Hospital-based Surveillance Provides Insights Into the Etiology of Pediatric Bacterial Meningitis in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in the Post-Vaccine Era

Background: Meningitis is endemic to regions of Cameroon outside the meningitis belt including the capital city, Yaoundé. Through surveillance, we studied the etiology and molecular epidemiology of pediatric bacterial meningitis in Yaoundé from 2010 to 2016. / Methods: Lumbar puncture was performed on 5958 suspected meningitis cases; 765 specimens were further tested by culture, latex agglutination, and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serotyping/grouping, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and/or whole genome sequencing were performed where applicable. / Results: The leading pathogens detected among the 126 confirmed cases were Streptococcus pneumoniae (93 [73.8%]), Haemophilus influenzae (18 [14.3%]), and Neisseria meningitidis (15 [11.9%]). We identified more vaccine serotypes (19 [61%]) than nonvaccine serotypes (12 [39%]); however, in the latter years non–pneumococcal conjugate vaccine serotypes were more common. Whole genome data on 29 S. pneumoniae isolates identified related strains (<30 single-nucleotide polymorphism difference). All but 1 of the genomes harbored a resistance genotype to at least 1 antibiotic, and vaccine serotypes harbored more resistance genes than nonvaccine serotypes (P < .05). Of 9 cases of H. influenzae, 8 were type b (Hib) and 1 was type f. However, the cases of Hib were either in unvaccinated individuals or children who had not yet received all 3 doses. We were unable to serogroup the N. meningitidis cases by PCR. / Conclusions: Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a leading cause of pediatric bacterial meningitis, and nonvaccine serotypes may play a bigger role in disease etiology in the postvaccine era. There is evidence of Hib disease among children in Cameroon, which warrants further investigation

LE COUT DES AMELIORATIONS CULTURALES DE LA CAROTTE CHEZ LE PRODUCTEUR MARAICHER A LA MARTINIQUE

L'itinéraire technique traditionnel de production de la carotte à la Martinique conduit à des rendements faibles et une récolte souvent voisine de zéro. Treize essais faits de 1983 à 1986 ont mis en évidence des solutions pour accroître la productivité de cette culture. Mais, le transfert de ces résultats à l'agriculteur est difficile à réaliser. Les études sur les coûts des cultures soulignent que l'intensification pouvant entraîner des progrès de rendement ne peut être obtenue qu'avec des coûts de culture supérieurs à ceux de l'itinéraire traditionnel. Il semble que le refus de ces améliorations soit dû à une disponibilité monétaire insuffisante de la part de l'agriculteur pour faire les investissements dans la structure de l'exploitation, mais aussi dans les intrants et la main d'oeuvre nécessaires à l'intensification. Plusieurs solutions techniques, micro-économiques et macro-économiques sont discutées. ----- In Martinique the traditional technical package, usually used for carrot production, gives low yields. As results of 13 trials conducted from 1983 to 1986, new practices capable of improving carrots yield were derived. But it is very difficult to transfer these trial results to growers. All the new techniques able to improve the yield are more expensive than old traditional usages. Farmers don't accept the technical progress because they have not sufficient cash for matériel or human investements. Many technical solutions in the micro-economic and the macro-economic point of view are debated

Intérêt du dosage de la procalcitonine sérique dans le diagnostic et le suivi des infections néonatales d'origine bactérienne à Yaoundé, Cameroun

Neonatal infection (NNI) is a public health problem in developing countries where pediatricians and specifically neonatologists encounter many diagnostic difficulties. Having a precise and easily measurable biological marker, with a high sensitivity and a high negative predictive value, that can rapidly detect NNI, remains a great challenge. The aim of this study was to determine the place of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in the diagnosis and follow-up of bacterial NNI in resource-limited contexts