Numerous bacteria coexist in the human body and constitute the ‘normal microbiota’. Data on the normal vaginal microbiota are limited in Africa, particularly in Cameroon. This study aimed to determine the distribution of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from vaginal samples of Cameroonian women. This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in Douala, Cameroon, from March 2024 to March 2025. It included non-menopausal women aged 18 to 50 years without gynaecological infections. Vaginal swabs were cultured on MRS and M17 media and identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry at the Pasteur Centre for lactic acid bacteria, and by API mini-galleries for pathogenic organisms. Microbiota typing was performed using the Nugent scoring system. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted using SPSS v25.0, XLSTAT, and the VITEK MS Knowledge Base. Logistic regression and Poisson regression were applied where appropriate; significance was set at p < 0.05. A total of 783 participants were enrolled; the majority were aged 29–39 years (44.2

Increased bacterial antibiotic resistance is a global public health problem; this problem is all the more worrying with the appearance and spread of carbapenemases. This study aimed to identify the production and distribution of carbapenemases in Gram-negative bacilli isolated in Douala. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2023 to March 2024 (1 year two months)). Included in the study were all strains of Gram-negative bacilli isolated in one of the two selected hospitals and resistant to at least 3 classes of antibiotics (multi-resistant). These strains were identified using biochemical tests with colorimetric revelation (Vitek 2). After which, they were subjected to an antibiogram by the agar diffusion method with a range of 20 standard antibiotics. Once confirmed to be multi-resistant, the strains were tested for the production of one of the five carbapenemases detected by immunochromatographic technique (OXA-48, NDM, IMP, VIM, KPC) using the rapid detection kit "NG-TEST/CARBA 5”. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using Epi info version 7.2.2.6 and Excel 2013 software. A total of 475 strains of gram-negative bacilli were collected during the study period, 40 multi-resistant strains were identified, mainly in the ECBU samples (47.0%); 37.5% of the multi-resistant strains produced the carbapenemases detected with a higher frequency at the General Hospital (53.3%). NDM-type carbapenemase was the most frequently identified (47.1%); The prevalence of carbapenemase production was higher in E. coli (66.7%), which was also the most isolated species (22.5%) Amikacin was the most active antibiotic on multi-strains resistant and carbapenemase-producing strains OXA-48 and NDM. The production of carbapenemases is increasing given the figures obtained in this study compared to those obtained in 2018.

Introduction: Platelet antigens called Human Platelet Antigen (HPA) present on the surface of platelets are involved in immunological conflicts sometimes leading to severe thrombocytopenia related to anti HPA1a antibody. The aim of this study was to detect platelet antibodies in newborns and the associated risk factors. Material and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study from 05 January to 30 June 2017 at the Laquintinie Hospital in Douala and the Gynaecological Obstetrics and Paediatrics Hospital in Douala, among newborns with thrombocytopenia and mothers in compliance with ethical considerations. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected, blood was collected on EDTA tubes for newborns and on tubes without anticoagulant for mothers in order to determine the presence of anti HPA1a antibody. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22 software. Results: A total of 35 newborns and 35 mothers were recruited in this study. The mean age of the newborns was 8.5 ± 7.2 days with a sex ratio of 1.7% in favour of boys. The prevalence of neonatal thrombocytopenia was 4.1% and the prevalence of HPA1a antibody was 17.1%. Most of the newborns were born to primiparous mothers (57.1%) and 80.0% had prematurity and neonatal jaundice as reasons for hospitalization. Male newborns and those whose mothers had been transfused at least once during or before pregnancy had respectively 4 (OR = 3.53; p-value < 0.0001) and 14 (OR = 14; p-value = 0.0483) times more risk of having the anti-HPA1a antibody. Conclusion: Our study has shown that the anti-HPA1a antibody is a risk factor for neonatal thrombocytopenia and is associated with maternal transfusion.

BackgroundC reactive protein (CRP), a marker for the presence of inflammation, has been extensively studied for distinguishing bacterial from non-bacterial infection in febrile patients, but its role in excluding malaria in the febrile child has not been thoroughly evaluated. MethodThis was a cross-sectional study at the Douala Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital which included all patients between the ages of one month and 16 years presenting with fever. Consenting patients received complete clinical examinations, then venous blood samples were collected and tested for CRP values, bacterial infection and malaria. ResultsSamples of 220 children were analyzed. 142/220 had viral infections, 50/220 had malaria and 49/220 had bacterial infections. 7/220 had both malaria and bacterial infection. There was no significant difference between mean CRP values in malaria and bacterial infection (p = 1), but CRP means were significantly higher in malaria/bacterial infection than in viral infection (p<0.0001). Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristics Curve (AUROC) values were 0.94 for malaria and 0.86 for bacterial infection, with a calculated cut-off of 23.6mg/L for malaria and 36.2mg/L for bacterial infection. At these cut-offs, CRP had a Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of 68.75% and 85.00% for malaria and bacterial infection respectively, with a Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of 94.74% and 89.05% respectively. ConclusionCRP can effectively exclude malaria and bacterial infection in febrile children in low-resource settings without the need for additional tests.

Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important agents involved in community and hospital-acquired infections. Due to the multi-drug resistance of strains to antibiotics, treatment to eradicate it is becoming more difficult and poses a global public health problem. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from March to August 2020 in hospitals in the city of Douala, including all S. aureus isolates from diagnostic samples. Strain identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed using the Vitek2 CompactTM (BioMerieux). Results: During the study period, 136 non-repetitive S. aureus strains were identified with a high frequency of methicillin-resistant S. aureus of 78.7%. The majority of the strains originated from the Douala General Hospital (66.9%) and was most frequently isolated from blood culture samples (55.1%). The study of biochemical characteristics showed that most of the strains identified had between 87% and 99% homology with the reference strain. The most active antibiotics were Quinupristin/Dalfopristin (94.2%), Linezolid (87.8%) and Vancomycin (84.2%). Methicillin resistance was associated with decreased susceptibility of S. aureus to other antibiotics such as Gentamycin (44.9%), Erythromycin (38.2%), Tetracycline (38.3%), Trimethoprim (21.4%), Ciprofloxacin (19.1%) and Levofloxacin (24.0%). Inducible MLSb and constitutive resistance phenotypes were identified with 26.7% and 22.8% respectively. Conclusion: The sensitivity of S. aureus strains differs from one antibiotic family to another, and remains good for molecules that are not available in our context. The high frequency of Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus shows the continuous progression of multi-resistant strains of S. aureus and their decreased sensitivity to usual antibiotics becomes more and more alarming.

Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic causes biological diagnostic problems that remain relevant in low-income countries in general and in Cameroon in particular. Rapids tests that reliably detect SARS-CoV-2 virus antigen present themselves as an important alternative in several contexts. The objective of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of two rapid diagnostic tests BIOSYNEX (R) COVID-19 Ag BSS and BIOSYNEX (R) COVID-19 Ag + BSS, compared to each other and to the AmpliQuick (R) SARS-CoV-2 PCR test. Methods: a cross-sectional and comparative study was carried out from April 27 to May 29, 2021 in the city of Douala in Cameroon. The samples consisted of nasopharyngeal swabs received at the molecular biology laboratory of the Douala Gyneco-obstetric and pediatric hospital, whatever their origin. The socio-demographic parameters (age, profession, football players, travelers, others), marital status, nationality), comorbidity and known status of COVID-19, were recorded on the collection sites. The main collection sites were the Deido Health District and the Douala Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital. We performed the diagnosis of COVID-19 using the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) BIOSYNEX (R) COVID-19 Ag BSS and RDT BIOSYNEX (R) COVID-19 Ag + BSS compared to each other and to the AmpliQuick (R) SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on each sample. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 17 software. To determine the sensitivity of the two RDTs, the Bayesian latent class model was performed on the median with a 95% confidence interval with p<0.05 as the significant level. An ethical clearance was sought and obtained from the University of Douala Institutional Ethics Committee. Results: a total of 1813 participants were included in our study, with a predominance of men (1226, 68.68 %) and the most represented age group was that of 31 to 40 years (568, 31.33 %). Most of the participants were married (888, 53.46%) and only a few had a known COVID-19 status (75, 5.47%). The two rapid tests on our study population show much closed COVID-19 prevalence values, respectively 2.03 for BIOSYNEX (R) COVID-19 Ag BSS and 2.17 for BIOSYNEX (R) COVID-19 Ag + BSS. RDT BIOSYNEX (R) COVID-19 Ag + BSS showed higher sensitivity 94.1% vs. 87.5% for RDT BIOSYNEX (R) COVID-19 Ag BSS with almost identical specificity 98.9% for RDT BIOSYNEX (R) COVID-19 Ag + BSS vs. 98.7% for RDT BIOSYNEX (R) COVID-19 Ag BSS compared to AmpliQuick (R) SARS-CoV-2. BIOSYNEX (R) COVID-19 Ag + BSS RDT showed a negative predictive value of 99.9% compared to BIOSYNEX (R) COVID-19 Ag BSS RDT. There is a 99.9% agreement between the RDT BIOSYNEX (R) COVID-19 Ag BSS and the RDT BIOSYNEX (R) COVID-19 Ag + BSS. Conclusion: the RDT BIOSYNEX (R) COVID-19 Ag + BSS and RDT BIOSYNEX (R) COVID-19 Ag BSS can be used for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 and can have an important contribution in the context of mass screenings and screening in remote areas.

Introduction: Pre-eclampsia is one of the major causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in the world. The complexity of its etiopathogenesis involves, among other things, age, primi-gravidity, obesity, lack of sensitization to the partner's sperm. Objective: It was to describe the socio-clinical profile of the preeclampsia pregnant woman received in consultation in our service and to compare it with that of a control population. Methodology: We carried out a situational study of prospective descriptive and analytical type during 07 months from 01 November 2018 to May 31, 2019, in the obstetrics and gynecology department of the Laquintinie Hospital in Douala. We recruited in consultation a continuous series of 150 pregnant women including 50 preeclampsia that we matched to 100 non preeclampsia all at a gestational age greater than 20 weeks of amenorrhea. The variables of interest were age, pregnancy, parity, gestational age, marital status and body mass index. The statistical tests were considered significant for a value of p˂0.05. Results: The preeclampsia pregnant woman in our series had a mean age of 27.80±5.80, mostly in the 25-30years, pauci-gravid, nulliparous and obese grade 1 with a gestational age predominantly ≥37 weeks of amenorrhea. This profile was non-exposing and heterogeneous compared to the control group of the same racial strain and to data from the literature. Conclusion: Our preliminary study suggests the existence of certain socio-clinical peculiarities in the preeclampsia pregnant woman in the black African environment.

Introduction: Pre-eclampsia is one of the major causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in the world. The complexity of its etiopathogenesis involves, among other things, age, primi-gravidity, obesity, lack of sensitization to the partner's sperm. Our objective was to describe the socio-clinical profile of the preeclampsia pregnant woman received in consultation in our department and to investigate its influence on certain coagulation parameters (prothrombin level, activated partial thromboplastin time). Methodology: We carried out an analytical cross-sectional study from 01st November 2018 to 31st May 2019, in the gynecology and obstetrics department of the Laquintinie Hospital in Douala. We recruited 150 pregnant women including 50 preeclampsia matched to 100 non-preeclampsia all with a gestational age greater than 20 weeks of amenorrhea. The variables of interest were age, pregnancy, parity, gestational age, marital status and body mass index, Prothrombin Level (PL), and Activated Cephalin Time (ACT). Statistical tests were considered significant for a p-value <0.05. Results: The majority age group in both groups was that of 25-30 years with a mean age of 27.80 ± 5.80 in the pregnant preeclampsia; the latter was predominantly pauci-gravid, nulliparous, and grade 1 obese with a gestational age predominantly ≥ 37 weeks of amenorrhea. In linear regression analysis and unvaried regression analysis, we did not find any socio-clinical factors exposing to coagulation disorders in preeclampsia. Conclusion: Our preliminary study reveals the non-existence of socio-clinical factors exposing to coagulation disorders in preeclampsia in our setting.

Introduction la pandémie à COVID-19 pose des problèmes de diagnostic biologique qui restent d´actualité dans les pays à faible revenu en général et au Cameroun en particulier. Les tests rapides détectant l´antigène du virus SARS-CoV-2 fiables se présentent comme une alternative importante. L´objectif de notre étude était d´évaluer les performances diagnostiques des tests de diagnostic rapide BIOSYNEX®COVID-19 Ag BSS et BIOSYNEX®COVID-19 Ag+ BSS comparés entre eux, puis comparés au test PCR AmpliQuick® SARS-CoV-2. Méthodes une étude transversale et comparative a été menée du 27 avril au 29 mai 2021 dans la ville de Douala au Cameroun. Les échantillons étaient constitués de prélèvements nasopharyngés reçus au laboratoire de biologie moléculaire de l'Hôpital Gynéco-Obstétrique et Pédiatrique de Douala. Les paramètres sociodémographiques (âge, profession (footballeurs, voyageurs, autres), statut matrimonial, nationalité), comorbidité et statut connu du COVID-19, ont été enregistrés sur les sites de collecte. Les principaux sites de collecte étaient le District de santé de Deïdo et l'Hôpital Gynéco-Obstétrique et Pédiatrique de Douala. Nous avons effectué le diagnostic du COVID-19 en utilisant les tests de diagnostic rapide BIOSYNEX® COVID-19 Ag BSS et BIOSYNEX® COVID-19 Ag+ BSS que nous avons d´abord comparé entre eux, puis nous les avons comparés au test PCR AmpliQuick®SARS-CoV-2 sur chaque échantillon. L'analyse statistique des données a été réalisée à l'aide des logiciels Microsoft Excel et SPSS version 17. Pour déterminer la sensibilité des deux tests de diagnostic rapide, le modèle bayésien de classe latente a été réalisé sur la médiane avec un intervalle de confiance à 95 %, et p<0,05 comme seuil de significativité. Une autorisation éthique a été demandée et obtenue auprès du Comité d'éthique Institutionnel (CEI) de l'Université de Douala. Résultats un total de 1813 participants a été inclus dans cette étude, avec une prédominance d'hommes (1226, 68,68 %) et la tranche d'âge la plus représentée était celle des 31 à 40 ans (568, 31,33 %). La plupart des participants étaient mariés (888, 53,46%) et seuls quelques-uns avaient un statut COVID-19 connu (75, 5,47%). Les prévalences de COVID-19 retrouvées avec les deux tests de diagnostic rapide étaient de 2,03 et 2,17 pour BIOSYNEX® COVID-19 Ag BSS et BIOSYNEX®COVID-19 Ag + BSS respectivement. Une sensibilité de 94,1% a été retrouvée pour le test BIOSYNEX® COVID-19 Ag BSS tandis que pour le test BIOSYNEX® COVID-19 Ag + BSS, la sensibilité était de 87,5%. La spécificité était de 98,9% et 98,7% pour le test BIOSYNEX® COVID-19 Ag + BSS et BIOSYNEX® COVID-19 Ag BSS respectivement par rapport à AmpliQuick® SARS-CoV-2. Le test BIOSYNEX® COVID-19 Ag + BSS a montré une valeur prédictive négative de 99.9% par rapport au test BIOSYNEX® COVID-19 Ag BSS. Un accord de 99,9% a été retrouvé entre les tests BIOSYNEX® COVID-19 Ag BSS et BIOSYNEX® COVID-19 Ag + BSS. Conclusion: les tests de diagnostic rapide BIOSYNEX® COVID-19 Ag + BSS et BIOSYNEX® COVID-19 Ag BSS peuvent être utilisés pour le diagnostic du SARS-CoV-2 et peuvent être d´un apport important dans le dépistage de masse et le dépistage en zones reculées.

Introduction COVID-19 equation in Cameroon is yet to be resolved. There is an urgent need for a rapid response strategy to the increasing demand of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results for both patients, travelers and competitors to various games. We assessed the diagnostic performance of the AmpliQuick® SARS-CoV-2 against the classic Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Methods a cross-sectional and comparative study was conducted from April 27th to May 29th, 2021 in the city of Douala, Cameroon. The samples consisted of any nasopharyngeal sample received at the Douala Gynaeco-Obstetrics and Pediatric Hospital molecular biology laboratory, regardless of its origin. Sociodemographic parameters (age, profession (footballers, travelers, other), matrimonial status, nationality), comorbidity and known status of COVID-19, were recorded at collection sites. The main collection sites were the Deido Health District and the Douala Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital. We performed testing using AmpliQuick® SARS-CoV-2 and the classic RT-PCR (Da An Gene Co.Ltd) on each sample during the one month period. Analytical performance parameters were determined. To determine the sensitivity of both methods, the Bayesian latent class model was performed on the median with 95% confidence interval, with p≤0.05 as significant level, as well as Kappa (κ) agreement between tests. An ethical clearance was sought and obtained from the University of Douala Institutional Ethics Committee. Results a total of 1813 participants were enrolled, with the predominance of male (68.68%) and the age group 31 to 40 years old (31.33%). Most participants were married (53.46%) with only few with known COVID-19 status (5.47%). One thousand eight hundred and ten (1810) tests were performed by AMPLIQUICK® SARS-CoV-2 while only 1107 could be achieved with the classic RT-PCR. Over the study period, it was noted a drastic reduction in the time necessary to render results with the AMPLIQUICK® SARS-CoV-2 from 24 hours to 3 hours. The AMPLIQUICK® SARS-CoV-2 reduced technician hands-on time and its practicability was noticed based on the prefilled and ready-to-use microplates. A prevalence of 1.93% and 1.45% were obtained for AMPLIQUICK® SARS-CoV-2 and the classic RT-PCR respectively. This difference in the prevalence showed that AMPLIQUICK® SARS-CoV-2 (Sensitivity 83.5% [CI=64.6-95.2]) was more accurate than the classic RT-PCR (67.8% [CI=46.6-84.9]). Conclusion it is time for a change of attitude to scale up the COVID-19 testing ability in Cameroon and the AMPLIQUICK® SARS-CoV-2 is an alternative diagnosis strategy which should help resolve the situation of timely and reliable results.

RESUMEIntroduction. Le but de cette etude etait de decrire les lesions scanographiques thoraciques associees aux signes cliniques de la maladie a coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Materiels et methodes. Les examens scanographiques de 132 patients atteints de la COVID-19 ont ete analyses retrospectivement par trois radiologues dans notre centre hospitalier, d’Avril a Juillet 2020. Les resultats ont ete correles aux donnees cliniques de 50 patients chez qui les dossiers etaient complets. Resultats. Les opacites en « verre depoli » associees a des condensations parenchymateuses etaient les lesions les plus repandues, notamment chez les patients avec un etat clinique modere a severe, et chez qui, on retrouvait egalement aspect de crazy paving. Les atteintes avaient tendance a etre bilaterales, peripheriques, et inferieures. Parmi les differentes caracteristiques cliniques associees au stade modere a severe, la dyspnee etait le seul facteur independant de severite de l’infection par la COVID-19, avec un Odd’s ratio (IC a 95%) de 19,621 (1,776-216,759), p = 0,015. Conclusion. Cette etude preliminaire a permis de relever les principales caracteristiques scanographiques des patients atteints de COVID-19 dans notre milieu, et de discuter une association avec quelques signes cliniques chez certains patients, pouvant ainsi participer a l'evaluation de la gravite de la maladie. ABSTRACTIntroduction. are the most common in. Chest computed tomography (CT) is useful for the diagnosis pulmonary manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 virus disease due to its high sensitivity and for the follow-up of patients. Given the persistence of this pandemic we conducted this study with aim to describe and compare the clinical stages of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia with the chest CT features in a referral hospital in Douala. Materials and methods. Chest CT scans of 132 patients tested positive for COVID-19 with RT-PCR were analyzed retrospectively from April to July 2020. CT findings were compared with clinical data from 50 patients with complete records. Results. Of the 132 patients’ records included, 95 (72%) had bilateral lung involvement which were widespread in 81 (61.4%) patients, with a peripheral distribution in 60 (45.5%) patients, and consisted mainly of ground-glass opacities with lung consolidation in 67 (50.8%) cases. CT findings of 28 (21.2%) patients were classified as severe. Dyspnea was associated with CT severity in 33 patients (66.0%) during the univariate and multivariate analyses with odds ratios (95% CI) of 8.4 (2.0-10.8) and 8.2 (1.2-54.7) respectively, p = 0.030. Conclusion. Bilateral peripheral ground-glass opacities and lung consolidation are the most frequent chest CT findings of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Dyspnea was significantly associated with chest CT severity and is therefore an important prognostic factor.

Background: The increasing resistance of bacteria to various antibiotics is a worldwide public health issue. Carbapenems that have elicited great hope in treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant germs have seen their efficacy narrowed over time with the emergence of other novel resistance mechanisms, notably the production of Carbapenemases. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2017 to May 2018 in Douala (Cameroon) to detect carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacilli. Isolated strains were identified using the Vitek2TM system. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method on agar plates with 20 selected commercially available antibiotic discs. The bacterial strains were tested for the production of three Carbapenemases (OXA-48, NDM, KPC), using an immuno-chromatographic technique, with the “RESIST-3 O.K.N. K-SeT” rapid detection kit. Results: During the study period, 1687 strains of Gram-negative bacilli were isolated in selected laboratories with a total of 200 multi-resistant strains identified (11.9%). Among the multi-resistant strains, E. coli was the species most represented in Enterobacteriaceae (27.5%) followed by K. pneumoniae (15.5%) and the non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli were predominantly P. aeruginosa (20.5%). These strains mainly came from urine and pus, i.e. 41% and 32% respectively. Thirty-two (16%) strains produced one of the Carbapenemases with a higher frequency at the General Hospital (84%). NDM-type carbapenemase was the most frequently identified (8.5%), OXA-48 type 7.5%, and no KPC production was observed. Among the Enterobacteriaceae 22.9% produced Carbapenemases and only 5.1% of the non-fermenting bacilli produced these enzymes. The isolates strains were completely resistant to all antibiotics except Amikacin and Fosfomycin. The strains producing the NDM-type carbapenemase showed higher rates of resistance to almost all of the antibiotics tested. Conclusion: Multidrug-resistant strains are experiencing an increase in evolution. The apparition of strains producing Carbapenemases prominently, the NDM and OXA-48 favor this increase. The activities of antibiotics with high efficacies on these strains are low.

Introduction: Preeclampsia is one of the major causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in the world. The complexity of its etio-pathogenesis involves, among other things, hypercoagulability, which alone accounts for about 15% of his deaths. Our objective was to study the parameters of coagulation (prothrombin level, activated cephalin time) in pregnant women with preeclampsia and non-preeclampsia at Laquintinie Hospital in Douala. Methodology: We carried out an analytical cross-sectional case-control study from November 01st, 2018 to May 31st, 2019, in the gynecology and obstetrics department of Laquintinie Hospital in Douala. We included preeclampsia and non-preeclampsia pregnant women with a gestational age greater than or equal to 20 weeks amenorrhea. The variables of interest were age, pregnancy, parity, gestational age, marital status and body mass index, prothrombin level (PL) and activated cephalin time (ACT). Hypercoagulability was defined by the presence of at least one of the following abnormalities: PL > 100%, ACT 25 seconds. Statistical tests were considered significant for a p-value 0.05. Results: We recruited 150 pregnant women including 50 preeclampsia matched with 100 non-preeclampsia. The majority age group in both groups was 25 - 30 years (32% versus 37%). We found a high PL in 58% of preeclampsia versus 22% of non-preeclampsia patients (p = - 10.20; p = Conclusion: Our study confirms the existence of hypercoagulability associated with preeclampsia, in particular in relation to an increase in the level of prothrombin.

Introduction: The first case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Cameroon was confirmed on March 6, 2020. Though widely considered that pregnant women are more susceptible to respiratory tract infections, the available body of literature on the effect of COVID-19 on pregnancy outcomes is shy from being conclusive. In Cameroon, the Douala Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (DGOPH) was one of the main frontline tertiary health facilities for the management of severe forms of the disease. After four months of managing COVID-19 cases in the general population and especially in pregnant women at the DGOPH, we decided to take a stop, analyze our findings from the patients managed in order to drive future policies and clinical practices via informed decisions. Overall objective: To describe and understand the clinical burden of patients managed for COVID-19 in pregnancy or post-partum at the DGOPH. Methodology: Cross-sectional and descriptive study covering four months—March 24th to July 24th 2020 at DGOPH. Using a pretested questionnaire, we systematically enrolled all patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, with analysis done using proportions from an excel spreadsheet. Results: A total of 18 on the 301 pregnant women consulted at the DGOPH, tested positive for COVID-19 giving a prevalence of 6%, and representing 2.3% of all the 800 COVID-19 cases. Of the 44 pregnant women admitted at the DGOPH, 13 of them were due to COVID-19, giving a general admission proportion of 29.5% and a COVID-19 case admission rate of 72.2%. Two-thirds (66.7%) of the patients were aged 30 - 39 years and over 61.1% (n = 11) of the total cases were referred from other health facilities for better management. The most common presenting symptoms were: fever (27.4%), cough (21.5%) and dyspnea (15.7%). Over 72.2% of cases were in their third trimester, and only three had comorbidities. Nasal throat swab PCR was mainstay for confirmatory diagnosis (83.3%). Chest CT scan was realized in 50% (n = 9) of the patients and ground glass opacification (GGO) was observed in all of them. All 18 patients received the standard national recommended regimen therapy for COVID-19. While five of the cases are ongoing gestations, 8 of them were delivered by cesarean section (61.5%), mostly indicated for maternal distress. The neonatal mortality rate was 46%. Four of the 18 patients died giving a case fatality rate of 22.2%. Conclusion: The profile of COVID-19 pregnant women in Douala-Cameroon tends to be similar to what is observed around the world. However, the high ICU admission rate and high case fatality rates recorded differ from what is observed worldwide.

RESUME Introduction. L’angine est generalement causee par les virus ou les bacteries ; mais l’etiologie bacterienne est redoutable du fait de ses complications, ce qui justifie une antibiotherapie habituellement probabiliste en Afrique. L’objectif de ce travail etait de determiner la proportion des angines bacteriennes par rapport a l’ensemble des angines, d’etudier la presentation clinique et d’identifier les germes en cause et le traitement administre a l’Hopital de District de Mbouda au Cameroun. Materiels et methodes. Il s’agissait d’une etude transversale descriptive realisee au service d’ORL de l’Hopital de District de Mbouda au Cameroun, sur 12 mois (Janvier - Decembre 2019). Elle incluait les patients chez qui le diagnostic d’angine a ete pose et l’etiologie bacterienne confirmee apres un prelevement de gorge. Nous avons etudie les variables suivantes : âge, sexe, signes et symptomes, etiologie et traitement. Resultats. Nous avons recense 90 cas d’angines sur 915 consultations ORL soit une prevalence de 9,84%. Parmi les 90 cas d’angines, l’origine bacterienne a ete confirmee dans 60 cas soit une proportion de 66,67%. Il y avait 32 hommes (53,33%) et 28 femmes (46.67%). La moyenne d’âge des sujets etait de 22,15 ans ± 12 ans. Les bacteries en cause etaient les streptocoques beta-hemolytiques du groupe A (45%) et les streptocoques viridans (30%). L’amoxicilline +acide clavulanique etait l’antibiotique le plus prescrit (80%). Conclusion. L’etiologie bacterienne represente 66,67% des angines a Mbouda; ce taux eleve peut justifier l’antibiotherapie frequemment utilisee devant une angine dans notre contexte ou la confirmation etiologique n’est pas de pratique courante. ABSTRACT Introduction. Angina is commonly due to viral or bacterial infections. Bacterial angina is the most severe form and needs probabilistic antibiotherapy because of its potential complications. The objective of this study was to determine the rate of bacterial angina, clinical presentation, etiology and treatment in Mbouda District Hospital - Cameroon. Materials and methods. This was a transversal descriptive study performed in the ENT department of the Mbouda District Hospital from 1st January to 31st December 2019. We included all patients with angina confirmed after bacteriological examination of pharyngeal secretion. The following variables were recorded: age, sex, signs and symptoms, causative bacterial and treatment... Result. A total, 90 cases of angina were recorded out of a total of 915 ENT consultations (9.84%). Among 90 cases of angina, bacterial etiology was confirmed in 60 cases (66.67%). The mean age of patients was 22.15 years ± 12 years. There were 32 male (53.33%) and 27 female (46.67%) The most common germs were pyogenic streptococci (45%) and viridans streptococci (30%). The most commonly prescribed antibiotic was amoxicillin + clavulanic acid (80%). Conclusion. Bacterial etiology represents 66.67% of anginas in Mbouda; this can justify probabilistic antibiotherapy in case of angina in our context.

ABSTRACT Objective: Urinary tract infection (UTIs) in child is serious public health problem especially in developing countries. This aimed at identifying factors associated with urinary tract infection and determining their diagnosis performances as well as resulting algorithms among Cameroonian under-five. Methods: A descriptive and analytical cross sectional study took place from May 2013 to March 2014 at Pediatrics Department of the Bonassama District hospital in the town of Douala. Urine samples were collected dependent on the age of children and its aptitude to micturate. Ten microliters (10 µL) of urine specimen were cultured at 37°C for 24-48 hours. In addition, sociodemographic, anthropometric, clinic and biological information of each child were documented. Results: The prevalence of UTI was 32.2% (129/400) which was mainly caused by Escherichia coli (41.1%). A total of four risk factors for UTI were found after adjustment for all pertinent characteristics of children. These included female gender (ARR= 0.55; p= 0.0046), presence of fever (ARR = 1.83; p= 0.0426), trouble urine (ARR = 1.36; p= 0.0063) and presence of nitrites in urine (ARR = 1.09; p= 0.0001). Presence of nitrites was the most discriminant parameter based on specificity (98.1%), positive predictive value (95.4%) and negative predictive value (90.1%). The diagnosis performances have gradually improved with the increasing number of parameters.  Conclusion: This study reported four factors associated with increased risk for UTI. This also outlined that the presence of nitrites in urine had best diagnosis performances and different predictors-based clinical algorithms could be helpful especially in the identification of UTI-negative children. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2019; 9(2):68-77.

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is considered as one of the most common diseases encountered in medical practice. This study aimed at determining the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria responsible for UTI among under five-year-old children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Bonassama District Hospital of Douala, Cameroon. Sociodemographic and clinical information was documented, followed by collecting urine samples for bacteriological examination and antibiotic sensitivity test. Results: The prevalence of UTI was 32.25% (129/400) and girls were more infected than boys (57.4% vs. 42.6, P=0.007). In addition, Escherichia coli (41.08%) and Enterobacter cloacae (18.6%) were the main bacteria which were isolated in this study and the resistance rates of E. coli isolates were higher for penicillin and second- and first-generation cephalosporins. This pattern was similar for E. cloacae and Klebsiella pneumoniae as well. Conclusions: Overall, UTI is still a major public health problem in Cameroon.

Objectif : L’étude menée a été de contribuer à l’évaluation de la toxicité aiguë et subaiguë de l’extrait au vin depalme des graines de Cucurma longa Linn. (cucurma)Méthodologie et Résultats : L’extrait a subi un screening phytochimique et sa qualité microbiologique approuvéesuivant la Pharmacopée Européenne. L’essai de toxicité aiguë a été mené sur des souris femelles de Musmusculus à la dose 2000 mg/kg. L’essai de toxicité subaiguë a été réalisé sur une période de 28 jours, avec 4lots de 6 rats (3 mâles et 3 femelles albinos de la souche Wistar). Le lot I a reçu 1 ml/100 g d’eau distillée et les lots II, III et IV l’extrait aux doses 200, 400 et 800 mg/kg respectivement. Le screening phytochimique a révélé la présence d’alcaloïdes, de tanins, phénols et sucres réducteurs. Les tests de qualité microbiologique n’ont révélé aucun germe. L’administration à dose unique de l’extrait n’a entrainé aucun décès. La DL50 de l’extrait est donc supérieure à 2000 mg/kg. A doses répétées pendant 28 jours, l’extrait a contribué à une croissance pondérale non significative chez les rats à toutes les la doses chez les rats mâles et femelles. En outre, il a engendré également chez une augmentation de l’aspartate aminotransférase (ASAT) et de l’alanine aminotransférase (ALAT) aux trois doses de l’extrait chez les deux.Conclusion et Application : L’étude a permis de montrer que l’extrait au vin de palme des rhizomes de Curcuma longa Linn. a une DL50 supérieure à 2000 mg/kg et est favorable à la production d’un médicament traditionnel amélioré, après les tests précliniques et cliniques.Mots clés : Curcuma longa, rhizomes, vin de palme, toxicité, souris, rats Study of acute and subacute toxicity of extract from the palm wine of rhizomes of Curcuma longa Linn.Objective: The study was to contribute to the evaluation of the acute and subacute toxicity of the palm wine extract of seeds of Carica papaya Linn.Methodology and Results: The extract underwent a phytochemical screening and its microbiological qualityapproved according to the European Pharmacopoeia. The acute toxicity test was conducted in female Mus musculus mice at a dose of 2000 mg/Kg. The subacute toxicity test was conducted over a 28-day period, with 4 batches of 6 rats (3 males and 3 albinos of the Wistar strain). Lot I received 1 mL/100 g of distilled water and lots II, III and IV extracted at doses of 200, 400 and 800 mg/Kg respectively. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, phenols and reducing sugars. Microbiological quality tests revealed no contamination. The single-dose administration of the extract resulted in no deaths. The LD50 of the extract was therefore greater than 2000 mg/Kg. At repeated doses for 28 days, the extract contributed to insignificant weight growth in rats at all dose levels in male and female rats. In addition, it also resulted in an increase of ASAT andALAT at all three doses of the extract in both.Conclusion and Application: The study showed that the palm wine extract of Curcuma longa Linn rhizomes has an LD50 greater than 2000 mg/Kg and is favorable to the production of an improved traditional medicine, after the preclinical and clinical tests.Keywords: Curcuma longa, rhizomes, palm wine, toxicity, mice, rats