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BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PSA) and Acinetobacter baumannii (ACB) are non-fermentative bacteria mostly associated with nosocomial infections in humans. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial resistance profiles and virulence gene of PSA and ACB previously isolated from humans in selected health facilities in Yaoundé, Cameroon. METHODS: A total of 77 and 27 presumptive PSA and ACB isolates, respectively, were collected from the Yaoundé teaching hospital. These isolates were previously isolated from various samples including pus, blood and broncho-alveolar lavage. The identities of the isolates were determined through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of PSA and ACB specific sequences. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Phenotypical expression of AmpC ß-lactamases (AmpC), extended spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBLs) and metallo ß-Lactamases (MBLs) were determined using the combined disc method. Bacterial genomes were screened for the presence of ß-lactamases blaTEM and blaCTXM genes using specific PCR. The pathogenicity of PSA and ACB was assessed through amplification of the lasB, exoA, pslA and exoS as well as OmpA and csuE virulence genes, respectively. RESULTS: Of the 77 presumptive PSA isolates, a large proportion (75 to 97.4%) were positively identified. All (100%) of the presumptive 27 ACB harbored the ACB-specific ITS gene fragment by PCR. Twenty five percent of the PSA isolates produced ESBLs phenotypically while more than 90% of these isolates were positive for the lasB, exoA, pslA and exoS genes. A large proportion (88%) of the ACB isolates harboured the OmpA and csuE genes. blaTEM and blaCTXM were detected in 17 and 4% of PSA, respectively, while a much higher proportion (70 and 29%) of the ACB isolates possessed these resistance determinants respectively. CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal the occurrence of both virulence and drug-resistant determinants in clinical PSA and ACB isolates from patients in health care settings in Yaoundé, Cameroon, thus suggesting their role in the pathological conditions in patients.
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INTRODUCTION: Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are the three most common chronic viral infections worldwide, specifically in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study aimed to determine the sero-epidemiology of HIV, HBV and HCV infections in a rural setting of the West region of Cameroon, a SSA country. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study from August 2 to 5, 2014 in the three health districts of the Menoua Division, West region of Cameroon. Sixteen villages were randomly selected. Participants were currently living in the Division at the time of the survey, and enrolled after they had provided a signed consent form. HIV screening used the "determine test" followed by Hexagon HIV for positive cases to the first assay. HBV and HCV were detected using DIASpot HBsAg and DIASpot HCV-Ab, respectively. RESULTS: On the whole, 612 subjects consented to take part in this study, of whom 71.1% were females. Mean age of the study population was 45.3 ± 17.9 years. The seroprevalences of HIV, HBV and HCV infections were 1.0% (6/582), 4.5% (20/443) and 6.3% (23/365), respectively. The 41-50 years age group was the most represented among HIV-positive subjects. HBV prevalence was higher in the 21-30 years age group (13.4%), followed by the 51-60 years age group (7.8%), with a significant difference of prevalences among age groups (p = 0.002). All HCV-positive cases were above 40 years of age with a higher prevalence in the > 70 years age group (33.3%) followed by the 61-70 years age group (14.5%); there was a significant difference between the age groups (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The seroprevalences of HIV, HBV and HCV infections in the Menoua Division of the West region of Cameroon were 1.0%, 4.5% and 6.3%, respectively. Preventive measures against these health threats need to be reinforced in this setting.