Campylobacter Spp. Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in a Developing Country, Burkina Faso (West Africa)

Data on campylobacteriosis are almost nonexistent in Burkina Faso. In this study conducted from 2006 to 2008 in Ouagadougou, stool specimens and sociodemographic data were collected from 1 246 patients attending the university teaching hospital for enteritis. Stool samples were analyzed for the presence of Campylobacter by the direct culture method on selective mCCDA agar followed by antibiotic susceptibility testing on the isolated strains. The isolation rate of Campylobacter was 2.3%,comprising of the following species C. jejuni (51.8%), C. coli (13.8%), and C. upsaliensis (3.5%). However, 30.9% of the isolates were unidentified. No resistant strain was found to gentamicin. The resistance to amoxicillin+clavulanic acid (3.4%) was lower than those (10.3-34.5%) to the other antibiotics: erythromycin (10.3%), tetracycline (10.3%), ciprofloxacin (13.8%), amoxicillin (24.1%) and ceftriaxone (34.5%), nalidixic acid (34.5%). Significant associations were found between Campylobacter enteritis and contact with animals (P=0.03), and HIV infection (P<0.0001), in contrast to other sociodemographic and seasonal factors. From the data obtained Amoxicillin+clavulanic acid appear to be the first choice for treatment. The implementation of a national program may be helpful in controlling the spread of the disease and the increase of resistance to antibiotics.Keywords: Campylobacter, epidemiology, HIV, drug resistance, Burkina Fas

Polychaetous annelids collected at St. Paul de Loanda by the American Museum Belgian Congo Expedition

3 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.Includes bibliographical references

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) provides a superior tool for the diagnosis of Pneumococcal Infection in Burkina Faso

Purpose of study: The aim of this study was to determine the value of real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (rt-PCR) in the routine surveillance of pneumococcal meningitis in Burkina Faso, compared to standard methods of culture, Gram stain and latex agglutination assay.Materiel and methods: A total of 385 specimens of cerebrospinal fluid were analyzed by the three standard bacteriological methods (Gram stain, latex agglutination assay, and culture) and real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction.Results: Of 385 specimens analyzed by these methods, 204 S. pneumoniae were detected by one or more  methods. Gram stain detected 36.4% (140/385) Gram positive encapsulated diplococci; 37.7% (145/385) and 20.8% (80/385) of the specimens were positive for pneumococci by latex agglutination assay and culture. These specimens were tested with rt-PCR, which confirmed 51.2% (197/385) S. pneumoniae positive. The sensitivity and specificity of culture were 54.4% and 31.5%, respectively, and the sensitivity and specificity of rt-PCR were 96.6% and 100%, respectively. These results showed that rt-PCR was more sensitive than Gram stain (p=0.0235), latex agglutination assay (p=0.0442)and culture (p=0.0006).The culture is the gold standard method; however, the result showed that rt-PCR had specificity and was as specific as Gram stain (p=0.3405) and latex agglutination assay (p=0.7745).Conclusion: rt-PCR was highly sensitive and specific. It could be used as a complementary diagnostic tool to  mprove case confirmation of bacterial meningitis. However,its high cost, the qualification of the technical staff and infrastructures required for its implementation, constitute obstacles to its widened use in countries with limited resources.Keywords: Streptococcus pneumoniae, meningitis, rt-PCR, standard bacteriological methods Objectif: Le but de cette étude était de déterminer la place de la rt-PCR dans la surveillance de routine deméningitespneumococciquesau Burkina Faso et la comparée avec les méthodes de la bactériologie classique: Culture, coloration de Gram et l’agglutination au latex.Matériel etméthodes: Au total, 385 échantillons deliquides céphalorachidiens (LCR)étaient analysés par les trois méthodes de la bactériologie classique (coloration de Gram, agglutination au latex, culture) et la PCR en temps réel.RESULTATS: Parmi 385 échantillons analysés, 204 cas de Streptococcuspneumoniae étaient détectés par une ou plusieurs méthodes. La coloration de Gram adétecté 36,4% (140/385) diplocoques encapsulés à Gram positif (DGP); 37,7% (145/385) et 20,8% (80/385) d’échantillons étaient positifs aux pneumocoques par l’agglutination au latex et la culture. Ces échantillons étaient aussi testés par rt-PCR qui a confirmé 51,2% (197/385) cas positifs de S. pneumoniae. La sensibilité et la spécificité de la culture étaient respectivement de 54,4% et 31,5%, et la sensibilité et la spécificité de rt-PCR étaient respectivement de 96,6% et 100%. Ces résultats ont montré que la rt-PCR était plus sensible que la coloration de Gram (p=0,0235), l’agglutination au latex (p=0,0442) et la  culture(p=0,0006).La culture est une méthode de référence; cependant, le résultat a montré que rt-PCR était plus sensibleet aussi spécifique que la coloration de Gram ((p=0,3405)et l’agglutination au latex (p=0,7745).Conclusion : :rt-PCR était plus sensible et plus spécifique. Elle pourrait être utilisée comme un outil de diagnosticcomplémentaire pour améliorer les cas de confirmation de méningites bactériennes. Cependant, ces coûts de réalisation, la qualification de techniciens et les matériels pour son application constituent des obstacles pour sa vulgarisation dans les pays à ressources limités.Keywords: Streptococcus pneumoniae, méningites, rt-PCR, méthodes de la bactériologie classique Article in English

Bukavu, les bruits de la 3ème guerre- un plan de partition à l Est de la RDCongo déjoué par le Général Prosper Nabiolwa,Commandant de la 10è région militaire au Sud Kivu

Document collected by the University of Texas Libraries from the web-site of the Reseau Documentaire International Sur La Region Des Grands Lacs Africains (International Documentation Network on the Great African Lakes Region). The Reseau distributes "gray literature", non-published or limited distribution government or NGO documents regarding the Great Lakes area of central Africa including Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.UT Librarie

Complications of childbirth and maternal deaths in Kinshasa hospitals: testimonies from women and their families

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Maternal mortality in Kinshasa is high despite near universal availability of antenatal care and hospital delivery. Possible explanations are poor-quality care and by delays in the uptake of care. There is, however, little information on the circumstances surrounding maternal deaths. This study describes and compares the circumstances of survivors and non survivors of severe obstetric complications.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Semi structured interviews with 208 women who survived their obstetric complication and with the families of 110 women who died were conducted at home by three experienced nurses under the supervision of EK. All the cases were identified from twelve referral hospitals in Kinshasa after admission for a serious acute obstetric complication. Transcriptions of interviews were analysed with N-Vivo 2.0 and some categories were exported to SPSS 14.0 for further quantitative analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Testimonies showed that despite attendance at antenatal care, some women were not aware of or minimized danger signs and did not seek appropriate care. Cost was a problem; 5 deceased and 4 surviving women tried to avoid an expensive caesarean section by delivering in a health centre, although they knew the risk. The majority of surviving mothers (for whom the length of stay was known) had the caesarean section on the day of admission while only about a third of those who died did so. Ten women died before the required caesarean section or blood transfusion could take place because they did not bring the money in time. Negligence and lack of staff competence contributed to the poor quality of care. Interviews revealed that patients and their families were aware of the problem, but often powerless to do anything about it.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings suggest that women with serious obstetric complications have a greater chance of survival in Kinshasa if they have cash, go directly to a functioning referral hospital and have some leverage when dealing with health care staff</p

Gender distribution of adult patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Southern Africa: a systematic review

Background: HIV and AIDS are significant and growing public health concerns in southern Africa. The majority of countries in the region have national adult HIV prevalence estimates exceeding 10 percent. The increasing availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has potential to mitigate the situation. There is however concern that women may experience more barriers in accessing treatment programs than men. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was carried out to describe the gender distribution of patients accessing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Southern Africa. Data on number of patients on treatment, their mean or median age and gender were obtained and compared across studies and reports. Results: The median or mean age of patients in the studies ranged from 33 to 39 years. While female to male HIV infection prevalence ratios in the southern African countries ranged from 1.2:1 to 1.6:1, female to male ratios on HAART ranged from 0.8: 1 to 2.3: 1. The majority of the reports had female: male ratio in treatment exceeding 1.6. Overall, there were more females on HAART than there were males and this was not solely explained by the higher HIV prevalence among females compared to males. Conclusion: In most Southern African countries, proportionally more females are on HIV antiretroviral treatment than men, even when the higher HIV infection prevalence in females is accounted for. There is need to identify the factors that are facilitating women's accessibility to HIV treatment. As more patients access HAART in the region, it will be important to continue assessing the gender distribution of patients on HAART.Peer Reviewe

Congo Basin peatlands: threats and conservation priorities

The recent publication of the first spatially explicit map of peatlands in the Cuvette Centrale, central Congo Basin, reveals it to be the most extensive tropical peatland complex, at ca. 145,500 km2. With an estimated 30.6 Pg of carbon stored in these peatlands, there are now questions about whether these carbon stocks are under threat and, if so, what can be done to protect them. Here, we analyse the potential threats to Congo Basin peat carbon stocks and identify knowledge gaps in relation to these threats, and to how the peatland systems might respond. Climate change emerges as a particularly pressing concern, given its potential to destabilise carbon stocks across the whole area. Socio-economic developments are increasing across central Africa and, whilst much of the peatland area is protected on paper by some form of conservation designation, the potential exists for hydrocarbon exploration, logging, plantations and other forms of disturbance to significantly damage the peatland ecosystems. The low level of human intervention at present suggests that the opportunity still exists to protect the peatlands in a largely intact state, possibly drawing on climate change mitigation funding, which can be used not only to protect the peat carbon pool but also to improve the livelihoods of people living in and around these peatlands