BackgroundChikungunya virus (CHIKV) is often overlooked as an etiology of fever in tropical and subtropical regions. Lack of diagnostic testing capacity in these areas combined with co-circulation of clinically similar pathogens such as dengue virus (DENV), hinders CHIKV diagnosis. To better address CHIKV in Indonesia, an improved understanding of epidemiology, clinical presentation, and diagnostic approaches is needed. Methodology/Principal findingsAcutely hospitalized febrile patients �1-year-old were enrolled in a multi-site observational cohort study conducted in Indonesia from 2013 to 2016. Demographic and clinical data were collected at enrollment; blood specimens were collected at enrollment, once during days 14 to 28, and three months after enrollment. Plasma samples negative for DENV by serology and/or molecular assays were screened for evidence of acute CHIKV infection (ACI) by serology and molecular assays. To address the co-infection of DENV and CHIKV, DENV cases were selected randomly to be screened for evidence of ACI. ACI was confirmed in 40/1,089 (3.7%) screened subjects, all of whom were DENV negative. All 40 cases initially received other diagnoses, most commonly dengue fever, typhoid fever, and leptospirosis. ACI was found at five of the seven study cities, though evidence of prior CHIKV exposure was observed in 25.2% to 45.9% of subjects across sites. All subjects were assessed during hospitalization as mildly or moderately ill, consistent with the Asian genotype of PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES

Background Although vaccination programs have succeeded in reducing the incidence of diphtheria, it remains a health problem in Asia, including Indonesia. Objective To investigate the clinical spectrum and outcomes of pediatric diphtheria in Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital. Methods This study was a retrospective review of childhood diphtheria medical records from January 2011 to December 2017 in Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital, Makassar, South Sulawesi. Recorded data consisted of age, gender, nutritional and immunization statuses, signs and symptoms, throat swab culture results, complications, and outcomes.    Results Of 28 subjects aged 9 months to 17.10 years, the majority were >5 years (57.1%) and male (60.7%). Subjects’ mean age was 6.15 years and 82.1% of cases were well nourished. Overall, 85.7% had received complete immunizations, while 14.3% were not immunized, having received neither basic nor booster vaccines. The presenting manifestations were fever, pseudomembranes, and sore throat in all subjects, enlarged tonsils (78.57%), dysphagia (67.86%), cough (57.14%), headache (57.14%), hoarseness (67.86%), bull neck (25%), and myocarditis (14.3%). Most subjects had hospital stays of >10 days (67.9%). Mortality was 14.3%, usually in those admitted with a late, deteriorating condition and dying before getting optimal treatment. Poor outcome was significantly associated with the lack of basic or booster immunizations, poor nourishment, bull neck, myocarditis, and hospital stays < 5 days (P<0.05 for all).  Conclusion The clinical spectrum and outcomes of pediatric diphtheria in this study are relatively similar to reports from other hospitals. Mortality was mostly in patients who lack basic or booster immunizations, are poorly nourished, or have bull neck, myocarditis, or hospital stays < 5 days.

The burden of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is largely unknown. Here, we evaluate attributable mortality of AMR infections in Indonesia. We used routine databases of the microbiology laboratory and hospital admission at Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital, a tertiary-care hospital in South Sulawesi from 2015 to 2018. Of 77,752 hospitalized patients, 8,341 (10.7%) had at least one blood culture taken. Among patients with bacteriologically confirmed bloodstream infections (BSI), the proportions of patients with AMR BSI were 78% (81/104) for third-generation cephalosporin-resistant (3GCR) Escherichia coli, 4% (4/104) for 3GCR plus carbapenem-resistant E. coli, 56% (96/171) for 3GCR Klebsiella pneumoniae, 25% (43/171) for 3GCR plus carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae, 51% (124/245) for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 48% (82/171) for carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp., and 19% (13/68) for carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Observed in-hospital mortality of patients with AMR BSI was 49.7% (220/443). Compared with patients with antimicrobial-susceptible BSI and adjusted for potential confounders, the excess mortality attributable to AMR BSI was -0.01 (95% CI: -15.4, 15.4) percentage points. Compared with patients without a BSI with a target pathogen and adjusted for potential confounders, the excess mortality attributable to AMR BSI was 29.7 (95%CI: 26.1, 33.2) percentage points. This suggests that if all the AMR BSI were replaced by no infection, 130 (95%CI: 114, 145) deaths among 443 patients with AMR BSI might have been prevented. In conclusion, the burden of AMR infections in Indonesian hospitals is likely high. Similar large-scale evaluations should be performed across LMICs to inform interventions to mitigate AMR-associated mortality.

Joint United Nations Programme in HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) reported that 1.8 million children under 15 years old had HIV with 150,000 new pediatric cases in 2015, and only 49% had an antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. Mortality in HIV-infected children with severe acute malnutrition was 30.4% in Africa. A 1-year and 8-months-old girl was hospitalized due to diarrhea, vomiting, oral thrush, and recurrent fever before admission. She has been hospitalized for HIV infection one month ago and treated with ARV. Her mother was treated with ARV before. Physical examination showed a severely ill, poorly nourished, stunting, and conscious child with normal vital signs. There was oral thrush. The evidence of nutritional marasmus was old man face, piano sign, wasting, and baggy pants. Laboratory findings revealed anemia, positive antigen and antibody of HIV infection, and low Cluster of Differentiation 4 (CD4). She was treated with ARV, Cotrimoxazole, and management of malnutrition and diarrhea. The prognosis of the patient was poor. A 1-year and 8-months-old girl with HIV infection complicated with severe acute malnutrition, acute diarrhea, oral thrush, and anemia of chronic disease were reported. The diagnosis was based on clinical and laboratory findings. Management focused on the therapy of HIV and accompanying illness. The prognosis was poor.

Scarlet fever is a term used for an infection caused by a Group a Streptococcal bacteria. The early treatment of scarlet fever is strongly essential either to prevent further spreading of infection or to prevent the risk of complications consisting of peritonsillar and retropharyngeal abscess, sepsis, hepatitis, acute rheumatic fever, glomerulonephritis, pneumonia, endocarditis, and meningitis. We present a case of scarlet fever with sepsis, hepatitis, and severe acute malnutrition in a 15 year and 6 months old female adolescent. Since the patient had specific clinical features of scarlet fever with continuous fever, sore throat, and productive cough for 4 days, followed by general red maculopapular rash initially from the head and progressively spreading to the rest of her body. The patient was also diagnosed with sepsis, hepatitis, and severe acute malnutrition. Erythromycin, ursodeoxycholic acid, vitamin C, folic acid, and vitamin b complex were given to the patient. Rapid diagnosis and prompt treatment are important to prevent other potential complications such as sepsis, abscess, and acute rheumatic fever.  Early diagnosis of scarlet fever simultaneously with adequate treatment will prevent the complications of the disease and its spreading among other children