[Healthcare associated infections in the neurosurgical department of Gabriel Touré teaching Hospital in Bamako]. / Les infections associees aux soins dans le service de neurochirurgie du CHU Gabriel Toure a Bamako.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare-associated infections or nosocomial infections are a public health problem due to their frequency, severity and economic impact. They cause an increase of the morbidity, the mortality, the hospital stay and the expenses of taking care of the patients. According to the WHO, 7.1 million people are affected each year, of which about 100,000 die. AIM OF STUDY: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of healthcare-associated infections in the Neurosurgery Department of Gabriel Touré University teaching Hospital and to identify the risk factors associated with these infections. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was an epidemiological, descriptive, analytic, cross-sectional and prospective study lasting 6 months from May 29 to November 30, 2016. The study focused on patients who stayed more than 48 hours in the Neurosurgical department Gabriel Touré teaching hospital. The collected data focused on the clinical and biological characteristics of the patients during their hospitalization. The maximum size of the sample was 200 patients. A sample was taken for each type of infection. The criteria used for the diagnosis of Healthcare-associated infections were those of the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and the realization of a thick drop in our context. The chi-square test was used for the comparison of qualitative variables and Kruskal Wallis and Anova for quantitative variables. The materiality threshold has been set to a value of p less than 0.05. RESULTS: At the end of our study, we had 34 infected patients out of 200, a rate of 17%. The significant risk factors found in our study were: high age (p = 0.04), ASA class (p = 0.002), pre-surgical shaving (p = 0.02), long duration surgical intervention (p = 0.002) and long hospital stay (p = 0.004). The types of infections associated with the care found were: urinary in 18 (53%) cases, respiratory in 9 (26%) cases, operative site in 6 (18%) cases and 1 (3%) cases of bacteremia. The bacterial spectrum of these infections was dominated by Negative Gram Bacilli, among which Escherichia coli in 11 (32.3%) cases. The clinical course of patients treated for these infections was marked by healing in 31 (91.2%) cases, complications in 2 (5.9%) cases, and death in 1 (2.9%) case. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of Healthcare-associated infections in our department remains high compared to that found in developed countries. This study allowed us to identify the main risk factors associated with these infections. A stricter adherence to the rules of hygiene and prevention of Healthcare-associated infections is needed to reduce this rate.

INTRODUCTION: Les infections associées aux soins (IAS) ou infections nosocomiales constituent un problème de santé publique par leur fréquence, leur gravité et leur retentissement économique. Elles causent une augmentation de la morbidité, la mortalité, le séjour hospitalier et les frais de prise en charge des malades.Selon l'OMS, 7,1 millions de personnes seraient affectées par les IAS chaque année parmi lesquelles environ 100000 meurent de suites de ces ISA. BUT: Le but de cette étude était de déterminer la fréquence des infections associées aux soins dans le service de Neurochirurgie du CHU Gabriel Touré et d'identifier les facteurs de risque associés à ces infections. MATÉRIEL ET MÉTHODES: Il s'agissait d'une étude prospective d'une durée de 6 mois allant du 29 Mai au 30 Novembre 2016. L'étude a porté sur les patients ayant séjourné plus de 48 heures dans le service de Neurochirurgie du CHU Gabriel Touré.Les données collectées ont porté sur les caractéristiques cliniques et biologiques des patients au cours de leur hospitalisation.La taille maximum de l'échantillon a été de 200 malades. Un prélèvement a été fait pour chaque type d'infection.Les critères utilisés pour le diagnostic de l'IAS étaient ceux du CDC (Center for Disease Control) d'Atlanta ainsi que la réalisation d'une goutte épaisse dans notre contexte.Le test de khi2 a été utilisé pour la comparaison des variables qualitatives et Kruskal Wallis et Anova pour les variables quantitatives. Le seuil de signification a été fixé à une valeur de p inférieure à 0,05. RÉSULTATS: Au terme de notre étude nous avons eu 34 patients infectés sur 200, soit un taux de 17%. Les différents facteurs de risque significatifs retrouvés dans notre étude ont été : l'âge élevé (p=0,04), la classe ASA (p=0,002), le rasage pré-chirurgical (p=0,02), la longue durée de l'intervention chirurgicale (p=0,002) ainsi que la longue durée d'hospitalisation (p=0,004). Les types d'infections associées aux soins retrouvés ont été : urinaires dans 18 (53 %) cas, respiratoires dans 9 (26%) cas, site opératoire dans 6 (18%) cas et 1 (3%) cas de bactériémie. Le spectre bactérien de ces infections était dominé par les Bacilles Gram Négatifs parmi lesquels l'Escherichia coli dans 11 (32,3%) cas.L'évolution clinique des patients traités pour ces infections a été marquée par la guérison dans 31 (91,2%) cas, les complications dans 2 (5,9%) cas et le décès dans 1(2,9%) cas. CONCLUSION: La prévalence des infections associées aux soins dans notre service reste élevée par rapport à celle retrouvée dans les pays développés. Cette étude nous a permis d'identifier les principaux facteurs de risque associés à ces infections. Une observance plus stricte des règles d'hygiène et de prévention des IAS s'impose pour faire baisser ce taux.

Pruritus in chronic hemodialysis patients in the nephrology department of the Point G University Hospital (Bamako-MALI).

The purpose of this work is to describe pruritus in chronic hemodialysis patients at the G-University Hospital Center. METHOD AND PATIENTS: This a descriptive cross-sectional study included 30 patients receiving chronic hemodialysis. RESULTS: Among 90 chronic hemodialysis patients, the study selected 30, including 22 men (73.3%) and 8 women (26.7%), with an average age of 46.60 years (range: 24-82 years). All had pruritus: it was localized in 23.3 % (n=7) and diffuse in 76.7% (n=23). It occurred during dialysis sessions for half of them. It could be nocturnal (50%), diurnal (30%) intermittent (10%), or constant (10%). The dermatological signs associated with pruritus were cutaneous hyperpigmentation in 13.3% of cases, contact eczema in 3.3%, and cutaneous xerosis in 53.3%. CONCLUSION: Pruritus is still the most common sign of dermatological conditions in chronic hemodialysis. Treatment remains symptomatic.

Tetanus associated with road accidents in the infectious diseases department of Point G University Hospital, Bamako, Mali.

The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and prognostic aspects of tetanus associated with road accidents and to make recommendations. This observational study collected retrospective clinical data over a 9-year period about adults admitted for trismus and/or generalized or localized paroxysm after a road accident. The study included 25 patients, accounting for 22.12 % of all tetanus cases. Men were massively overrepresented (sex-ratio M/F: 24/1). The median age was 34 ± 8 years. In all, vaccination status was unknown for 4 patients and known to be negative for 21. Immunoprophylaxis was nonexistent in all cases. The generalized clinical form was dominant (96 %). Severity reached level III for 12 % of patients. The points of entry included open leg fractures (4 cases), head wounds (2), mucocutaneous wounds (14), and muscle contusions (5). The mean time to referral for tetanus was 8 ± 7 days, and the median hospital stay 9.08 ± 11 days. Patients were mostly residents of urban (56 %) and suburban areas (28 %) [P = 0.04]. Two cases were complicated by severe malaria. The mortality rate was 60 %, and 52 % of the deaths occurred within the first 72 hours after hospitalization. It is essential to promote serum therapy and tetanus immunization for patients after road accidents. Increasing the awareness of traditional healers of these treatments deserves consideration.

[Non-neuromeningeal cryptococcosis in patients with AIDS in Bamako, Mali: 2 case reports]. / Cryptococcose extra-neuroméningée au cours du sida à Bamako, Mali (à propos de 2 observations).

Non-neuromeningeal cryptococcosis forms resulting from disseminated infection are rarely reported in African literature and are non-documented in Malian medical ward. We report two clinical observations. Case 1: a 26-year-old patient, carrying the HIV-1 infection, in which the clinical examination revealed skin lesions simulating molluscum contagiosum and functional impairment of the lower limbs. Radiography of the lumbar spine showed vertebral osteolysis on L4-L5. Cryptococcal research remained negative in the CSF but positive at histological examination of the skin lesions and in pathological products of lumbosacral drainage. The treatment with fluconazole and ARV led to a favorable outcome. Case 2: a 42-year-old patient, admitted for fever cough, known for his non-compliance to ARVs and in which the examination found a syndrome of pleural condensation and a painful swelling of the outer third of the right clavicle (around the acromio-clavicular joint). Paraclinical investigations concluded in osteolysis of the acromial end of the right clavicle and an image of the right lung with abundant effusion. Cryptococcal research was positive in the pleural effusion and in the product of aspiration of acromio-clavicular tumefaction, negative in CSF. It seems important to think of a cryptococcal etiology even in the absence of clinical meningeal signs in front of any cutaneous sign and any fluctuating swelling in HIV+ patient.

[Malian first observation of disseminated African histoplasmosis with predominant bone localizations in an HIV-negative child in Bamako (Mali). Review of the literature]. / Première observation malienne d'histoplasmose africaine disséminée à prédominance osseuse chez un enfant VIH négatif. Revue de la littérature.

Endemic deep fungal infections are still under recognised diseases in daily medical practice because of their rarity in sub-Saharan area. The African histoplasmosis Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii (H. capsulatum duboisii) is the most frequent variety described in Mali through limited studies in adult patients, since the first case described by Catanei and Kervran (1945). Our case report is a disseminated histoplasmosis in a young 6-year-old african child. He was male and rural. The infectious localisations were mucosae, skin, lymphnodes, urinary tract and bones. Evolution has been marred by an episode of worsening of symptoms despite initial clinical improvement with ketoconazole. After healing of mucocutaneous lesions, we noticed a limitation of ampliation of both wrists. The radiographic bone lesions were lysis of the right lower end of the right radius and cubitus and fragmentation of cubital epiphysis of the same arm. Lacunes were present on the fifth right finger in metatarsus and phalanx; lacune and blowing aspect of the second phalanx of the left third finger was noted. The disseminated form of African histoplasmosis may occur in HIV-negative subject. The prognosis depends on early diagnosis and administration of appropriate and well-conducted therapy.

[Epidemiological, clinical and evolving HIV-positive patients referred to the University Hospital of Point G, Bamako, Mali]. / Profil épidémioclinique et évolutif de patients VIH positif, référés au CHU du Point G, Bamako, Mali.

We conduct a longitudinal descriptive study in the department of infectious diseases to CHU of Point G during 18 months. It concerned adult patients referred from another care center. All the patients underwent systematic clinical examination and complementary exploration. Our sample was 352 HIV+ patients, with a mean age of 37.8 ± 9.8 years and a sex ratio (M/F)=0.94 shared among patients receiving ARV treatment (ART-s) and not (n-ART). Delay of reference was 5 ± 4.4 days. All patients benefited from clinical and paraclinical examinations. In both groups patients were mostly from level II. On admission, 132 cases were ART-s (38%). The main reasons for consultation were mainly fever [87.9%, p <0.05] and vomiting [17.4%, p =0.005] in the ART-s. Cough (p=0.9), and diarrhoea (p=0.5] were most noted in the n-TARV no statistically significant (no SS). Other reference reasons were similar in the 2 groups: headache (p=0.4), dyspnea (p=0.1). Selected diagnoses were dominated by tuberculosis (p=0.6) for n-ART no SS. Nontuberculosis infectious pneumonia (p=0.8) and cerebral toxoplasmosis (p=0.8) were comparable in the two groups. Severe systemic bacterial infections occurred more noted in the n-TARV (p=0.7). Malaria has been the main non-AIDS defining disease in the n-ART [-p=0.07] no SS. Patients were seen to late stage a corollary of a more collapsed of immunity in n-ART group [93.3%, p <0.05]. The fatality rate was similar in both groups (43.2%). Pathological factors were mainly tuberculosis (p=0.3) no SS. The factors involved significantly in TARV-s were non-tuberculosis bacterial pneumonia (p=0.001). The hospital mortality of HIV and AIDS is still important. Despite free ARVs and the large number of support center, the delay in diagnosis is a key as well as the lack of monitoring of patients factor.

[Mortality and morbidity of tetanus in the infectious diseases department, Point G teaching hospital, in Bamako, Mali (2004-2009)]. / Morbidité et mortalité du tétanos dans le service de maladies infectieuses du CHU du Point G à Bamako, Mali (2004-2009).

Our study objectives were to determine annual cases of the tetanus and to describe its clinical, evolutionary and prognostic aspects. It was a transverse study from data records and medical records of patients aged 15 years and above hospitalized for tetanus in the service of infectious diseases of the Point G CHU from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2009. The tetanus was diagnosed based on clinical (trismus, dysphagia, seizures and point consecutive to an injury) and epidemiological arguments (absence of a correct tetanus immunization, entry way). We collected a total of 119 cases of tetanus out of 1,839 hospitalizations making a prevalence of 6.5%. The hospitalization period was 5 days (73%) for most of the patients. Unskilled laborer and farmers were the most frequent with respectively 30.2 and 21.8% of cases. Tetanus occurred in the course of a traumatic road accident (16%) and from other traumatic causes (48.7%). The clinical form was a generalized type for 94.4% of the cases. A wound was the entry way for 64.7% of the patients. The entry way was located on the lower members 49.6% of the time. The co-morbidity was recorded with infection by Plasmodium falciparum (15 cases, 12.6%) and HIV (1 case). Hospital lethality was 46.2%. The death was statistically linked to clinical severity according to the Dakar score (P = 0.0005) and the Mollaret stage (P = 0.0001). A need for strengthening communication for behaviour change for the gaining of a correct and sustained immunization exists. A strategy based on the capacity building for a rapid tetanus diagnosis and a combined co-morbidities care may reduce the lethality in the context of our limited technical environment.

[Neuromeningeal cryptococcosis in Mali]. / La cryptococcose neuro-méningée au Mali.

Cryptococcal meningitis is the most common fatal central nervous system infection in AIDS patients in Sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this prospective study conducted from March 2003 to February 2004 in the internal medicine and infectious diseases departments of the Point G University Hospital Center was to investigate the clinical, prognostic and epidemiological profile of Cryptococcus neoformans infection in patients hospitalized for brain and meningeale infection (BMI). Diagnosis of neuromeningeal cryptococcosis (NMC) was based on positive identification of Cryptococcus by direct exam of the cebrospinal fluid (CSF) after India ink staining and/or culture on Sabouraud medium without actidione. During the study period, a total of 569 patients were hospitalized including 235 (41.3%) with HIV infection. Overall C. neoformans was identified in 14 patients. Median patient age was 39 +/- 8 years. There was a male preponderance with a sex ratio of 1.8 (9 men/5 women). Patients with BMI were HIV-positive in 85.7% of cases (n=12) and HIV-negative in 14.3% (n=2). The overall and HIV-specific prevalence of BMI was 2.5% and 5.1% respectively. The CD4 lymphocyte count was between I and 49 cells/mm3 in 64.3% of cases. The main clinical symptoms were cephalea in 85.7% of cases, altered consciousness in 50% and nausea/vomiting in 35.7%. Neurological manifestations (hemiparesis and cranial nerve deficit) were noted in 14.3%. HIV infection is the main purveyor of NMC in Mali. The actual incidence of cryptococcosis is unclear due to the poor sensitivity of diagnostic techniques. This study highlights diagnostic difficulties related to clinical polymorphism and poor technical facilities. Agglutination testing of blood and CSF is recommended, but mortality remains.

[Persistent neurological sequelae due to cerebral malaria in a cohort of children from Mali]. / Séquelles neurologiques persistantes dues au paludisme cérébral dans une cohorte d'enfants au Mali.

INTRODUCTION: Several neurological complications are associated with cerebral malaria (CM). However, few long-term data from childhood survivors have been published. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Mali among children followed from 1999 to 2002 after serious and complicated malaria. Our aim was to evaluate the persistent neurological sequelae associated with CM. RESULTS: This study concerned 101 subjects who had had CM. Mean age was 5.6+/-3.6 years. Twenty-eight children presented persistent neurological sequelae (27.7p.cent). Among them eight (7.9p.cent) children had developed these sequelae just after CM and 20 (19.8p.cent) a few months later: headaches, mental retardation, speech delay, bucco-facial dyspraxia, diplegia and frontal syndrome (one case each), dystonia (two cases), epilepsy (five cases) and behavior and attention disorders (15 cases). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we show that neurological signs due to CM can persist in the long run. Long-term follow-up and proper management after CM are essential.

[Human brucellosis in Mali. Results of a seroepidemiological study]. / La brucellose humaine au Mali. Rèsultats d'une enquête séro-épidémiologique.

Prevalence of human brucellosis was evaluated in three contrasted ecoclimatic zones with different peopling of Mali. Rose bengal plate agglutination tests were carried out on capillary blood microsamples taken from 2173 subjects and indirect immunofluorescence tests were performed on 148 blood samples collected on filter paper disks. These seroepidemiological studies demonstrate the presence of the anthropozoonosis in the entire country and the influence of ecoclimatic and demographic factors on human brucellosis distribution in Mali. The high prevalence (24.4%) found in the sahelian region of Gourma shows the necessity of a national control programme. A similar prevalence has been found in other countries of tropical Africa which were formerly considered as almost free of human brucellosis. The findings suggest that seroimmunological tests should be performed systematically to detect brucellosis in immigrants coming to Europe from tropical Africa as well as in Europeans who have been travelling or staying in this region.