Clinical Evaluation of the Modified Faine Criteria in Patients Admitted with Suspected Leptospirosis to the Territorial Hospital, New Caledonia, 2018 to 2019.

Leptospirosis is endemic in New Caledonia. Clinical diagnosis is often difficult and its evolution can be fatal. Leptospirosis requires specific management before biological confirmation. Modified Faine criteria (Faine Score) have been suggested to diagnose leptospirosis on epidemiological (parts A and B) and biological (part C) criteria. The main objective of our study was to assess the relevance of the epidemiological-clinical modified Faine score, parts A and B (MF A + B), in patients with suspected leptospirosis in New Caledonia. A monocentric case-control study was conducted in suspect patients for whom a Leptospira polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was done within the first 7 days of signs onset at the tertiary hospital from January 2018 to January 2019. Cases and control subjects were matched 1:2 in the gender and age categories. Bivariate, and then multivariable, analyses studied the association between the MF A + B score and a positive Leptospira PCR test, adjusted on the variables retained. In all, 35 cases and 70 control subjects matched for age and gender were analyzed. Multivariable analysis by logistic regression found a significant association between an MF A + B score taken from the categories "possible leptospirosis" (score, 20-25) and "presumed leptospirosis" (score, > 26), and the case or control subject status (P < 0.0001). Model performance was high, with an area under the curve value of 99.27%, 93.55% sensitivity, and 96.36% specificity, which classified subjects correctly in 95.35% of cases. Our study suggests using the MF A + B score to identify possible cases of leptospirosis and initiate antibiotic therapy before biological confirmation in New Caledonia. This score should be evaluated in areas where more differential diagnoses exist and where PCR is not widely available.

Prevention and control of highly antibiotic-resistant bacteria in a Pacific territory: Feedback from New Caledonia between 2004 and 2020.

OBJECTIVE: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and Enterococcus faecium resistant to vancomycin (VRE) constitute major threats to public health worldwide. The Pacific area is concerned and has implemented strategies to control antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, accurate epidemiological data are rarely reported. Our study aimed to present the strategies applied to prevent and control the spread of highly resistant bacteria in the Pacific territory of New Caledonia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cohort prospective study of all cases of highly resistant bacteria (HRB) isolated in New Caledonia from September 2004 to December 2020. Evaluation of the impact of the infection control measures implemented in healthcare settings: screening strategy, cohorting unit, IT tools and control of antibiotic prescriptions. RESULTS: A total of 346 patients with HRB were identified. Most of them (63.0%) were infected or colonized by VRE (n=218) and 128 by CRE. While the number of CREs significantly increased from 2013 to 2020 (P<0.0001), control procedures have limited their dissemination. Most patients were colonized by IMP-4-CRE (n=124/128). The incidence density of VRE significantly decreased from 38.52 for 100,000 hospitalisation-days in 2015 to 4.19 for 100,000 hospitalisation-days in 2019 due to systematic screening of patients before sanitary repatriation from Australia and cohorting implementation. The risk of VRE diffusion is now well under control. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that it is possible to control the spread of AMR in a circumscribed territory by means of a global control strategy involving screening, cohorting unit, IT tools and antibiotic prescription controls.

Eosinophilic meningitis in New Caledonia: The role of Angiostrongylus cantonensis?

INTRODUCTION: Eosinophilic meningitis is a rare form of meningitis with sequelae or death occurring in approximately 2-3% of cases. The most frequent etiological agent is the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis. The aim of this study was to characterize New Caledonian cases and to assess the extent to which of A. cantonensis was involved. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of all cases of eosinophilic meningitis (EM) admitted to the Territorial Hospital of New Caledonia, from 2004 to 2019. We performed a descriptive and a multivariate analysis to identify association of variables with severe and fatal cases (or cases with sequelae). CONCLUSION: Angiostrongyliasis was confirmed as being responsible for 17 of the 92 reported EM cases in New Caledonia from 2004 to 2019 with most being young adults and non-walking infants, and with two peaks of incidence one during the dry season and one during the rainy season. Considering the high incidence and regularity of cases, the potential reservoirs should be identified to target prevention campaigns.

Development of a bedside score to predict dengue severity.

BACKGROUND: In 2017, New Caledonia experienced an outbreak of severe dengue causing high hospital burden (4379 cases, 416 hospital admissions, 15 deaths). We decided to build a local operational model predictive of dengue severity, which was needed to ease the healthcare circuit. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical and biological parameters associated with severe dengue in the cohort of patients hospitalized at the Territorial Hospital between January and July 2017 with confirmed dengue, in order to elaborate a comprehensive patient's score. Patients were compared in univariate and multivariate analyses. Predictive models for severity were built using a descending step-wise method. RESULTS: Out of 383 included patients, 130 (34%) developed severe dengue and 13 (3.4%) died. Major risk factors identified in univariate analysis were: age, comorbidities, presence of at least one alert sign, platelets count < 30 × 109/L, prothrombin time < 60%, AST and/or ALT > 10 N, and previous dengue infection. Severity was not influenced by the infecting dengue serotype nor by previous Zika infection. Two models to predict dengue severity were built according to sex. Best models for females and males had respectively a median Area Under the Curve = 0.80 and 0.88, a sensitivity = 84.5 and 84.5%, a specificity = 78.6 and 95.5%, a positive predictive value = 63.3 and 92.9%, a negative predictive value = 92.8 and 91.3%. Models were secondarily validated on 130 patients hospitalized for dengue in 2018. CONCLUSION: We built robust and efficient models to calculate a bedside score able to predict dengue severity in our setting. We propose the spreadsheet for dengue severity score calculations to health practitioners facing dengue outbreaks of enhanced severity in order to improve patients' medical management and hospitalization flow.

Flying Fox Hemolytic Fever, Description of a New Zoonosis Caused by Candidatus Mycoplasma haemohominis.

BACKGROUND: Hemotropic mycoplasmas, previously classified in the genus Eperythrozoon, have been reported as causing human infections in Brazil, China, Japan, and Spain. METHODS: In 2017, we detected DNA from Candidatus Mycoplasma haemohominis in the blood of a Melanesian patient from New Caledonia presenting with febrile splenomegaly, weight loss, life-threatening autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and hemophagocytosis. The full genome of the bacterium was sequenced from a blood isolate. Subsequently, we retrospectively (2011-2017) and prospectively (2018-2019) tested patients who had been hospitalized with a similar clinico-biological picture. In addition, as these patients had been in contact with frugivorous bats (authorized under conditions for hunting and eating in New Caledonia), we investigated the role of these animals and their biting flies by testing them for hemotropic mycoplasmas. RESULTS: There were 15 patients found to be infected by this hemotropic mycoplasma. Among them, 4 (27%) died following splenectomy performed either for spontaneous spleen rupture or to cure refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia. The bacterium was cultivated from the patient's blood. The full genome of the Neocaledonian Candidatus M. haemohominis strain differed from that of a recently identified Japanese strain. Of 40 tested Pteropus bats, 40% were positive; 100% of collected bat flies Cyclopodia horsfieldi (Nycteribiidae, Diptera) were positive. Human, bat, and dipteran strains were highly similar. CONCLUSIONS: The bacterium being widely distributed in bats, Candidatus M. haemohominis, should be regarded as a potential cause of severe infections in humans.

COVID-19: The New Caledonia Experience.

New Caledonia is a French territory in the South Pacific Ocean. While COVID-19 is expanding over the world, the situation on our island seems controlled with a total of 18 documented cases. We report the measures implemented on our island that probably helped contain the epidemic spread.

Measles during arbovirus outbreak: a diagnostic challenge.

INTRODUCTION: Dengue fever is a major public health problem in New Caledonia, like in many Pacific Islands Countries and territories. In 2017 New Caledonia faced multiple circulations of arboviruses with a major outbreak of dengue and a co-circulating Zika virus. New Caledonia is considered as a non-endemic territory for measles since the mid 1990's. CASE PRESENTATION: A 41-year-old male presented fever, headache, sinusitis and exanthematous maculopapular rash. A clinical diagnosis of arbovirus was first suspected due to the local epidemic context. A few days later the patient was admitted to the main hospital. The real time RT-PCR for dengue and Zika virus were negative on the first blood sample. A drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome and other infectious diseases including measles were then suspected. ELISA tests for measles were positive for IgM and equivocal for IgG. A throat swab was immediately shipped to a reference laboratory for measles nucleic acid testing. After a week, the patient recovered and the presence of measles RNA was confirmed. No secondary cases were reported among contacts of the patient and the source of his infection could not be ascertained. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of measles during an arbovirus outbreak in a country where measles disease is rare can be a pitfall for healthcare professionals. The introduction of measles via returned travellers or tourists from areas where measles remains endemic is a real threat to countries with high vaccine coverage.

Vertical Transmission of Dengue Virus in the Peripartum Period and Viral Kinetics in Newborns and Breast Milk: New Data.

SUMMARY: We investigated 10 mother-newborn pairs and found a 90% rate of dengue virus (DENV) transmission during the perinatal period. Here, we describe DENV kinetics in the sera of newborns before the onset of disease. Of the breast-milk samples analyzed, 75% tested positive for DENV. BACKGROUND: Dengue is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease in humans. With this study, we aimed to investigate the risk of vertical (DENV) transmission during the peripartum period and to describe its viral kinetics in serum and breast milk. METHODS: We carried out a prospective study during the 2012-2013 dengue epidemic in New Caledonia, its most severe on record. All mothers hospitalized at the Centre Hospitalier Territorial in Nouméa, New Caledonia, with symptoms of dengue infection between 7 days before and 2 days after delivery and/or whose infant was infected during breastfeeding were investigated. DENV was detected and quantified by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in sera and breast milk (mothers), sera and gastric fluid (newborns), cord blood, and placentas. DENV kinetics and sequences in sera and breast milk were studied. Clinical presentation and biological evolution in mother-newborn pairs were analyzed. RESULTS: Ten mother-newborn pairs were investigated over an 11-month period. One premature birth, 3 hemorrhagic complications, and 1 maternal death occurred. Nine newborns were infected and symptomatic. One case of deep thrombocytopenia and 1 case of anoxic encephalopathy occurred. DENV was detected in breast milk samples from 9 (75%) of 12 infected breastfeeding mothers. Original DENV kinetics in sera and breast milk were described. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of vertical DENV transmission was high (90%) in viremic mothers at delivery, and these mothers and their infants were at major risk for obstetric and neonatal complications. The modes of viral transmission are difficult to clarify. The risk of DENV transmission through breast milk seems plausible. Close follow-up of mothers and prolonged surveillance of their newborns are required for minimizing complications. Complementary studies are needed to elaborate preventive recommendations.

Zika virus infection as an unexpected finding in a Leptospirosis patient.

INTRODUCTION: Areas where leptospirosis and arboviruses are endemic largely overlap in the tropics. However, the number of arbovirus infections is usually much higher. The initial clinical presentation can be highly confusing; therefore, laboratory confirmation is key to an accurate diagnosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 19-year-old man presented to a peripheral health centre with an acute febrile illness. Dengue was initially suspected, but the patient deteriorated to a shock syndrome. Leptospirosis as well as a co-infection with Zika virus were both confirmed in the laboratory, the latter being clinically masked in this dual infection. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the importance of not only considering the differential diagnosis of acute febrile syndromes, but also to consider the possibility of dual infections in the context of global spread of arboviruses. The specific context of travellers returning from endemic areas and pregnant women is also highlighted and discussed.

Newly diagnosed rheumatic heart disease among indigenous populations in the Pacific.

OBJECTIVES: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains the leading acquired heart disease in the young worldwide. We aimed at assessing outcomes and influencing factors in the contemporary era. METHODS: Hospital-based cohort in a high-income island nation where RHD remains endemic and the population is captive. All patients admitted with newly diagnosed RHD according to World Heart Federation echocardiographic criteria were enrolled (2005-2013). The incidence of major cardiovascular events (MACEs) including heart failure, peripheral embolism, stroke, heart valve intervention and cardiovascular death was calculated, and their determinants identified. RESULTS: Of the 396 patients, 43.9% were male with median age 18 years (IQR 10-40)). 127 (32.1%) patients presented with mild, 131 (33.1%) with moderate and 138 (34.8%) with severe heart valve disease. 205 (51.8%) had features of acute rheumatic fever. 106 (26.8%) presented with at least one MACE. Among the remaining 290 patients, after a median follow-up period of 4.08 (95% CI 1.84 to 6.84) years, 7 patients (2.4%) died and 62 (21.4%) had a first MACE. The annual incidence of first MACE and of heart failure were 59.05‰ (95% CI 44.35 to 73.75) and 29.06‰ (95% CI 19.29 to 38.82), respectively. The severity of RHD at diagnosis (moderate vs mild HR 3.39 (0.95 to 12.12); severe vs mild RHD HR 10.81 (3.11 to 37.62), p<0.001) and ongoing secondary prophylaxis at follow-up (HR 0.27 (0.12 to 0.63), p=0.01) were the two most influential factors associated with MACE. CONCLUSIONS: Newly diagnosed RHD is associated with poor outcomes, mainly in patients with moderate or severe valve disease and no secondary prophylaxis.

PegIFNα/ribavirin/protease inhibitor combination in severe hepatitis C virus-associated mixed cryoglobulinemia vasculitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The aim of this study was to analyse the safety and efficacy of the PegIFNα/ribavirin/protease inhibitor combination in severe and/or refractory hepatitis C virus (HCV)-mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) vasculitis. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 30 patients (median age 59 years [53-66] and 57% of women) with HCV-MC vasculitis. PegIFNα/ribavirin (for 48 weeks) was associated with telaprevir (375 mg three times daily, for 12 weeks, [n = 17]) or boceprevir (800 mg three times daily, for 44 weeks, (n = 13]). RESULTS: Twenty three patients (76.7%) were non-responders to previous antiviral therapy. At week 72, twenty patients (66.7%) were complete clinical and sustained virological responders. The cryoglobulin level decreased from 0.45 to 0 g/L (p<0.0001) and the C4 level increased from 0.09 to 0.14 g/L (p = 0.017). Complete clinical responders had a higher frequency of purpura (16/20 [80%] vs. 4/10 [40%], p = 0.045), and a trend towards lower frequency of neuropathy (9/20 (45%) vs. 8/10 [80%], p = 0.12) compared with partial responders. Serious adverse events occurred in 14 patients (46.6%) during the 72 weeks of follow-up. Twenty eight patients (93.3%) received erythropoietin, 14 (46.6%) had red blood cell transfusion and 2 (6.6%) received granulocyte stimulating agent. The baseline factors associated with serious adverse events included liver fibrosis (p = 0.045) and a low platelet count (p = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: The PegIFNα/ribavirin/protease inhibitor combination is highly effective in severe and/or refractory HCV-MC at the cost of frequent side effects. Baseline platelet count and liver fibrosis are useful in guiding treatment decisions.

Breast milk as a possible route of vertical transmission of dengue virus?

We report a case of vertical transmission of dengue infection. The virus was detected and quantified by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in sequential blood samples from mother and child as well as in breast milk, but not in cord blood. This case poses questions about the risk of breastfeeding transmission of dengue virus.

Leptospirosis diagnosed by molecular DNA detection on skin biopsy.

Leptospirosis is one of the most common anthropozoonoses in the world. Humans are accidental hosts who get infected through damaged skin or conjunctiva from environmental sources such as soil and water contaminated by urine or tissues from infected animals. We report the case of a young man for whom the diagnosis was obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection from a skin biopsy.

Molecular identification of Borrelia crocidurae in a patient returning from Senegal.

Borrelia spp. are pathogens responsible for worldwide tickborne relapsing fever (TBRF). In West Africa, TBRF is due to a single species, Borrelia crocidurae, transmitted by the soft-body tick Ornithodoros sonrai. We report a case of B crocidurae infection in a French tourist in Senegal, diagnosed by molecular biology using 16S rDNA, flaB, and the 16S-23S intergenic spacer. We found six imported cases reported in travellers (since 1999). We review here clinical and molecular aspects and pathophysiology, and discuss diagnostic methods and therapeutic regimens. In the coming years, this emerging disease will be of concern to more and more travellers returning from disease-endemic regions. Thus, physicians must be aware of its presentation and diagnosis, since the spontaneous outcome can be severe, and a simple treatment is effective.

Tick-borne diseases: tick-borne spotted fever rickettsioses in Africa.

In the field of tick-borne rickettsioses, discussion is ongoing about new vectors and the geographic zones of the diseases. New Rickettsia spp. that cannot yet be linked to human disease are sometimes detected in arthropods. In Africa, in addition to R. conorii and R. africae, seven distinct species of tick-borne rickettsiae are considered to be human pathogens. A combination of clinical alertness and molecular tools such as PCR base detection of DNA and sequencing help to describe new diseases.

Streptococcus canis infections in humans: retrospective study of 54 patients.

This 5-year retrospective study reports 54 patients with infection, caused by Streptococcus canis, a pyogenic Lancefield group G streptococcus initially isolated from various animal sources. During 1997-2002, Streptococcus canis accounted for 1% of all streptococci isolated. The clinical signs, outcome and bacteriological characteristics were reviewed. All except eight were symptomatic. Clinical manifestations were: soft tissue infection (n=35), bacteremia (n=5), urinary infection (n=3), bone infection (n=2) and pneumonia (n=1). The course was favorable in 52 cases while two died from sepsis. Cultures were often polymicrobial (n=42, 77.8%) apart from hemocultures. The isolates were sensitive to most antibiotics. Presence of the bacteria did not always signify infection owing to the possible occurrence of colonization. The frequency of S. canis infections is rare and likely underestimated owing to the fact that streptococci are sought only on the basis of the Lancefield classification. The search for S. canis is recommended whenever patients present with symptoms evocative of exposure to a potentially contaminated animal.

[Patients' perception of their experience in the intensive care unit]. / Perception par les patients de leur séjour en réanimation.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze patients' assessment of quality of care in our intensive care unit. METHOD: We sent questionnaires to the homes of all patients admitted to intensive care from November 2002 through August 2003 who received mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours. RESULTS: In all, we received 70 analyzable questionnaires. Patients' average age was 56.3 years and the mean duration of stay 13.6 days. Pain was mentioned by 47% of patients and was associated, in decreasing order of frequency, with endotracheal suctioning, placement of a urinary catheter, venipuncture, movement into a different position by staff and arterial punctures. Pain intensity evaluated by an analogic visual scale classified these procedures in the following order: endotracheal suctioning, urinary catheterization, position changing by staff, arterial punctures, venipunctures. 54% of the patients remembered mechanical ventilation. Overall, 17% reported feeling fear often or continuously. Aspects of the ICU environment that bothered them were, in order of decreasing frequency, communication difficulties, thirst, lack of sleep, staff discussions at the patient's bedside, noise and light. Finally, 34% no longer remembered the reason for their stay in the ICU and 19% reported they would have liked to be allowed more frequent visits from their relatives. CONCLUSION: Nearly half of the respondents underwent painful procedures, primarily endotracheal suctioning. One third did not know why they had been in the ICU. To improve the quality of intensive care, it is essential to make the nursing and medical teams aware of these findings.