Tele-ECG improves diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome and ST-elevation myocardial infarction in Côte d'Ivoire.

Introduction: The emergence of cardiovascular risk factors in sub-Saharan Africa suggests an increasing incidence of acute coronary syndromes and STEMI. The aim of the study was to define the prevalence of STEMI and to describe the characteristics of patients diagnosed with STEMI within the tele-electrocardiogram (ECG) network in Côte d'Ivoire. Method: A retrospective study was conducted from January 2015 to August 2019. All adult patients managed by one of the six hospitals within the telemedicine network who benefited from a remote interpretation of their ECG by the cardiology department of Bouaké University Hospital were included. The main reason for ECG interpretation, patient and ECG characteristics, diagnosis, response time and treatment were described. Results: A total of 5649 patients were included. The prevalence of STEMI was 0.7% (n = 44 cases) with a mean age of 58.6 ± 11.8 years and a M/F sex ratio of 1.93. Among STEMI patients, chest pain was the main reason for ECG testing (56.8%). Most ECGs were interpreted within 12 hours (72.8%). The anterior inter-ventricular artery location (59.1%, n = 26) was predominant. The Q wave of necrosis was absent in 18% (n = 8) of cases. All patients received double anti-platelet aggregation and 50% (n = 22) additional heparin therapy. No patient underwent primary angioplasty or thrombolysis, 65.9% (n = 29) were referred to the Bouaké Cardiology Department and 34.1% (n = 15) to the Abidjan Heart Institute. Scheduled angioplasty was performed in 20% (n = 3) of patients in Abidjan. Conclusion: Tele-ECG was an effective means of STEMI screening in Côte d'Ivoire. Systematic telethrombolysis of all patients diagnosed could improve their prognosis.

Intent to receive flu vaccine and influenza vaccination coverage among health professionals during 2019, 2020 and 2021 campaigns in Côte d'Ivoire.

Vaccination of healthcare workers against influenza is a crucial strategy to reduce transmission amongst vulnerable populations, facilitate patient uptake of vaccination, and bolster pandemic preparedness. Globally, vaccination coverage of health workers varied from 10 % to 88 %. Understanding health workers' knowledge and acceptance of the influenza vaccine, particularly among physicians, is crucial for the fine-tuning and continued success of influenza vaccination campaigns. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 472 health workers in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, to inform subsequent subnational and national introductions of influenza vaccine and subsequent campaigns targeting health workers in 2019 (14302), 2020 (14872), and 2021 (24473). Using a purposive sample of university hospitals, general hospitals, rural, and urban health facilities, we interviewed a convenience sample of health workers aged 18 years and older. Physicians had the lowest intention to receive the influenza vaccine (58 %), while nurses (78 %) and midwives (76 %) were the most willing. Across all occupations, intention to receive vaccination increased if the vaccine was offered for free or if recommended by the Ministry of Health. 76 % of respondents believed that the influenza vaccine could prevent illness in health workers. Communication strategies, including about the benefits of influenza vaccination, could raise awareness and acceptance among health workers prior to vaccination campaigns. Influenza vaccination coverage rates between 2019 and 2021 were on par with rates of intention to receive vaccination in the 2018 survey; in 2019, 2020, and 2021, coverage among physicians was 73 %, 73 %, and 52 % and coverage among nurses and midwives was 86 %, 86 %, and 74 % respectively. Improving health workers' knowledge and acceptance of the influenza vaccine, particularly among physicians, is crucial for the continued success of influenza vaccination campaigns.

[Effects of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Vaccine Activities on a Reference Immunization Center in Treichville, Côte D'ivoire]. / Effets de la Pandémie à Covid-19 sur les Activités Vaccinales D'un Centre de Vaccination de Référence de Treichville en Côte D'ivoire.

Introduction: Since March 11, 2020, Côte d'Ivoire has been affected by the coronavirus epidemic, declared that same day as pandemic by WHO. March 11, 2021, one year after the pandemic, Côte d'Ivoire has notified 36,824 cases of Covid-19 patients and among them 211 have died. As of May 31, 2020, Côte d'Ivoire had already notified 2,833 cases and 33 deaths. At that time, false rumors were circulating in Africa about the setting up of clinical trials on candidate vaccines. The impact of these rumors on the overall use of health services had to be measured and in particular on vaccination centers. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the pandemic on the activities of the immunization services of the National Institute of Public Hygiene in Abidjan, which comprises four departments: International Vaccination Center, Community Vaccination Service, Rabies Center, and Vaccination Unit of the Expanded Program on Immunization. The study was based on activity reports of the immunization services. Results: At the International Vaccination Center, activities fell by about 50% in March, 86% in April and 82% in May in comparison with 2018 and 2019. Activities of Community Vaccination Service decreased by about 26% in March and 99% in April and May. At the Rabies Control Center, this reduction was estimated at 38% in April and 45% in May. The highest losses were for yellow fever and meningitis vaccines. Conclusion: The drop in attendance at vaccination services could increase the risk of epidemics, especially yellow fever, which are recurrent in Abidjan. Intensive awareness and catch-up actions should be carried out and further studies performed to assess the impact of the pandemic on immunization activities.

[Influence of the knowledge of patients consulting at the Treichville antirabies Center on adherence to post-exposure prophylaxis]. / Influence des connaissances des patients consultant au centre antirabique de Treichville, Côte d'Ivoire, sur l'observance de la prophylaxie post-exposition.

AIM: Human rabies is a major public health problem in many African countries, including Ivory Coast. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of human rabies knowledge on compliance with post-exposure prophylaxis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study from September 2014 to May 2015 at the Abidjan Rabid Center, Treichville. After having given their consent, were interviewed, patients who came for a first consultation and who gave a mobile phone number available for the appointment reminder after abandoning or not starting the post-exposure prophylaxis. Data were processed with Epi Info version 3.5.3. Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analysis with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: A total of 744 patients were interviewed. Men accounted for the majority (58.2%) of those surveyed, with a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.7. The average age of patients was 24.55 (±17.3) years. The analysis showed that 42.6% (317/744) of the interviewees had heard of human rabies. However, having heard of human rabies did not influence adherence to post-exposure prophylaxis (P>0.05). Nevertheless, the post-exposure prophylaxis regimen was completed more often by subjects who knew that agitation is a sign of rabies than those who did not (ORa=0.4343, 95%CI=[0.204-0.925]). Subjects knowledgeable about disease transmission (animal bites) were less likely to continue their post-exposure prophylaxis than those unaware of this relationship (ORa=8.544, 95%CI=[1.002-72.869]). CONCLUSION: The main factors identified in this study that influenced the observance of post-exposure prophylaxis were knowledge of the manifestation of human rabies (signs of agitation) and of the mode of transmission of this disease (animal bites). With a view for better prevention against human rabies, rural and urban populations should be informed, educated and sensitized about this 100% life-threatening but vaccination-preventable disease.

L'ectopie rénale: à propos de 43 cas colligés en milieu hospitalier en Côte d'Ivoire

La présente étude s'est proposé de décrire les caractéristiques de l'ectopie rénale en milieu hospitalier en Côte d'Ivoire afin d'en identifier les particularités. Il s'agissait d'une étude descriptive avec une collecte rétrospective des données des patients hospitalisés et/ou reçus en consultation dans le service de Néphrologie du CHU de Yopougon à Abidjan entre Janvier 1991 et Décembre 2015. Le diagnostic d'ectopie rénale a été posé à l'imagerie médicale devant la présence de structure rénale individualisable en dehors de la fosse lombaire haute. Nous avons relevé 43 cas d'ectopie rénale sur 22 197 dossiers de patients, soit une prévalence de 0,19 %. Le sex-ratio était de 1,5. L'âge moyen des patients était de 35,4 ans. Les circonstances de découverte étaient représentées par les douleurs abdominales (48,84 %). Il s'agissait essentiellement d'ectopie rénale simple (95,35 %) en position pelvienne (74,41 %). L'ectopie rénale croisée a été notée chez deux patients et l'ectopie bilatérale chez quatre dont un cas de fusion en fer à cheval. Un patient avait un rein pelvien associé à une agénésie rénale controlatérale. Quatre cas d'anomalies urologiques ont été observés. L'agénésie utérine et l'ectopie testiculaire étaient les anomalies génitales retrouvées. Les complications étaient essentiellement les douleurs abdominales récidivantes (83,34 %) suivies de l'infection récidivante du tractus urinaire (8,33 %) et la lithiase rénale (8,33 %). L'ectopie rénale représente une entité uro-néphrologique peu fréquente en milieu hospitalier. Ses caractéristiques dans notre travail ne diffèrent pas de ce qui est décrit dans la littérature. Les risques inhérents à la position pelvienne fréquente ainsi que les possibilités de complications urologiques justifient un dépistage précoce et une surveillance à visée préventive

Factors associated with the abandonment of postexposure prophylaxis at the antirabies center in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

The main objective of this work is to analyze the factors associated with patients dropping out of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) at the antirabies center of Abidjan (ARC). This descriptive, analytic cross-sectional study took place at the ARC of Abidjan from September 2014 through May 2015. Data were collected in two stages: first, all patients were interviewed at their first consultation. Exposed patients who failed to return were interviewed by telephone three days later. We recorded 441 subjects (59.3%) who had dropped out of their PEP. After multivariate analysis of social and demographic factors, the dropout rate was low in the groups aged 40-49 years (aOR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.2, 0.8), 50-59 years (aOR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.21; 0.82), and 60 years and older (aOR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.09; 0.76), while it was elevated in retired persons (aOR = 10.07, 95% CI = [1.11, 91 , 7]). Moreover, the choice of protocol influenced PEP adherence, with subjects who chose the 5-dose protocol dropping out more frequently (P≤0.001). The main reason given by the subjects exposed to a suspect animal to explain dropping out of PEP was the lack of financial resources (41.5%). To alleviate this dropout problem, the ARC should strengthen public awareness of human rabies and the Ivorian government must implement universal health coverage to help the poor or make the vaccine available for free to all.

Urgences ORL de l'enfant au CHU de Yopougon (Côte d'Ivoire)

Objectif : Décrire les caractéristiques épidémiologiques, cliniques et thérapeutiques des urgences ORL de l'enfant dans le service d'ORL-CCF du CHU de Yopougon.Patients et méthodes : Il s'agissait d'une étude prospective transversale portant sur les patients âgés de moins de quinze ans reçus en urgence sur une période de dix mois. Résultats : Cent-vingt-six (126) enfants sur 239 patients ont été reçus en urgence (52,72%). Le sexe masculin représentait 57,94% d'enfants avec un sex-ratio de 1,37. L'âge moyen était de 4,26 ans ± 3,59 (extrêmes 1 jour et 15 ans). Dans cet échantillon, 73,81% des patients ont été reçus pendant la garde en dehors des heures de consultation dont 30,95% les week-ends. Les urgences absolues représentaient 14,30% des cas. Les corps étrangers, les traumatismes externes et les tuméfactions cervicales fébriles ont été observés dans respectivement 50%, 15,08% et 7,14% des cas. La prise en charge était multi-disciplinaire dans 11,12% des cas. Elle concernait en plus de l'ORL, la pédiatrie, la neurochirurgie et la réanimation. Le traitement était médical dans 50% des cas parfois associé aux méthodes physiques (9,52%) ou médico-chirurgicales dans 26,98% des cas. Les méthodes physiques seules ont été suffisantes dans 18 cas (14,29%). Cinq abstentions thérapeutiques (3,97%) ont été répertoriées. L'évolution était favorable dans 90 cas (71,43%). Il a été noté 1 cas de décès. Conclusion : La prévention des accidents de la voie publique et la surveillance des enfants sont des mesures à prendre pour réduire la prévalence des urgences ORL dans notre pratique quotidienne

Rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in sputum Samples using PURE TB-LAMP assay.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Lack of rapid and accurate diagnostic testing is a critical obstacle to global tuberculosis (TB) control. Sensitivity of sputum smear microscopy (SSM) is not optimal; however, it remains the most prevalent tool for TB confirmation in poor countries. As a part of passive case finding of TB detection, this study was conducted to determine the clinical performance of PURE TB-LAMP assay using liquid culture medium as the gold standard. METHODS: Centre Antituberculeux de Yopougon is one of the 17 intermediate Tuberculosis centers in Côte d'Ivoire. A standardized questionnaire was submitted to patients with signs and symptoms consistent with tuberculosis by a trained caregiver. After obtaining signed consent forms, sputum samples were collected according to National TB Control Programme guidelines (spot-morning). SSM after Ziehl-Neelsen staining and TB-LAMP assay were blindly performed on the first sample. Samples transported to Institut Pasteur de Côte d'Ivoire were decontaminated according to the N-acetyl-L-Cystein method. In Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT), 500mL of pellets were inoculated and incubated in the MGIT 960 system. MPT64 antigen was detected in positive cultures. RESULTS: Of the 500 patients enrolled, 469 (232men and 239 women) patients were included. The mean ages of men and women were 36.9 (15-86) and 37.3 (15-37.3) years, respectively. There were 56 (12.2%) HIV-infected patients, including 14 women. Clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis complex were detected for 157 (33.5%) patients. Compared with culturing, the overall sensitivity and specificity of SSM were 86% (95% confidence interval [CI]=81-91) and 96% (95% CI=94-98), respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity for TB-LAMP was 92% (95% CI=0.88-0.96) and 94% (95% CI=0.91-0.97), respectively. Positive likelihood ratios for TB-LAMP and SSM were 15.3 and 21.5, respectively, and negative likelihood ratios for TB-LAMP and SSM were 0.09 and 0.15, respectively. Among the 469 patients, active tuberculosis was detected using TB-LAMP assay and SSM in 162 (34.5%) and 147 (31.3%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: For accurate diagnostic of pulmonary TB, TB-LAMP could be used as a tool of the first intention.

Prise en charge de la pré-éclampsie : le pidolate de magnésium injectable peut-il être une alternative au sulfate de magnésium dans les pays à ressources limitées ?

Introduction : La pré-éclampsie et ses complications représentent la deuxième cause de mortalité maternelle dans notre pays. L'administration de magnésium sulfate en IV est la référence du traitement médical, mais le pidolate de magnésium par voie IM peut être une alternative. Méthodes : Il s'agissait d'une étude prospective, comparative, randomisée en double aveugle, menée de janvier 2015 à décembre 2015 à la maternité du centre hospitalo-universitaire (CHU) de Cocody-Abidjan. Tous les cas de pré-éclampsie modérée, soit une pression artérielle systolique ≥ 140 mmHg et une pression artérielle diastolique ≥ 90 mmHg, associée à une protéinurie à 300 mg chez des gestantes porteuses d'une grossesse à 37 semaines d'aménorrhée (SA), ont été retenus (n = 136). Ces gestantes ont été réparties en deux groupes de 68 cas et ont été suivies régulièrement dans l'attente de la décision d'accouchement. Cette surveillance hospitalière comportait, outre un examen obstétrical et général complet, un contrôle horaire systématique de la pression artérielle (PA) et la recherche de la protéinurie aux bandelettes réactives jusqu'à l'accouchement. Le premier groupe de gestantes représentait les cas et a reçu un traitement au pidolate de magnésium injectable (Mag injectable 0,8%®) à raison de 244,2mg de magnésium par jour, réparti en 3 injections intramusculaires (IM) d'une ampoule de 10ml contenant 81,4mg de magnésium, chaque 8 heures. Aux gestantes du 2e groupe, qui représentaient le groupe témoin, il a été prescrit un traitement par le sulfate de magnésium injectable, selon le protocole de l'OMS, soit en traitement d'attaque : 14g en dose de charge répartie de la manière suivante : 10g en IM dont 5g dans chaque fesse et 4g en IV, puis en traitement d'entretien : 1g en IV après chaque 4h jusqu'à l'accouchement. Lorsque persistaient les signes de gravité, la césarienne ou le déclenchement artificiel du travail étaient immédiatement décidés. Ces gestantes ont, parallèlement, reçues un traitement antihypertenseur. L'analyse statistique a consisté en une comparaison de l'issue de la grossesse et la survenue de complications aiguës materno-fœtales de la pré-éclampsie. Le test du khi deux au seuil de signification fixé à 5% (p<0,05) et le t-Student ont été utilisés pour la comparaison des effectifs.Résultats : Nous n'avons pas observé de différence significative concernant l'apparition de complications maternelles (éclampsie, hématome rétro placentaire et HELLP syndrome), ou de complications fœtales (petit poids de naissance, mort fœtale in utero et mauvais score d'Apgar), entre les 2 groupes. Conclusion : Le pidolate de magnésium par voie IM est aussi efficace dans la prévention de la crise d'éclampsie que le magnésium sulfate. Il présente, en outre, l'avantage de sa meilleure disponibilité, d'une facilité d'emploi et d'un coût faible

[Clinical, microbiological and evolutionary profile of patients experiencing failures and relapses of tuberculosis in Ivory Coast]. / Profil clinique, microbiologique et évolutif des patients en situation d'échecs et de rechutes de tuberculose en Côte d'Ivoire.

INTRODUCTION: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a major obsession for TB control. The main risk factor for MDR-TB remains a history of TB treatment especially bad conduct. The objective of this study is to describe the profile of patients in situations of failure and relapse of tuberculosis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective survey of the analysis of records of patients starting TB retreatment for failure or relapse of tuberculosis. We used 193 cases with results of culture-sensitivity. RESULTS: The proportion of failure is 59/193 (30.6 %) and cases of relapse are 134/193 (69.4 %). The proportion of married life is 23.4 % (11/47) in chess against 41.5 % (51/123) in relapse of TB [P=0.021, OR=0.431 (0.201 to 0.927)]. Patients failing therapy have more chest pain [5.8 % (3/52) versus 0 % (0/126) with P=0.024]. The proportion of MDR-TB was 61.4 (38/59) in case of failure against 41 % (55/134) in case of relapse [P=0.002, OR=2.599 (1.378 to 4.902)]. The evolution is the same whatever the indication of reprocessing. CONCLUSION: The proportion of MDR-TB is very important in case of reprocessing failure and relapse of tuberculosis.

Erratum.

[This corrects the article on p. 166 in vol. 4, PMID: 25215193.].

[Heterophile interference: an experimental method of depleting rheumatoid factor from sera in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire]. / Interférences hétérophiles : expérimentation d'une méthode d'épuisement des sérums en facteurs rhumatoïdes à Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).

Rheumatoid factor (RF) is a major source of interference in immunoassays. Several methods have been proposed to eliminate interference. We experimented with a new technique based on the depletion of rheumatoid factor from serum samples. Our study included 150 samples, 64 of them positive for RF. Depletion was performed by the adsorption of RF from the sample by latex beads sensitized with human IgG anti-RF. After precipitation of the complexes formed, the supernatant was tested for RF. Finally, we assessed the performance of this RF depletion method with two tests: ELISA Enzygnost Enzygnost anti-HBs micro-Behring and IFI falciparum Ref 75521 Biomerieux. We compared the percentages of false-negative and false-positive results of these tests before and after depletion of the RF-positive serum samples. Efficiency index is 92.2% and the performance of the two immunoassay tests improved significantly by a factor of 2 to 25 after depletion. In addition, this technique is easy, inexpensive, fast, and suitable to our limited resources as a developing country. It should be extended to other immunological tests for validation of the results.

Assessment of the genotype MTBDRplus assay for rifampin and isoniazid resistance detection on sputum samples in Cote d'Ivoire.

We conducted an evaluation study on the GenoType MTBDRplus assay's ability to detect mutations conferring resistance to rifampin and isoniazid directly from sputum taken from 120 smear positive pulmonary patients from tuberculosis (TB) centers in Cote d'Ivoire. The sputum was decontaminated by N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NALC) and comparatively analyzed with the MTBDRplus assay version 2.0 and the mycobacterial growth indicator tube (MGIT) 960 automated drug susceptibility testing (MGIT-DST). The Gene-Xpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)/rifampicin (RIF) assay was performed for 21 sputa with absence of hybridization for at least one rpoB wild-type probes. Four and seven, respectively, discordant and concordant results were also analyzed. The mutations in the rpoB gene were 21 (17.5%), 20 (16.7%), 7 (5.8%), and 10 (8.3%), respectively, for D516V, H526Y, H526D, and S531L. S315T mutation in katG gene associated or not with mutation in promoter of inhA was detected in 76 (63.3%) of the sputum. Compared to MGIT-DST, the sensitivity and specificity of the MTBDRplus for rifampin resistance detection were 100% (75-100%) and 73.2% (61.3-84%), respectively. For isoniazid resistance detection, the sensitivity and specificity were, respectively, 95% (90-|99) and 95.1% (88.5-100%). Interpretation of 16 sputa without hybridization of rpoB wild-type probe 8 compared to those obtained with MGIT-DST and GeneXpert MTB/RIF was discordant and concordant, respectively, for 11 and 5.

Use of rapid molecular test for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis detection among relapse cases in Cote d'Ivoire.

UNLABELLED: Tuberculosis is explicitly recognized as a major global public health problem. In Côte d'Ivoire, relapse cases represent 66.5% of patients eligible for retreatment according to the National Tuberculosis Control Program. This study objective was to detect multidrug-resistance tuberculosis among relapse cases. Patients were recruited in tuberculosis centers in routine. A standardized questioning was administrated. Two sputum samples were collected and transported at Institut Pasteur. Sputum samples were decontaminated by NALC method. The DNA extraction was realized with 500µl of decontaminated sputum sample with smear-positive. MTBDRplus assay version 2.0 was performed according to the manufacturer's instruction. An internal quality control program with positive and negative controls was implemented for interpretation of results. In total 146 relapse cases with smear positive were studied. Out of selected patients, 130 had received the 2RHZE/4RH regimen and 16, the 2RHZES/1RHZE/5HRE. In group of relapse cases previously treated with 2RHZE/4RH regimen, 40 (31.3%, IC95%: [0.23; 0.39]) had punctual mutations at codon 526 in rpoB gene. Although, in patients under treated with 2RHZES/1RHZE/5HRE, a mutation in rpoB gene was identified in 12 of 16 sputum samples. Thirteen mutations conferring a resistance to Isoniazid were observed of which 9 in katG gene and 4 in katG and promoter region of inhA gene. The comparison (Chi-square with Yates correction) of resistance rates to Rifampin estimated showed a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: Use of a rapid method to detect drug-resistance in recurrent TB cases has permitted to identify patients eligible for first-line drugs or not.

Polyhydramnios: a warning sign in the prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of foetal malformation?

PURPOSE: To propose polyhydramnios seen during prenatal diagnosis as a warning sign of foetal malformation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective multicentre study over a three-year period carried out in Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. We reviewed 3903 obstetric ultrasound reports. All cases of foetal malformation and polyhydramnios were counted. The instances of foetal malformation associated with polyhydramnios were compared to those of foetal malformation without polyhydramnios and to polyhydramnios only. RESULTS: A list of 72 cases of polyhydramnios was made (equating to 1.8%). In 55 cases (76.4%), polyhydramnios was combined with foetal malformation. These were lethal abnormalities in 33 cases and non-lethal in 22 cases. In 17 cases, polyhydramnios was not associated with any foetal malformations and in eight cases, foetal malformation was discovered in the absence of polyhydramnios. Polyhydramnios had a positive predictive value of 76.4% for the presence of foetal malformation. The negative predictive value was 99.8%. Sensitivity was 87.3% and specificity was 99.5%. CONCLUSION: Polyhydramnios is a highly sensitive and specific sign for prenatal diagnosis of foetal malformation. If it is identified, then this should lead to a very careful search for foetal malformation.

Decompensated cirrhosis and pregnancy: a case report.

The association of decompensated cirrhosis and pregnancy is rare. Portal hypertension exposure to gastrointestinal bleeding from a ruptured esophageal varix may at any time complicate the course of the disease. We report the case of a 24-year-old patient who delivered at 35 weeks/four days of gestation with decompensated cirrhosis secondary to viral hepatitis B; icterus, oedema, and ascites were present. The postpartum course was uneventful despite the biological disorder of coagulation.

Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata and pregnancy: a case report.

Leimyomatosis peritonealis disseminata (LPD) is a benign tumor of smooth muscle tissue. It is rare and is characterized by the development of multiple peritoneal nodules mimicking peritoneal carcinomatosis. We report a case of LPD diagnosed in a 35-year-old patient, G4/P1, without any major gynecological history. The patient underwent an elective cesarean section at 42 weeks, during which numerous peritoneal nodules ranging in size from 0.1 to 0.5 cm were found. Microscopic examination showed a proliferation of smooth-muscle cells without mitosis or atypia or necrosis.

Risk factors for chronic renal failure in Ivory Coast: a prospective study of 280 patients.

Chronic renal failure (CRF) represents the major cause of mortality in the nephrology unit in Ivory Coast because the means for appropriate management are lacking. The present study was performed to investigate the risk factors for CRF so that strategies for prevention could be elaborated. A case-control study was performed prospectively at the Yopougon Teaching Hospital in Abidjan from January 2006 to December 2006. Factors known to cause CRF were investigated in patients and controls. Their prevalence rates were compared with the general population. A total of 280 patients and 113 controls were recruited. The mean age of the patients was 37.88 ± 13.33 years and that of the controls was 41.5 ± 9.72 years. Both genders were equally represented. The main causes of CRF were chronic glomerulonephritis (47.48%), with HIV infection accounting for 15% of them, and essential hypertension (HTA) (25%). Essential HTA represented the only factor which, if untreated, inevitably leads to CRF. Thus, our study indicates that HTA is a major public health concern. All efforts should be implemented to reduce the high prevalence of HTA and the deleterious effect of this disorder in Ivory Coast.

[Implementation of in vitro culture of Mycobacterium ulcerans from clinical samples versus detection of acid-fast bachilli and bacterial genome in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire]. / Mise en place de la culture in vitro de Mycobacterium ulcerans à partir d'éhantillons cliniques versus recherche de BAARet détection du génome bactérien à Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

Mycobacterium ulcerans infections are a public health problem in Céte d'Ivoire. The etiological diagnosis of this disease made by culture remains a big concern due to the slowness and difficulties encountered. This detection by culture of M. ulcerans represents a big interest as it allows obtaining the circulating strains for research. The purpose of this study was to determine on a routine basis in a poorly equipped laboratory, in vitro culture of M. ulcerans from exudates of skin ulcerations and from biopsy of patients with suspected Buruli ulcer. A particular attention was paid to the conditioning of the sample forwarded to the laboratory and inoculation in Lowenstein-Jensen medium supplemented with glycerol. The results of the three methods for the analysis showed 26.7, 57.4 and 17.8% positive rate respectively in the microscopy examination by nested PCR and by culture. In all the analysis, the positive rate from biopsy is higher than that obtained from exudates. The overall contamination rate by invasion of the three tubes of culture by fungi is 15.8 with 14.3 and 19.4% respectively,from exudates and biopsies. All positive samples in Ziehl-Neelsen staining and in culture were also positive by nested PCR. The nested PCR confirmed the positive strains found in culture, which were responsible for skin ulcerations. After culture, only one strain was nPCR negative. This strain was identified as Mycobacterium Gordonae. Our culture conditions showed that M. ulcerans was not the only strain identified and that other strains were present in the culture. We can conclude that the culture of M. ulcerans, in spite of the growth difficulties of the bacterium can be performed in laboratory in developing countries despite the lack of reagent and consumables. The implementation of this culture is the only way to determine sensitivity tests in vitro and in vivo in order to treat patients with Buruli ulcer.