Carbapenem-producing Enterobacteriaceae in mothers and newborns in southeast Gabon, 2022.

Introduction: Infections caused by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) pose a significant threat, leading to severe morbidity and mortality among newborns. Methods: This study, conducted at Franceville hospital's maternity and neonatology wards from February 22nd to June 20th, 2022, investigated the prevalence of CPE in 197 parturients and 203 newborns. Rectal swabs were taken from parturients before delivery and from newborns 30 minutes after birth. Blood culture samples were collected if signs of infection were observed in newborns during a 28-day follow-up. A total of 152 environmental samples were obtained, comprising 18 from sinks, 14 from incubators, 27 from cradles, 39 from maternal beds, 14 from tables and desks, four from the two baby scales and 36 from bedside furniture. Results: None of the 203 newborns were found to be CPE carriers 30 minutes after delivery. CPE carriage was found in 4.6% of mothers. When comparing colonized and uncolonized parturients, well-established risk factors for CPE carriage, such as recent hospitalization and antibiotic therapy, were more frequently observed among CPE carriers (33.3 vs 10.6% for hospitalization in the past 15 days; 55.5 vs 30.3% for hospitalization during pregnancy, and 55.5 vs 35.1% for antibiotic therapy during pregnancy). Notably, the prevalence of treatment with amoxicillin and clavulanic acid was 44.4% in CPE carriers compared to 17.0% in non-carriers. The incidence density of CPE-associated bloodstream infection was 0.49 per 100 newborns, accounting for a fatal case of CPE-associated bacteremia identified in one of the 203 newborns. Seven environmental samples returned positive for CPE (5 sinks and two pieces of furniture). Whole genome sequencing, performed on the 25 CPE isolates, revealed isolates carrying blaNDM-7 (n=10), blaNDM-5 (n=3), blaOXA181 (n=10), blaOXA48 (n=2) or blaOXA244 (n=1), along with genetic traits associated with the ability to cause severe and difficult-to-treat infections in newborns. Core genome comparison revealed nine CPE belonging to three international high-risk clones: E. coli ST410 (four mothers and a sink), two E. coli ST167 (a mother and a piece of furniture), and K. pneumoniae ST307 (a sink and a piece of furniture), with highly similar genetic backgrounds shared by maternal and environmental isolates, suggesting maternal contamination originating from the environment. Discussion: Our study reveals key findings may guide the implementation of infection control measures to prevent nosocomial infections in newborns: the prevalence of CPE carriage in one out of 20 parturients, an infection occurring in one out of 400 newborns, substantial contamination of the care environment, clinical and environmental CPE isolates possessing genetic traits associated with the ability to cause severe and challenging infections, and clonal relationships between clinical and environmental isolates suggesting CPE spread within the wards, likely contributing to the acquisition and colonization of CPE by parturients during pregnancy.

Molecular epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in central africa: A systematic review.

Background: In Central Africa, it is difficult to tackle antibiotic resistance, because of a lack of data and information on bacterial resistance, due to the low number of studies carried out in the field. To fill this gap, we carried out a systematic review of the various studies, and devised a molecular epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance from humans, animals and the environmental samples. Method: A systematic search of all publications from 2005 to 2020 on bacterial resistance in Central Africa (Gabon, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Angola) was performed on Pubmed, Google scholar and African Journals Online (AJOL). All circulating resistance genes, prevalence and genetic carriers of these resistances were collected. The study area was limited to the nine countries of Central Africa. Results: A total of 517 studies were identified through a literature search, and 60 studies carried out in eight countries were included. Among all articles included, 43 articles were from humans. Our study revealed not only the circulation of beta-lactamase and carbapenemase genes, but also several other types of resistance genes. To finish, we noticed that some studies reported mobile genetic elements such as integrons, transposons, and plasmids. Conclusion: The scarcity of data poses difficulties in the implementation of effective strategies against antibiotic resistance, which requires a health policy in a 'One Health' approach.

Decrease on malaria clinical cases from 2017 to 2019 in Franceville, Southeast Gabon, Central Africa.

Background: In Gabon, malaria remains a major public health problem. All malaria cases with axillary temperature ≥ 37.5°C with a parasites density ≥ 1200/µL are serious cases and must be treated as a medical emergency. Thus, early diagnosis is essential for successful treatment. Because of the impact of malaria on the population, the surveillance of malaria infections in hospitals is urgently needed. The aim of this study was to to assess of clinical cases of malaria in a private health structure in Franceville between 2017 and 2019. Methods: For that, we conducted a retrospective study using data on malaria cases recorded in a private medical analysis laboratory in Franceville, southeast Gabon. Malaria was diagnosed in this laboratory using a Rapid Diagnostic Test and confirmed by microscopic analysis. Results: Analysis of 2518 patient forms revealed an increase in malaria prevalence in Franceville between 2017-2019. The global clinical cases was 26.1% (658/2015). Children under 5 years (44.0%) and patients aged 5-14 years (40.1%) were more affected than patients aged ≥15 years (18.8%, P=0.0001). Malaria infection was also significantly dependent on season and gender. We observed at least three Plasmodium species and the predominant Plasmodium species was P. falciparum 80.0%, followed by P. ovale (19.5%) and P. malariae (17.8%). Conclusion: Our study showed that malaria remains a public health priority for the population of Franceville and that the prevalence of clinical cases of malaria at the laboratory decrease between 2017 and 2019. Our results highlight the need for strategies to control malaria in Franceville, adapted to epidemiological contexts and environmental constraint.

Epidemiology of community origin of major multidrug-resistant ESKAPE uropathogens in a paediatric population in South-East Gabon.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children are very common. They are often associated with a high risk of sepsis and death. In recent years, antibiotic-resistant uropathogens ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacteriaceae) are increasingly encountered in UTIs. These bacteria, usually multidrug-resistance (MDR), extensive drug-resistance (XDR), pandrug-resistance (PDR), Extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistance (ESC), Usual Drug Resistance (UDR), Difficult-to-Treat Resistance (DTR) and Carbapenem-resistance Enterobacteriales (CRE), represent a global threat for the management of paediatric UTIs. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology of community origin and antibiotic sensitivity of major ESKAPE uropathogens in paediatric UTIs in South-East Gabon. METHODS: The study involved 508 children aged 0-17 years. Identification of bacterial isolates was carried out using Vitek-2 compact automated system and the antibiogram with the disk diffusion and microdilution methods according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing recommendations. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the impact of patients' socio-clinical characteristics on uropathogens phenotype in both univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of UTIs was 59%. E. coli (35%) and K. pneumoniae (34%) were the main ESKAPE involved in UTIs followed by Enterococcus spp. (8%) and S. aureus (6%). Among major ESKAPE, DTR-E. coli (p = 0.01), CRE-E. coli (p = 0.02) and XDR-E. coli (p = 0.03), Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-resistant bacteria (p = 0.03) were associated with abdomino-pelvic pain. While MDR-E. coli (p < 0.001), UDR-E. coli (p = 0.02), ESC-E. coli (p < 0.001), MDR- Enterococcus (p = 0.04), UDR- Enterococcus (p = 0.02), bacteria resistant to Ampicillin (p < 0.01), Cefotaxime (p = 0.04), Ciprofloxacin (p < 0.001), Benzylpenicillin (p = 0.03) and Amikacin (p = 0.04) were more frequent among male children. MDR-Enterococcus (p < 0.01), bacteria resistant to Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (p = 0.03), Cefalotin (p = 0.01), Ampicillin (p = 0.02) and Gentamicin (p = 0.03) were associated with treatment failure. In addition, Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-resistant bacteria (p = 0.03) was associated with recurrent UTIs while those resistant to Ciprofloxacin was associated with pollakiuria (p = 0.01) and urinary burning (p = 0.04). Furthermore, UDR-K. pneumoniae (p = 0.02) was more frequent in neonates and infants. CONCLUSION: This study determined the epidemiology of ESKAPE uropathogens in paediatric UTIs. It found a high prevalence of paediatric UTIs associated with children's socio-clinical characteristics and diverse bacterial antibiotic resistance phenotypes.

Molecular Prevalence of Diarrheal Pathogens in Children with Acute Diarrhea in Southeastern Gabon.

Diarrheal diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants and young children, particularly in sub-Saharan countries. In Gabon, there are few data on the prevalence of diarrheal pathogens in children. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of diarrheal pathogens in children with diarrhea in southeastern Gabon. Stool samples (n = 284) from Gabonese children 0 to 15 years of age with acute diarrhea were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction targeting 17 diarrheal pathogens. At least one pathogen was detected in 75.7% of samples (n = 215). Coinfection with multiple pathogens was observed in 44.7% of patients (n = 127). Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli was the most commonly detected pathogen (30.6%, n = 87), followed by adenovirus (26.4%, n = 75), rotavirus (16.9%, n = 48), Shigella sp. (16.5%, n = 47), Giardia duodenalis (14.4%, n = 41), norovirus GII (7.0%, n = 20), sapovirus (5.6%, n = 16), Salmonella enterica (4.9%, n = 14), astrovirus (4.6%, n = 13), Campylobacter jejuni/coli (4.6%, n = 13), bocavirus (2.8%, n = 8), and norovirus GI (2.8%, n = 8). Our study provides useful information on the possible causes of diarrheal diseases affecting children in southeastern Gabon. A similar study with a control group of healthy children is needed to assess the burden of the disease attributed to each pathogen.

Prevalence and Phenotypic and Molecular Characterization of Carbapenemase-Producing Gram-Negative Bacteria in Gabon.

Data collection and monitoring of carbapenemase-producing (CP) Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) are often limited. This study determined CP-GNB prevalence in Gabon and the genetic origins of the resistance genes. From January 2016 to March 2018, 869 clinically significant GNB isolates from inpatients and outpatients, and 19 fecal samples (inpatients) were analyzed in the main hospitals of Gabon. Fecal samples were screened using ChromID® CARBA SMART selective chromogenic medium biplates. Species were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested using the disk diffusion method on Müller-Hinton agar, and resistance genes were assessed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Overall, 1.61% of clinical isolates (14 of 869) and 5.26% of fecal samples (1 of 19) were CP-GNB. The CP-GNB rate was higher among inpatients (2.98%) than outpatients (0.33%), in intensive care units (28.57%, 4 of 14), and in urine samples (35.71%, 5 of 14). The most common CP-GNB were Klebsiella pneumoniae (53.33%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (26.67%). blaOXA-48 was the predominant carbapenemase-encoding gene (40%), followed by blaNDM-5 (33.33%). The A. baumannii multilocus sequence types ST2 and ST78, Enterobacter cloacae ST78, Escherichia coli ST2, and K. pneumonia ST48 and ST147 were found. These data indicate that CP bacteria are present in clinical and carriage samples. Preventive measures are needed to avoid the spread of resistance genes.

Mosquito-Borne Arboviruses Occurrence and Distribution in the Last Three Decades in Central Africa: A Systematic Literature Review.

Arboviruses represent a real public health problem globally and in the Central African subregion in particular, which represents a high-risk zone for the emergence and re-emergence of arbovirus outbreaks. Furthermore, an updated review on the current arbovirus burden and associated mosquito vectors is lacking for this region. To contribute to filling this knowledge gap, the current study was designed with the following objectives: (i) to systematically review data on the occurrence and distribution of arboviruses and mosquito fauna; and (ii) to identify potential spillover mosquito species in the Central African region in the last 30 years. A web search enabled the documentation of 2454 articles from different online databases. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) and the quality of reporting of meta-analyses (QUORUM) steps for a systematic review enabled the selection of 164 articles that fulfilled our selection criteria. Of the six arboviruses (dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), yellow fever virus (YFV), Zika virus (ZIKV), Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), and West Nile virus (WNV)) of public health concern studied, the most frequently reported were chikungunya and dengue. The entomological records showed >248 species of mosquitoes regrouped under 15 genera, with Anopheles (n = 100 species), Culex (n = 56 species), and Aedes (n = 52 species) having high species diversity. Three genera were rarely represented, with only one species included, namely, Orthopodomyia, Lutzia, and Verrallina, but individuals of the genera Toxorhinchites and Finlayas were not identified at the species level. We found that two Aedes species (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus) colonised the same microhabitat and were involved in major epidemics of the six medically important arboviruses, and other less-frequently identified mosquito genera consisted of competent species and were associated with outbreaks of medical and zoonotic arboviruses. The present study reveals a high species richness of competent mosquito vectors that could lead to the spillover of medically important arboviruses in the region. Although epidemiological studies were found, they were not regularly documented, and this also applies to vector competence and transmission studies. Future studies will consider unpublished information in dissertations and technical reports from different countries to allow their information to be more consistent. A regional project, entitled "Ecology of Arboviruses" (EcoVir), is underway in three countries (Gabon, Benin, and Cote d'Ivoire) to generate a more comprehensive epidemiological and entomological data on this topic.

Phylogenetic Groups, Pathotypes and Antimicrobial Resistance of Escherichia coli Isolated from Western Lowland Gorilla Faeces (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) of Moukalaba-Doudou National Park (MDNP).

(1) Background: Terrestrial mammals in protected areas have been identified as a potential source of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Studies on antimicrobial resistance in gorillas have already been conducted. Thus, this study aimed to describe the phylogroups, pathotypes and prevalence of antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from western lowland gorilla's faeces living in MDNP. (2) Materials and Methods: Ninety-six faecal samples were collected from western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) during daily monitoring in the MDNP. Sixty-four E. coli isolates were obtained and screened for phylogenetic and pathotype group genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after DNA extraction. In addition, antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the disk diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar. (3) Results: Sixty-four (64%) isolates of E. coli were obtained from samples. A high level of resistance to the beta-lactam family, a moderate rate for fluoroquinolone and a low rate for aminoglycoside was obtained. All E. coli isolates were positive in phylogroup PCR with a predominance of A (69% ± 11.36%), followed by B2 (20% ± 19.89%) and B1 (10% ± 8.90%) and low prevalence for D (1% ± 3.04%). In addition, twenty E. coli isolates (31%) were positive for pathotype PCR, such as EPEC (85% ± 10.82%) and EPEC/EHEC (15% ± 5.18%) that were obtained in this study. The majority of these MDR E. coli (DECs) belonged to phylogenetic group A, followed by MDR E. coli (DECs) belonging to group B2. (4) Conclusion: This study is the first description of MDR E. coli (DECs) assigned to phylogroup A in western lowland gorillas from the MDNP in Gabon. Thus, wild gorillas in MDNP could be considered as asymptomatic carriers of potential pathogenic MDR E. coli (DECs) that may present a potential risk to human health.

Vaginal Infections' Etiologies in South-Eastern Gabon - An Overview.

Introduction: Discomfort in women of childbearing age associated with vaginal infections, namely bacterial vaginosis (BV), aerobic vaginitis (AV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), and trichomoniasis (TV), represent a serious and ongoing gynecological complication throughout the world. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the etiologies of vaginal infections among outpatients in south-eastern Gabon. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was designed using participants referred directly by their treating doctor for a vaginal swab. Socio-demographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Microscopic examinations were used for TV and BV diagnostic. All vaginal swabs were cultured for AV and VVC isolates using standard microbiology methods. Results: A total of 573 women of reproductive age participated in the study. The most common identified vaginal infections were BV (62.8%) and AV (51.1%) followed by VVC (34.1%). No significant difference was observed for each etiology compared to socio-demographic data. Streptococcus B (23.9%), Staphylococcus aureus (17.7%), Klebsiella spp. (11.6%), and E. coli (5.8%) were the bacteria most associated with AV. A high incidence of non-C. albicans Candida (NCAC) strains causing vulvovaginitis were found. The prevalence of TV (2.1%) was low. Mixed infections had been common among participants. No association was found with TV and other vaginal infections, unlike others studies. The present study identified BV 228 (83.5%) and AV 227 (83.2%) as the main cause of mixed infections. The mixed infection AV-BV 113 (41.4%) was the most represented. Conclusion: Also that simultaneous AV-BV-VVC represented 69 (25.3%) of mixed infections. Molecular analyses would be needed to identify the key species commonly associated with these vaginal infections.

Determination of the prevalence of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma species in Bacterial vaginosis patients in association with antibiotic resistance profile in Franceville, Gabon.

BACKGROUND: Genital mycoplasma are only considered pathogenic at a certain level and are often associated with other pathological situations such as bacterial vaginosis (BV). They may lead to infertility as well as other gynaeco-obstetrical and neonatal problems. Despite numerous reported resistances, macrolides are required to treat pregnant women while non-pregnant women are managed with tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones. This study aimed to establish the prevalence and resistance rates of Mycoplasma hominis (Mh) and Ureaplasma spp. (Uu) in BV positive (BV+) women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Vaginal secretions were collected from women aged 14-56 years consulting for a cytobacteriological examination of the vaginal swab associated with a simultaneous search for genital mycoplasma in the medical analysis laboratory of the Research and Medical Analysis Unit (URAM) of CIRMF in Franceville, Gabon. BV was diagnosed using the Nugent score while genital mycoplasma identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed using the Mycoplasma IST 2 kit. RESULTS: Of the 462 women included in this study, 60.18% (278/462, p = 0.00002) were both BV+ and genital mycoplasma carriers, including 5.19% (24/462) pregnant women. Overall mycoplasma carriage was 33.12% (153/462) for Uu, 1.95% for Mh and 25.11% (116/462) for mixed infections (Uu + Mh). The BV + patients most affected by mycoplasma were those whose age varied from 25 to 35 years with 27.49% (127/462, p = 0.980), those not using condoms with 39.40% (182/462, p = 0.014, OR = 2.35), those non-pregnant but capable of bearing children with 53.90% (249/462, p = 0.967, OR = 1.02). In the overall population, 83.66% and 51.63% of Uu strains were highly resistant to Ciprofloxacin and Azithromycin respectively; 100% and 55.56% of Mh strains were resistant to Azithromycin and Tetracycline respectively; while strong resistance has been observed in mixed infections to Ciprofloxacin (97.41%), Azithromycin (81.90%), Ofloxacin (69.83%) and Tetracycline (68.97%). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of genital mycoplasma infections is very high in women with bacterial vaginosis. Given the numerous emerging resistance rates to most classes of antibiotics available for the treatment of genital mycoplasma infections in our study, it would be advisable for therapeutic prescriptions to be made based on laboratory results.

The Antibiotics Used in Livestock and Their Impact on Resistance in Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus hirae on Farms in Gabon.

The emergence of antibiotic resistance is a major concern around the world. The objective of this study was to investigate the antibiotics used in livestock and their impact on resistance in Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus hirae on farms in Gabon. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on the farms. Samples were collected from farms (n = 20) tested for Enterococcus by culture and isolation and were identified using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the disc diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar. The 20 farms included laying hens (6), swine (6), sheep (4) and cattle farms (4). Tetracycline was the most used antibiotic family (91%) and the most used prophylactic method (47%) for the treatment of animals. A total of 555 samples were collected and 515 (93%) Enterococcus spp. isolates of the genus were obtained. The prevalence of E. faecium and E. hirae were 10% and 8%, respectively. The isolates from E. faecium and E. hirae we found were related to clinical and human isolates in the NCBI database. E. faecium and E. hirae isolates showed a high resistance to tetracycline (69% and 65%) and rifampicin (39% and 56%). The tet(M) gene was detected in 65 tetracycline-resistant isolates with a large majority in hens (78% (21/27) and 86% (12/14) in E. faecium and E. hirae, respectively). The consumption of antibiotics favours the emergence of antibiotic resistance in animals in Gabon.

High level of intrinsic phenotypic antimicrobial resistance in enterobacteria from terrestrial wildlife in Gabonese national parks.

Data on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Enterobacteriaceae in African wildlife are still relatively limited. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of phenotypic intrinsic and acquired antimicrobial resistance of enterobacteria from several species of terrestrial wild mammals in national parks of Gabon. Colony culture and isolation were done using MacConkey agar. Isolates were identified using the VITEK 2 and MALDI-TOF methods. Antibiotic susceptibility was analysed and interpreted according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing guidelines. The preliminary test for ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae was performed by replicating enterobacterial colonies on MacConkey agar supplemented with 2 mg/L cefotaxime (MCA+CTX). Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production was confirmed with the double-disc synergy test (DDST). The inhibition zone diameters were read with SirScan. Among the 130 bacterial colonies isolated from 125 fecal samples, 90 enterobacterial isolates were identified. Escherichia coli (61%) was the most prevalent, followed by Enterobacter cloacae (8%), Proteus mirabilis (8%), Klebsiella variicola (7%), Klebsiella aerogenes (7%), Klebsiella oxytoca (4%), Citrobacter freundii (3%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (1%) and Serratia marcescens (1%). Acquired resistance was carried by E. coli (11% of all E. coli isolates) and E. cloacae (3% of all E. cloacae) isolates, while intrinsic resistance was detected in all the other resistant isolates (n = 31); K. variicola, K. oxytoca, K. pneumoniae, E. cloacae, K. aerogenes, S. marcescens and P. mirabilis). Our data show that most strains isolated in protected areas in Gabon are wild type isolates and carry intrinsic resistance rather than acquired resistance.

Prevalence and Characterization of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Major Hospitals in Gabon.

In Gabon, few data exist on extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE). This study investigated ESBL-PE prevalence and the associated resistance genes in clinical samples (n = 5,956) and anal swabs (n = 78) analyzed in eight hospitals and a medical analysis laboratory in Gabon from January 2016 to March 2018. Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time Of Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry analysis identified 790 Enterobacteriaceae isolates (n = 712 clinical samples and n = 78 fecal samples). ESBL-PE prevalence (Müller-Hinton agar disk diffusion method and double-disk synergy test) was 11.8% (84/712) in clinical samples (15.5% from inpatients and 7.1% from outpatients; p < 0.05) and 16.7% (13/78) in carriage isolates. Most ESBL-PE were isolated from urine samples (46/84). In clinical and carriage ESBL-PE isolates, Escherichia coli was predominant (42.8% and 61.5%; phylogroups A, B1, B2, and D), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (41.7% and 23.1%). Multiplex PCR and bi-directional sequencing showed that CTX-M group 1 (blaCTX-M-15) was predominant in clinical and carriage ESBL-PE (94% and 92.3%) among which 85.7% and 92.3% also harbored one to three ß-lactamase-encoding genes (blaTEM-1, blaOXA-1, or blaSHV-1). Resistance genes were detected in all hospitals in Gabon. ESBL-PE prevalence in Gabon has not reached alarming levels yet, but corrective and monitoring measures are needed to curb their emergence.

Technological and microbiological characteristics of indigenous food produced in Gabon.

The purpose of this study was to provide contextual information on indigenous food's technologies and safety from Gabon. The strategic focus being to promote local food with enhanced nutritional value and improved safety. An investigation and monitoring were carried out to elucidate their process flow diagrams and to identify safety failures. Samples were taken for microbiological analysis using conventional culture-based techniques. Detection and identification of Salmonella in samples were confirmed using PCR based method by targeting invasion plasmid antigen B (IpaB) gene. The investigation shows that women play a protagonist role in the technical know-how of Gabonese indigenous foods in a context that is evolving towards the disappearance of this knowledge. The food production process remains archaic, which makes the environment impact on food safety. Indeed, the proximity of food manufacturing environment to animals, waste, or latrines coupled with the lack of hygiene and manufacturing practices affect the quality of these foods. This is reflected in our study's microbiological results, namely, Aerobic Mesophilic Bacteria ranged from 3.53 to 11.96 log CFU/g and indicators of fecal contaminations of up to 8.21 log CFU/g. Salmonella is detected in 18.69% of samples. The presence of these bacteria is a risk for consumer health. Although some of these foods can be considered as a fermented food, the producers should be further educated and encouraged to take preventive measures to ensure the quality of these food products. A much more subtle approach based on microbial ecology of these foods should be explored for better exploitation.

Epidemiology of Community Origin Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae Uropathogenic Strains Resistant to Antibiotics in Franceville, Gabon.

INTRODUCTION: Urinary tract infection is one of the major causes of consultation, microbiologic exploration, intensive use of antibiotics worldwide, and the second leading cause of clinical consultation in community practice. Many bacteria play a role in the urinary tract infections etiology, including Enterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella spp. OBJECTIVE: The study's main objective was to examine the epidemiology of E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) uropathogenic strains resistant to antibiotics in Franceville. METHODOLOGY: The study was carried out between January 2018 and June 2019 in Franceville South-East Gabon. We examined a total of 1086 cytobacteriological urine samples. The identification of E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains was carried out using the Vitek-2 compact automated system and the antibiogram with the disk diffusion method according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing recommendations. RESULTS: The prevalence of urinary tract infections was 29.2% (317/1086), of which 25.1% and 4.1% were mono-infections and co-infections, respectively. The prevalence of UTIs with E. coli was 28.7% (91/317) with a predominance of isolation in women. K. pneumoniae was responsible for 16.2% (61/317) of UTIs. E. coli and K. pneumoniae Uropathogenic strains showed resistance to beta-lactams, quinolones and cotrimoxazole, whereas Nitrofurantoin, Amikacin, Imipenem and Ertapenem were the most active antibiotics against E. coli and K. pneumoniae uropathogenic strains. CONCLUSION: This study showed a high prevalence of urinary tract infections with a major implication of E.coli and K. pneumoniae strains. E. coli and K. pneumoniae presented high frequency of resistance to antibiotics, highlighting the need to adapt their use accordingly at the local level.

Correction: Mbehang Nguema, P.P., et al. Characterization of ESBL-Producing Enterobacteria from Fruit Bats in an Unprotected Area of Makokou, Gabon. Microorganisms 2020, 8, 138.

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...].

Prevalence of Extended-Spectrum ß-Lactamases in E. coli of Rats in the Region North East of Gabon.

Antibiotic resistance occurs in the environment by multiplication and the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria that would be due to an improper and incorrect use of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of E.coli producing Extended-Spectrum beta-Lactamase (ESBL) antibiotics from rats and gregarious animals in a semirural area of Gabon and to evaluate the origin of a resistance distribution in the environment from animal feces. The bacterial culture was carried out, and the identification of E. coli strains on a specific medium and the antibiotic susceptibility tests allowed establishing the prevalence. Characterization of resistance genes was performed by gene amplification after DNA extraction. On 161 feces collected in rats, 32 strains were isolated, and 11 strains of E. coli produced ESBL with a prevalence of 34.37%. Molecular tests showed that CTX-M genes 214 bp were identified in rats. The presence of CTX-M genes could have a human origin. So, the rats can carry ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae which poses a risk to human health and pets in this region of Gabon.

Characterization of ESBL-Producing Enterobacteria from Fruit Bats in an Unprotected Area of Makokou, Gabon.

In Gabon, terrestrial mammals of protected areas have been identified as a possible source of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Some studies on antibiotic resistance in bats have already been carried out. The main goal of our study was to detect extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) that are produced by enterobacteria from bats in the Makokou region in Gabon. Sixty-eight fecal samples were obtained from 68 bats caught in the forests located 1 km from the little town of Makokou. After culture and isolation, 66 Gram-negative bacterial colonies were obtained. The double-disk diffusion test confirmed the presence of ESBLs in six (20.69%) Escherichia coli isolates, four (13.79%) Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, and one (3.45%) Enterobacter cloacae isolate. The analysis based on the nucleotide sequences of the ESBL resistance genes showed that all cefotaximase-Munichs (CTX-Ms) were CTX-M-15 and that all sulfhydryl variables (SHVs) were SHV-11: 54.54% ESBL (CTX-M-15)-producing E. coli, 9.09% ESBL (CTX-M-15)-producing K. pneumoniae, 27.27% ESBL (CTX-M-15, SHV-11)-producing K. pneumoniae, and 9.09% ESBL (CTX-M-15)-producing E. cloacae. This study shows for the first time the presence of multiresistant ESBL-producing enterobacteria in fruit bats in Makokou.

Hyper-Uricemia and Gouty Access in the Adult Population of the Southeast of Gabon: Biochemical Aspects.

Gout is caused by a chronic hyperuricemia whose complications are not currently well evaluated in Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of hyperuricemia and gout in 85 patients recruited. A total of 26 cases of hyperuricemia, i.e., 30.6% of the study population, with 12 cases of gout and seven cases of gouty access. In this population, hyperuricemia was proportional to age (p-value < 10-4, OR = 2.6), but it was more prevalent in men, 23.5% versus 7.1% for women (p-value = 0.0047). In addition, none of these women showed signs of a gouty affection. Consumption of alcohol (OR = 13) and nucleoprotein-rich foods, obesity (BMI 30 kg/m²; OR = 6), family history of gout (OR = 6.8), as well as diseases such as high blood pressure (associated with taking diuretics; OR = 1.7), renal insufficiency (OR = 4.4) and diabetes (p < 0.049) were the main factors of the diseases associated with gout and hyperuricemia in this population. The biochemical role of these factors may increase and/or decrease the processes of synthesis and/or elimination of uric acid by acting on metabolites involved in the regulation of urate production.