are mainly responsible for human infections. Strain characterization and serotype distribution of rotavirus in a country is an importaa determinant of future vaccine strategy. Information in this regard is scarce in Sri Lanka. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence, severity and molecular epidemiology of rotavirus diarrhoea among children hospitalized with diarrhoea in Sri Lanka. DESIGN, SETTING AND METHOD: A prospective hospital-based study was conducted in the paediatric units of the North Colombo Teaching Hospital from April 2005-February 2006. Stool samples of children admitted with diarrhoea were analyzed for Group A rotavirus antigen by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (EL1SA) (Rotaclone). Samples positive for rotavirus were characterized electropherotyping (PAGE) and serotyping (reverse transcription-poiymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)) respectively. Severity of diarrhoea was assessed by the Vesikari severity score. RESULTS: A total of 341 children [204 males mean age 25.7 months (range 1-144)] were studied. Sixty seven (19.6%) had rotavirus diarrhoea. RT-PCR and PAGE were done on 58 rotavirus positive samples. Thirty one were PAGE positive with 6 different electropherotypes. RT-PCR revealed the presence of serotypes Gl, G2, G3, G4 and G9 in 7 (12.1%), 16 (27.6%),2 (3.4%), 2 (3.4%), and 11 (19.0%) samples respectively. Twenty (34.5%) were untypable. Severity score, assessed in 326 patients, revealed a mean score of 13.3 and 11.4 in rotavirus positive and negative patients respectively (p=0.05). Presence frequency and duration of vomiting and duration of diarrhoea were significantly higher in rotavirus diarrhoea (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Rotavirus is an important agent of severe paediatric diarrhoea in Sri Lanka. Molecular analysis indicates genetic diversity among group A rotavirus in Sri Lanka. This study reports for the first time of G9 type rotavirus infection in Sri Lanka.Item Spatial epidemiology and hotspots of Rotavirus In children: an analysis and mapping using Geographic Information System(Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, 2010) Gunawardena, N.K.; Rajindrajith, S.; Chandrasena, T.G.A.N.; Nishizono, A.; Moji, K.; Ahmed, K.INTRODUCTION: Rotavirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in Sri Lanka. Studies from the western world have assessed the seasonal variations of this infection and its association with environmental factors such as rainfall and temperature. However, little is known of its seasonal variation and geographical distribution in Sri Lanka. Areliable and updated distribution map of rotavirus infection is essential for target control strategies and policy making processes. Geographical Information. System (GIS) has previously been used to monitor spatial distribution of diseases and their transmission dynamics. For the first time we describe the spatial epidemiological patterns of rotavirus diarrhoea in Sri Lanka. OBJECTIVE: To study the spatial epidemiological distribution of rotaviral infection among children with diarrhoeal diseases admitted to the North Colombo Teaching Hospital, Ragama. DESIGN, SETTING AND METHOD: This study was carried out in two phases. Phase I, a prospective hospital-based study, was conducted in the North Colombo Teaching Hospital from January 2008 to October 2009 to detect the incidence of rotavirus infection in children with diarrhoea. Stool samples were analyzed for Group A rotavirus antigen by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (EL1SA) (Rotaclone). During Phase II of the study, patients with rotavirus infection were mapped using geographic coordinates obtained from a hand-held GIS receiver (Trimble Juno SB). Rainfall and temperature data for the years 2008 and 2009 in the Gampaha District were obtained from the Department of Meteorology, Sri Lanka and correlated with the spatial distribution data. RESULTS: In 2008 and 2009, 71 (60.6% males) and 99 (63.6% males) had rotavirus infection respectively. Spatial distribution data showed that most rotavirus infections (78%) presenting to the Teaching Hospital, Ragama were coming from a 10 km radius of catchment area. The hot spots were clustered in and around the marshy land areas of the Gampaha District and 67% use water from their own well or from the well of a neighbour. The peak incidence in both years was between May and July which coincided with the highest rainfall to the area. There was no correlation between environmental temperature and rotavirus infection rates. CONCLUSION: Incidence of rotavirus infection is highest in children living around marshy lands and using water from private sources such as a well.Item Rotavirus surveillance at the North Colombo Teaching Hospital, Sri Lanka, 2007-2008(Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, 2010) Chandrasena, T.G.A.N.; Rajindrajith, S.; Gunawardena, N.K.; Abayawardana, U.A.T.M.; Ranasinghe, S.L.; Nishizono, A.; Moji, K.; Ahmed, K.INTRODUCTION: Rotavirus disease is a common paediatric problem and accounts for severe dehydrating diarrhoea, a large number of hospital admissions and an annually estimated 600,000 deaths across the world. Prospective Rotavirus surveillance was initiated at the North Colombo Teaching Hospital (NCTH), Sri Lanka from April 2005. The serorype distribution in our previous study was; G9P[S] 35.2%, G12P[8] 14.7%, G3P[4] 17.2%, G2P[8/4/6] 14%, GlP[8/4] 6.5% and G4P[8/4] 3.3%. OBJECTIVE: To describe the serotype distribution of rotavirus responsible for hospitalization at the NCTH. DESIGN, SETTING AND METHOD: A prospective hospital-based study was conducted in the paediatric units of the NCTH from November 2007-October 2008. Stool samples of children admitted with diarrhoea were analyzed for Group A rotavirus antigen by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Rotaclone). Stool samples positive for rotavirus were characterized by electropherotyping (PAGE) and serotyping (reverse transcription polymasase chain reaction - RT PCR). RESULTS: Group A rotavirus was detected in 78 (33%) of 231 children less than 5 years of age admitted with diarrhoea. G9, Gl, G2, G3 and G non-typable infections were seen in 33(42%), 31 (40%) 7 (9%), 1 (1.3%) and 4 (5%) respectively. A predominance of G9 serotype (84%) was seen during the initial seven months. Dramatic transition of genotypic predominance to Gl (70%) occurred in the latter half of the year. All Gl, G3 and G9 strains assayed for P genotype contained P8 except two mixed G9 infections which were associated with P4 and PS. In contrast to the previous report, all G2 strains identified were associated with P4 and serotypes G12P [8] and G4P [8/4] were not detected. Polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoresis revealed the presence of El, E2, E3, E4 and E5 electropherotypes with a co-dominance of Eland E5 (30.7%). CONCLUSIONS: During the study period a rising trend in prevalence with a fluctuating genotypic distribution was observed at CNTH, Sri Lanka. The diversity of rotavirus serotypes requires a vaccine that confers adequate homotypic and heterorypic protection against these strains.Item Paediatric rota-virus diarrhoea in Sri Lanka: a preliminary report(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2007) Chandrasena, T.G.A.N.; Rajindrajith, S.; Ahmed, K.; Pathmeswaran, A.; Abeyewickreme, W.; Nakagomi, O.OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, severity and molecular epidemiology of group A rotavirus infections among children hospitalized with diarrhoea in Sri Lanka. DESIGN, SETTINGS AND METHODS: A prospective hospital-based study was conducted in the paediatric units of the Colombo North Teaching Hospital from April 2005 to February 2006. Stool samples of children admitted with diarrhoea were analysed for Group A rotavirus antigen by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Rotaclone ®). Samples positive for rotavirus were characterised by electropherotyping (PAGE) and serotyping (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respectively. Severity of diarrhoea was assessed by the Vesikari severity score. RESULTS: A total of 341 children [(204 males, mean age 25.7 months (range 1-144)] were studied. Sixty seven (19.6%) had rotavirus diarrhoea. RT-PCR and PAGE were done on 58 rotavirus positive samples. Thirty one samples were PAGE positive with 6 different electropherotypes. RT-PCR revealed the presence of serotypes Gl, G2, G3, G4 and G9 in 7 (12.1%), 16 (27.6%), 2 (3.4%), 2 (3.4%) and 11 (19.0%) samples respectively. Twenty samples (34.5%) were untypable. Severity score assessed in 326 patients revealed a mean score of 13.3 and 11.4 in rotavirus positive and negative diarrhoeas respectively (p<0.05). Presence, frequency and duration of vomiting and duration of diarrhoea were significantly higher in rotavirus infections (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Rotavirus is an important agent of severe paediatric diarrhoea in Sri Lanka. Molecular analysis indicates genetic diversity among group A rotavirus. This study reports for the first time G9 type rotavirus infection in Sri Lanka.