Brugada syndrome revealed by intestinal shigellosis in a patient from Benin at the University Hospital of Saint-Etienne.

This paper is about a Brugada syndrome (BS) of accidental discovery in a patient from Benin during an intestinal shigellosis episode in the infectiology department of university hospital of Saint-Etienne, France. Authors establish a link between these two diseases. After a literature's review, they underline that BS is under-diagnosed in Africa. Furthermore, they highlight socio-cultural characteristics of sudden deaths in West Africa including BS.

[Neonatal and child tetanus morbidity and mortality in the University hospitals of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (2001-2010)]. / Morbidité et mortalité du tétanos des nouveau-nés et des enfants dans les Centres hospitaliers universitaires d'Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (2001-2010).

The lack of data on neonatal tetanus and children in university hospitals (UH) in Abidjan for over a decade has motivated the realization of this study. The objective of this study is to evaluate the morbidity and mortality related to neonatal tetanus (NT) and child tetanus (CT) in Abidjan University Hospital from 2001 to 2010. It is a retrospective study, multicenter analysis with records of newborns and children suffering from tetanus in the three UH of Abidjan. The collection and analysis of data were made by the SPHINX 4.5 and EPI.INFO 6.0 software. In ten years, 242 cases of tetanus (53 NT cases and 189 CT cases) were collected with a predominance of cases after the fifth year of life (59.5%). The incidence rate of NT was less than 1 case per 1,000 live births. All mothers of the newborns were inhabiting the city of Abidjan. Their median age was 19 years [16-32] and 64% were teenagers. Gateways were dominated by umbilical wounds (77.3%) in the NTand skin wounds (59%) in CT. The cure rate was 30.2% in the NT and 60% in the CT. Lethality was 60% for NT and 22% for CT with a positive correlation with young age (neonates: p = 4.10-7, age <5 years: p = 0.01), lack of intraspinal injection of tetanus serum (p = 8.10-6), the absence of conventional antibiotic therapy (p = 0.023), the existence of metabolic complications (p = 2.10-5), the score of ≥ 4 Dakar (p = 0.005). Tetanus remains a real morbidly cause among children in Abidjan University Hospital with high lethality. However, the incidence of NT seems consistent with the incidence threshold desired by WHO.

Seven native cases of dengue in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

OBJECTIVE: We had for aim to describe the epidemiological, clinical, biological, and outcome features of dengue fever in Abidjan, in 2010. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied the files of patients hospitalized for dengue fever in 2010, in Abidjan. The diagnosis was made on clinical symptoms and positive dengue PCR and/or IgM. RESULTS: Seven patients were included (5 men, 2 women, median age of 51years [31-65years]). They presented with a febrile pain syndrome (n=7), jaundice (n=3), rash (n=2), and hematemesis complicated by thrombocytopenia (n=6) and leukopenia (n=5). Three patients had a positive IgM serology and 4 had a positive dengue PCR for DENV-3. The outcome was favorable for 6 patients, and 1 patient died of severe hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: The authors advocate the implementation of epidemiological surveillance of dengue and vector control in the Ivory Coast.

[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.

[Clinical, biological, therapeutic and evolving profile of patients with HIV infection hospitalized at Infectious and tropical diseases unit in Abidjan (Ivory Coast)]. / Profil clinicobiologique, thérapeutique et évolutif des patients infectés par le VIH hospitalisés au service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales d'Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).

The objective of this study is to describe the clinical, biological, therapeutic and evolving current profile of hospitalized patients with HIV infection in the cohort of the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit (ITDU) in the aim to improve their care management. This is a retrospective study, conducted on medical data of hospitalized cases of patients with HIV infection in the ITDU at the teaching hospital of Treichville (Abidjan) from 2006 to 2007. During the two years, 447 patients were included in the study. Their average age was 39 years [18 years-86 years] and sex ratio was 0.69. Of the 447 patients, 35% were unemployed and 67% were new patients who had never undergone antiretroviral therapy (ART). The duration of drug exposure was less than 6 months in 59% of treated patients. The average time to initiate ART was seven weeks. Among naive patients 41.9% were lost to follow up, 35.9% were waiting for treatment and 22.1% waiting for baseline biological test to initiate ART. At the initiation of ART, 79.6% of patients had a CD4 count less than 200/mm(3). The reasons of hospitalization defining AIDS were dominated by tuberculosis (34.2%), cerebral toxoplasmosis (17.9%) and neuromeningeal cryptococcosis (8%). The main reasons of hospitalization in classifying non-AIDS were pyelonephritis (6.5%), bacterial pneumonia (5.4%) and undetermined infectious encephalitis (4.9%). Hospital mortality was 24.4%. The leading causes of death were tuberculosis (22.9%), cerebral toxoplasmosis (20.2%), undetermined infectious encephalitis (18.3%) and cryptococcal meningitis (13.7%). The profile of PLHIV in hospital is characterized by profound immunosuppression due to late diagnosis and high mortality associated with severe opportunistic infections and late initiation of ART.

Syndrome inflammatoire de reconstitution immune sous la forme de cryptococcose cerebral chez un patient traite par antiretroviraux a Abidjan

Introduction : L'efficacite des traitements antiretroviraux (ARV) peut entrainer des phenomenes inflammatoires de restauration immune (IRIS) ou auto-immuns paradoxaux sous forme de pathologies infectieuses telles que la tuberculose ou la cryptococcose. Observation: Nous rapportons un cas inhabituel de syndrome inflammatoire de restauration immune sous la forme d'une cryptococcose disseminee avec des atteintes meningees et cerebrales chez un patient de 56 ans infecte par le VIH-1 qui a consulte pour un trouble de la vigilance; des crises convulsives et une hemiparesie droite. Le patient avait repondu favorablement a un traitement antifongique par fluconazole institue pour une meningite a cryptocoque un mois avant son admission. Un traitement ARV avait ete initie une dizaine de jours apres le traitement anticryptococcique. Apres deux semaines effective de traitement ARV; le tableau clinique etait marque par la reapparition des symptomes neuro-meninges et leur aggravation. L'examen a l'encre de chine du liquide cephalorachidien (LCR) mettait en evidence des spores de Cryptococcus neoformans. La recherche de l'antigene cryptococcique etait positive et la culture sur milieu de Sabouraud montrait des colonies de Cryptococcus Neoformans. L'IRM cerebrale notait de multiples lesions d'abces. L'evolution a ete fatale apres 11 jours de traitement. Conclusion : Le cryptococcome associe a l'IRIS est peu decrit en Afrique. La generalisation actuelle des ARV sur ce continent pourrait entrainer une recrudescence de cette manifestation

[Surgical tetanus in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire]. / Tétanos à porte d'entrée chirurgicale à Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiological and clinical features and the outcome of tetanus with a surgical wound (open fracture, burn, incision, curettage, etc) as the portal of entry. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of records of patients hospitalized in the department of infectious and tropical diseases in Abidjan for surgical tetanus from 2003 to 2008. RESULTS: During the 6-year study period, 29 cases were identified. They accounted for 11% of all tetanus cases admitted to the hospital: 8% from 2003 through 2006 and 14% in 2007 and 2008. The patients' average age was 36 years (range: 11-72). Most cases (86%) involved recent surgery, in both public (51%) and private (49%) health facilities. All patients had generalized tetanus at admission, and 24 (86%) paroxysms. Moderate forms predominated (69%). The lethality of tetanus in these surgical wound cases was 45%. The characteristics statistically associated with death were: age >44 years, time of hospitalization >4 days, the presence of paroxysms, and a Dakar prognosis score ≥4. CONCLUSION: The severity of surgical tetanus remains a concern for practitioners. Its high prevalence in recent years demonstrates the need to increase surgeons' awareness of tetanus prevention.

[Human rabies in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire): recent cases]. / Rage humaine à Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire): nouvelles observations.

OBJECTIVE: To present epidemiological and clinical aspects of human rabies in a hospital center. METHOD: We analyzed medical records of cases of rabies in humans treated at the infectious disease department of the Treichville University Hospital Center from January 2005 through December 2009. RESULTS: Seven cases of human rabies were reported during those five years, four in teenagers and three in adults. Five of the cases involved bites by stray dogs whose vaccine status was unknown. No patient had had a pre-exposure prophylactic vaccination, and only four post-exposure prophylaxis, all incomplete. All of the patients developed furious rabies and fever 21 to 96 days (mean: 47.7) after the dog bite, when the wounds had healed and scars formed. Death occurred 4 to 10 days after the onset of symptoms (mean: 4.7). Relatives refused autopsies in all cases. CONCLUSION: It is indispensable to increase population awareness of prevention by vaccination against human rabies, reduce the population of stray dogs, and promote mass vaccination of dogs in the Ivory Coast.

[Morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases at the Military Hospital of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire]. / Morbimortalité des pathologies infectieuses à l'hôpital militaire d'Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the proportion of infectious diseases and their lethality at the Abidjan Military Hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study examined the medical files of patients hospitalized in the internal medicine unit of the hospital during 2004. RESULTS: The study included 668 patients with 855 diseases, 579 of them infectious (67.7%). The prevalence of HIV in this population was 41.3%. The main diseases observed were pneumonia (150 cases; 17.5%), malaria (82 cases; 9.6%), oropharyngeal candidiasis (83 cases; 9.7%), and tuberculosis (54 cases; 6.3%). The immediate causes of death were cerebral toxoplasmosis (27 cases; 39%), pneumopathy (25 cases; 36%), severe malaria (7 cases; 10%), tuberculosis (6 cases; 9%), and bacterial meningitis (5 cases; 7%). The prevalence of HIV infection prevalence among those who died of an infectious disease was 74.3%. CONCLUSION: Infectious diseases are the main pathologies seen in the internal medicine department of the in Abidjan Military Hospital. They were mainly opportunistic infections linked to AIDS. The creation of a laboratory of infectious microbiology and of a medical intensive care unit appears necessary to optimize management of these infectious diseases.

Cryptoccocal meningitis and HIV in the era of HAART in Côte d'Ivoire.

OBJECTIVE: The authors had for aim to describe the management of cryptococcal meningitis in HIV infected adults, in Ivory Coast. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was made from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2008 on the files of consecutive hospitalized patients presenting with cryptococcal meningitis, at the Treichville University Hospital, Infectious and tropical diseases department (Abidjan). The socio-demographic, clinical, and biological aspects as well as the outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty patients presenting with cryptococcal meningitis, (2.6% of hospitalized patients) were included: 41 men (51.25%) and 39 women (48.75%); mean age: 40 years (range 26 to 58 years). The delay before consultation was 5.4 days, range 2-12 days). The mains symptoms were headache (83.7%), fever (63.7%), and consciousness disorders (60%). Meningo-encephalitis accounted for 75% of the clinical presentations; 54 patients (67.5%) were naive of antiretroviral treatment (mean CD4: 45/mm(3) (range 5-103/mm(3)), while 26 (32.5%) had received antiretrovirals before presenting with cryptococcal meningitis (Nadir CD4=81/mm(3)). Amphotericin B relayed by fluconazole was prescribed to 86.2% of the patients, associated with a therapeutic lumbar puncture for 30 patients. The death rate was 41.2%. CONCLUSION: In spite of antiretroviral treatment availability in Ivory Coast, cryptococcal meningitis remains frequent with a high death rate. This study stresses the importance of early management to improve the prognosis.

[Prevalence of HBs antigen carriage in a population of national Gendarmerie recruits in Ivory Coast in 2008]. / Prévalence du portage de l'antigène HBs dans une population de recrues de la Gendarmerie nationale de Côte d'Ivoire en 2008.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBsAg carriage in Ivorian gendarmerie recruits in 2008. This prevalence was 15.6%. It was highest in recruits aged 18 years (24%), in those who were married (33.3%) and in those who had had more than three sexual partners in the 6 months before the survey (19.4%). It was also higher in recruits who had never used condoms (20.6%) and in those who had undergone blood transfusions (27%). A policy of vaccination against HBV in the army, in teenagers and adults must be implemented to reduce HBsAg carriage in the army and in the Ivorian population.

[Clinical and developmental aspects of care-related tetanus in the reference service of the teaching hospital of Abidjan]. / Aspects cliniques et évolutifs du tétanos lié aux soins dans le service de référence du CHU d'Abidjan.

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from medical data of inpatients with tetanus in the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases of the University Hospital of Treichville in Abidjan from January 2003 to December 2007. In five years, 221 cases of tetanus have been hospitalized. The tetanus gateway was found in 188 patients (85%). Tetanus gateway linked to care was found in 22 patients (11.7%). Acts of care in question were intramuscular injections (10 cases) and operative procedures (12 cases). Concerning medical care by intramuscular injection, quinine (four cases), sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (one case), and long-acting penicillin (one case) were the identified drugs. The operative procedures mainly involved were skin sutures (nine cases), cures of hernia (two cases), and flattening of Fournier's gangrene (one case). The average incubation period was 9.5 days. The invasion lasted for an average of 1.8 days. On admission, tetanus was immediately generalized for all patients with the presence of paroxysms in 20 patients (90.9%). The lethality of tetanus related care was 54.5%. The death rate in the first 48 hours of hospitalization was estimated at 83.3%. The average length of hospital stay was 14.6 days. Health workers should be involved in the prevention of tetanus in improving the quality of care and especially in reducing intramuscular injections. Also, any patient not immunized against tetanus should receive anti-tetanus serum and an update of its tetanus vaccine before any invasive procedures.

[Antiretroviral prophylaxis after non-occupational exposure to HIV in Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire)]. / Prophylaxie antirétrovirale après expositions non professionnelles au VIH à Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the tolerability and adherence to all non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for cases of HIV exposure in Abidjan. METHOD: We retrospectively studied all post-exposure prophylaxis for non-occupational exposures to HIV prescribed from January 1st, 2000 to December 31st, 2007 in the Abidjan infectious diseases department. We analyzed the types of exposure, socio-demographic characteristics of patients, antiretroviral therapy regimens, adherence and tolerability, duration of the treatment, and post-exposure follow-up. RESULTS: Over these eight years, we managed 128 consultations for non-professional exposures to HIV (50 male [39%], 78 female patients [61%]), average age 24.8 years (four-54 years). The most frequent exposures were due to rape (n=74), condom rupture (n=29), and occasional unprotected sex (n=21). The average delay before consultation was 20.8 hours. The antiretroviral chemoprophylaxis included a protease inhibitor in 93% of the cases; 80.5% of patients completed 28 days of chemoprophylaxis, while 8.6% interrupted the treatment, and 10.9% were lost to follow-up. The most frequent adverse effects were gastrointestinal, reported by 79 patients (61.7%). Only 34 patients (26.6%) returned for clinical and biological post-exposure follow-up with HIV control at third month, without documented seroconversion. CONCLUSION: Cases of sexual exposure to HIV are the main indication for post-exposure prophylaxis in Abidjan, except for occupational exposure to blood. However, post-exposure prophylaxis should be available in the units of primary care, such as emergencies departments.

[Time trends in demographic and clinical characteristics of adult patients on HAART initiation in West Africa]. / Evolution des conditions d'initiation du traitement antirétroviral des patients infectés par le VIH en Afrique de l'Ouest.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the evolution of drug combinations used, as well as the clinical and immunological profile of patients at initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) between 1996 and 2006 in West Africa. SETTINGS AND METHOD: IeDEA West Africa is a network of HIV care programs established in 2006. We analyzed data from 12 clinical centers treating adults in five countries: Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Gambia, and Mali. Patients 16 years of age or over were included in the study and the following was documented: sex, date of birth and date of initiation of HAART. RESULTS: We included 14,496 adult patients having started HAART, among these 55 % had started HAART between 2005-2006. The proportion of HIV-infected women increased from 46 % in 1996-2000 to 63 % in 2005-2006. The median age at HAART initiation remained constant: 35 years for women and 40 years for men. The proportion of patients having started HAART with a CD4 count<200 cells/microl was 54 % in 1996-2000, and 64 % in 2005-2006. The most frequently prescribed HAART was: AZT/3TC (or d4T/DDI)/IDV (27 %) in 1996-2000; d4T (or AZT)/3TC/EFV (49 %) in 2003-2004, and d4T/3TC/NVP (49 %) in 2005-2006. CONCLUSION: The first line HAART regimen recommended by WHO was initiated in 83 % of cases in 2005-2006. New approaches to an earlier initiation of ART should be explored to reduce mortality in HIV-infected patients on HAART.

[Efficiency and safety of antiretroviral treatment among the elderly in Abidjan]. / Efficacite et tolerance du traitement antiretroviral chez les sujets ages a Abidjan.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of antiretroviral treatment in elderly people followed at the Unit for Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the University Hospital in Abidjan. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective descriptive study of the files of people aged at least 60 years, infected by HIV who were treated and followed-up in the Unit between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2006. We analysed sociodemographic (age, sex), clinical (weight, Karnofsky scale, CDC, opportunistic infections), biological (HIV, CD4, haemogram, glycaemia, creatininaemia, transaminasaemia) and therapeutic (antiretroviral regimens, evolution, side-effects) parameters. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated as the percentage of patients with < 200 CD4/ml, and its safety was based on deleterious effects. RESULTS: We studied 62 patients (44 men, 18 women), of whom 13 had been treated (21%), 46 had not been treated (74.2%) and 48 (77.4%) were undergoing chemoprophy-laxis with cotrimoxazole. Most were infected with HIV1 (93.6%), 3.2% with HIV2 and 3.2% with both HIV1 and HIV2. The majority (93.3%) was symptomatic, and 67.8% had AIDS. During 34 months of follow-up, 48 patients (77.4%) received first-line treatment, 13 (21%) received second-line and only one patient (1.6%) had third-line treatment. The percentage of patients with more than 200 CD4/ml increased from 20% at baseline to 36% at 6 months and 39% at 12 months. The main clinical side-effect was peripheral neuropathy (30.5%), and the main biological effect was hypertransaminasaemia > 2N (32.3%). The median rate of loss to follow-up was 17.7%, and two patients (3.2%) died. CONCLUSION: Antiretroviral treatment is effective in the elderly, with few biological disorders. A prospective study of a larger sample would elucidate the differences from younger people in the efficacy of such treatment.

Efficacite et tolerance du traitement antiretroviral chez les sujets ages a Abidjan

Objectif : Evaluer l'efficacite du traitement antiretroviral chez les sujets ages suivis dans le service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales a Abidjan. Materiel et Methodes : Il s'agit d'une etude retrospective; descriptive et portant sur l'analyse des dossiers de sujets ages d'au moins 60 ans; infectes par le VIH; traites et suivis dans le service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales entre le 1er janvier 1999 et le 31 decembre 2006. L'analyse a porte sur les parametres sociodemographiques (age; sexe); cliniques ARV; (poids; score Karnofsky; stade CDC; affections opportunistes); biologiques (type de VIH; CD4; hemogramme; glycemie; creatininemie; transaminasemie) et therapeutiques (regimesA RV; evolution; effets secondaires). L'efficacite du traitement etait basee sur le pourcentage de patients ayant un taux de CD4 200 / ml et la tolerance basee sur les effets deleteres. Resultats : L'etude a concerne 62 sujets ages (44 hommes / 18 femmes); dont 13 pretraites (21); 46 naifs (74;20) et 48 (77;42) sous chimioprophylaxie au cotrimoxazole. La majorite de l'effectif etait infectee par le VIH1 (93;60) contre 3;20pour le VIH2 et 3;20pour le VIH 1+2. Ils etaient symptomatiques a 93;3avec 67;8au stade SIDA. En trente quatre mois de suivi; 48 patients ont recu un regime de premiere ligne (77;4) ; 13 de deuxieme ligne (20;96) et un seul patient avait un regime de troisieme ligne (1;6). L'analyse des resultats a montre que le pourcentage des patients ayant un taux des CD4 200 etait croissant; passant de 20a M0 a 36a M6 puis 39a M12. Quant aux effets secondaires; ils etaient cliniquement domines par les neuropathies peripheriques (30;5) et biologiquement par l'hypertransaminasemie 2N (32;3). Le taux median de perdus de vue etait de 17;7; et 2 patients (3;22) sont decedes. Conclusion : Le traitement ARV est efficace chez les personnes agees avec peu d'anomalies biologiques; aussi; une etude prospective sur un plus grand echantillonnage permettrait-elle de mieux percevoir les differences avec le sujet jeune

[Impact of access to antiretroviral therapy in Côte d'Ivoire]. / Bilan de l'accès aux antirétroviraux en Côte d'Ivoire.

In 1998 UNAIDS implemented the national drug access initiative (DAI) in Côte d'Ivoire. The Ivorian government took the DAI over in 2000 with the support of the Global Fund and Presidential Emergency Program For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The ensuing affordability of antiretroviral therapy (ART), medical staff training, and healthcare equipment allowed Ministry of Health to improve HIV care throughout the country. Since 2008 ART and follow-up monitoring have been free of charge for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). In January 2009 a total of 57,833 PLWHA received ART and follow-up at 274 HIV care centers. Use of ART has improved the life expectancy of PLWHA. However morbidity and mortality remained high during the first year of ART implementation with respective frequencies of 5-10% person-year (PY) and 2-3% PY. Morbidity was mainly related to infectious disease (tuberculosis and bacteriaemia) and earlier onset of adverse events (AE). In most cases ART has been well tolerated. The main adverse effects have been anemia, neuropathy, skin toxicity and liver enzyme elevation. The incidence of stage 3/4 AE has been low (< 2 %PY). Although overall compliance has been good (<80%), data among children and adults suggest the need for further work to reinforce support mechanisms. Convincing results have been obtained in the management of PLWHA. Nevertheless greater funding and commitment must be given to management of opportunistic infections and side effects and to development of nutrition support services.

Tobacco use and its determinants in HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy in West African countries.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoking is common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients from industrialised countries. In West Africa, few data concerning tobacco consumption exist. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of the International Epidemiological Database to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) network in West Africa was conducted. Health workers administered a questionnaire assessing tobacco and cannabis consumption among patients receiving antiretroviral treatment. Regular smokers were defined as current smokers who smoked >1 cigarette per day for >or=1 year. RESULTS: Overall, 2920 patients were enrolled in three countries. The prevalence of ever smokers and regular smokers were respectively 46.2% (95%CI 42.8-49.5) and 15.6% (95%CI 13.2-18.0) in men and 3.7% (95%CI 2.9-4.5) and 0.6% (95%CI 0.3-0.9) in women. Regular smoking was associated with being from Côte d'Ivoire or Mali compared to Benin (OR 4.6, 95%CI 2.9-7.3 and 7.7, 95%CI 4.4-13.6), severely impaired immunological status at highly active antiretroviral treatment initiation (OR 1.5, 95%CI 1.1-2.2) and history of tuberculosis (TB; OR 1.8, 95%CI 1.1-3.0). CONCLUSION: There are marked differences in smoking prevalence among these West African countries. This survey approach also provides proof of the association between cigarette smoking and TB in HIV-infected patients, a major public health issue in this part of the world.