Prevalence of HIV drug resistance among adolescents receiving ART in Cameroon with low- or high-level viraemia.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) below and above the WHO threshold of 1000 copies/mL, considered for the definition of HIV ART failure in resource-limited settings. METHODS: From a cohort of 280 adolescents (aged 10-19 years) receiving ART for at least 6 months, genotypic resistance testing (GRT) was attempted for two groups of participants: participants with low-level viraemia [LLV; viral load (VL) 200-999 copies/mL] and those in virological failure (VF; confirmed VL ≥1000 copies/mL) using an in-house method. The Stanford HIValg Program was used to identify relevant HIVDR mutations and predict the efficacy of the newly introduced tenofovir-lamivudine-dolutegravir combination. RESULTS: GRT was successfully performed in 54/58 (93.1%) eligible participants, of which 28/31 (90.3%) were in VF and 26/27 (96.3%) had LLV. A high level of resistance was found both in adolescents with LLV and those in VF, with respectively 84.6% (22/26) and 75.0% (21/28) of participants harbouring at least one HIVDR mutation. NRTIs and NNRTIs were the most affected drug classes in both population groups. In contrast, PIs were not significantly affected and dolutegravir was expected to be active for all participants tested. However, for the newly introduced dolutegravir-based combination, functional monotherapy (dolutegravir only) was potentially possible for 22.7% (5/22) of the participants with LLV. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that the 1000 copies/mL threshold is not an indicator of virological success and we call for a revision of the current WHO definition of VF in resource-limited countries.

High risk of virologic failure among HIV-infected children and adolescents routinely followed-up in Littoral region of Cameroon.

Virological response to antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains a challenge for HIV-infected children and adolescents due to non-optimization of pediatric ART for resource-limited settings. In this study, we aimed to investigate factors associated with virologic failure (VF) in HIV-infected-children and adolescents on ART in Cameroon. A prospective patient-based cohort study was conducted among HIV-infected children (0-9 years) and adolescents (10-19 years) followed-up between November 2018 and October 2019 in 38 healthcare centers located in the Littoral region of Cameroon. The 1st viral load (VL) was assessed after 6 months of ART initiation and the 2nd VL between 3 and 6 six months later in patients with VL ≥1000 copies/ml in accordance with the national algorithm using Abbott Real-Time HIV-1 Viral Load Assay. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify the determinants of higher risk of VF. Of 1,029 HIV-infected children and adolescents (393 children and 636 adolescents), 801 (77.8%) cumulatively presented with VL <1000 copies/mL within 12 months on ART. Adolescents were more likely to have VF than children (24.5% vs 18.3%, OR: 1.39; 95%CI: 1.00-1.93; p = 0.047). Patients followed-up in decentralized care units were significantly more likely to have VF compared to those attending the accredited treatment centers (26.1% vs 16.6%, OR: 1.88, 95%CI: 1.37-2.58; p<0.001). Our findings show a high rate of VL suppression (VLS, 77.8%) among HIV-infected children and adolescents, albeit lower than the established target of 90%. Being adolescent and patients followed in the decentralized care units are high risk factors for VF, thereby necessitating routine therapeutic education of patients and guardians in resource limited countries to improve VLS.

Viral load suppression in HIV-infected adolescents in cameroon: towards achieving the UNAIDS 95% viral suppression target.

BACKGROUND: Achieving the UNAIDS 95% sustained viral suppression (VS) rate requires considerable global efforts, particularly among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) who are often associated with high rates of virological failure (VF). In this study, we prospectively assessed the rate of VS, and the factors associated with VF in a cohort of adolescents followed up according to the WHO guidelines in Cameroon. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2021 among adolescents (aged 10-19 years) receiving ART in the national program in Cameroon. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected using patients' medical files and a brief interview with the participant and/or his guardian. Thereafter, a first viral load test (VL1) was performed using the ABBOTT Platform. For adolescents with VL1 > 1000 copies/ml, adherence-enhancing interventions were routinely performed each month for 3 consecutive months, after which a second viral load (VL2) was measured. Adolescents with VL2 > 1000 copies/ml were considered in VF. RESULTS: Overall, 280 adolescents were enrolled, of whom 89.3% (250/280) acquired HIV infection via mother-to-child transmission. The median age was 16.0 (IQR: 13.0-18.0) years and the median duration on ART was 9.8 (IQR: 5.1-12.8) years. Females and males were almost equally represented, as 52.1% (146/280) were female, while 47.9% (134/280) were males (p = 0.47). The VS rate was 88.2% (CI: 83.8-91.7%) overall; 89.0% (CI: 82.0-93.1%) and 88.7% (CI: 81.2-93.0%) in females and males, respectively. Being on second or third-line ART, self-declared suboptimal adherence, and a history of past VF were independently associated with VF. CONCLUSION: The high rate of VS we report in this study is welcome in the era of the 95/95/95 UNAIDS goals, and indicates that improving treatment outcomes in this specific and fragile population that represent adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa is achievable. TRIAL REGISTRATION: 20/10/2020 NCT04593979 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04593979 ).

Etiology and clinical characteristics of pediatric acute fever among hospitalized children in an endemic malaria transmission area of Cameroon in Central Africa.

Acute fever in the majority of children in resource-limited countries is attributable to malaria and often treated without laboratory evidence. The aim of the study was to characterize acute pediatric infectious fevers (APIF) in the pediatric department of the Douala Laquintinie Hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 2 months to 15 years who were admitted with an acute fever (anal temperature ≥ 37.5°C less than 5 days in infants and 7 days in adolescents). 200 children were included and followed up during their hospitalization. The mean age was 3.7 (IQ25-75: 1-4.6) years. More than 3 out of 5 patients (62.5%) came from another health facility and anemia accounted for 29% of the reasons for consultation associated with fever. The main symptoms were vomiting (28%), cough (26%), convulsions (21%) and diarrhea (20%). Skin-mucosal pallor (43.0%) and hepatosplenomegaly (26.0%) were the most common physical signs encountered. Among febrile children, 116/200 (58%) were infected with at least 1 pathogen, and 1/200 (0.5%) had a fever of unknown etiology. Malaria (53% vs 80.5% presumptive) associated with anemia (95.3% of cases) was the most common pathology associated with APIF, followed by pneumonia (19.5%), meningitis (11.5%) and urinary tract infections (10% vs 54.5% presumptive). Malaria was over-diagnosed on admission and over-treated as well as urinary tract infection. A better understanding of common pathogens carriage, a better capacity for improved diagnosis and a better applied clinical algorithm for febrile illnesses in children are needed.

Factors predicting in-hospital all-cause mortality in COVID 19 patients at the Laquintinie Hospital Douala, Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: Despite being a global pandemic, little is known about the factors influencing in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to provide data on in-hospital mortality among COVID-19 patients hospitalized in a single large center in Cameroon. METHODS: A hospital-based prospective follow-up was conducted from March 18 to June 30, 2020, including patients >18 years with positive PCR for SARS-COV-2 on nasopharyngeal swab admitted to the Laquintinie Douala hospital COVID unit. Predictors of in-hospital mortality were assessed using Kaplan Meir survival curves and Weibull regression for the accelerated time failure model. Statistical significance was considered as p < 0.05. RESULTS: Overall 712 patients (65,7% men) were included, mean age 52,80 ± 14,09 years. There were 580 (67,8% men) in-hospital patients. The median duration of hospital stay was eight days. The in-hospital mortality was 22.2%. Deceased patients compared to survivors were significantly older, had a higher temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate, and lowest peripheral oxygen saturation at admission. After adjusting for age, sex, and other clinical patient characteristics, increased heart rate, increased temperature, decreased peripheral oxygen saturation. The critical clinical status was significantly associated with increased in-hospital mortality. In contrast, hospitalization duration greater than eight days and the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) + azithromycin (AZM) therapy was associated with decreased risk of in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: One in five hospitalized COVID-19 patients die in a low-middle income setting. Critical clinical status, dyspnea, and increased heart rate were predictors of in-hospital mortality. This study will serve as a prerequisite for more robust subsequent follow-up studies. Also, these results will aid in revising national guidelines for the management of COVID-19 in Cameroon.