HIV infection and mycobacterium tuberculosis drug-resistance among tuberculosis patients in Burkina Faso, West Africa

The aim of this study was to compare the drug-resistance patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains among pulmonary tuberculosis patients, according to their HIV serostatus, in Burkina Faso. Tuberculosis (TB) patients were classified in new and previously treated cases by using a structured questionnaire. Susceptibility testing to isoniazid, streptomycin, rifampicin and ethambutol was done by the proportion method. Association between HIV-serostatus and drug-resistant TB was assessed with χ2 tests, and the statistical significance was set to

Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection among blood donors in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Background: In Burkina Faso, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay is not routinely used in the biological qualification of blood donations and this constitutes a risk factor for the transmission of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection during blood transfusion. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of occult B infection (OBI) among blood donors for the purposes of improved blood safety in Burkina Faso. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 300 HBsAg negative blood donors was conducted in the city of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from April to October 2020. Anti-HBc antibody was determined using the BOSON® brand rapid tests. HBV DNA was detected in 75 selected donors by real-time PCR (rt PCR) using the 7500 Fast Real Time PCR assay technique. Results: Of the 300 HBsAg negative donors, 208 (69.3%) were males while 92 (30.7%) were females, with average age of 30.18 years. Anti-HBc antibody was detected in 39 cases (13%). Of the 75 donor samples tested by rt PCR, 3 (4%) were positive for HBV DNA (occult B infection); 2 of which were anti-HBc antibody positive (seropositive OBI) while 1 was anti-HBc antibody negative (seronegative OBI). Conclusion: Given the prevalence of OBI of 4% in this study and its consequences in blood recipients, it appears necessary that in addition to the classic serological markers of hepatitis B, to test for the presence of HBV DNA among blood donors in order to improve transfusion safety. Keywords: Prevalence, Occult B infection; Blood donors, Ouagadougou.   French title: Prévalence de l'infection occulte par le virus de l'hépatite B chez les donneurs de sang à Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Contexte: Au Burkina Faso, la polymérase chain réaction (PCR) n’est pas utilisée lors de la qualification biologique des dons et cela constitue un facteur de risque de transmission de l’Infection Occulte du virus B (VHB) lors des transfusions sanguines. L’objectif de cette étude était de déterminer la prévalence de l’infection occulte B chez les donneurs de sang en vue d’une meilleure sécurité transfusionnelle. Méthodologie: Une étude transversale prospective, réalisée d’avril à octobre 2020 dans la ville de Ouagadougou incluant 300 donneurs de sang AgHBs négatif. L’anticorps anti HBc a été déterminé par les tests rapides de marque BOSON®. L’ADN du VHB a été recherché chez 75 donneurs par PCR en temps réel (rt PCR) avec le 7500 Fast Real Time PCR. Résultats: Parmi les 300 donneurs AgHBs négatifs, 208 (69,3%) étaient des hommes et 92 (30,7%) des femmes. L’âge moyen était de 30,18 ans. La recherche de l’Ac anti-HBc était positive dans 39 cas (13 %). Parmi les 75 échantillons passés à la rt PCR, 3 (4%) étaient positifs pour l’ADN du VHB. Sur les 3 cas d’ADN VHB positifs, 2 (66,67%) étaient positifs Ac anti HBc et 1 (33,33%) Ac anti HBc négatif. Conclusion: Compte tenu de la prévalence de l’infection occulte B et ses conséquences chez les donneurs de sang et chez les receveurs, il devient nécessaire de rechercher, en plus des marqueurs sérologiques classiques de l’hépatite B, l’ADN VHB pour une meilleure sécurité transfusionnelle. Mots clés: Prévalence, Infection occulte de l’HBV, Donneurs de sang, Ouagadougou &nbsp

Residual mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Burkina Faso

Background: Burkina Faso is one of the countries in West Africa most affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, despite the implementation of a mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention program as a strategy to reduce the risk of vertical transmission of the disease.Objective: To assess the current risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Burkina Faso.Materials and methods: A prospective study was conducted between December 2014 and July 2016, in the 13 health regions of Burkina Faso. Women who were screened HIV-positive during a prenatal consultation were followed until delivery. Their babies received dry blood spot (DBS) at birth, at week 6 and at 1year, to screen for HIV.Results: Overall, 186 pregnant women were included in the study, with a mean age of 29.17±6.13 years. Of their children, 430 DBS actually received a PCR test, giving a 91.1% PCR implementation rate. After analyses, 6 (1.3%) babies were identified as carriers of HIV1. The newborn’s serological status was associated with delivery pattern (p=0.000), the administration of antiretroviral drugs to the mother after delivery (p=0.0064), the administration of Nevirapine to the newborn at birth (p=0.022), the use of contraceptive methods after delivery (p=0.028) and the presence of breast affections/infections since delivery (p=0.013).Conclusion: The results of our study are encouraging and demonstrate the effectiveness of interventions in the mother-tochild prevention program (PMTCT) for HIV-positive pregnant women can be improved through early initiation of triple therapy in early pregnancy and improved adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy.Keywords: Burkina Faso, HIV/AIDS, mother-to-child transmission, antiretroviral drugs, pregnant wome

Faecal carriage of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in healthy volunteers and hospitalized patients in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: prevalence, resistance profile, and associated risk factors

Background: Extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) are a serious challenge to patients’ treatment. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of ESBL-PE, investigate the associated resistance, and analyze the associated risk factors for acquisition of ESBL-PE.Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on healthy volunteers and inpatients. After obtaining informed consent, rectal swabs were collected from each participant for isolation of Enterobacteriaceae on Hektoen enteric agar containing 4µg/L cefotaxime. The Enterobacteriaceae isolates were identified using biochemical tests and ESBL production was confirmed by the double-disc synergy test of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. Antibiotic susceptibility test of each isolate was done by the disc diffusion method and interpreted using the recommendations of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) clinical  breakpoints version 5.0.Results: During the study period, prevalence of faecal ESBL-PE among the study participants was 54.5% (103/189); 53.5% among healthy volunteers and 55.7% among inpatients (p=0.87). The major ESBL-PE isolates was Escherichia coli (71%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (16%). The isolates in hospitalized patients were resistant to norfloxacin (84.2%), cotrimoxazole (89.5%), and gentamicin (7.0%). The isolates from healthy volunteers were resistant to norfloxacin (86.2%), cotrimoxazole (82.8%), and gentamicin (1.7%).Gender, age, and previous antibiotic use were not significantly associated with carriage of ESBL-PE (p=0.51).Conclusion: The high prevalence of ESBL-PE in this study is worrying. There is an urgent need to develop measures to monitor and limit the spread of these multidrug-resistant organisms in healthcare facilities and the community in Burkina Faso. Keywords: faecal carriage, ESBL-PE, healthy volunteers, inpatients, Burkina Fas

Le diagnostic des pleurésies malignes : peut-on se contenter de la cytologie dans un pays à ressources limitées ?

Nous avons mené cette étude dans le but d’analyser les performances de la cytologie du liquide pleural dans le diagnostic des pleurésies malignes à Ouagadougou. Il s’est agi d’une étude rétrospective sur la base de dossiers de patients reçus dans trois formations sanitaires de la ville de Ouagadougou du 1er août 2009 au 30 juillet 2015. Ont été inclus les cas de pleurésies malignes prouvées ainsi que les cas de pleurésies d’origine très probablement maligne. Quatre-vingts dossiers ont été retenus. Le taux de positivité de la cytologie était de 55%, contre 36,9% de positivité à l’histologie. Le cancer du poumon a été le plus souvent à l’origine des pleurésies néoplasiques (27,5%) suivi du cancer du sein (18,7%). Il y avait concordance entre l’histologie de la tumeur primitive et le compte rendu de la cytologie pleurale dans 12 cas. La biopsie pleurale à l’aveugle a permis le diagnostic de pleurésie maligne dans 36,1% des cas de cytologie négative. La survie des patients était indépendante de la positivité de la cytologie. Dans notre contexte de pays à ressources limitées, la cytologie du liquide pleurale reste incontournable, mais sa sensibilité pourrait être améliorée par le respect des recommandations en matière de bonnes pratiques.Mots-clés : Pleurésie malignes, cytologie, cancer, Ouagadougo

Intermediate recalcitrant tropical forest tree seeds: Proceedings of a workshop on improved methods for handling and storage of intermediate recalcitrant tropical forest tree seeds, 8-10 June 1995, Humlebaek, Denmark

The workshop was organized jointly with DANIDA Forest Seeds Centre, Humlebaek, Denmark. The workshop was held in recognition of the problems of handling and especially storing the seeds of many tropical tree species. The lack of cost-effective handling methods limits the planting and use of these important tree species, which in turn impacts negatively on environment and genetic resources conservation efforts. Tropical tree seeds are frequently recalcitrant or intermediate in their storage behaviour, meaning that they cannot be stored in conventional ways. These concepts are, however not well-defined, and new storage behaviours are continually being discovered. The purpose of the workshop was to gather individuals who are active in tree seed storage research, in order to: understand the present state of knowledge and formulate recommendations for future research; examine the pros and cons of alternative species for use as models in research; explore possiblities for collaboration, and bring researchers from developing and developed countries together. It is hoped that future comprehensive research efforts in this strategic field will be undertaken, based on the conclusions and recommendation of the workshop as contained in these proceedings

[Evaluation of stool microscopy and culture to assist the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in a tuberculosis endemic country].

International audienceOBJECTIVE:the aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of stool microscopy and culture in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB).MATERIAL AND METHOD:In resource-limited settings, PTB is mainly diagnosed in sputum by microscopy methods. In patients unable to provide sputum, invasive procedures are necessary to obtain alternative respiratory tract specimens. Because Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) organisms are known to survive in gastric fluid, we hypothesized that swallowed MTC organisms would be detectable in stool samples. We compared the presence of MTC organisms in sputum and stool specimens collected at the same time from the same patients.RESULTS:We included samples routinely submitted to our laboratory of microbiological diagnosis from patients with suspected PTB. In addition, a stool specimen was collected within 24 h of the sputum collection or gastric aspirate. In the 57 patients included, sputum microcopy and culture confirmed respectively 9 (21%) and 15 (26%) cases. Stool samples made it possible to confirm 9 cases by microscopy and 5 cases by culture. The sensitivity of microscopy was 60% and that of culture 33%. Sputum analysis was negative for one HIV-infected patient, but the stool sample was positive and permitted the diagnosis of PTB.CONCLUSION:This study proves that despite the low sensitivity of stool cultures it can be an alternative or additional interesting sample for the diagnosis of PTB in patients who have difficulty expectorating

Field studies on the Development and impact of drug resistant animal trypanosomes in market oriented production systems in the Southern Guinean zone of West Africa

To investigate the importance of trypanosomosis, resistance to trypanocidal drugs and the potential impact of integrated control measures on these factors, a 3-phase study was initiated. The first phase was a cross-sectional study in which tsetse apparent density, cattle trypanosome prevalence, trypanocidal drug use and livestock husbandry data were collected from 45 (of 166) randomly-sampled villages in all 4 livestock production systems in Kenedougou province. This study was conducted from mid-June to mid-August 1998. The second phase studied the occurrence of trypanocidal drug resistance in villages with high trypanosomosis risk (10 percent trypanosome prevalence). In 10 such villages, cattle were block treated with isometamidium at 1 mg/kg body-weight (bw) and followed at 2-weekly intervals for trypanosome infections by the buffy-coat phase-contrast technique. Trypanosomes isolated from cattle both before and after the block treatment were assessed for resistance to isometamidium and diminazene in mice. This study was conducted from mid-November 1998 to mid-February 1999. A third phase will investigate variations in livestock production parameters associated with different drug-resistance levels. This paper Reports on the results from the first two phases