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A National Spinal Muscular Atrophy Registry for Real-World Evidence
- Victoria L. Hodgkinson, Maryam Oskoui, Joshua Lounsberry, Saïd M’Dahoma, Emily Butler, Craig Campbell, Alex MacKenzie, Hugh J. McMillan, Louise Simard, Jiri Vajsar, Bernard Brais, Kristine M. Chapman, Nicolas Chrestian, Meghan Crone, Peter Dobrowolski, Susan Dojeiji, James J. Dowling, Nicolas Dupré, Angela Genge, Hernan Gonorazky, Simona Hasal, Aaron Izenberg, Wendy Johnston, Edward Leung, Hanns Lochmüller, Jean K. Mah, Alier Marerro, Rami Massie, Laura McAdam, Anna McCormick, Michel Melanson, Michelle M. Mezei, Cam-Tu E. Nguyen, Colleen O’Connell, Erin K. O’Ferrall, Gerald Pfeffer, Cecile Phan, Stephanie Plamondon, Chantal Poulin, Xavier Rodrigue, Kerri L. Schellenberg, Kathy Selby, Jordan Sheriko, Christen Shoesmith, Garth Smith, Monique Taillon, Sean Taylor, Jodi Warman Chardon, Scott Worley, Lawrence Korngut
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- Journal:
- Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Volume 47 / Issue 6 / November 2020
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 04 June 2020, pp. 810-815
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- Article
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Background:
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating rare disease that affects individuals regardless of ethnicity, gender, and age. The first-approved disease-modifying therapy for SMA, nusinursen, was approved by Health Canada, as well as by American and European regulatory agencies following positive clinical trial outcomes. The trials were conducted in a narrow pediatric population defined by age, severity, and genotype. Broad approval of therapy necessitates close follow-up of potential rare adverse events and effectiveness in the larger real-world population.
Methods:The Canadian Neuromuscular Disease Registry (CNDR) undertook an iterative multi-stakeholder process to expand the existing SMA dataset to capture items relevant to patient outcomes in a post-marketing environment. The CNDR SMA expanded registry is a longitudinal, prospective, observational study of patients with SMA in Canada designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of novel therapies and provide practical information unattainable in trials.
Results:The consensus expanded dataset includes items that address therapy effectiveness and safety and is collected in a multicenter, prospective, observational study, including SMA patients regardless of therapeutic status. The expanded dataset is aligned with global datasets to facilitate collaboration. Additionally, consensus dataset development aimed to standardize appropriate outcome measures across the network and broader Canadian community. Prospective outcome studies, data use, and analyses are independent of the funding partner.
Conclusion:Prospective outcome data collected will provide results on safety and effectiveness in a post-therapy approval era. These data are essential to inform improvements in care and access to therapy for all SMA patients.
Scabies Outbreak in an Intensive Care Unit with 1,659 Exposed Individuals—Key Factors for Controlling the Outbreak
- Manuela Buehlmann, Helmut Beltraminelli, Christoph Strub, Andreas Bircher, Xavier Jordan, Manuel Battegay, Peter Itin, Andreas F. Widmer
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- Journal:
- Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology / Volume 30 / Issue 4 / April 2009
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 02 January 2015, pp. 354-360
- Print publication:
- April 2009
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Objective.
To investigate a large outbreak of scabies in an intensive care unit of a university hospital and an affiliated rehabilitation center, and to establish effective control measures to prevent further transmission.
Design.Outbreak investigation.
Setting.The intensive care unit of a 750-bed university hospital and an affiliated 92-bed rehabilitation center.
Methods.All exposed individuals were screened by a senior staff dermatologist. Scabies was diagnosed on the basis of (1) identification of mites by skin scraping, (2) identification of mites by dermoscopy, or (3) clinical examination of patients without history of prior treatment for typical burrows. During a follow-up period of 6 months, the attack rate was calculated as the number of symptomatic individuals divided by the total number of exposed individuals.
Interventions.All exposed healthcare workers (HCWs) and their household members underwent preemptive treatment. Initially, the most effective registered drug in Switzerland (ie, topical lindane) was prescribed, but this prescribption was switched to topical permethrin or systemic ivermectin as a result of the progression of the outbreak. Individuals with any signs or symptoms of scabies underwent dermatological examination.
Results.Within 7 months, 19 cases of scabies were diagnosed, 6 in children with a mean age of 3.1 years after exposure to the index patient with HIV and crusted scabies. A total of 1,640 exposed individuals underwent preemptive treatment. The highest attack rate of 26%–32% was observed among HCWs involved in the care of the index patient. A too-restricted definition of individuals at risk, non-compliance with treatment, and the limited effectiveness of lindane likely led to treatment failure, relapse, and reinfestation within families.
Conclusions.Crusted scabies resulted in high attack rates among HCWs and household contacts. Timely institution of hygienic precautions with close monitoring and widespread, simultaneous scabicide treatment of all exposed individuals are essential for control of an outbreak.