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Introduction/aim: The supraphysiologic chloride concentration of normal saline may contribute to acute kidney injury (AKI). Balanced crystalloids can decrease chloride concentration and AKI in critically ill patients. We aim to test the hypothesis that, in patients with predicted severe acute pancreatitis (pSAP), compared with saline, fluid therapy with balanced crystalloids will decrease plasma chloride concentration.Methods/Design: This is a multicenter, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized, controlled trial. All eligible patients presenting to the 11 participating sites across China during the study period will be recruited. All sites will use saline for the first month and sequentially change to balanced crystalloids at the pre-determined and randomly allocated time point. The primary endpoint is the plasma chloride concentration on day 3 of enrollment. Secondary endpoints will include major adverse kidney events on hospital discharge or day 30 (MAKE 30) and free and alive days to day 30 for intensive care admission, invasive ventilation, vasopressors, and renal replacement therapy. Additional endpoints include daily serum chloride and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score over the first seven days of enrollment.Discussion: This study will provide data to define the impact of normal saline vs. balanced crystalloids on plasma chloride concentration and clinical outcomes in pSAP patients. It will also provide the necessary data to power future large-scale randomized trials relating to fluid therapy.Ethics and Dissemination: This study was approved by the ethics committee of Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University (2020NZKY-015-01) and all the participating sites. The results of this trial will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and at scientific conferences.Trial registration: The trial has been registered at the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2100044432).

Since December 2019, COVID-19 has caused huge global\ud morbidity and mortality.1 Although the disease is primarily\ud a respiratory illness, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are\ud increasingly recognised.2 However, reported literature on\ud the prevalence of these symptoms is conflicting, as is their\ud relationship with disease course and outcome.3,4\ud We aimed to identify the prevalence of GI symptoms among a\ud cohort of UK hospitalised adults with confirmed SARS-CoV-2\ud and to describe the association of GI symptoms with patient\ud characteristics, clinical course and outcome.

Background Intestinal schistosomiasis was not considered endemic in Lake Malawi until November 2017 when populations of Biomphalaria pfeifferi were first reported; in May 2018, emergence of intestinal schistosomiasis was confirmed. This emergence was in spite of ongoing control of urogenital schistosomiasis by preventive chemotherapy. Our current study sought to ascertain whether intestinal schistosomiasis is transitioning from emergence to outbreak, to judge if stepped-up control interventions are needed. Methods During late-May 2019, three cross-sectional surveys of primary school children for schistosomiasis were conducted using a combination of rapid diagnostic tests, parasitological examinations and applied morbidity-markers; 1) schistosomiasis dynamics were assessed at Samama (n = 80) and Mchoka (n = 80) schools, where Schistosoma mansoni was first reported, 2) occurrence of S. mansoni was investigated at two non-sampled schools, Mangochi Orphan Education and Training (MOET) (n = 60) and Koche (n = 60) schools, where B. pfeifferi was nearby, and 3) rapid mapping of schistosomiasis, and B. pfeifferi, conducted across a further 8 shoreline schools (n = 240). After data collection, univariate analyses and Chi-square testing were performed, followed by binary logistic regression using generalized linear models, to investigate epidemiological associations. Results In total, 520 children from 12 lakeshore primary schools were examined, mean prevalence of S. mansoni by ‘positive’ urine circulating cathodic antigen (CCA)-dipsticks was 31.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 27.5–35.5). Upon comparisons of infection prevalence in May 2018, significant increases at Samama (relative risk [RR] = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.4–2.2) and Mchoka (RR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.7–4.3) schools were observed. Intestinal schistosomiasis was confirmed at MOET (18.3%) and Koche (35.0%) schools, and in all rapid mapping schools, ranging from 10.0 to 56.7%. Several populations of B. pfeifferi were confirmed, with two new eastern shoreline locations noted. Mean prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis was 24.0% (95% CI: 20.3–27.7). Conclusions We notify that intestinal schistosomiasis, once considered non-endemic in Lake Malawi, is now transitioning from emergence to outbreak. Once control interventions can resume after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) suspensions, we recommend stepped-up preventive chemotherapy, with increased community-access to treatments, alongside renewed efforts in appropriate environmental control.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) describes a group of conditions that includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Unlike some chronic conditions, to a greater or lesser extent, IBD is hidden from or invisible to others which enables concealment of the condition, especially when stigma is associated with the condition. Concealment or nondisclosure allows a means of identity management. Disclosure of a chronic condition is not a single event, and it is dependent on many factors. There is little literature that specifically addresses stigma and/or disclosure in relation to children and young people with IBD. An in-depth qualitative study was undertaken, framed by Interpretive Description and using interviews, friendship maps, and photographs within a participatory framework. Public and patient involvement and engagement (PPIE) was undertaken throughout (inception to dissemination) the study. Young people aged 14-25 years with IBD who had participated in the survey phase of the larger study self-selected to participate in interviews that focused broadly on friendship and feelings of social connectedness. Data were analysed using an iterative, interpretive approach. Preliminary themes were developed and these were explored further, and then tentative theoretical connections about friendship were developed. One superordinate theme focused on disclosure. Thirty-one young people (16 males, 15 females, mean age 18.7 years; 24 Crohn’s, 7 colitis) participated in the interviews (of these, five created friendship maps and six utilised photographs). Three discrete, but interlinked, themes were generated, revealing young people’s experiences of disclosure: to tell or not to tell; controlling the flow: the who, when, what, and how of telling; and reactions and responses to telling: anticipated and actual. Decisions about telling friends about having IBD are challenging for many young people. Having control over disclosure is not always possible, and the potential consequences can feel risky. However, most young people had positive experiences of disclosure and gained support from friends and romantic partners. Most young people downplayed the seriousness of their IBD, revealing some facets of their condition, aiming to sustain their self-identity. Only one young person had been given professional support to disclose. Provision of support and opportunities to discuss whether, when, who, and how to tell friends and what the risks and benefits may be is something that could be woven into an ongoing and wider person-centred dialogue between young people and health professionals within routine clinic visits.

IntroductionNoroviruses are the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in all age groups, but illness is more severe and causes excess mortality in the elderly, particularly those in long-term care. The total burden of norovirus disease in the elderly in the UK is poorly defined; no current surveillance programmes systematically or accurately quantify norovirus infection in those living in care homes. The aim of this study is to evaluate an enhanced surveillance system for acute gastroenteritis among the elderly in care homes.Methods and analysisWe will conduct this prospective cohort study in care homes in North West England; residents and staff at study care homes will be asked to participate. We will prospectively enrol a cohort of participants in an enhanced surveillance system to capture the incidence of acute gastroenteritis and use multiplex PCR to detect pathogens. We will sample symptomatic and non-symptomatic participants to understand characteristics of norovirus disease and susceptibility to infection. We will generate novel data on transmission dynamics by collecting data on the pattern of interactions within care homes using electronic proximity sensors. Comparisons of outbreak and non-outbreak periods will be used to quantify the impact of norovirus outbreaks on care homes.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the North West–Greater Manchester South NHS Research Ethics Committee (REC Reference: 16/NW/0541). Study outputs will be disseminated through scientific conferences and peer-reviewed publications. This study will provide detailed insight on the burden and aetiology of acute gastroenteritis in care homes, in addition to generating novel data on transmission dynamics and risks. The study will identify areas for improving infection control practice and allow more accurate modelling of the introduction of interventions such as vaccination.

ObjectivesTo estimate the incidence of gastroenteritis in individuals in care homes.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingFive participating care homes in North West England, UK.ParticipantsResidents and staff present at the five study care homes between 15 August 2017 and 30 May 2019 (n=268).Outcome measuresWe calculated incidence rates for all gastroenteritis cases per 1000 person-years at risk and per 1000 bed-days at risk. We also calculated the incidence rate of gastroenteritis outbreaks per 100 care homes per year.ResultsIn total 45 cases were reported during the surveillance period, equating to 133.7 cases per 1000 person-years at risk. In residents the incidence rate was 0.62 cases per 1000 bed-days. We observed seven outbreaks in all care homes included in surveillance, a rate of 76.4 outbreaks per 100 care homes per year. 15 stool samples were tested; three were positive for norovirus, no other pathogens were detected.ConclusionsWe found that surveillance of infectious gastroenteritis disease in care homes based on outbreaks, the current general approach, detected a majority of cases of gastroenteritis. However, if policymakers are to estimate the burden of infectious gastroenteritis in this setting using only routine outbreak surveillance data and not accounting for non-outbreak cases, this study implies that the total burden will be underestimated.

Typhoid fever is usually a mild clinical disease, but it can have potentially serious complications. Here, we describe a case of an adolescent male who presented with severe illness and multi-organ involvement from typhoid fever. He required follow-up after discharge but eventually recovered. Clinicians should be aware of the spectrum of clinical manifestations as early recognition will improve monitoring and management of typhoid disease.

We report a case of a tubo-ovarian abscess infected with Salmonella enterica serotype typhi A 19-year-old Nepalese woman presented to a hospital in Kathmandu with lower abdominal pain, constipation, fever and a non-healing, suppurative surgical wound from an emergency caesarian section performed 2 months previously at 37 weeks of pregnancy. She also had an exploratory laparotomy for an appendix perforation with peritonitis at 25 weeks of gestation. Her wound infection did not respond to cloxacillin and she had an exploratory laparotomy, and a tubo-ovarian abscess was found from which S. typhi was isolated. She had a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and responded to 14 days of chloramphenicol. A tubo-ovarian abscess is a rare complication of enteric fever. [Abstract copyright: © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.]