Denise Baratti-Mayer1, Angèle Gayet-Ageron2, Stéphane Hugonnet3, Patrice François4, Brigitte Pittet-Cuenod1, Antoine Huyghe5, Jacques-Etienne Bornand6, Alain Gervaix7, Denys Montandon8, Jacques Schrenzel9, Andrea Mombelli10, Didier Pittet11. 1. GESNOMA, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 2. GESNOMA, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Community Health and Medicine, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Infection Control Programme and WHO Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 3. Infection Control Programme and WHO Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Pandemic and Epidemic Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. 4. Genomic Research Laboratory and Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 5. Genomic Research Laboratory and Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; University of Geneva, Sciences III, Department of Plant Biology, Microbiology Unit, Geneva, Switzerland. 6. GESNOMA, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Central Laboratory of Virology, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 7. GESNOMA, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Paediatrics, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 8. GESNOMA, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 9. GESNOMA, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Genomic Research Laboratory and Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 10. GESNOMA, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Periodontology and Oral Pathophysiology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland. 11. GESNOMA, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Infection Control Programme and WHO Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: didier.pittet@hcuge.ch.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Noma is a poorly studied disease that leads to severe facial tissue destruction in children in developing countries, but the cause remains unknown. We aimed to identify the epidemiological and microbiological risk factors associated with noma disease. METHODS: We did a prospective, matched, case-control study in Niger between Aug 1, 2001, and Oct 31, 2006, in children younger than 12 years to assess risk factors for acute noma. All acute noma cases were included and four controls for each case were matched by age and home village. Epidemiological and clinical data were obtained at study inclusion. We undertook matched-paired analyses with conditional logistic regression models. FINDINGS: We included 82 cases and 327 controls. Independent risk factors associated with noma were: severe stunting (odds ratio [OR] 4·87, 95% CI 2·35-10·09) or wasting (2·45, 1·25-4·83); a high number of previous pregnancies in the mother (1·16, 1·04-1·31); the presence of respiratory disease, diarrhoea, or fever in the past 3 months (2·70, 1·35-5·40); and the absence of chickens at home (1·90, 0·93-3·88). After inclusion of microbiological data, a reduced proportion of Fusobacterium (4·63, 1·61-13·35), Capnocytophaga (3·69, 1·48-9·17), Neisseria (3·24, 1·10-9·55), and Spirochaeta in the mouth (7·77, 2·12-28·42), and an increased proportion of Prevotella (2·53, 1·07-5·98), were associated with noma. We identified no specific single bacterial or viral pathogen in cases. INTERPRETATION: Noma is associated with indicators of severe poverty and altered oral microbiota. The predominance of specific bacterial commensals is indicative of a modification of the oral microbiota associated with reduced bacterial diversity. FUNDING: Gertrude Hirzel Foundation.
BACKGROUND:Noma is a poorly studied disease that leads to severe facial tissue destruction in children in developing countries, but the cause remains unknown. We aimed to identify the epidemiological and microbiological risk factors associated with noma disease. METHODS: We did a prospective, matched, case-control study in Niger between Aug 1, 2001, and Oct 31, 2006, in children younger than 12 years to assess risk factors for acute noma. All acute noma cases were included and four controls for each case were matched by age and home village. Epidemiological and clinical data were obtained at study inclusion. We undertook matched-paired analyses with conditional logistic regression models. FINDINGS: We included 82 cases and 327 controls. Independent risk factors associated with noma were: severe stunting (odds ratio [OR] 4·87, 95% CI 2·35-10·09) or wasting (2·45, 1·25-4·83); a high number of previous pregnancies in the mother (1·16, 1·04-1·31); the presence of respiratory disease, diarrhoea, or fever in the past 3 months (2·70, 1·35-5·40); and the absence of chickens at home (1·90, 0·93-3·88). After inclusion of microbiological data, a reduced proportion of Fusobacterium (4·63, 1·61-13·35), Capnocytophaga (3·69, 1·48-9·17), Neisseria (3·24, 1·10-9·55), and Spirochaeta in the mouth (7·77, 2·12-28·42), and an increased proportion of Prevotella (2·53, 1·07-5·98), were associated with noma. We identified no specific single bacterial or viral pathogen in cases. INTERPRETATION:Noma is associated with indicators of severe poverty and altered oral microbiota. The predominance of specific bacterial commensals is indicative of a modification of the oral microbiota associated with reduced bacterial diversity. FUNDING: Gertrude Hirzel Foundation.
Authors: Shafi'u Isah; Mohana Amirtharajah; Elise Farley; Adeniyi Semiyu Adetunji; Joseph Samuel; Bukola Oluyide; Karla Bil; Muhammad Shoaib; Nura Abubakar; Annette de Jong; Monique Pereboom; Annick Lenglet; Mark Sherlock Journal: Trop Med Int Health Date: 2021-07-22 Impact factor: 3.918