Prevalence of onchocerciasis in the Fundong Health District, Cameroon after 6 years of continuous community-directed treatment with ivermectin

<0.001). The greatest rate of infection was found among farmers (2.5%) followed by students (0.7%) and businessmen (0.25%). CONCLUSION: This study shows that the study area is now hypo-endemic for onchocerciasis, following 6 years of continuous treatment with ivermectin. Careful monitoring of onchocerciasis should however be continued to avoid that the area returns to its initial hyper endemicity

Tuberculosis treatment outcome and its associated factors among people living with HIV and AIDS in Fako Division of Cameroon.

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) and HIV co-infection challenges treatment and worsens the outcome of TB treatment. This study aimed to assess the outcome of TB treatment and factors facilitating treatment success among people living with HIV/AIDS in Fako Division of the South West Region of Cameroon.MethodsA hospital-based retrospective cohort study was conducted by manually reviewing medical records of HIV/TB co-infected patients from January 2010 to September 2017. A structured data collection form was used to review the medical records of HIV patients co-infected with TB aged 10 years and older. Patients with incomplete files were dropped from the study. Treatment success was defined as the sum of patients who were declared cured and those who had completed treatment, as per the World Health Organization's recommendations. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression model was carried out to identify factors facilitating successful TB treatment outcome. Significance was obtained through adjusted odds ratio with its 95% confidence interval and a pResultsA total of 2,986 files were reviewed but 2,928 (98.1%) were retained. Out of the 2,928 medical files of adult TB patients reviewed, 1,041 (35.6%, [95% CI 33.8%-37.3%]) were HIV/TB co-infected. The 1,041 co-infected patients had a mean age of 37.07 (SD of10.02) years and 56.3% were females. The treatment outcome of TB patients were 795(76.4%) cured, 23(2.2%) treatment completed, 99(9.5%) were lost to follow-up, 16 (1.5%) failed, 72(6.9%) died and 36(3.5%) transferred out. A successful treatment outcome was achieved in 818(78.6%,[95% CI: 76.0%-81.0%]) patients. Being a female [COR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.19-2.17, p = 0.002], receiving TB treatment in 2014 [COR 2.00, 95% CI: 1.11-3.60, p = 0.021] and 2015 [COR 2.50, 95% CI: 1.39-4.50, p = 0.002], having relapsed TB infection [COR 0.46, 95% CI: 0.23-0.93, p = 0.031], receiving ART [COR 1.95, 95% CI: 1.28-2.97, p = 0.002] and Cotrimoxazole [COR 2.03, 95% CI: 1.12-3.66, p = 0.019] were factors significantly associated with successful treatment. After adjusting for confounders, successful treatment outcome were associated with being a female [AOR 1.6; 95% CI: 1.21-2.22, p = 0.001], diagnosis of TB in 2014 [AOR 1.90; 95% CI: 1.04-3.45, p = 0.036] and 2015 [AOR 2.43; 95% CI: 1.33-4.43, p = 0.004].ConclusionThere is a high TB treatment success rate among HIV/TB co-infected patients in our setting, although below the target set by the WHO. Specific interventions aimed at enhancing patient outcomes are recommended

The prevalence of malaria in people living with HIV in Yaounde, Cameroon

Abstract Background Coinfection with malaria and HIV is common in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the advent of a decline in the global incidence of malaria, it is important to generate updated data on the burden of malaria in people living with HIV (PLWHIV). This study was designed to determine the prevalence of malaria in PLWHIV in Yaounde, Cameroon, as well determine the association between CD4 + T cell count and malaria in the study population. Methods In a cross sectional study performed between April 2015 and June 2016, 355 PLWHIV were enrolled and blood samples were collected for analysis. Complete blood count was performed using an automated haematology analyser (Mindray®, BC-2800) and CD4 + T cell count was performed using a flow cytometer (BD FASCount™). Giemsa-stained blood films were examined to detect malaria parasite. The Pearson’s chi-square, student’s T-test, ANOVA, and correlation analysis were all performed as part of the statistical analyses. Results The prevalence of malaria observed in the study was 7.3 % (95 % CI: 4.8–10.6). No significant association was observed between the prevalence of malaria and age or gender. The prevalence of malaria was higher in participants who were not sleeping in insecticide treated bed nets, ITNs (p < 0.001); and in participants who were not on cotrimoxazole prophylaxis (p = 0.002). The prevalence of malaria (p < 0.001) and malaria parasite density (p = 0.005) were observed to be progressively higher in participants with CD4 + T cell count below 200cells/μl. Furthermore, the mean CD4 + T cell count was observed to be lower in participants coinfected with malaria compared to non-coinfected participants (323.5 vs 517.7) (p < 0.001). In this study, a negative correlation was observed between malaria parasite density and CD4 + T cell count (p = 0.019). Conclusions A low prevalence of malaria was observed in the study population. Some of the factors accounting for the low prevalence of malaria in this study population may include the health seeking habit of PLWHIV, the use of cotrimoxazole based chemoprophylaxis, and their cautious use of ITNs

Prevalence and factors associated with urogenital schistosomiasis among primary school children in barrage, Magba sub-division of Cameroon

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and intensity as well as the factors associated with urogenital schistosomiasis (US) in Barrage, a rural community around the Mape΄ dam, in the West region of Cameroon not previously documented for transmission. Methods In this cross sectional parasitological survey, 382 children were enrolled from three primary schools in the study area between March and May 2016. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on demographics, clinical and predisposing factors. The syringe filtration technique was used to analyse urine samples. Samples with visible or gross haematuria were recorded prior to filtration. The Pearson chi-square, the student T-test and logistic regression were all performed as part of the statistical analyses. Results The overall prevalence of US was 41.1% (95% CI: 36.1–46.2). Infection was more common in children below 10 years (p = 0.009), in males (p = 0.029), and in children who frequently come into contact with water from the dam (p < 0.001). Furthermore, US was more common in children attending Ecole Public (EP) Manbonko Bord (81.1%, p < 0.001) which is very close to the dam and in children from a fishing background (80.9%, p < 0.001). On the contrary, knowledge about schistosomiasis was not observed to be associated with prevalence. In this study, the intensity of infection was observed to be higher in children below 10 years (p < 0.001), in males (p = 0.001), and in children attending EP Manbonko Bord (p < 0.001). The intensity of infection was also highest in children presenting with haematuria (p < 0.001). Frequent contact with water from the dam and having parents whose occupation was fishing were identified as the associated factors for US. Conclusion A high prevalence of US was observed in school-aged children in the study area especially in those attending EP Manbonko Bord. Limiting contact with water from the dam, control of the snail intermediate host, provision of portable water and mass treatment of the entire population are proposed as some of the measures to reduce and eventually eliminate transmission in the area

Pattern of antibiotics resistance and phenotypic characterization of Multidrug resistant bacteria isolates in four hospitals of Littoral region, Cameroon

Objective: To describe the pattern of antibiotics resistance and phenotypic characterization of Multidrug resistant bacteria isolates in four hospitals of Littoral region, Cameroon. Methods: We conducted a descriptive hospital based cross-sectional study from December 2018 to May 2019. A simple random sampling was used to swap 10 selected equipment and 10 materials in the mornings after disinfection but before the start of work in seven units. After inoculation in four agar media consecutively (Eosine Metyleine blue, Cled, Manitol salt agar and blood agar ) and incubated in appropriate conditions, the Kirby-Bauer disk-diffusion method was used for antimicrobial susceptibility test. Results: Among 50.4% (119/236) showed positive bacteria growth, a total of 89 (13 species), predominant bacteria and those more likely to cause nosocomial infections were selected and tested each one to 18 antibiotics. There was high level of resistance to Penicillin (amoxicillin (77.5%) and Oxacillin (76.4%)), followed by 3G Cephalosporine (Ceftazidime (74.2%)) and Monobactam (Aztreonam (70.8%)). Although the least level of resistance was observed in Carbapenem (imipenem (5.6%)). The overall prevalence of MDRB was 62.9% (56/89). MRSA were the mostly detected 57.5 % (30/89), followed by ESBL 10.1% (9/89). Military hospital of Douala and Emergency unit was the MDRBs dominantly contaminated area respectively 39.3% (22/56) and 17.9% (10/56). Conclusion: MDRB occurred to be a current public health problem as well as hospital surfaces are worrying reservoir that can be spread to patient, health professionals and visitors. Keywords: Antibiotic resistance, susceptibility test, multidrug-resistant bacteria, Hospital facilities, Units, Littoral Region-Cameroo