[Epidemiological and clinical aspects of atrial fibrillation at the cardiology department of kati university hospital]. / Aspects epidemiologique et clinique de la fibrillation auriculaire au service de cardiologie du chu de kati.

Atrial fibrillation is the most frequent permanent rhythm disorder.Theaim of this work was to determine the epidemiological and clinical aspects of atrial fibrillation cases hospitalized in the cardiology department of the University Hospital of Kati. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a descriptive retrospective study, from January 2018 to December 2019.Patients of all ages and both sexes with clinical and EKG atrial fibrillation admitted to the department during the study period were included in the study.The variables studiedwere: socio-demographic characteristics, clinical signs, classification of atrial fibrillation, and comorbidities associated. RESULTS: A total of 52 patients were included in the studyof 203 cases hospitalized in the department, with a hospital prevalence of 25.61%, the female sex was predominant 69.23%. The main reason for consultation was heart failure syndrome (46.15%).Arterial hypertension (55.76%) was the mostassociatedcomorbidity. Permanent atrial fibrillation accounted for 63.46% of cases . CONCLUSION: Atrial fibrillation is the most frequent arrhythmia in our environment, preventive measures must be put in place for early detection and better management of comorbiditiesassociatedwith atrial fibrillation.

La fibrillation auriculaire est le trouble du rythme le plus fréquent. Le but de ce travail était de déterminer les aspects épidémiologiques et cliniques de la fibrillation atriale dans le service de cardiologie du CHU de Kati. MATÉRIELS ET MÉTHODES: Il s'agit d'une étude rétrospective descriptive menée de janvier 2018 à décembre 2019. Ont été inclus dans cette étude les patients de tout âge et des deux sexes ayant présenté une fibrillation atriale sur des critères cliniques et électrocardiographiques, admis dans le service pendant la période d'étude. Les variables étudiées étaient : les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, les signes cliniques et électriques, et les comorbidités associées. RÉSULTATS: Au total 52 patients ont été inclus dans l'étude sur 203 cas hospitalisés dans le service soit une prévalence hospitalière de 25,61%, le sexe féminin a été prédominant 69,23%. Le principal motif de consultation était le syndrome d'insuffisance cardiaque (46,15%). L'hypertension artérielle (55,76%) a été la comorbidité la plus associée. La fibrillation atriale permanente représentait 63,46% des cas. CONCLUSION: La fibrillation atriale est l'arythmie la plus fréquente dans notre milieu, des mesures préventives doivent être mise en place pour une détection précoce et une meilleure prise en charge des comorbidités associées.

[Cerebral toxoplasmosis in the infectious diseases department of the CHU du Point G in people living with HIV]. / La toxoplasmose cerebrale dans le service de maladies infectieuses du CHU du Point G chez les personnes vivant avec le VIH.

Toxoplasmosis is defined as a cosmopolitan protozoan disease caused by an obligate intracellular coccidia, Toxoplasma gondii. The advent of HIV infection has made cerebral toxoplasmosis one of the most widespread neurological opportunistic infections. METHOD: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective review of files of cerebral toxoplasmosis on HIV infected patients who had been hospitalized in the infectious diseases department of Point G University Hospital between January 1st, 2014 and September 30th, 2019. RESULTS: During the study period, the frequency of cerebral toxoplasmosis was 10.1% and in 46.4% of the patients, the diagnosis led to the discovery of HIV co-infection. The clinical features were characterized by fever, headaches, and motor deficit at 86.6%, 84.5% and 69.1% respectively. Roundel image on computed tomography was most represented and was found in 24.4% of patients. Anti-toxoplasma treatment based on trimethoprim /sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) associated with folinic acid was initiated in 78 patients out of 90, but 19 patients had a contraindication or adverse effects to this combination and were treated with clindamycin. HAART was initiated in 31 patients out of 45 (68.9%) newly diagnosed. The overall prognosis was limited with a mortality rate of 42%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of cerebral toxoplasmosis was high in our study, 10.1%. To reduce this prevalence, chemoprophylaxis should be initiated in all HIV-infected patients with a CD4 count below 200 cells/mm3.

INTRODUCTION: La toxoplasmose est une protozoose cosmopolite due à Toxoplasmagondii. Avec l'avènement du VIH, la toxoplasmose cérébrale est une des infections opportunistes neurologiques les plus répandues. MÉTHODE: Nous avons mené une étude transversaledescriptive à collecte rétrospective portant sur des cas de toxoplasmoses cérébrales sur terrain d'immunodépression aux VIH ayant séjourné en hospitalisation dans le service des maladies infectieuses du CHU de Point G du 1er janvier 2014 au 30 septembre 2019. RÉSULTATS: La prévalence de la toxoplasmose cérébrale était de 10,1%. Chez 46,4% des patients, le diagnostic de toxoplasmose cérébrale avait permis la découverte d'une coïnfection à VIH. Le tableau clinique était dominé par la fièvre, les céphalées et le déficit moteur soit respectivement 86,6%, 84,5% et 69,1%. L'image en cocarde à la tomodensitométrie a été retrouvée chez 24,4% des patients. Le traitement anti-toxoplasmique à base de triméthoprime/sulfaméthoxazole (TMP/ SMX) associée à l'acide folinique a été conduit chez 78 patients sur 90. Dix-neuf patients avaient une contre-indication ou des effets indésirables à l'association TMP/ SMX et ont été traités par la clindamycine. Le traitement ARV a été initié chez trente-un patients sur 45 nouvellement dépistés soit 68,9%. Le pronostic chez nos patients était réservé et marqué par une mortalité de 42%. CONCLUSION: La prévalence de la toxoplasmose cérébrale était élevée dans notre étude soit 10,1%. Pour diminuer cette prévalence, la chimio-prophylaxie doit être instaurée chez tous les patients infectés par le VIH et ayant un taux de CD4 inférieur à 200 cellules/mm3.

Evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of praziquantel against schistosomes in seven countries with ongoing large-scale deworming programs.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends periodic assessment of the therapeutic efficacy of praziquantel (PZQ) to detect reduced efficacy that may arise from drug resistance in schistosomes. In this multi-country study (2014), we assessed the therapeutic efficacy of a single oral dose of PZQ (40 mg/kg) against Schistosoma mansoni (Brazil, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mali, Madagascar and Tanzania), S. haematobium (Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mali, Tanzania and Zanzibar) and S. japonicum (the Philippines) infections in school-aged children, across a total of 12 different trials. Each trial was performed according to the standardized methodology for evaluating PZQ efficacy as described by the WHO. Overall, therapeutic efficacy, measured as the reduction in arithmetic mean of schistosome egg counts following drug administration (egg reduction rate; ERR), was high for all three schistosome species (S. mansoni: 93.4% (95%CI: 88.8-96.8); S. haematobium: 97.7% (95%CI: 96.5-98.7) and S. japonicum: 90.0% (95%CI: 68.4-99.3). At the trial level, therapeutic efficacy was satisfactory (point estimate ERR ≥90%) for all three Schistosoma species with the exception of S. mansoni in Cameroon where the ERR was 88.5% (95%CI: 79.0-95.1). Furthermore, we observed that in some trials individual drug response could vary significantly (wide 95%CI) and that few non-responsive individuals could significantly impact ERR point estimates. In conclusion, these results do not suggest any established reduced efficacy of the standard PZQ treatment to any of the three schistosome species within these countries. Nevertheless, the substantial degree of variation in individual responses to treatment in some countries underpins the need for future monitoring. The reported ERR values serve as reference values to compare with outcomes of future PZQ efficacy studies to ensure early detection of reduced efficacies that could occur as drug pressure continues increase. Finally, this study highlights that 95%CI should be considered in WHO guidelines to classify the therapeutic efficacy of PZQ.

[Infections associated with the care in the department of gynecology - obstetrics of the University Hospital Center Gabriel Touré]. / Les infections associees aux soins dans le departement de gynecologie ­ obstetrique du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Gabriel Toure de bamako, mali.

OBJECTIF: the purpose of this work was to study the infections associated with the care in the department of gynecology - obstetrics of the University Hospital Center Gabriel Touré (CHU G. Touré). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was an epidemiological, descriptive, and analytical study carried out in the gynecology-obstetrics department of G. Touré University Hospital, from April 11, 2016 to August 29, 2016 (4 monthset 18 days), with a prospective collection of data that focused on the characteristics clinical and laboratory-based care-associated infections in patients during their hospitalization. Included in the study were all hospitalized patients (operated or not) in the gynecology obstetrics department, who agreed to participate in the study. The criteria used to diagnose the infection associated with care were those of the CDC Atlanta and making a thick drop in our context. Operative wound monitoring was performed until the 30th postoperative day. RESULTS: We recorded 200 patients, including 138 operated and 62 nonoperated patients, of which 30 patients developed a care-associated infection at a rate of 15%. The mean age of the patients who presented an infection was 32.52 years ± 13.36 years against 29.36 years ± 10.28 years for the patients who did not present the infection. Seven point five percent of the evacuees had an infection associated with care. The most common types of infections were surgical site infection with 56.60% followed by malaria with 23.30% and urinary tract infection with 20.00%. Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumaniiwere the most recovered germs. Isolated organisms were 100% resistant to Amoxicillin, 88.88% were resistant to Ciprofloxacin and 77.77% were resistant to Amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid. The average duration of hospitalization for patients who developed the infection was 14.70 days with extremes of 5 and 46 days. The mortality rate was 1.50%. The average cost of management of patients who developed the infection was 119837 FCFA; the extremes were 17750 and 825750 FCFA and the standard deviation of 174998 CFA francs. CONCLUSION: the infections associated with the care remain frequent in our service and dominated by the infections of the operating site. The isolated organisms were all 100% resistant to Amoxicillin in 88.88% Ciprofloxacin.

LE BUT: de ce travail était d'étudier les infections associées aux soins dans le département de gynécologie ­obstétrique du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Gabriel Touré (CHU G. Touré). PATIENTES ET MÉTHODES: Il s'agissait d'une étude épidémiologique, descriptive, analytique réalisée dans le département de gynécologie ­obstétrique du CHU G. Touré, allant du 11 Avril 2016 au 29 Août 2016 (4 mois et 18 jours) à collecte prospective des données qui a porté sur les caractéristiques cliniques et biologiques des infections associées aux soins chez les patientes au cours de leur hospitalisation. Etaient incluses dans l'étude toutes les patientes hospitalisées (opérées ou non) dans le service de gynécologie obstétrique, et qui ont accepté de participer à l'étude.Les critères utilisés pour le diagnostic de l'infection associée aux soins étaient ceux du CDC d'Atlanta et la réalisation d'une goutte épaisse dans notre contexte. Une surveillance des plaies opératoires a été faite jusqu'au 30ème jour post-opératoire. RÉSULTATS: Nous avons enregistrés 200 patientes dont 138 opérées et 62 non opérées parmi lesquelles 30 patientes ont développé une infection associée aux soins soit un taux de 15%. L'âge moyen des patientes ayant présenté une infection a été 32,52 ans ±13,36 ans contre 29.36 ans ±10,28 ans pour les patientes n'ayant pas présenté l'infection. Sept virgule cinq pourcent des patientes évacuées ont présenté une infection associée aux soins. Les types d'infections les plus retrouvés étaient l'infection du site opératoire avec 56,60% suivie du paludisme avec 23,30% et l'infection urinaire avec 20,00%. L'Escherichia coli et l'Acinetobacterbaumanii ont été les germes les plus retrouvés. Les germes isolés étaient dans 100% des cas résistants à l'Amoxicilline, dans 88,88% des cas résistants à la Ciprofloxacine et dans 77.77% des cas résistants à l'Amoxicilline +Acide clavulanique. La durée moyenne d'hospitalisation des patientes ayant développé l'infection a été 14,70 jours avec des extrêmes de 5 et 46 jours.Le taux de mortalité a été de 1,50%. Le coût moyen de prise en charge des patientes ayant développé l'infection a été 119837 FCFA ; les extrêmes ont été 17750 et 825750 FCFA et l'écart type de 174998 francs CFA. CONCLUSION: les infections associées aux soins restent fréquentes dans notre service et dominées par les infections du site opératoire. Les germes isolés étaient tous résistants dans 100% cas à l'Amoxicilline dans 88,88% cas à la Ciprofloxacine.

A late IL-33 response after exposure to Schistosoma haematobium antigen is associated with an up-regulation of IL-13 in human eosinophils.

IL-33, a proposed alarmin, stimulates innate immune cells and Th2 cells to produce IL-13 and is rapidly upregulated upon antigen exposure in murine helminth infection. The human IL-33 response to helminth antigen was analysed in Malians infected with Schistosoma haematobium by disrupting parasite integrity via chemotherapy. Plasma IL-33 was measured pretreatment, and 24 h and 9 weeks post-treatment. At 24 h post-treatment, IL-33 levels were low. Nine week post-treatment IL-33 levels were elevated and were associated with an increase in intracellular IL-13 in eosinophils. Up-regulation of intracellular IL-13 in eosinophils was also associated with eosinophil expression of ST2L, the IL-33 receptor. IL-33 may play an important downstream role in the human response to schistosome adult worm antigen exposure.

Population genetics of Schistosoma haematobium: development of novel microsatellite markers and their application to schistosomiasis control in Mali.

The recent implementation of mass drug administration (MDA) for control of uro-genital schistosomiasis has identified an urgent need for molecular markers to both directly monitor the impact of MDA, for example to distinguish re-infections from uncleared infections, as well as understand aspects of parasite reproduction and gene flow which might predict evolutionary change, such as the development and spread of drug resistance. We report the development of a novel microsatellite tool-kit allowing, for the first time, robust genetic analysis of individual S. haematobium larvae collected directly from infected human hosts. We genotyped the parasite populations of 47 children from 2 schools in the Ségou region of Mali, the first microsatellite study of this highly neglected parasite. There was only limited evidence of population subdivision between individual children or between the two schools, suggesting that few barriers to gene flow exist in this population. Complex relationships between parasite reproductive success, infection intensity and host age and gender were identified. Older children and boys harboured more diverse infections, as measured by the number of unique adult genotypes present. Individual parasite genotypes had variable reproductive success both across hosts, a pre-requisite for evolutionary selection, and, phenotypically, in hosts of different ages and genders. These data serve as a baseline against which to measure the effect of treatment on parasite population genetics in this region of Mali, and the tools developed are suitable to further investigate this important pathogen, and its close relatives, throughout their range.

The effect of single dose versus two doses of praziquantel on Schistosoma haematobium infection and pathology among school-aged children in Mali.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of two doses of 40 mg/kg praziquantel with 2 weeks interval versus a standard single dose of 40 mg/kg on cure rates, egg reduction, intensity of infection, and micro-haematuria in Schistosoma haematobium infections. A randomised controlled intervention study was carried out among school-aged children in two different endemic settings with follow-up at 3, 6 and 18 months following drug administration. Differences in cure rates between the two treatment regimens were not significant. However, in high transmission areas, the double treatment regimen was more effective in egg reduction than single treatment regimen and the difference in egg reduction between the two treatments was significant at 3 months (P<0.005), 6 months (P<0.0001) and 18 months (P<0.003) after treatment. There was a significant difference in the effect of the two treatments on prevalence of micro-haematuria at 18-month follow-up in both Koulikoro (P<0.001) and Selingue (P<0.003). The study shows that although no significant difference could be observed in the overall cure-rates between the two treatment regimens, the effect of double treatment was a significant reduction in infection intensity as well as micro-haematuria which may have a great impact in reducing subtle morbidity.

[Quality of health services in hospital nurseries in commune II of the district of Bamako]. / Qualite des procedures de soins infirmiers dans les formations sanitaires de la commune II du District de Bamako.

Despite the tremendous efforts undertaken by the government of Mali, health indicators for morbidity and mortality are still high. The global mortality rate of 13 per thousand and the low life expectancy are the main enhancing factors for such phenomenon. This study was undertaken in public, private and Para-public and community health structures as well as confessional and faith-based health organizations in commune II of the district of Bamako. Our evaluation was based on the Avedis Donavedian method for health services quality. It was a transversal study based on nursery care in the structures above cited. The procedures for this study consisted of passive observance of nursery care with retrospective collection of data on the technical practices of the health workers in the services offered. The results showed a higher deficit in term of incomplete technical practice, physical and psychic respect of patients in faith-based organizations than in other health structures. There were no written guidelines for preventing nosocomial infections, injections security, management of waste and hazards, prevention and treatment of wounds. There was a lack of adapted sterilization materials in most of the CSCOM and private structures. Most of the injections and treatment of wounds were done by assistant nurses and midwives. Moreover, the utilization rate of nonsterile syringes and pins between 5.3 and 13.6% in the population studied. In conclusion, there is no security in nursery care in most of the health structures of the Commune II in the district of Bamako.

[Geographic distribution and epidemiology of urinary schistosomiasis in Mali: implications for a control program]. / La diversité écoclimatique et l'épidémiologie des schistosomiases au Mali: implications pour un programme de contrôle.

A national survey was conducted in Mali between 1986 and 1990 to determine the geographical distribution of urinary schistosomiasis in order to define an ecologically based national schistosomiasis control programme. Fifty six thousand two hundreds and sixty five individuals randomly selected from 323 villages in the nine ecologically defined areas of the whole country were submitted to urine examination using Filtration Technique. In villages along the Niger and Senegal rivers, in the Dogon Plateau and Office du Niger areas, the prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection was the highest, respectively 41.8%, 53.1%, 59.4% et 62.9%. In these areas, more 70% of children aged 7 to 14 years were infected. In the Soudanian and North-Soudanian areas, the prevalence were below 10% and respectively only 5.3% and 11.5% of children aged 7 to 14 years were infected. It is concluded that Schistosoma haematobium infection is of public health importance in dam and irrigation areas and in areas along the Niger and Senegal rivers namely in Kayes, Koulikoro, Segou, Mopti regions and in Bamako district. These areas should be considered as priority areas for active control interventions. The interventions should include community-based mass chemotherapy with praziquantel after community diagnostic using urine examination in school aged children and a good monitoring system.

[Presence and risk of transmission of Wuchereria bancrofti is a reality in rural Mali: the case of the town of Bariambani in the Cirle of Kati]. / La presence et le risque de transmission de Buchereria bancrofti est une realite en Milieu rural au Mali: le cas du village de Banambani dans le Cercle de Kati.

Previous studies on lymphatic filariasis in Mali showed high infection rate in rural area. This study was aimed to find Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaria in human peripheral blood and larvae in vectors. For that purpose we carried out an entomological, clinical and parasitological study in Banambani a village located at 25 km from Bamako the capital city. The parasitological and clinical study was a single cross sectional study including night blood thick smear and physical examination. The entomological study was longitudinal with three annual surveys at the beginning, the middle and the end of the rainy season with parasite detection on vector by PCR. The infection rates by night thick smear was 1.5% of the study sample. The transmission was assured by Anopheles gambiae s.l and Anopheles funestus. Wuchereria bancrofti larvae have been detected on 0.5% of the vectors. The higher entomological inoculation rate (EIR) for An. gambiae s.l has been observed in August (4.03 infective bites per man per night) and in October for An. funestus (1.9 infective bites per man per night). Lymphatic filariasis is present in Malian rural area and transmission still occurring.

[Morbidity and mortality of infectious diseases determined mass vaccination in children under 5 ans in Bamako District]. / Morbidite et mortalite liees aux maladies cibles du programme elargi de vaccination chez les enfants de moins de cinq ans dans le District de Bamako.

Available facts on morbidity and mortality due to PEV diseases for children under 5 years come from routine facts in Bamako District. The Present study through population investigation proposed to evaluate indicators. It was about a transversal investigation realised about 1014 children less than 5 year living in Bamako (on October 2000). The selection of children has been made by boring after stratification of the district based on socio-economic level and stabilization of population of different sectors. According to study, the global incidence rate of target patients of PEV is about 4.93% +- 1.33%. These rate were about 4.14% +- 1.22% for measles which is the 1st cause of morbidity among target patients of PEV, 0.69% +- 0.50% for whooping cough, 0.903% +- 0.19 for poliomyelitis and 0% for neo natal tetanus. For tuberculosis of which evolution have been appreciated trough counting of antituberculosis clinic register (DAT) during 10 years (1990-1999), its tendency was increasing. The death rate registered during investigation was related to measles with an estimated rate of 4.93% +- 4.31%. Results analysis, global incidence of PEV target patients was in decrease at Bamako district. At vaccinated patients against measles (64.3%) and whooping cough (57.14%) is in favour for an investigation about effective vaccinal.

[Assessment of chloroquine resistance two years after stopping chemoprophylaxis in 0 to 9-year-old children living in a malaria-endemic village of Mali]. / Evaluation de la chloroquino-résistance après deux années d'arrêt de la chimioprophylaxie chez les enfants de 0-9 ans dans un village d'endémie palustre au Mali.

This study was carried out in the village of Faladié, Mali located in the malaria-endemic Kati region, two years after routine use of chloroquine prophylaxis was discontinued in children 0 to 9 years old. The main purpose of this study was to assess changes in chloroquine resistance. Two cross-sectional surveys in association with WHO in vivo chloroquine sensitivity testing were conducted, i.e., one in September 2000 and one in December 2002. Findings in 2000 showed that 77.5% of mothers administered chloroquine prophylaxis to their children in compliance with physician orders. The plasmodic index was 62%. The overall level of parasitologic resistance (based on the 1996 WHO in vivo tests) was 80%. The overall therapeutic failure rate was 17.5%. Findings in 2002 demonstrated a plasmodic index of 28%, an overall parasitologic resistance rate of 45% (based on WHO in vivo tests), and an overall therapeutic failure rate of 15%. The diminution of resistance in 2002 may be due to the decrease of drugs pressure and to low exposure of individuals to mosquitoes at the end of transmission season. Althougt these data indicate a 44% drop in chloroquine resistance (P=0.0001), no increase in the clinical efficacy of chloroquine was observed (P=0.05). In view of these results we propose more emphasis on information campaigns to increase public awareness of the need for chemoprophylaxis only for pregnant women, on the promotion of the use of bednets and insecticide-impregnated materials, and on environmental management.

Anaemia in schoolchildren in eight countries in Africa and Asia.

OBJECTIVE: To report on the haemoglobin concentrations and prevalence of anaemia in schoolchildren in eight countries in Africa and Asia. DESIGN: Blood samples were collected during surveys of the health of schoolchildren as a part of programmes to develop school-based health services. SETTING: Rural schools in Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Tanzania and Vietnam. SUBJECTS: Nearly 14 000 children enrolled in basic education in three age ranges (7-11 years, 12-14 years and > or =15 years) which reflect the new UNICEF/WHO thresholds to define anaemia. RESULTS: Anaemia was found to be a severe public health problem (defined as >40% anaemic) in five African countries for children aged 7-11 years and in four of the same countries for children aged 12-14 years. Anaemia was not a public health problem in the children studied in the two Asian countries. More boys than girls were anaemic, and children who enrolled late in school were more likely to be anaemic than children who enrolled closer to the correct age. The implications of the four new thresholds defining anaemia for school-age children are examined. CONCLUSIONS: Anaemia is a significant problem in schoolchildren in sub-Saharan Africa. School-based health services which provide treatments for simple conditions that cause blood loss, such as worms, followed by multiple micronutrient supplements including iron, have the potential to provide relief from a large burden of anaemia.

[Ultrasonographic aspects of urinary schistosomiasis in children of the Dogon plateau and the Niger office; impact of praziquantel treatment]. / Aspects échographiques de la schistosomose urinaire chez les enfants du plateau Dogon et de l'office du Niger, impact du traitement par le praziquantel.

Urinary bilharziasis is a parasitic infection responsible for vesical, urethral and renal lesions. The authors demonstrate the importance of ambulatory echography on a large scale and describe various echographic lesions. Vesical attacks occurred in 27% of the wall irregularity, 44% of the masses and polyps. Pyelic and urethral abnormalities occurred in 16.6% and 29.9% of cases respectively at the baseline in 1991. These prevalence rates decreased after seven years, in 1998. The authors discuss the utility of chemotherapy with praziquantel and the necessity of a periodical mass treatment in the areas with high bilharziasis endemicity in Mali.

The epidemiology of human hookworm infections in the southern region of Mali.

Two surveys of hookworm (Necator americanus) infections, conducted three years apart (December 1994 and January 1998) in a village in the Sikasso region of Mali, revealed that overall prevalence of infection was 68.7% and 53%, respectively. In both years there was a highly significant difference between the sexes in the prevalence and abundance of infection, with male subjects carrying heavier infections than females. Both prevalence and abundance of infection increased with age, although in 1998 there was a strong interaction between sex and age, arising from the declining egg counts among 16-20-year-old females and the continuing increase among males, reinforced by the subsequent reduction among the older males (> or = 61 years) and concomitant increase among females. After controlling for the effects of age, sex and their interaction, a highly significant positive relationship was detected between faecal egg counts of individuals who were examined in both 1994 and 1998 (n = 134), indicating predisposition to infection. This relationship remained significant in each of 4 age classes spanning 7-79 years. The members of some family compounds were shown to carry heavier infections than expected whilst others were less infected, suggesting compound-related clustering of hookworm infections. The use of footwear increased with age but there was no significant relationship between the extent of use of footwear and the abundance of hookworm infection. Eyesight deteriorated with age and impaired vision was particularly prominent among the older sectors of the community, a legacy from the time when onchocerciasis was widely prevalent in the region. Although men with partially damaged eyes carried lower infections than expected for their age, no overall significant relationship was found between quality of vision and hookworm infections. These results are discussed in relation to hookworm epidemiology in general and in Mali in particular.

[Final prenatal consultation in the district of Bamako: critical analysis of the procedures, results and perspectives for improvement]. / Les dernières consultations prénatales dans le district de Bamako: analyse critique des procédures, des résultats et perspectives d'amélioration.

The context in which antenatal care is organised and practiced in the Bamako district has cast doubt on its efficacy. We conducted a survey in order to evaluate the quality of final prenatal consultations, using a sample of 169 expecting mothers selected amongst the patients of 4 family planning clinics in the Bamako district (Republic of Mali). Our investigation revealed that standard procedures are still unevenly carried out, although this is the last opportunity to detect and manage pregnancies with risk factors. Obstetrical results remained statistically similar both for the surveyed and non-surveyed women. However, any conclusions as to the efficacy of antenatal care must be drawn with caution given problems of confounding as well as the sampling method used in our survey.

Comparison of the efficacy of mebendazole, albendazole and pyrantel in treatment of human hookworm infections in the southern region of Mali, West Africa.

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the efficacy of pyrantel (single dose 12.5 mg/kg bodyweight), mebendazole (single 500 mg dose) and albendazole (single 400 mg dose) in the treatment of hookworm infections (Necator americanus) was carried out in January 1998 in the Southern Region of Mali, West Africa, during the period of Ramadan (Islamic fast). Statistical analysis of the pre-intervention faecal egg counts showed that there was a significant pre-treatment chance bias, despite randomization of subjects into treatment groups, arising from the main effect of sex (heavier infections among males) and a sex x treatment interaction (the sex bias was not evident in the pyrantel-treatment group). The participants were re-examined 10 days after treatment, and after controlling for the drift in faecal egg counts in the placebo-treated subset, age, sex, fasting and intensity of infection, albendazole was clearly the most effective drug showing consistently efficacies in the range 92.1 to 99.7%, depending on the method of evaluation and the particular subset of the treatment group. Neither mebendazole nor pyrantel was as effective, with efficacies ranging from 60.9 to 89.8% and 4.8 to 89.7%, respectively. Fasting made no difference to drug efficacy. On the basis of our results the single 400 mg dose of albendazole is the treatment of choice for hookworm infections in this region of Mali. We emphasize the need for standardization of the methods used for trial designs, for calculation of summary data relating to drug efficacies and the accompanying statistical tests.

The relationship between Schistosoma haematobium infection and school performance and attendance in Bamako, Mali.

Schistosomiasis due to Schistosoma haematobium was the most common helminth infection in school-age children from a poor area in Bamako, Mali. Almost half (47%) of the boys and 40% of the girls were infected, 18% of the children being heavily infected. There was a significant decline in academic performance and in school attendance with increasing intensity of infection. When all sources of variation were taken into consideration, absenteeism was the main factor explaining the variation in academic performance, although a significant effect of infection remained. School-based delivery of chemotherapeutic interventions is currently promoted by several international organizations. However, rates of school attendance are low in some areas and it is the absentees who appear to be at relatively high risk of ill health. Novel ways of reaching this elusive subset of the population are required.