Purpose HIV/AIDS is a known risk factor for the development of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). However, the association is less clear between HIV and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). We conducted a systematic review to determine the association between HIV and EPTB. Methods We searched the electronic databases Medline, Embase and relevant conference literature using defined search terms for EPTB and HIV. Only publications in English and only studies reporting adjusted estimates were included while our search criteria did not include restriction by age or geographic location of study participants. Qualitative and quantitative analyses (including I2 test for heterogeneity) were performed. Results 16 studies (15 cross-sectional and 1 case-control) conducted from 1984-2016 were included in the final analyses after screening 5163 articles and conference abstracts. Our qualitative analysis showed heterogeneity in study design and study population characteristics along with a medium/high risk of bias in the majority of studies. While most of the individual studies showed increased odds of EPTB compared with PTB among HIV-infected individuals, we did not provide an overall pooled estimate, as the I2 value was high at 93% for the cross-sectional studies. Conclusions While an association between HIV and EPTB is observed in most individual studies, the high heterogeneity and risk of bias in these studies highlight the need for further well-designed prospective cohort studies to assess the true risk of EPTB in the HIV infected patient population.

Background The global burden of cardiovascular mortality is increasing, as is the number of large-scale humanitarian emergencies. The interaction between these phenomena is not well understood. This review aims to clarify the relationship between humanitarian emergencies and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Methods With assistance from a research librarian, electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Global Health) were searched in January 2014. Findings were supplemented by reviewing citations of included trials. Observational studies reporting the effect of natural disasters and conflict events on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adults since 1997 were included. Studies without a comparison group were not included. Double-data extraction was utilized to abstract information on acute coronary syndrome (ACS), acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), and cardiac death (SCD). Review Manager 5.0 was used to create figures for qualitative synthesis (Version 5.2, Copenhagen Denmark, The Nordic Cochrane Centre). Results The search retrieved 1697 unique records; 24 studies were included (17 studies of natural disasters, 7 studies of conflict). These studies involved 14,583 cardiac events. All studies utilized retrospective designs: 4 were population-based, 15 were single-center, and 5 were multicenter studies. 23 studies utilized historical controls in the primary analysis, and 1 utilized primarily geographical controls. Conflicts are associated with an increase in long-term morbidity from ACS; the short-term effects of conflict vary by study. Natural disasters exhibit heterogeneous effects including increased occurrence of ACS, ADHF, and SCD. Conclusions In certain settings, humanitarian emergencies are associated with increased cardiac morbidity and mortality that may persist for years following the event. Humanitarian aid organizations should consider morbidity from non-communicable disease when planning relief and recuperation projects.

Background: Surgery for infection represents a substantial, although undefined, disease burden in low-and middleincome countries (LMICs). Médecins Sans Frontières-Operations Centre Brussels (MSF-OCB) provides surgical care in LMICs and collects data useful for describing operative epidemiology of surgical need otherwise unmet by national health services. This study aimed to describe the experience of MSF-OCB operations for infections in LMICs. By doing so, the results might aid effective resource allocation and preparation of future humanitarian staff. Methods: Procedures performed in operating rooms at facilities run by MSF-OCB from July 2008 through June 2014 were reviewed. Projects providing specialty care only were excluded. Procedures for infection were described and related to demographics and reason for humanitarian response. Results: A total of 96,239 operations were performed at 27 MSF-OCB sites in 15 countries between 2008 and 2014. Of the 61,177 general operations, 7,762 (13%) were for infections. Operations for skin and soft tissue infections were the most common (64%), followed by intra-abdominal (26%), orthopedic (6%), and tropical infections (3%). The proportion of operations for skin and soft tissue infections was highest during natural disaster missions ( p < 0.001), intra-abdominal infections during hospital support missions (p < 0.001) and orthopedic infections during conflict missions (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Surgical infections are common causes for operation in LMICs, particularly during crisis. This study found that infections require greater than expected surgical input given frequent need for serial operations to overcome contextual challenges and those associated with limited resources in other areas (e.g., ward care). Furthermore, these results demonstrate that the pattern of operations for infections is related to nature of the crisis. Incorporating training into humanitarian preparation (e.g., surgical sepsis care, ultrasound-guided drainage procedures) and ensuring adequate resources for the care of surgical infections are necessary components for providing essential surgical care during crisis.

Background Surgical infections represent a substantial yet undefi ned burden of disease in low-income and middleincome countries (LMICs). Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provides surgical care in LMICs and collects data useful to describe the operative epidemiology of surgical need that would otherwise be unmet by national health services. We aimed to describe the experience of MSF Operations Centre Brussels surgery for infections during crisis; aid eff ective resource allocation; prepare humanitarian surgical staff ; and further characterise unmet surgical needs in LMICs.Methods We reviewed all procedures undertaken in operating theatres at facilities run by the MSF Operations Centre Brussels between July, 2008, and June, 2014. Projects providing only specialty care were excluded. Procedures for infections were quantifi ed, related to demographics and reason for humanitarian response was described.

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