ABSTRACT
Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a public health issue worldwide. In Cameroon, its seroprevalence was 11.2% in 2018. However, data specific to cancer patients is missing and the risk of reactivation of viral hepatitis B in patients treated for cancer is not negligible. The objective of this study was to determine the seroepidemiological profile of markers of viral hepatitis B infection in cancer patients at the Yaounde General Hospital (HGY). Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2018 to December 2018. Total of 244 cancer patients was recruited from the HGY Oncology Department. Hepatitis B viral markers (HBs Antigen, HBe, and HBc Antibody, Anti-HBs, Anti-HBe) were determined by immunochromatographic assay (OnSite HBV-5 rapid test) in serum samples of patients. Results: Total 28 men (11.48%) and 216 women (88.52%) were recruited. The average age was 44.07 ± 1.57 years old. The majority of patients had breast cancer (77.05%), 24/244 patients had HBsAg positive (9.84%), 32/244 anti-HBc positive (13.11%), 32/244 anti-HBe positive (13.11%) and 64/244 anti- HBs positive (26.23%), 4/244 patients had acute hepatitis (1.64%), 20/244 patients were inactive carriers (8.20%), 20/244 were cured (8.20%), 48/244 were immunized by vaccination (19.67%) and 152/244 were free from hepatitis B (62.30%). Conclusion: HBV testing should be performed in patients scheduled for cancer chemotherapy and those tested negative should be advised to join the vaccination programme. About 8.2% of patients are at a risk for reactivation of hepatitis when receiving chemotherapy.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: vaginal candidiasis is considered as an important public health problem worldwide and its incidence has increased nowadays. In recent years, inappropriate and disproportionate use of antifungal drugs, automedication as well as non compliance have caused drug resistance.Methods: this study aimed at determining the in vitro antifungal susceptibility patterns of Candida species isolated from female genital tract at Yaoundé Bethesda Hospital in Cameroon. Two hundred and fourthy five women (age range: 15 years to 49 years) attending the hospital were recruited between January and June 2014 in this cross sectional study. Vaginal smears were collected using sterile swabs from each participant and cultured on sabouraud dextrose agar supplemented with chloramphenico l 0.5%; identification of Candida spp. was performed following standard methods. The disk diffusion method was used for antifungal susceptibility testing.Results: out of the 245 vaginal smears collected, 94 (38.4%) strains of yeast were isolates among which 43 (45.7%) were Candida albicans and 51 (54.3%) were non albicans. The highest susceptibility of the isolates was seen for nystatin 62 (83.78%), ketoconazole 61 (82.43%) and fluconazole 60 (81.08%).Conclusion: despite the noticeable resistance of Candida spp. isolates to miconazole and itraconazole, the results indicate that nystatin, ketoconazole and fluconazole are the drugs of choice for the therapy of vaginal candidiasis in this region
Subject(s)
Antifungal Agents , Cameroon , Candida , Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal , Genitalia, Female , Self MedicationABSTRACT
The susceptibility of Salmonella bacteria to commonly used antibiotics such as ampicillin; chloramphenicol and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole is threatened by the emergence of resistance strains of Salmonella. A cross-sectional study was carried out from September 2014 to November 2014 in the Regional Hospital Bamenda on individuals presenting with symptoms of salmonellosis. The Salmonellae were isolated from stool by culturing in Salmonella-Shigella Agar and Kliger Iron Agar; the later in which the isolates produced specific biochemical characteristics which were conclusive. They were assessed for antimicrobial susceptibility by the disc diffusion method using Mueller-Hinton Agar following both CLSI and EUCAST manual instructions. A total of 253 samples were collected and 22 cases were positive for Salmonella species with a prevalence of 8.70%. The susceptibility of the isolated Salmonellae to seven antibiotics was noted with ciprofloxacin having an overall sensitivity of 52.38%; ofloxacin; 47.62%; ceftriaxone; 47.62%; and gentamicin; 38.10%. Chloramphenicol had a low sensitivity percentage of 28.57%; while co-trimoxazole and amoxicilin had a high resistance level of 100.00% (0% sensitivity). The fluoroquinolones were found to be the best drugs for the treatment of typhoid; but there was also a noticeable re-emergence of chloramphenicol susceptible Salmonella
Subject(s)
Cameroon , Disease Susceptibility , Salmonella , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
Aim: We aimed at studying the influence of some potential interference factors on the immunochromatographic Rapid Diagnostic Tests commonly used in Cameroon for the diagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and Hepatitis B (HBV) which are major public health problems in the country. Design and Methods: The sample population of this cross-sectional study included patients referred to the BETHANIE Laboratory for the accurate diagnosis of HIV/AIDS and HBV. RDTs were performed using FIRST RESPONSE HIV Card 1-2.0 and HEXAGON HBsAg. Tests results were confirmed using a high sensitivity 3rd generation ELISA for HIV and HBV, both from FORTRESS. Assays of Rheumatoid Factors and bilirubin were conducted on HIV and HBV samples respectively. Statistical analysis was done using the R software version 3.0.2; the Chi-square test with continuity correction was applied at a threshold of 0.05. Results: A total of 25 patients were included for the HIV study group and 30 for the HBV group. Test sensitivities of 14.28% and 92.85% for FIRST RESPONSE HIV Card 1-2.0 and HEXAGON HBsAg were found respectively. Average blood levels of RF were 11.55 IU / L and 64.29 IU / L from FIRST RESPONSE HIV RDT positive and negative samples respectively. Blood levels of bilirubin were 88.63 mg / L and 131.66 mg / L from HEXAGON HBsAg RDT positive and negative samples respectively. Conclusion: HIV FIRST RESPONSE RDT results were independent (P-value = 1.00) of Rheumatoid Factor values (up to 238.8 IU / L). However, we found that HEXAGON HBsAg RDT results were not independent of bilirubin values (P-value = 0.01547), suggesting that the latter could potentially have an influence on the former.