Hepatitis B Virus and Behavioural Risk among Blood Donors, Gabon

Background: In resource-limited setting, co-infection between HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) poses important public health considerations. This cross-sectional study was undertaken with the aim of determining HBV seroprevalence patterns in urban blood banks.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at an urban blood bank setting. A total of 1610 blood donors were enrolled, and 283 consecutive plasma samples with unknown HBsAg status were selected for risks factors. HBV seroprevalence was based on the Chemiluminescence method (Cobas® e601, Roche). Potential risk factors associated with overt HBV infection were assessed by calculating the crude and adjusted odds ratio, 95% confidence intervalley (95% CI) and p values.Results: Of 1610 participants, overall rate seroprevalence of HBsAg was 5.5% (95% CI: 4.36%–6.58%) ranging from 0.06% (95% CI: 0-0.18) (HCV) to 0.12% (95% CI: 0-0.30)(Syphilis). Seroprevalence of infection increased in older age groups (20-39 years) but men had a statistically significant higher prevalence of overt HBV infection than women (P=0.0001). The multivariate model showed the following to be predictors of HBV infection: male gender (OR=2.5 (95% CI 1.14-5.58), P= 0.02), first-time donor status (OR = 11.06, (95% CI 5.34-22.9), P= 0.01) andresidence outside of Libreville (OR = 2.52, 95% CI 1.09-5.83), P=0.03).Conclusion: HB and co-infection are n o t common in Gabon. Intermediate seroprevalence was associated with male gender, first-time donor status and residence outside of Libreville. HCV andHBV infection among the younger age groups are becoming an alarming issue. Prevention and control of HBV infection are needed to reduce HBV transmission

Efficacité et tolérance de Malacur® (dihydroartémisinine-pipéraquine) dans le traitement du paludisme simple à Plasmodium falciparum chez les sujets âgés de plus de 14 ans au Cameroun

Introduction: Les combinaisons thérapeutiques à base d'artémisinine sont depuis quelques années le traitement antipaludique de première intention dans une grande partie des pays endémiques. Des souches résistantes à différentes combinaisons ont été décelées en Asie du sud-est, ce qui oblige à une surveillance continuelle dans le monde entier. Matériels et méthode : Pour cela, à Yaoundé (Cameroun), a été réalisée une étude prospective,ouverte, non-randomisée pour évaluer l'efficacité clinique et parasitologique de l'association dihydroar- témisinine-pipéraquine (DHA-PQ) dans le traitement du paludisme simple à P. falciparum, chez les sujets âgés de plus de 14 ans. Résultats : Les résultats ont montré que 100% des 47 patients inclus dans cette analyse ont été libres de parasitémie dès le premier jour après la fin du traitement et les résultats se sont maintenus jusqu'à la fin du suivi, le 28ème jour. De la même manière 78,7% des patients ont été apyrétiques le jour après la première prise et 100% après les 3 jours de traitement. Aucun patient n'a montré d'évènement indésirable grave ni n'a abandonné le traitement pour cette raison. Conclusion : Les résultats confirment l'efficacité de l'association DHA-PQ comme traitement de première intention dans le traitement du paludisme non-compliqué à Plasmodium falciparum

A New Focus of Pleuro-Pulmonary Paragonimiasis in Manjo Health District, Littoral Region of Cameroon.

Background: Paragonimiasis is a food-borne parasitic disease caused by lung flukes of the genus Paragonimus. Cameroon has five known foci of paragonimiasis. Recently, 2 children from the Manjo health district were diagnosed of paragonimiasis at the near-by Ndoungué hospital. The aim of the present study was to determine whether Manjo district is endemic for paragonimiasis. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in Manjo health district, Littoral Region of Cameroon. A stool and a sputum samples obtained from each participant were examined in search of paragonimus eggs. Crabs from local streams were dissected in search of paragonimus metacercariae. Results: Two hundred and fourteen participants were recruited (49.1% males and 50.1% females with an age range from 3-75 years and a mean of 15.73±10.72 years. 1.9% of subjects had eggs of paragonimus in their stools and/or sputum. Eight out of twenty crabs dissected (40%) were positive for metacercariae. Conclusion: Manjo health district is endemic for paragonimiasis and should be considered as the 6th focus of the disease in Cameroon.

clinical and bacteriogical spectrum of neonatal sepsis in a tertiary hospital in Yaounde, Cameroon

Sepsis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates especially in developing countries where identification of the germs and treatment is often unsatisfactory. The aim of the study was to assess the clinical presentation, and bacteriological profile of neonatal infections, and the sensitivity of the causative germs to antibiotics. We carried out a prospective analytic study in the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital in Cameroon over a 6 months period from 18[th] November 2008 to 18[th] May 2009. On the basis of history and/or clinical findings and paraclinical investigations, 218 neonates out of a total of 628 admissions were investigated and managed for neonatal infection. The most frequent symptoms were fever [44.95%], refusal to feed/irritability [32.11%], and respiratory distress/cough [28.90%]. Premature birth and prolonged rupture of membranes were the most frequent risk factors. Klebsiella spp, Escherichia coli and Enterobacter spp were the most frequent germs identified in respectively 28.6%, 21.4% and 14.3% of the positive samples. Overall sensitivity of the cultures to ampicillin, netilmicin and gentamycin was poor at 29.4%, 31.4% and 18.9% respectively, whereas imipenem, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime had the best sensitivities in 91.7%, 90%, 85.3% and 69.4% of the cultures respectively. The mortality rate was 22%, and low birth weight, premature birth and septicemia were significant risk factors for death. Mortality from neonatal sepsis in this context is still high and there is an upsurge of multi-resistant germs to currently used antibiotics, calling for the need for rational use of antibiotics in the management of these infections