Dengue Immunological Markers Evolution at Saint Camille Hospital in Ouagadougou (HOSCO) Burkina Faso.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Dengue is a remerging vector-borne viral disease in Burkina Faso since the outbreak of 2013 and requires special attention from health authorities. This study reports the prevalence of dengue fever serological markers (NS1Ag, IgM and IgG) and infection dynamic from January, 2018 to December, 2020 among patients tested for dengue infection at Saint Camille Hospital of Ouagadougou (HOSCO). <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The study population consisted of 6414 patients aged 0-97 years. Dengue virus infection was detected in serum or plasma using the SD bioline dengue duo rapid detection kit. <b>Results:</b> The prevalence of dengue NS1Ag was 2.25% (45/2003), 18.43% (501/2719) and 2.42% (38/1569) in the study population in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. The age groups over 50 years and 15-20 years were significantly more infected compared to the group 21-30 years respectively in 2019 (p = 0.030) and 2020 (p = 0.035). Patients tested positive for at least one of these markers (NSlAg, IgG and IgM) represented 26.01% (521/2003) and 38.98% (1060/2719). The peak of infection during 2018 and 2019 was observed between October and November. The present study reports a high seroprevalence of acute dengue virus infection. The presence of NS1Ag, IgM and IgG in patients suggests an active circulation of the dengue virus in Ouagadougou. <b>Conclusion:</b> Data shows recurrent outbreaks of dengue infection in our country need strong surveillance and a suitable and affordable diagnostic system to clarify the burden, pinpoint the risk factors and for better case management.

[Evolution of antibiotic-resistance Staphylococcus aureus in Saint Camille Medical Centre in Ouagadougou]. / Evolution de la résistance de Staphylococcus aureus aux antibiotiques au Centre Médical Saint Camille de Ouagadougou.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring the antibiotic resistance of microorganisms in a specific geographic area can be useful in developing new approaches to first-intention antibiotherapy. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the evolution of resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to antibiotics routinely used at Saint Camille Medical Centre in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from 1996 to 2006. METHOD: Strains of S. aureus, isolated from various pathologic sources were tested to determine their susceptibility to antibiotics. Sensitivity tests were performed in accordance with the guidelines of the Antibiogram Committee of the French Society for Microbiology (version 2007). RESULTS: During the study period, 1160 staphylococci strains were isolated including 73.45% identified as S. aureus. Susceptibility tests demonstrated a significant increase in resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. The proportion of strains showing resistance to ampicillin reached 58.29% in 2000. Resistance to these antibiotics regressed significantly from 2000 to 2006. Resistance to pristinamycin and erythromycin showed a tendency to increase while resistance to gentamicin and oleandomycin showed no statistically significant change. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that S. aureus was the most common Staphylococcus genus present at the center and that it was resistant to several antibiotics. Reducing use of beta-lactam probably accounted for the significant decline in resistance to this type of antibiotic. Care should also be given to the use of other antibiotics such as pristinamycin and erythromycin since resistance appears to be increasing.

Co-infection of Toxoplasma gondii with HBV in HIV-infected and uninfected pregnant women in Burkina Faso.

Toxoplasma gondii infections can induce serious complications in HIV-infected pregnant women, leading to miscarriage; favour the mother-to-child transmission of HBV and HIV and birth defects. The purposes of this study were: (1) to quantify IgM and IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in HIV-seropositive and seronegative pregnant women, (2) to identify hepatitis B antigens (HBsAg) in pregnant women and (3) to determine T. gondii and HBV co-infections among these patients. The study was conducted at Centre Medical Saint Camille, in Burkina Faso from January to June 2009. A total of 276 HIV-infected and uninfected pregnant women were included. All women had less than 32 weeks of amenorrhoea and were aged from 19 to 42 years. Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and HBsAg were detected using ELISA method. In addition, women freely agreed to answer a questionnaire. The results of our investigations revealed that, among these pregnant women, 38.8% were illiterates, 50.4% were housewives and only 5.4% were civil servants. Positive T. gondii-specific IgM (4.7%) and IgG (27.2%) were detected. In this study, we found that HIV-seropositive status seem to be associated with great prevalence rates of both T. gondii (31.9 vs. 22.5%) and HBV (13.0 vs. 5.8%). The elevated co-infection rate in HIV-positive women suggested that they are exposed to T. gondii and HBV infections prevalently because of their immune depression. Therefore, to reduce the prevalence of T. gondii and HBV among HIV-seropositive pregnant women, lamivudine could be included in their HEART and women should follow healthy lifestyle formation.

Mother-to-child HIV and HHV-8 transmission in neonates at Saint Camille Medical Centre in Burkina Faso.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, many HIV infected people are co-infected with Human Herpes Virus 8 (HHV-8). Therefore, the present study aimed to: (1) identify the pregnant women co-infected by HIV and HHV-8 at Saint Camille Medical Centre; (2) use three molecules (Zidovudine, Nevirapine and Lamivudine) to interrupt the vertical transmission of HIV and (3) use the PCR technique to diagnose children, who were infected by these viruses, in order to offer them an early medical assistance. A total of 107 pregnant women, aged from 19 to 42 years were diagnosed to be HIV positive at Saint Camille Centre; among them 13 were co-infected with HHV-8. All included women received the HAART. Two to six months after childbirth their babies underwent PCR diagnosis for HIV and HHV-8. The results revealed that, among these mothers, 68.2% were housewives, 34.6% were illiterates and 60.7% did not have university degree. The prevalence of HHV-8 among these pregnant women was 12.15% and the rate of vertical transmission of both HIV and HHV-8, was 0.0%. The issue of this study revealed that the antiretroviral therapy increased the mother CD4 T-cells, prevented the transcription of the mRNA of HHV-8 and blocked HIV vertical transmission.

Aetiology of acute gastro-enteritis in children at Saint Camille Medical Centre, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

UNLABELLED: The present study aims at identifying the infectious agents responsible for child Acute GastroEnteritis (AGE) in Ouagadougou. From May 5 2006 to June 22 2008, 648 children aged from 2 to 41 months, with at least an average of 3 loose stools per day have been enrolled for coproculture, parasitology and virology test. Among them, 34 (5.25%) were HIV seropositive. A single sample of faeces from each child was used to identify enteropathogens. An infectious aetiology was identified in 41.20% of cases. The pathogenic agents detected as responsible for the AGE are: Rotavirus 21.1%; Adenovirus 1.9%; Giardia 7.6% Entamoeba; 1.08%; entero-pathogenic E. coli 41.7%; Salmonella 3.40%; Shigella 1.85% and Yersinia 1.70%. CONCLUSION: Therefore, these AGE etiologic agents constitute a problem of public health in Burkina Faso. Their control for the child would require: (1) a regular paediatric and clinical follow up; (2) health education of the population for food hygiene and (3) in case of absence of HIV infection in the mother, a promotion of exclusive breast-feeding up to the age of 4 months.

Effective program against mother-to-child transmission of HIV at Saint Camille Medical Centre in Burkina Faso.

The present research was aimed to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV; to use RT-PCR in order to detect, 6 months after birth, infected children; and to test the antiretroviral resistance of both children and mothers in order to offer them a suitable therapy. At the Saint Camille Medical Centre, 3,127 pregnant women (aged 15-44 years) accepted to be enrolled in the mother-to-child transmission prevention protocol that envisages: (i) Voluntary Counselling and Testing for all the pregnant women; (ii) Antiretroviral therapy for HIV positive pregnant women and for their newborns; (iii) either powdered milk feeding or short breast-feeding and RT-PCR test for their children; (iv) finally, pol gene sequencing and antiretroviral resistance identifications among HIV positive mothers and children. Among the patients, 227/3,127 HIV seropositive women were found: 221/227 HIV-1, 4/227 HIV-2, and 2/227 mixed HIV infections. The RT-PCR test allowed the detection of 3/213 (1.4%) HIV infected children: 0/109 (0%) from mothers under ARV therapy and 3/104 (2.8%) from mothers treated with Nevirapine. All children had recombinant HIV-1 strain (CRF06_CPX) with: minor PR mutations (M36I, K20I) and RT mutations (R211K). Among them, two twins had Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor mutation (Y18CY). Both mothers acquired a major PR mutation (V8IV), investigated 6 months after a single-dose of Nevirapine. Prevention by single-dose of Nevirapine reduced significantly mother-to-child transmission of HIV, but caused many mutations and resistance to antiretroviral drugs. Based on present study the antiretroviral therapy protocol, together with the artificial-feeding, might represent the ideal strategy to avoid transmission of HIV from mother-to-child.

HCV and HIV co-infection in pregnant women attending St. Camille Medical Centre in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso).

Five hundred and forty-seven pregnant women with less than 32 weeks of amenorrhoea, attending an antenatal clinic of St. Camille Medical Centre (SCMC) of Ouagadougou were enrolled for a hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV co-infection study. Fifty-eight (10.6%) were HIV positive and 18 (3.3%) were anti-HCV positive. Only seven pregnant women (i.e., 1.3%) had a documented HIV and HCV co-infection. HCV-RNA was found in 5 out of 18 (27.8%) patients, who had anti-HCV antibodies. The genotype analysis of these five patients showed that two were of 1b whereas three were of 2a genotype. Mother-to-infant transmission of the same HCV genotype (2a) was documented in only one case. High 1b prevalence has been reported in other parts of Africa, while 2a is the prevalent genotype (60%) in Burkina Faso. This genotype has a higher response rate to treatment. Serum transaminases were normal, also in presence of HCV-RNA. The higher than expected rate of co-infection in Burkina Faso seems to demonstrate a correlation between these two infections, which could influence the evolution of HIV and HCV diseases.

Helicobacter pylori infection in Burkina Faso: an enigma within an enigma.

BACKGROUND: In Burkina Faso, in contrast with high rates of Helicobacter pylori infection from an early age, the prevalence of H. pylori-associated diseases (ulcer and gastric cancer) is low. AIMS: To look for the prevalence of H. pylori in healthy natives of Burkina Faso, both children and adults. METHODS: We studied the prevalence of H. pylori infection in 258 healthy natives of Burkina Faso (70 children aged 6 months-15 years and 188 adults aged 16-65 years), using a serological screening (IgA and IgG H. pylori antibodies). All the studied subjects underwent a questionnaire regarding their life-style, socio-economic status, dietary habits and hygienic sanitary conditions. Data concerning the questionnaire were compared between H. pylori positive and negative subjects. RESULTS: The rates of H. pylori positivity in children were significantly higher than in adults, and in adults the positivity for H. pylori infection decreased with increasing age. The comparison of the questionnaire's data between H. pylori seropositive and seronegative subjects showed that poor socio-economic status and hygienic sanitary conditions were similar in the two groups. Instead, a higher prevalence of H. pylori positivity was observed in subjects belonging to families living in close contact with sheep, because of their labour and agro-pastoral tradition (shepherds and sedentary farmers). CONCLUSION: H. pylori infection in Burkina Faso is acquired early in life and is related not only to some yet well-known risk factors (poor socio-economic and hygienic status), but also to a close contact with sheep. The gradually decreasing H. pylori seropositivity in adult population of Burkina Faso represents an unexplained enigma, which needs further studies.

[Helicobacter pylori infections in children in the tropical zone. Endoscopic and histological aspects]. / Infection à Helicobacter pylori chez l'enfant en zone tropicale. Aspects endoscopiques et histologiques.

AIMS: To assess the endoscopic and histological aspects of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in children in a prospective study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and four children (6 months-15 years old), with digestive symptoms admitted to the Pediatric Department of the National Hospital of Ouagadougou between February Ist and October 31 1996, underwent upper digestive endoscopy with fundic and antral biopsies for histological and bacteriological analysis. RESULTS: Endoscopy was normal in 80 cases (77%). No lesion was specific of H. pylori infection. Nodular gastritis was observed in 3% of the cases only. Duodenal ulcers were seen in 3 children (3%). 83% of the children had chronic antral gastritis, associates with H. pylori in 95% of the cases. The lesions were follicular gastritis (45%), mild atrophic gastritis (38.5%) and lymphocytic gastritis (1%). Follicular gastritis was more pronounced in the antrum than in the fundus. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of early H. pylori infection and chronic gastritis in children contrasts with the rarity of gastric cancer in black Africa. Protective factors or peculiar strains should be searched for.

[Sore throat after tracheal intubation]. / Douleurs laryngées après intubation trachéale.

This study was performed to determine the incidence of sore throat 24 h after tracheal intubation in 1,268 patients ASA I or II, who had undergone elective surgery. A data form was completed. Nosing were age, sex, type of surgery, anaesthetic drug, muscle relaxant, number of intubation attempts, duration of intubation, and presence of sore throat. The incidence of sore throat was 15.06%. It was significantly higher in females than in males (19.29% vs 11.66%; P < 0.01). There was a significant difference between those patients who received fentanyl and those who received pethidine (P < 0.05). There was also a greater incidence after thyroid surgery (P < 0.01). There was no correlation between sore throat and variables such as age, muscle relaxant, narcotic drug, number of intubation attempts, or duration of intubation. Lidocaine jelly and the appropriate analgesic drug reduce the incidence of sore throat following tracheal intubation.

[Evaluation of cognitive functions after anesthesia with propofol]. / Evaluation des fonctions cognitives après anesthésie au propofol.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the disturbances and delay of recovery of cognitive functions following propofol anaesthesia, and to evaluate a series of simple cognitive recovery tests. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective comparative non randomized clinical study. PATIENTS: Two groups of non premedicated patients, of ASA physical class 1 and 2 were studied. The control group (n = 11) included patients undergoing gastric fibroscopy under local anaesthesia. The propofol group (n = 22) consisted of patients scheduled for coloscopy under propofol anaesthesia. METHODS: The gastric fibroscopy was performed under local anaesthesia with lidocaine and the coloscopy under general anaesthesia with propofol as the sole anaesthetic. Five cognitive tests, designed to assess short-term memory, delayed memory, the ability to plan complex tasks, attention, and language comprehension were conducted the day before, and 1 hour, 3 hours and 6 hours after the endoscopy. RESULTS: The cognitive functions remained significantly depressed for at least 3 hours after anaesthesia, and recovered fully about 6 hours after the cessation of propofol administration. The capacity for planning was the most heavily affected. CONCLUSIONS: Complete recovery can be evaluated by simple cognitive tests, which showed that cognitive functions are impaired over a longer period than psychomotor functions. Oral instructions may therefore not be fully understood by the patient within 3 hours after anaesthesia, emphasizing the importance of written instructions and the essential role played by a well-informed accompanying person.