Disclaimer: Early release articles are not considered as final versions. Any changes will be reflected in the online version in the month the article is officially released.
Volume 31, Number 9—September 2025
CME ACTIVITY - Research
Rickettsioses as Underrecognized Cause of Hospitalization for Febrile Illness, Uganda
Paul W. Blair
, Sultanah Alharthi, Andrés F. Londoño, Abdullah Wailagala, Yukari C. Manabe, J. Stephen Dumler, and the Acute Febrile Illness and Sepsis in Uganda Study Teams1
, Sultanah Alharthi, Andrés F. Londoño, Abdullah Wailagala, Yukari C. Manabe, J. Stephen Dumler, and the Acute Febrile Illness and Sepsis in Uganda Study Teams1
Table 1
Baseline demographics for case–control comparison in study of rickettsioses as an underrecognized cause of hospitalization for febrile illness, Uganda*
| Characteristic | Sepsis cohort, n = 259 | AFI cohort, n = 70 | Total, n = 329 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, y, median (IQR) |
30.5 (24.0–47.0) |
30.5 (24.0–47.0) |
39.0 (27.0–54.0) |
| Sex, no. (%) | |||
| F | 160 (62) | 43 (61) | 203 (62) |
| M |
99 (38) |
27 (39) |
126 (38) |
| HIV-positive, no. (%) |
95 (37) |
23 (33) |
118 (36) |
| Physiologic parameters, median (IQR) | |||
| Heart rate, beats/min | 101.0 (90.0–112.0) | 109.0 (93.0–116.0) | 101.0 (90.0–114.0) |
| Temperature, °C | 37.5 (36.9–38.1) | 38.1 (38.0–38.8) | 37.6 (36.9–38.3) |
| Breaths/min | 28.0 (24.0–32.0) | 20.0 (18.0–24.0) | 26.0 (22.0–32.0) |
| Oxygen saturation |
95.0 (92.0–97.0) |
98.0 (97.0–99.0) |
95.0 (93.0–98.0) |
| qSOFA >2, no. (%) |
53 (21) |
12 (17) |
65 (20) |
| Tetracycline treatment, no. (%) | 18 (6.9) | 1 (1.4) | 19 (5.8) |
| Rickettsial† treatment, no. (%) | 126 (49) | 18 (26) | 144 (44) |
*AFI, acute febrile illness; IQR, interquartile range; qSOFA, quick sepsis organ failure assessment. †Antimicrobial drugs with potential rickettsial activity: tetracyclines, macrolides, or quinolones.
1Members are listed at the end of this article.
Page created: July 09, 2025
Page updated: August 22, 2025
Page reviewed: August 22, 2025
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.