Evaluation of the Performance of Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Malaria Diagnosis and Mapping of Different Plasmodium Species in Mali.

BACKGROUND: The first-line diagnosis of malaria in Mali is based on the use of rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) that detect the Histidin Rich Protein 2 (HRP2) antigen specific to Plasmodium falciparum. Our study, based on a real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) gold standard, aimed to describe the distribution of the Plasmodium species in each administrative region of Mali and to assess the performance of RDTs. METHODS: We randomly selected 150 malaria-negative and up to 30 malaria-positive RDTs in 41 sites distributed in 9 regions of Mali. DNA extracted from the RDT nitrocellulose strip was assayed with a pan-Plasmodium qPCR. Positive samples were then analyzed with P. falciparum-, P. malariae-, P. vivax-, or P. ovale-specific qPCRs. RESULTS: Of the 1496 RDTs, 258 (18.6%) were positive for Plasmodium spp., of which 96.9% were P. falciparum. The P. vivax prevalence reached 21.1% in the north. RDT displayed acceptable diagnostic indices; the lower CI95% bounds of Youden indices were all ≥0.50, except in the north (Youden index 0.66 (95% CI [0.44-0.82]) and 0.63 (95% CI [0.33-0.83]. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, RDT diagnostic indices are adequate for the biological diagnosis of malaria in Mali. We recommend the use of RDTs detecting P. vivax-specific antigens in the north.

Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Therapy in Children Up To 9 Years of Age: Protocol for a Cluster-Randomized Trial Study.

BACKGROUND: Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) is recommended by the World Health Organization for the sub-Sahel region in sub-Saharan Africa for preventing malaria in children 3 months old to younger than 5 years. Since 2016, the Malian National Malaria Control Program has deployed SMC countrywide during its high malaria transmission season at a rate of 4 monthly cycles annually. The standard SMC regimen includes sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) plus amodiaquine (AQ). Resistance against SP is suspected to be rising across West Africa; therefore, assessing the effectiveness of an alternative antimalarial drug for SMC is needed to provide a second-line regimen when it is ultimately needed. It is not well understood whether SMC effectively prevents malaria in children aged 5 years or older. OBJECTIVE: The primary goal of the study is to compare 2 SMC regimens (SP-AQ and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine [DHA-PQ]) in preventing uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children 3 months to 9 years old. Secondly, we will assess the possible use of DHA-PQ as an alternative SMC drug in areas where resistance to SP or AQ may increase following intensive use. METHODS: The study design is a 3-arm cluster-randomized design comparing the SP-AQ and DHA-PQ arms in 2 age groups (younger than 5 years and 5-9 years) and a control group for children aged 5-9 years. Standard SMC (SP-AQ) for children younger than 5 years was provided to the control arm, while SMC with SP-AQ was delivered to children aged 3 months to 9 years (arm 2), and SMC with DHA-PQ will be implemented in study arm 3 for children up to 9 years of age. The study was performed in Mali's Koulikoro District, a rural area in southwest Mali with historically high malaria transmission rates. The study's primary outcome is P falciparum incidence for 2 SMC regimens in children up to 9 years of age. Should DHA-PQ provide an acceptable alternative to SP-AQ, a plausible second-line prevention option would be available in the event of SP resistance or drug supply shortages. A significant byproduct of this effort included bolstering district health information systems for rapid identification of severe malaria cases. RESULTS: The study began on July 1, 2019. Through November 2022, a total of 4556 children 3 months old to younger than 5 years were enrolled. Data collection ended in spring 2023, and the findings are expected to be published later in early 2024. CONCLUSIONS: Routine evaluation of antimalarial drugs is needed to establish appropriate SMC age targets. The study goals here may impact public health policy and provide alternative therapies in the event of drug shortages or resistance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04149106, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04149106. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/51660.

Clinical Outreach Training and Supportive Supervision Quality-of-Care Analysis: Impact of Readiness Factors on Health Worker Competencies in Malaria Case Management in Cameroon, Mali, and Niger.

Improving the quality of malaria clinical case management in health facilities is key to improving health outcomes in patients. The U.S. President's Malaria Initiative Impact Malaria Project has supported implementation of the Outreach Training and Supportive Supervision (OTSS) approach in 11 African countries to improve the quality of malaria care in health facilities through the collection and analysis of observation-based data on health facility readiness and health provider competency in malaria case management. We conducted a secondary analysis of longitudinal data collected during routine supervision in Cameroon (April 2021-March 2022), Mali (October 2020-December 2021), and Niger (November 2020-September 2021) using digitized checklists to assess how service readiness affects health worker competencies in managing patients with fever correctly and providing those with confirmed uncomplicated malaria cases with appropriate treatment and referral. Linear or logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the effect of facility readiness and its components on observed health worker competencies. All countries demonstrated significant associations between health facility readiness and malaria case management competencies. Data from three rounds of OTSS visits in Cameroon, Mali, and Niger showed a statistically significant positive association between greater facility readiness scores (including the availability of commodities, materials, and trained staff) and health worker competency in case management. These findings provide evidence that health worker performance is likely affected by the tools and training available to them. These results reinforce the need for necessary tools and properly trained staff if high-quality malaria case management services are to be delivered at health facilities.

Use of Supervision Data to Improve Quality of Care for Malaria in Pregnancy: Experience in Six African Countries.

Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) intervention coverage, especially intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp), lags behind other global malaria indicators. In 2020, across Africa, only 32% of eligible pregnant women received at least three IPTp doses, despite high antenatal care attendance. We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected during Outreach Training and Supportive Supervision visits from 2019 to 2020 to assess quality of care and explore factors contributing to providers' competence in providing IPTp, insecticide-treated nets, malaria case management, and respectful maternity care. Data were collected during observations of provider-patient interactions in six countries (Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, and Niger). Competency scores (i.e., composite scores of supervisory checklist observations) were calculated across three domains: MiP prevention, MiP treatment, and respectful maternity care. Scores are used to understand drivers of competency, rather than to assess individual health worker performance. Country-specific multilinear regressions were used to assess how competency score was influenced by commodity availability, training, provider gender and cadre, job aid availability, and facility type. Average competency scores varied across countries: prevention (44-90%), treatment (78-90%), and respectful maternity care (53-93%). The relative association of each factor with competency score varied. Commodity availability, training, and access to job aids correlated positively with competency in multiple countries. To improve MiP service quality, equitable access to training opportunities for different cadres, targeted training, and access to job aids and guidelines should be available for providers. Collection and analysis of routine supervision data can support tailored actions to improve quality MiP services.

[Study on the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the first 1030 cases of covid-19 in Mali]. / Etude sur les caracteristiques cliniques et epidemiologiques des 1030 premiers cas de covid-19 au Mali.

AIMS: Since the confirmation of the first cases of COVID-19 in Mali in March 2020 and the outbreakspreading to the whole country, clinical and epidemiological data fromaffected patients are used to characterize the disease. This study was to describe the clinica lsigns and epidemiologicalparameters of COVID-19 in the Malian context. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. All confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Mali between March 25, 2020 to May 24, 2020 have been included. Clinical and epidemiological data from patients with COVID-19 were extracted from the official line list of cases and the national reference laboratory register. RESULTS: The mean age of the 1,030 patients was 45.6 ± 18.4 years; 67.2% of patients were men. Asymptomatic patients accounted for 31.1%. The most common symptoms on admission were cough (60.8%) followed by fever (47.6%). The largest number of cases was recorded in Bamako. CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 infection of the first 1,030 cases in Mali was marked by the predominance of cough and fever.

BUTS: Depuis la confirmation des premiers cas de COVID-19 au Mali en Mars 2020 et sa propagation à tout le pays, des données cliniques et épidémiologiques des patients atteints sont utilisées pour caractériser la maladie. Cette étude avait pour objectif d'étudier les signes cliniques et épidémiologiques de la COVID-19 dans le contexte malien. MATÉRIELS ET MÉTHODES: Il s'agit d'une étude transversale. Tous les cas confirmés de COVID-19 du Mali entre le 25 Mars 2020 au 24 Mai 2020 ont été inclus. Les données cliniques et épidémiologiques des patients atteints de COVID-19ont été extraites. RÉSULTATS: L'âge moyen descas était de 45,6±18,4 ans ; 67,2% des patients étaient des hommes. Les patients asymptomatiques représentaient 31,1%. Les symptômes les plus courants à l'admission étaient la toux (60,8%) suivi de la fièvre (47,6%). Le plus grand nombre de cas a été enregistré à Bamako. CONCLUSION: L'infection par le SARS-CoV-2 des 1 030 premiers cas au Mali a été marquée par la prédominance de la toux et de la fièvre.

[Clinical and epidemiological characteristic of COVID-19 deaths in Mali]. / Caracteristiques clinique et epidemiologique des deces COVID-19 au Mali.

INTRODUCTION: Mali recorded its first COVID-19's death related case on March 26, 2020. The aim of this study was to evaluate the comorbidity of COVID-19's death related cases in the Malian context. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March 25 and October 11, 2020. Community death information was analyzed from the patient descriptive list, and from the hospitalization registry of the treatment sites. RESULT: Of the 3,286 COVID-19 confirmed cases, 132 died making a lethality rate of 4.00% (132/3286). Men were the most represented with 75.76% (100/132). The mean age was 63.77 ± 15.25 years. The mean time of hospital stay was 4.50 days ± 6.35. Diabetes and cardiovascular disease remain the most frequent comorbidities with death patients with 20.45% and 17.42%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of this study allow to draw map of patients who died from COVID-19 as well as provide information on the comorbidities for better management of hospitalized patients.

INTRODUCTION: Le Mali a enregistré son premier cas de décès lié à la COVID-19, le 26 mars 2020.Le but de cette étude est d'étudier la comorbidité des cas de décès de COVID-19 dans le contexte malien. MÉTHODE: Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale allant de la période du 25 mars au 11 octobre 2020. Nous avons réalisé une analyse des informations de la liste descriptives des cas pour les décès communautaire et des registres d'hospitalisation des sites de prise en charge. RÉSULTAT: Sur les 3286 cas confirmés par la COVID-19, 132 malades en sont décédés soit une létalité de4,00%. Les hommes étaient les plus représentés avec 75,76 % (100/132). La moyenne d'âge était de 63,77 ans ± 15,25. La durée moyenne d'hospitalisation était de4,50 jours ± 6,35. Le diabète et l'HTA étaient les facteurs de comorbidité les plus fréquents rencontrés dans les cas de décès avec respectivement 20,45% et 17,42%. CONCLUSION: Cette étude a montré que les cas de décès liés au COVID-19 au Mali étaient observés chez les personnes âgées, diabétiques et hypertendues. Ces informations aideront à optimiser la prise en charge des malades hospitalisés.

Non-motor signs in patients with Parkinson's disease at the University Hospital of Point "G", Mali.

INTRODUCTION: Despite significant progress in the field of scientific research on Parkinson's disease (PD), the prevalence and pathophysiology of its non-motor signs remains less understood than the classic motor signs of bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor and postural instability. Data covering this topic are rare in Africa, and almost non-existent in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, this study aims to highlight the frequency of certain non-motor signs in PD patients followed in the Department of Neurology of the University Hospital Point "G", Bamako, Mali. METHODOLOGY: This is a retrospective and descriptive study from January 2012 to November 2013. We identified records of patients with dopamine-responsive idiopathic Parkinson's disease, and quantified associated non-motor symptoms. Data were analyzed with Epi-Info 2000 version 3.5.5. RESULT: During this period we reviewed 60 patient charts of which 68.3% were men. The average age of patients was 66.51 ranging from 25 to 94 years.Non-motor symptoms were present in 90% of cases, including sensitive disorders in 76.7%, dysautonomia in 73.3%, and psycho-behavioral disorders, including sleep disorders, in 81.7%. CONCLUSION: At the end of this study, we observed an important place for non-motor signs in the clinical manifestation of PD patients in general.