Background: Tuberculosis remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality, and rapid molecular assays provide information on both the detection of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and rifampicin resistance. Objective: To describe Xpert MTB/RIF findings at the Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Treatment Center of the Abidjan Military Hospital during 2024. Methods: This retrospective, descriptive study reviewed 400 eligible laboratory testing records from 1 January to 31 December 2024. Age, sex, specimen type, and Xpert MTB/RIF results were summarised. Results: MTB was detected in 97 of 400 tests (24.25%), and was not detected in 303 (75.75%). The reported mean age was 37.7 years; 64.8% of the tested population was male. Sputum specimens accounted for 361 (90.25%) tests and gastric specimens for 39 (9.75%). Among the 97 MTB-positive tests, rifampicin resistance was detected in nine (9.28%). Conclusion: Approximately one-quarter of Xpert tests in this hospital sample detected MTB, and rifampicin resistance was detected in nine MTB-positive results. These findings describe a selected laboratory population and do not establish multidrug-resistant tuberculosis or community prevalence.
Antimicrobial resistance among clinical Escherichia coli isolates restricts treatment options and highlights the need for local susceptibility and molecular surveillance. This study investigated antimicrobial resistance patterns, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production and selected carbapenem-resistance genes among clinical isolates obtained at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi. Of 317 clinical specimens processed, 170 E. coli isolates were recovered and evaluated using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. Phenotypic ESBL production was assessed using the double-disc synergy test, suspected carbapenemase production was examined using the modified Hodge test, and OXA-48 and KPC genes were investigated by polymerase chain reaction. Of the 170 isolates, 93 (54.7%) exhibited multidrug resistance, while 24 (14.1% of all isolates; 25.8% of multidrug-resistant isolates) were ESBL producers. Among the ESBL-producing isolates, 13 (54.2%) demonstrated resistance or reduced susceptibility on carbapenem screening, and 10 of these (76.9%) were positive in subsequent modified Hodge testing. Thus, the 10 isolates represented 5.9% of all E. coli isolates. Molecular analysis identified OXA-48 alone in two isolates (20%) and co-detection of OXA-48 and KPC in one isolate (10%). Urine accounted for 106 (62.3%) of all E. coli isolates and seven (70.0%) of the carbapenem-resistant isolates. These findings document multidrug resistance, ESBL production and the investigated carbapenem-resistance determinants at the study hospital. Continued laboratory surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship are warranted.
Background: Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, may be difficult to recognise because its clinical manifestations overlap with those of other acute febrile illnesses. Aim: This study describes the clinical features, laboratory findings and treatment outcomes of patients with scrub typhus at a tertiary care hospital in Kerala. Case Presentation: This retrospective case series included 11 patients admitted between August and December 2020. Clinical examinations, complete blood counts, liver function tests, eschar findings and scrub typhus IgM results were reviewed. Complications and responses to azithromycin treatment were recorded. Results: Nine patients were aged 20–60 years, one was younger than 20 years and one was older than 60 years; nine were female. Fever, headache, vomiting and thrombocytopenia were reported in all patients. Hyponatraemia occurred in three patients, abdominal distension in two, and myocarditis and bilateral crepitation in one patient. Eschars and positive IgM results were documented in all 11 patients. Aspartate aminotransferase values ranged from 65 to 311 U/L, while alanine aminotransferase values ranged from 33 to 250 U/L. All patients received intravenous azithromycin followed by oral treatment after clinical improvement. Most hospital stays lasted 3–7 days, and all patients recovered. Conclusion: The findings illustrate the clinical and laboratory features observed in this small hospital-based series and highlight the importance of considering scrub typhus when evaluating compatible acute febrile presentations.
Background: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an acute viral zoonosis responsible for several epidemics in Senegal. The 2025 epidemic was associated with substantial mortality. Aim: The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic and outcome-related aspects of patients infected with RVF hospitalized at the Regional Hospital Center (RHC) of Saint-Louis (Senegal). Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study in RVF-infected patients hospitalized at the RHC of Saint-Louis from 13 September to 30 October 2025. Results: Twenty patients were hospitalized for RVF. The median age was 26.5 years [0.02–90 years]. Eleven patients (55%) were men, giving a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.2. The most common occupations were housewives (30%), followed by livestock farmers (20%). The median time from symptom onset to hospitalisation was 6 days [1–13 days]. Fifteen patients (75%) had a severe form of the disease, with haemorrhagic manifestations in 73.3% and neurological manifestations in 60% of severe cases. RT-PCR was positive in all patients (100%). Thrombocytopenia was observed in half of the cases (50%). Blood transfusions were administered in half of the cases (50%). Six deaths were recorded (30%). The factors associated with death were the presence of comorbidities (p=0.03), a serum creatinine level ≥14mg/l (p=0.01), a CRP level ≥12mg/l (p=0.02), a white blood cell count ≥ 9000/ul (p=0.02), a neutrophil count ≥6000/ul (p=0.02), a platelet count <50000/ul (p=0.05), and a serum potassium level ≥4 meq/l (p=0.05). Conclusion: In this hospitalized cohort, RVF predominantly affected young male patients and was associated with a high case fatality proportion and frequent haemorrhagic and neurological manifestations.
Background and Aims: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) complicates tuberculosis control and requires accurate characterisation of resistance patterns to guide clinical and public health responses. This study investigated the prevalence and pattern of DR-TB among presumptive and follow-up tuberculosis patients in southeastern Nigeria. Study Design: A cross-sectional, multicentre regional epidemiological survey was employed. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was conducted across secondary and tertiary referral health facilities in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States, southeastern Nigeria, between January 2020 and December 2021. Methodology: Sputum specimens were collected from 217 presumptive and follow-up pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients, comprising 144 males and 73 females. Sociodemographic data and clinical history were collected using structured clinical request forms (NTBLCP-02). Samples were screened using the GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and rifampicin resistance (RR). All samples were thereafter subcultured on Lowenstein-Jensen media and subjected to line probe assay (LPA). Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 27. Results: The prevalence of drug-susceptible TB was 14.3%, while mono-resistance to either rifampicin or isoniazid was 41.9%. Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) was detected in 36.4% of isolates, Pre-XDR TB in 4.1%, and XDR-TB in 3.2%. The resistance rates to rifampicin and isoniazid (first-line drugs) were 82.5% and 41.0%, respectively. The resistance rates to fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides (second-line drugs) were 6.5% and 4.1%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the distribution of mono- and multidrug resistance across the states (p = .873). Conclusion: Drug-resistant tuberculosis presents a substantial public health threat in southeastern Nigeria, driven primarily by previous treatment exposure and incomplete regimen adherence. Expanding access to universal rapid molecular drug-susceptibility testing (DST) and second-line susceptibility testing is critical for curbing ongoing transmission and guiding targeted therapeutic strategies in the region.
