Epidemiologic pattern of meningococcal meningitis in northern Cameroon in 2007-2010: contribution of PCR-enhanced surveillance.

OBJECTIVES: Monitoring acute bacterial meningitis in northern Cameroon. METHODS: Health professionals collected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from patients presenting with clinical symptoms of meningitis. Specimens were tested using gram stain, latex agglutination test, and culture. A PCR assay completed the diagnostic testing. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed on some Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) isolates. RESULTS: From 2007 through 2010, of the 1429 CSF specimens tested, 292 (20·4%) were positive, either for Nm (205), Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp) (57), or Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) (30). From 2007 through 2009, the serogroup W135 represented 98·8% of 164 case isolates. Until 2008, most serogroup W135 isolates presented the sequence-type ST-2881 usually associated with sporadic cases. Since 2009, the ST-11 (an epidemic-associated clone) became predominant, although no epidemic occurred. Serogroup A ST-7 was observed in 2010 and caused a localized epidemic. Using the detection PCR on turbid CSF, a 2·7-fold increase in cases with etiologic diagnosis was obtained, compared to culture. All tested meningococcal isolates (42) were susceptible to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and cefotaxim. CONCLUSIONS: Resurgence of serogroup A and recent increase in ST-11 among serogroup W135 isolates were worrying when considered with the epidemic wave of serogroup A meningitis, which affected neighboring countries and the serogroup W135 epidemic in Niger in 2009-2010.

[Aetiologic factors and clinical features associated with thrombocytopenia in Cameroonese adults: the importance of Plasmodium falciparum malaria]. / Les étiologies et présentations cliniques des thrombopénies chez les adultes camerounais: place du paludisme à Plasmodium falciparum.

In order to determine the main aetiologies associated with thrombocytopenia in a hospital setting of Cameroon, 180 adults with platelet counts <100x10(9)/L were examined and screened for a full blood count, thick and thin blood films, basic coagulation tests (activated partial thromboplastine time, a one-stage Quick's prothrombin time and a bleeding time), an HIV screening test as well as a bone marrow aspirate using standard methods. Other tests were selectively done as dictated by the suspected diagnosis. The major clinical findings among 180 cases included fever >37.5 C (53.9%), splenomegaly (45.6%) and haemorrhage (30.6%). The main laboratory findings were anaemia (defined as haemoglobin (Hb) <11g/dL) in 80.6% of cases and a positive thick blood film (all confirmed to be P. falciparum) in 30.6% of cases. Out of the 18 different aetiologies associated with a low platelet count in the group studied, malaria appears as the unique cause in 22.2% of cases. Petechial bleeding, bruising and epistaxis were the major forms of bleeding involved (69.1%, 27.3%, and 23.6% respectively). However, only 3 cases diagnosed with malaria showed any form of bleeding (mean malaria parasite densities >15,000/muL of blood in each case). No other haemostatic abnormalities were observed. It may be cost-effective for patients with low platelet counts in malarial regions to be systematically screened for malaria parasites.