Management of cryptococcal meningitis in a district hospital in KwaZulu-Natal: A clinical audit

• Published in: African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine
• Main Authors: Benjamin O. Adeyemi, Andrew Ross
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AOSIS 2014-01-01
• Subjects: Cryptococcal meningitis; Cryptococcus neoformans; District hospital; KwaZulu-Natal
• Online Access: http://www.phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/672

<strong>Background: </strong><span>Despite the development of context-specific guidelines, cryptococcal meningitis (CCM) remains a leading cause of death amongst HIV-infected patients. Results from clinical audits in routine practice have shown critical gaps in clinicians’ adherence to recommendations regarding the management of CCM.</span><p><strong>Aim: </strong>The aim of this study was to review the acute management of CCM at an urban district hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa with a view to making recommendations for improving care.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>An urban district hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective audit was performed on clinical records of all patients (age &gt; 13 years) admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of CCM between June 2011 and December 2012.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Measurement of cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure at initial lumbar puncture (LP) was done rarely and only 23.4% of patients had therapeutic LPs. The majority of patients (117/127; 92.1%) received amphotericin B, however, only 19 of the 117 patients (16.2%) completed the 14-day treatment target. Amphotericin B-toxicity monitoring and prevention was suboptimal; however, in-patient referral for HIV counselling and testing was excellent.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The quality of care of CCM based on selected process criteria showed gaps in routine care at the hospital despite the availability of context-specific guidelines. An action plan for improving care was developed based on stakeholders’ feedback. A repeat audit should be conducted in the future in order to evaluate the impact of this plan and to ensure that improvements are sustained.</p>