Effect of Adding a Six-Week Course of Doxycycline to Intensive Hygiene-Based Care for Improving Lymphedema in a Rural Setting of Mali: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled 24-Month Trial.

Lymphedema (LE) is one the most disfiguring chronic manifestations of lymphatic filariasis. Its management relies primarily on limb hygiene and local care. A previous study in Ghana demonstrating a beneficial effect of doxycycline on LE led to the current multicenter trial on the efficacy of doxycycline in filarial LE. A randomized placebo-controlled trial was initiated in two rural health districts in Mali. Patients with LE stages 1-3 were randomized to receive either doxycycline (200 mg/day) or placebo over a 6-week monitored treatment period and were then followed every 6 months for 2 years. Both groups received materials for limb hygiene that was carried out daily for the entire 2-year study. The primary endpoint was lack of progression in LE stage at 24 months. One hundred patients were enrolled in each study arm. The baseline sociodemographic characteristics of each group were largely similar. There was no significant difference at month 24 after treatment initiation in the number of subjects showing progression in LE stage between the two treatment arms (P = 0.5921). Importantly, however, the number of attacks of acute adenolymphangitis (ADLA) was reduced in both arms, but there was no significant difference between the two groups at any follow-up time point (all P >0.23). Doxycycline was well tolerated in those receiving the drug. When added to daily self-administered limb hygiene, a 6-week course of doxycycline (200 mg) was not superior to placebo in increasing the improvement associated with hygiene alone in LE volume, stage, or frequency of ADLA attacks over a 24-month period.

Causes infectieuses de décompensation du diabète: « un prédateur infectieux se cache chez tout diabétique en Afrique¼ / Infectious causes of diabetes decompensation: "an infectious predator hides in any diabetic in Africa"

Introduction : Les infections survenant chez les sujets diabétiques ont été longtemps considérées comme une des causes de l'accroissement de la morbidité et de la mortalité. Elles représentent un motif de plus en plus fréquent d'admission dans le service de médecine interne du Centre Hospitalier Régional et Universitaire de Thiès. Les mécanismes sont plus ou moins élucidés par l'influence de l'hyperglycémie sur les fonctions des polynucléaires neutrophiles. Le but de cette étude est de déterminer les particularités épidémiologiques des infections chez les diabétiques. Patients et Méthode : Il s'agissait d'une étude rétrospective avec recueil de données réalisée sur 24 mois (1er janvier 2016 au 31 décembre 2018) au service de Médecine Interne du Centre Hospitalier Régional et Universitaire de Thiès. Cette étude incluait tous les patients diabétiques quel que soit le genre et le type de diabète, âgés de 15 ans et plus, présentant une infection comme facteur principal de décompensation. Résultats : Durant la période d'étude 2350 patients ont été hospitalisés dans le service de médecine interne dont 390 diabétiques. Parmi eux, 138 patients ont répondu à nos critères d'inclusion soit une prévalence de 35,38%. La moyenne d'âge de nos malades était de 53,49 ans ± 15,65 ans avec un sex-ratio H/F était de 0,70 en faveur des femmes (81 femmes contre 57 hommes). Les infections responsables de la décompensation étaient à localisation cutanéo-muqueuse (30,4%), pulmonaire (22,4%), uro-génitale (18,11%), buccodentaire (10,11%), ORL (1,44%), phanérienne (0,72%). Ailleurs, une infection aux pieds était retrouvée chez 43 patients soit 31,15% des cas. Plusieurs infections pouvaient être présentes chez un même malade. Le diabète était déséquilibré dans 86,2 % (n=94) des cas avec une HbA1c moyenne à 10, 5 % à l'admission Nous n'avons pas noté de corrélation entre l'infection et l'ancienneté du diabète (p =0, 60), l'infection et le type de diabète (p = 0,50) et paradoxalement entre l'infection et le déséquilibre du diabète (p=0,70). Conclusion : Le dépistage des infections chez le diabétique en déséquilibre chronique ou diabétique de novo doit être systématique car généralement ces infections peuvent être asymptomatiques.

Introduction: Infections in people with diabetes have long been considered one of the causes of increased morbidity and mortality. They represent an increasingly frequent reason for admission to the Department of Internal Medicine of the Regional and University Hospital of Thies. The mechanisms are more or less elucidated by the influence of hyperglycemia on neutrophil polynuclear functions. The purpose of this study is to determine the epidemiological characteristics of infections in diabetics. Method: This was a retrospective study with data collected over 24 months (1 January 2016 to 31 December 2018) at the Internal Medicine Department of the Regional and University Hospital of Thies. This study included all diabetic patients, regardless of gender and type of diabetes, aged 15 years and older, with an infection as the primary decompensation factor. Result: During the study period 2,350 patients were hospitalized in the Internal Medicine Department, 390 of whom were diabetic. Of these, 138 patients met our inclusion criteria, a prevalence of 35.38%. The average age of our patients was 53.49 years 15.65 years with a sex-ratio H/F was 0.70 in favor of women (81 Women versus 57 Men). The infections responsible for decompensation were dermal localization (30.4%), pulmonary (22.4%), urogenital (18.11%), oral (10.11%), ENT (1.44%), phanerian (0.72%). Elsewhere, a foot infection was found in 43 patients or 31.15% of cases. Several infections could be present in the same patient. Diabetes was unbalanced in 86.2% (n=94) of cases with an average HbA1c of 10.5% at admission We did not find a correlation between the infection and the age of diabetes (p =0, 60), the infection and the type of diabetes (p = 0.50), and paradoxically between the infection and the imbalance of diabetes (p = 0.70). Conclusion: The detection of infections in diabetics in chronic imbalance or de novo diabetics must be systematic because generally these infections can be asymptomatic.

Evaluation of mass drug administration for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths in school-aged children in Bankass, Mali.

BACKGROUND: In 2004, Mali implemented mass drug administration (MDA) aimed at controlling schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths. Despite several rounds of MDA, the health district of Bankass reported low coverage (64.8%) for praziquantel and albendazole in 2017, meaning that this district was still facing challenges in accomplishing the targeted 75% coverage. This study aimed to explore the barriers and gaps that hindered MDA implementation in Bankass. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed. Questionnaires were administrated to all school-aged children in randomly selected villages. Technical directors of community health centers and community drug distributors in the selected villages were included in the interviews. RESULTS: A total of 2128 children and 52 health workers were interviewed. Coverage rates were 93.51% (1990/2128) for praziquantel and 95.25% (2027/2128) for albendazole. Among the untreated children, 31.63% (31/98) reported being unaware of the campaign and 26.53% (26/98) were unable to reach the distribution points. Most of the health workers suggested increasing incentives. CONCLUSION: The data showed satisfactory coverage >90%, in contrast with lower rates initially reported by the district health information system. These results raise concerns about the reliability of programmatic data and highlight the importance of population-based surveys for the evaluation of control interventions.

Vaccination coverage survey versus administrative data in the assessment of mass yellow fever immunization in internally displaced persons--Liberia, 2004.

Yellow fever (YF) is a mosquito-borne vaccine-preventable disease with high mortality. In West Africa, low population immunity increases the risk of epidemic transmission. A cluster survey was conducted to determine the effectiveness of a mass immunization campaign using 17D YF vaccine in internally displaced person (IDP) camps following a reported outbreak of YF in Liberia in February 2004. Administrative data of vaccination coverage were reviewed. A cluster sample size was determined among 17,384 shelters using an 80% vaccination coverage threshold. A questionnaire eliciting demographic information, household size, and vaccination status was distributed to randomly selected IDPs. Data were analyzed to compare vaccination coverage rates of administrative versus survey data. Among 87,000 persons estimated living in IDP camps, administrative data recorded 49,395 (57%) YF vaccinated persons. A total of 237 IDPs were surveyed. Of survey respondents, 215 (91.9%, 95% CI 88.4-95.4) reported being vaccinated during the campaign and 196 (83.5%, 95% CI 78.6-88.5) possessed a valid campaign vaccination card. The median number of IDPs living in a shelter was 4 (range, 1-8) and 69,536 persons overall were estimated to be living in IDP camps. Coverage rates from a rapid survey exceeded 90% by self-report and 80% by evidence of a vaccination card, indicating that the YF immunization campaign was effective. Survey results suggested that administrative data overestimated the camp population by at least 20%. An emergency, mop-up vaccination campaign was avoided. Coverage surveys can be vital in the evaluation of emergency vaccination campaigns by influencing both imminent and future immunization strategies.

Malaria treatment in remote areas of Mali: use of modern and traditional medicines, patient outcome.

Use of official health services often remains low despite great efforts to improve quality of care. Are informal treatments responsible for keeping a number of patients away from standard care, and if so, why? Through a questionnaire survey with proportional cluster samples, we studied the case histories of 952 children in Bandiagara and Sikasso areas of Mali. Most children with reported uncomplicated malaria were first treated at home (87%) with modern medicines alone (40%), a mixture of modern and traditional treatments (33%), or traditional treatment alone (27%). For severe episodes (224 cases), a traditional treatment alone was used in 50% of the cases. Clinical recovery after uncomplicated malaria was above 98% with any type of treatment. For presumed severe malaria, the global mortality rate was 17%; it was not correlated with the type of treatment used (traditional or modern, at home or elsewhere). In the study areas, informal treatments divert a high proportion of patients away from official health services. Patients' experience that outcome after standard therapeutic itineraries is not better than after alternative care may help to explain low use of official health services. We need to study whether some traditional treatments available in remote villages should be considered real, recommendable first aid.

Evaluation of urban measles mass campaigns for children aged 9-59 months in Mali.

There are an estimated 234,000 cases of measles and 13,851 measles-related deaths per year in Mali. In 1998 and 1999, 548,309 children aged 9-59 months were vaccinated against measles during mass campaigns in urban centers across Mali. After the first campaign, measles incidence decreased by 95% in districts encompassing vaccinated urban centers and by 41% in nonvaccinated districts. There was no shift in the proportion of cases by age group in vaccinated centers. Measles in vaccinated districts after the campaign was likely related to persistent transmission in age groups not targeted for vaccination and among children living in nonvaccinated districts. The second campaign (1999) did not change the incidence of measles in vaccinated compared with nonvaccinated centers. Urban mass measles vaccination probably did not affect overall measles transmission in Mali. Mass vaccination of all children in Mali, targeting a larger age group, will be necessary to reach measles control objectives.