Severe Acute Bacterial Infections in Children With Sickle Cell Disease in Togo.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial infections are considered a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients, especially children, with sickle cell disease. OBJECTIVES: This study aims at determining, a year after the introduction of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine the distribution of severe acute bacterial infections and germs in children with sickle cell disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Records of children 0 to 15 years of age and admitted from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019 (5 y), were examined retrospectively in the four sickle cell monitoring units in Lomé. RESULTS: The main infections found were pleuropulmonary (46.1%), urinary tract (32.8%), and osteoarticular (9.3%). A germ was isolated in 139 of the 265 cases (52.4%). 65.5% of the microorganisms isolated were Gram-negative organisms, with mostly Escherichia coli (31.6%) , and Klebsiella pneumoniae (18%) being the main germs. They were mainly responsible of urinary tract and osteoarticular infections. The majority of these Enterobacteriaceae was Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing (41.1%, n = 37). Gram-positive cocci were represented by Staphylococcus sp (25.9%), Streptococcus sp (4.3%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (2.9%), and Enterococcus (1.4%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common germ in pleuropulmonary (40%), osteoarticular (47.3%), and sepsis (28.6%) infections. CONCLUSION: Even if the infections found remained classic, there is a redistribution of germs with a decline in Salmonella and increase of Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumoniae , and Staphylococcus aureus .

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria syndrome: Report of the first Togolese case.

The aim of this article is to describe the first case of Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) in Togo and review all Africans cases. Our patient was a 12.8-year-old Togolese boy followed in our unit till he was 15-year-old for HGPS. He was the only child of non-consanguineous parents. The phenotypic findings were craniofacial dysmorphy, dwarfism, lipodystrophy, diffusely scattered hyperpigmented foci, pyriform thorax, nail dystrophy, decreased joint mobility, and camptodactyly. He had characteristic facies with prominent forehead, prominent eyes, absent ear lobule, thin nasal skin, convex nasal profile, micrognathia, and crowded teeth. Radiologicals findings were bilateral coxa valga, pyriform thorax, and acro-osteolysis. We sequenced the entire coding region of LMNA gene, and mutation analysis revealed a heterozygous mutation c.1824C>T (p.Gly608Gly). Our patient is therefore the fifth African and the fourth with classical mutation, first of Western Africa, and second of (sub-Saharan) African black race. The recurrence of HGPS is low like the cause is neomutation or germinal mosaicism.

Etiology of Pediatric Bacterial Meningitis Pre- and Post-PCV13 Introduction Among Children Under 5 Years Old in Lomé, Togo.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric bacterial meningitis (PBM) causes severe morbidity and mortality within Togo. Thus, as a member of the World Health Organization coordinated Invasive Bacterial Vaccine Preventable Diseases network, Togo conducts surveillance targeting Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus), and Haemophilus influenzae, at a sentinel hospital within the capital city, Lomé, in the southernmost Maritime region. METHODS: Cerebrospinal fluid was collected from children <5 years with suspected PBM admitted to the Sylvanus Olympio Teaching Hospital. Phenotypic detection of pneumococcus, meningococcus, and H. influenzae was confirmed through microbiological techniques. Samples were shipped to the Regional Reference Laboratory to corroborate results by species-specific polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Overall, 3644 suspected PBM cases were reported, and 98 cases (2.7%: 98/3644) were confirmed bacterial meningitis. Pneumococcus was responsible for most infections (67.3%: 66/98), followed by H. influenzae (23.5%: 23/98) and meningococcus (9.2%: 9/98). The number of pneumococcal meningitis cases decreased by 88.1% (52/59) postvaccine introduction with 59 cases from July 2010 to June 2014 and 7 cases from July 2014 to June 2016. However, 5 cases caused by nonvaccine serotypes were observed. Fewer PBM cases caused by vaccine serotypes were observed in infants <1 year compared to children 2-5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Routine surveillance showed that PCV13 vaccination is effective in preventing pneumococcal meningitis among children <5 years of age in the Maritime region. This complements the MenAfriVac vaccination against meningococcal serogroup A to prevent meningitis outbreaks in the northern region of Togo. Continued surveillance is vital for estimating the prevalence of PBM, determining vaccine impact, and anticipating epidemics in Togo.

[Clinical, aetiological and therapeutic features of severe sickle cell related vaso-occlusive crisis at the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital, Lomé]. / Crise vaso-occlusive drépanocytaire sévère: aspects cliniques, étiologiques et thérapeutiques au CHU Sylvanus Olympio de Lomé.

Introduction: vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) is the most common manifestation of sickle cell disease and the leading cause of hospitalization among affected children. The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical features of severe VOCs, to determine the etiologies of infectious syndromes that accompany them and to describe their management. Methods: we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study of 137 adult patients with sickle cell disease hospitalised for severe VOC in the Paediatric Department of the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital from 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2011. Results: the majority of patients (n=98; 71.5%) had homozygous sickle cell (SS), followed by double heterozygous SC disease (n=28; 20.5). The median of consultation time was 4.7 ± 4.4 days. Treatment before admission was based on antibiotics (28.5%). VOCs were mainly osteoarticular (70.8%). In 98.5% of cases, an associated bacterial infection was confirmed (48.9%) or suspected (49.6%). The main etiologies included acute chest syndrome (26.3%), acute osteomyelitis (10.9%), urinary tract infection (6.6%) and septicaemia (3.6%). One germ was isolated from 14.6% of patients: Escherichia coli (30%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (25%), Staphylococcus aureus (15%), Salmonella typhi (10%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (5%), Streptococcus D (5%), Enterobacter (5%) and Acinetobacter (5%). Mortality rate was 2.2%. The average length of stay in hospital was 11.4 ± 8.8 days. Conclusion: severe sickle cell-related vaso-occlusive crisis is mainly associated with bacterial infections in tropical environments. Appropriate and early antibiotic therapy is the essential therapeutic means to prevent or treat these patients.

Management of acute sickle cell priapism in an African (Togo) pediatric department includes conservative measures and intracavernous epinephrine which is safe and efficacious.

Priapism is a well-known urologic complication of sickle cell anemia. This study describes the results of a protocol for the treatment of acute priapism by intracavernous injection of epinephrine due to unavailability of etilefrine. A descriptive cross-sectional study of 18 cases of acute priapism in sickle cell patients treated in the pediatric department of the Sylvanus Olympio CHU from January 1 to December 31, 2020. The average age was 21.7 ± 7.7 years, the youngest patient was 8 and the oldest was 32 years old. Students represented 61.1% of the patients. The hemoglobin profiles were homozygous SS (n = 14) and double heterozygous SC (n = 4). Most of the crisis (83.3%) occurred at night. Most of the patients (66.7%) came to the hospital before the sixth hour of crisis, one patient came by the 48th hour. Walking was the most self-relief method tried by patients (67%). It was followed by a cold penile bath, attempted urination, body bath, and lastly lukewarm bath. Fourteen patients had a history of chronic intermittent priapism. The average pain intensity was 9.5 ± 0.9 with restlessness (33.3%) and crying (33.3%). Fifteen patients were treated upon admission with an intracavernosal injection of epinephrine, and three patients were first drained. Thirteen patients achieved remission immediately, while five patients required a second injection and only one had to be drained before remission. Tolerance was good. One patient had a borderline systolic blood pressure. One erectile weakness case was noticed and no cases of sexual impotence. Epinephrine by intracavernosal injection is an efficient treatment for acute priapism in sickle cell patients. Epinephrine, which has a good tolerance in pediatric and young adult patients, should be used in lieu of etilefrine due to its unavailability in areas where it is unavailable.

Epidemiology of intussusception among infants in Togo, 2015-2018.

INTRODUCTION: intussusception is the leading cause of bowel obstruction in infants and young children. We describe the epidemiology and diagnostic and treatment characteristics of intussusception among Togolese infants over a 4-year period. METHODS: we implemented active surveillance among infants younger than 1 year of age admitted with intussusception from 2015 to 2018 at Sylvanus Olympio Teaching Hospital and in 2018 at Campus Teaching Hospital. Brighton Collaboration Level 1 case definition criteria were used to confirm the diagnosis of intussusception. RESULTS: during four years, 41 cases of intussusception, with an annual range of 8 to 14 cases (median: 10) were reported; and the highest number of cases (89%) was enrolled at Sylvanus Olympio teaching hospital. Intussusception was uncommon in the first 2 months of life, peaked from 5 to 7 months old (63%), with male predominance (63%), and showed no significant seasonality. One third of cases (34%) were transferred to the sentinel surveillance site from another health facility; and the median delay in seeking care was 4 days (range: 0-11) with ≥ 48-hour delay in 59% of cases. Clinical symptoms, ultrasound and surgery were combined to diagnose intussusception in all the cases (100%). The treatment was exclusively surgical, and intestinal resection was common (28/41, 68%). A high case fatality rate (23%) was observed and the average length of hospital stay was 10 days (range: 1-23). CONCLUSION: active surveillance for intussusception in Togo has highlighted exclusive use of surgical therapy; often associated to an intestinal resection with a very high case fatality rate.

[Etiological and evolving profile of renal disability of children in hospital in Togo]. / Profil étiologique et évolutif de l'insuffisance rénale de l'enfant en milieu hospitalier au Togo.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the etiological and evolutionary profile of renal failure of chidren in Togo. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study over the period of 12 months (2016-2017) including children aged 1 to 18 years hospitalized in the pediatric ward of Sylvanus Olympio university teaching hospital of Lome (Togo) for renal failure. RESULTS: Of 2374 patients hospitalized in our unit, 58 (2.4%) had renal failure. The mean age was 8.17±4 years with a sex ratio of 1.32. The average consultation time was 11.9 days. The mean duration of hospitalization was 12.7±7.7 days. Thirty-seven patients (63.8%) were referred from a peripheral center. Thirty-seven children out of 58 (63.1%) were oligoanuric. Renal failure was acute in 94.8% and chronic in 5.2%. Anemia was found in 84.4% of children. The main etiologies found were severe malaria (63.8%), glomerulonephritis (10.3%) and nephrotic syndrome (10.3%). Thirteen children (22.4%) benefited from dialysis sessions. The evolution was favorable in 79.3% of the cases. CONCLUSION: The renal failure of child is relatively common in our daily practice. The low socio-economic level and the lack of adapted equipment make the care difficult.

Evidence of the impact of monovalent rotavirus vaccine on childhood acute gastroenteritis hospitalization in Togo.

BACKGROUND: Monovalent rotavirus vaccine (RV1) was introduced in the immunization schedule of Togo in June 2014. We evaluated the impact of rotavirus vaccines on acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and rotavirus-associated hospitalizations in Togolese children. METHODS: Sentinel surveillance for AGE (defined as ≥3 liquid or semi-liquid stools/24 h lasting <7 days) hospitalizations among children <5 years of age was conducted in two sites in the capital city, Lome. ELISA was used for diagnosis of rotavirus infection in children with AGE. Additionally, review of hospitalization registers was performed at five hospitals to assess trends in AGE hospitalizations among children aged <5 years. For the vaccine impact assessment, pre-rotavirus vaccine introduction (July 2010-June 2014) and post-rotavirus vaccine introduction (July 2014-June 2016) periods were compared for annual changes in proportions of hospitalizations associated with AGE and rotavirus. RESULTS: During the pre-vaccine period, sentinel surveillance showed that 1017 patients were enrolled and 57% (range, 53-62%) tested positive for rotavirus, declining to 42% (23% reduction) in the first post-vaccine year and to 26% (53% reduction) in the second post-vaccine year; declines were most marked among infants. The patient register review showed that, compared with pre-vaccine rotavirus seasons, declines in hospitalizations due to all-cause AGE during post-vaccine rotavirus seasons were 48% among <1 year age-group in both first and second years following vaccine introduction. Among 1-4 year olds no reduction was noted in the first year and a 19% decline occurred in the second year. CONCLUSIONS: We report rapid and marked reduction in the number of AGE hospitalizations and the proportion of AGE hospitalizations attributable to rotavirus in the first two years post- RV1 implementation in Togo. It is necessary to monitor long-term vaccine impact on rotavirus disease burden through continued surveillance.