Seven native cases of dengue in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

OBJECTIVE: We had for aim to describe the epidemiological, clinical, biological, and outcome features of dengue fever in Abidjan, in 2010. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied the files of patients hospitalized for dengue fever in 2010, in Abidjan. The diagnosis was made on clinical symptoms and positive dengue PCR and/or IgM. RESULTS: Seven patients were included (5 men, 2 women, median age of 51years [31-65years]). They presented with a febrile pain syndrome (n=7), jaundice (n=3), rash (n=2), and hematemesis complicated by thrombocytopenia (n=6) and leukopenia (n=5). Three patients had a positive IgM serology and 4 had a positive dengue PCR for DENV-3. The outcome was favorable for 6 patients, and 1 patient died of severe hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: The authors advocate the implementation of epidemiological surveillance of dengue and vector control in the Ivory Coast.

Cryptoccocal meningitis and HIV in the era of HAART in Côte d'Ivoire.

OBJECTIVE: The authors had for aim to describe the management of cryptococcal meningitis in HIV infected adults, in Ivory Coast. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was made from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2008 on the files of consecutive hospitalized patients presenting with cryptococcal meningitis, at the Treichville University Hospital, Infectious and tropical diseases department (Abidjan). The socio-demographic, clinical, and biological aspects as well as the outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty patients presenting with cryptococcal meningitis, (2.6% of hospitalized patients) were included: 41 men (51.25%) and 39 women (48.75%); mean age: 40 years (range 26 to 58 years). The delay before consultation was 5.4 days, range 2-12 days). The mains symptoms were headache (83.7%), fever (63.7%), and consciousness disorders (60%). Meningo-encephalitis accounted for 75% of the clinical presentations; 54 patients (67.5%) were naive of antiretroviral treatment (mean CD4: 45/mm(3) (range 5-103/mm(3)), while 26 (32.5%) had received antiretrovirals before presenting with cryptococcal meningitis (Nadir CD4=81/mm(3)). Amphotericin B relayed by fluconazole was prescribed to 86.2% of the patients, associated with a therapeutic lumbar puncture for 30 patients. The death rate was 41.2%. CONCLUSION: In spite of antiretroviral treatment availability in Ivory Coast, cryptococcal meningitis remains frequent with a high death rate. This study stresses the importance of early management to improve the prognosis.

[Antiretroviral prophylaxis after non-occupational exposure to HIV in Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire)]. / Prophylaxie antirétrovirale après expositions non professionnelles au VIH à Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the tolerability and adherence to all non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for cases of HIV exposure in Abidjan. METHOD: We retrospectively studied all post-exposure prophylaxis for non-occupational exposures to HIV prescribed from January 1st, 2000 to December 31st, 2007 in the Abidjan infectious diseases department. We analyzed the types of exposure, socio-demographic characteristics of patients, antiretroviral therapy regimens, adherence and tolerability, duration of the treatment, and post-exposure follow-up. RESULTS: Over these eight years, we managed 128 consultations for non-professional exposures to HIV (50 male [39%], 78 female patients [61%]), average age 24.8 years (four-54 years). The most frequent exposures were due to rape (n=74), condom rupture (n=29), and occasional unprotected sex (n=21). The average delay before consultation was 20.8 hours. The antiretroviral chemoprophylaxis included a protease inhibitor in 93% of the cases; 80.5% of patients completed 28 days of chemoprophylaxis, while 8.6% interrupted the treatment, and 10.9% were lost to follow-up. The most frequent adverse effects were gastrointestinal, reported by 79 patients (61.7%). Only 34 patients (26.6%) returned for clinical and biological post-exposure follow-up with HIV control at third month, without documented seroconversion. CONCLUSION: Cases of sexual exposure to HIV are the main indication for post-exposure prophylaxis in Abidjan, except for occupational exposure to blood. However, post-exposure prophylaxis should be available in the units of primary care, such as emergencies departments.

[Efficiency and safety of antiretroviral treatment among the elderly in Abidjan]. / Efficacite et tolerance du traitement antiretroviral chez les sujets ages a Abidjan.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of antiretroviral treatment in elderly people followed at the Unit for Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the University Hospital in Abidjan. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective descriptive study of the files of people aged at least 60 years, infected by HIV who were treated and followed-up in the Unit between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2006. We analysed sociodemographic (age, sex), clinical (weight, Karnofsky scale, CDC, opportunistic infections), biological (HIV, CD4, haemogram, glycaemia, creatininaemia, transaminasaemia) and therapeutic (antiretroviral regimens, evolution, side-effects) parameters. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated as the percentage of patients with < 200 CD4/ml, and its safety was based on deleterious effects. RESULTS: We studied 62 patients (44 men, 18 women), of whom 13 had been treated (21%), 46 had not been treated (74.2%) and 48 (77.4%) were undergoing chemoprophy-laxis with cotrimoxazole. Most were infected with HIV1 (93.6%), 3.2% with HIV2 and 3.2% with both HIV1 and HIV2. The majority (93.3%) was symptomatic, and 67.8% had AIDS. During 34 months of follow-up, 48 patients (77.4%) received first-line treatment, 13 (21%) received second-line and only one patient (1.6%) had third-line treatment. The percentage of patients with more than 200 CD4/ml increased from 20% at baseline to 36% at 6 months and 39% at 12 months. The main clinical side-effect was peripheral neuropathy (30.5%), and the main biological effect was hypertransaminasaemia > 2N (32.3%). The median rate of loss to follow-up was 17.7%, and two patients (3.2%) died. CONCLUSION: Antiretroviral treatment is effective in the elderly, with few biological disorders. A prospective study of a larger sample would elucidate the differences from younger people in the efficacy of such treatment.

Efficacite et tolerance du traitement antiretroviral chez les sujets ages a Abidjan

Objectif : Evaluer l'efficacite du traitement antiretroviral chez les sujets ages suivis dans le service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales a Abidjan. Materiel et Methodes : Il s'agit d'une etude retrospective; descriptive et portant sur l'analyse des dossiers de sujets ages d'au moins 60 ans; infectes par le VIH; traites et suivis dans le service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales entre le 1er janvier 1999 et le 31 decembre 2006. L'analyse a porte sur les parametres sociodemographiques (age; sexe); cliniques ARV; (poids; score Karnofsky; stade CDC; affections opportunistes); biologiques (type de VIH; CD4; hemogramme; glycemie; creatininemie; transaminasemie) et therapeutiques (regimesA RV; evolution; effets secondaires). L'efficacite du traitement etait basee sur le pourcentage de patients ayant un taux de CD4 200 / ml et la tolerance basee sur les effets deleteres. Resultats : L'etude a concerne 62 sujets ages (44 hommes / 18 femmes); dont 13 pretraites (21); 46 naifs (74;20) et 48 (77;42) sous chimioprophylaxie au cotrimoxazole. La majorite de l'effectif etait infectee par le VIH1 (93;60) contre 3;20pour le VIH2 et 3;20pour le VIH 1+2. Ils etaient symptomatiques a 93;3avec 67;8au stade SIDA. En trente quatre mois de suivi; 48 patients ont recu un regime de premiere ligne (77;4) ; 13 de deuxieme ligne (20;96) et un seul patient avait un regime de troisieme ligne (1;6). L'analyse des resultats a montre que le pourcentage des patients ayant un taux des CD4 200 etait croissant; passant de 20a M0 a 36a M6 puis 39a M12. Quant aux effets secondaires; ils etaient cliniquement domines par les neuropathies peripheriques (30;5) et biologiquement par l'hypertransaminasemie 2N (32;3). Le taux median de perdus de vue etait de 17;7; et 2 patients (3;22) sont decedes. Conclusion : Le traitement ARV est efficace chez les personnes agees avec peu d'anomalies biologiques; aussi; une etude prospective sur un plus grand echantillonnage permettrait-elle de mieux percevoir les differences avec le sujet jeune

[Impact of access to antiretroviral therapy in Côte d'Ivoire]. / Bilan de l'accès aux antirétroviraux en Côte d'Ivoire.

In 1998 UNAIDS implemented the national drug access initiative (DAI) in Côte d'Ivoire. The Ivorian government took the DAI over in 2000 with the support of the Global Fund and Presidential Emergency Program For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The ensuing affordability of antiretroviral therapy (ART), medical staff training, and healthcare equipment allowed Ministry of Health to improve HIV care throughout the country. Since 2008 ART and follow-up monitoring have been free of charge for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). In January 2009 a total of 57,833 PLWHA received ART and follow-up at 274 HIV care centers. Use of ART has improved the life expectancy of PLWHA. However morbidity and mortality remained high during the first year of ART implementation with respective frequencies of 5-10% person-year (PY) and 2-3% PY. Morbidity was mainly related to infectious disease (tuberculosis and bacteriaemia) and earlier onset of adverse events (AE). In most cases ART has been well tolerated. The main adverse effects have been anemia, neuropathy, skin toxicity and liver enzyme elevation. The incidence of stage 3/4 AE has been low (< 2 %PY). Although overall compliance has been good (<80%), data among children and adults suggest the need for further work to reinforce support mechanisms. Convincing results have been obtained in the management of PLWHA. Nevertheless greater funding and commitment must be given to management of opportunistic infections and side effects and to development of nutrition support services.

Bilan de l'acces aux antiretroviraux en Cote d'Ivoire

L'initiative nationale d'acces aux antiretroviraux en Cote d`Ivoire a debute en 1998 sous l'egide de l'ONUSIDA. Le relais a ete assure par le gouvernement ivoirien en 2000 avec le soutien du FondsMondial et du PEPFAR (President Emergency Program ForAids Reliefs). L'accessibilite financiere; la formation du personnel de soins et l'equipement des structures sanitaires ont permis la decentralisation de la prise en charge sur tout le territoire national. Depuis aout 2008; le traitement antiretroviral est gratuit de meme que le suivi biologique. Fin janvier 2009; l'on denombrait 57 833 patients sous antiretroviraux; suivis dans 274 centres de prise en charge. L'utilisation des multitherapies antiretrovirales a considerablement modifie le pronostic avec une amelioration de l'esperance de vie des patients infectes par le VIH. Cependant la morbidite et la mortalite restent encore preoccupantes au cours de la premiere annee suivant la mise en route du traitement avec des incidences respectives variant entre 5 et 10patients-annee (PA) et 2 et 3PA. La morbidite est principalement en rapport avec les infections (tuberculose; bacteriemies) et les effets secondaires precoces. Les traitements antiretroviraux sont globalement bien toleres; les principaux effets secondaires etant l'anemie; les neuropathies; les reactions cutanees et les hypertransaminasemies. Les effets secondaires de grade 3 et 4 ont une incidence faible (2PA). L'observance est bonne; estimee a 80; mais des donnees obtenues chez les enfants et sur certains sites de prise en charge incitent a renforcer les dispositifs d'appui a l'observance. Des resultats probants ont ete obtenus dans la prise en charge antiretrovirale des personnes vivant avec l eVIH .Aussi les efforts sont-ils a poursuivre pour le financement et la prise en charge des infections opportunistes et des effets secondaires et pour l'appui nutritionnel

[Efavirenz versus indinavir among HIV-1 naive patients in Abidjan (Ivory Coast)]. / Efavirenz versus indinavir chez les patients naïfs infectés par le VIH-1 à Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).

OBJECTIVE: The authors had for aim to compare the therapeutic efficiency and tolerance of 2 NRTI+efavirenz (EFV) versus 2 NRTI+indinavir (IDV) in HIV infected adults in Abidjan. METHODS: A retrospective and multicentric study was made on 327 HIV-1 naive patients, 142 in the EFV group and 185 in the IDV group followed in Abidjan from November 1998 to December 2003. The analysis concerned clinical advents (opportunistic infections) and immunovirological parameters (CD4, viral load). Patients received 2 NRTI such as AZT+3TC or D4T+3TC combined either with EFV or IDV. The principal judgement criterion was therapeutic failure. We assessed the percentage of patients with undetectable viral load and the frequency of grade 3-4 adverse effects after 24 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Clinical improvement of patients' state and regression of opportunistic infections were identical in the two groups. The average gain of CD4 was superior to 177 in EFV versus +219 in IDV (p=0.004). The percentage of patients with undetectable viral load was 66% for EFV versus 59% for IDV (p=0.04). The frequency of adverse effects was more elevated with EFV than IDV, 39% versus 23% (p=0.002) initially, but seemed to decrease later. CONCLUSION: HAART with EFV is at least as efficient as with IDV in terms of reduction of viral load and increased CD4 count and is an excellent low-cost first line treatment.

[Medical emergencies related to HIV/AIDS in tropical zones: a prospective study in Cote d'Ivoire (1999-2000)]. / Urgences médicales liées au VIH/SIDA en zone tropicale: étude prospective en côte d'ivoire, 1999-2000.

At the beginning of the HIV epidemic, the incidence of the complications considered as emergencies was high in developed countries but with the advent of new therapeutic strategies the frequency of such complications and the associated need for emergency treatment decreased drastically. In developing countries where management resources remain limited, HIV/AIDS patients are still exposed to the risk of serious complications. However few studies have documented exact implication of HIV/AIDS in medical emergencies hospitals in developing countries. The purpose of this prospective study was to describe medical emergencies related to HIV infection in adult patients admitted at Treichvilie University Hospital Center. Evaluation of prevalence was carried out in the infections disease and internal medicine emergency units between May 1999 and January 2000. All patients over the age of 15 years were included after informed consent to undergo pre-testing and HIV serology. A total of 400 patients were recruited including 312 that were HIV positive (78%). Mean patient age of patients was 35 years. The male-to-female sex ratio was 1. The most frequent motives for emergency consultation were deterioration of general condition (62%), diarrhea (39.1%) and cough (20.5%). Illness was chronic in 54% of cases. Physical signs were severe weight lost (84%), fever (50%), pale conjunctivas (29%), respiratory signs (19.2%) and dehydration (19%). The most frequent organic involvement causing admission was digestive (39.7%), neurological (24.4%) and pulmonary (20.5%). No deaths were observed. Most medical emergencies related to the HIV infection in the adult involved opportunistic diseases. They pose a challenge for therapeutic management.

Urgences medicales liees au VIH/SIDA en zone tropicale : etude prospective en Cote d'Ivoire; 1999-2000

Dans les pays developpes; au debut de l'epidemie du VIH; l'incidence des complications decrites comme des urgences etait tres elev e e. Mais l'avenement de nouvelles strategies therapeutiques; a fait considerablement reduire la frequence de ces complications et des consultations qu'elles imposaient en urgence. Par contre; dans les pays en developpement ou les moyens de prise en charge sont encore limites; on constate avec amertume; que les patients continuent d'etre exposes a ces complications graves. Mais a defaut d'etudes; on ignore la place du VIH/SIDA parmi les problemes rencontres chez les patients en situation d'urgence dans ces hopitaux. L'objectif de notre etude etait de decri re les urgences medicales liees a l'infection a VIH chez l'adulte au CHU de Treichville. Il s'agit d'une etude pro s p e c t ive sous fo rme d'enquete de prevalence realisee entre mai 1999 et janvier 2000; dans les unites d'urgences d'infectiologie et de medecine. Ont ete inclus dans l'etude les sujets admis aux urgences ages de plus de 15 ans et ayant accepte de participer a l'enquete en se soumettant au pre-test et a la serologie du VIH. Nous avons recrute 400 patients parmi lesquels 312 etaient infectes par le VIH (78). L' age moyen des patients etait de 35 ans. Le sex - ratio H/F etait de 1. Les motifs de consultation les plus frequents :l'alteration de l'etat general (62); la diarrhee (39;1) et la toux (20;5) ; 54des pathologies avaient une evolution chronique. Les signes physiques etaient l'amaigrissement important (83;6); la fievre (50); la paleur des conjonctives (29); les signes respiratoires (19;2) et la deshydratation (19). Les atteintes organiques les plus frequentes etaient digestives (39;7); neurologiques (24;4) et pulmonaires (20;5) et ont necessite plus d'hospitalisation. Aucun cas de deces n'a ete observe. Les urgences medicales liees a l'infection par le VIH chez l'adulte concernent essentiellement les affe ctions opportunistes. Elles posent le pro bleme de leur prise en charge therapeutique.). L' age moyen des patients etait de 35 ans. Le sex - ratio H/F etait de 1. Les motifs de consultation les plus frequents: l ' alteration de l'etat general (62); la diarrhee (39;1) et la toux (20;5) ; 54des pathologies avaient une evolution chro n i q u e. Les signes physiques etaient l'amaigrissement important (83;6); la fi e v re (50); la paleur des conjonctives (29); les signes re s p i rat o i res (19;2) et la deshydratation (19). Les atteintes organiques les plus frequentes etaient digestives (39;7); neurologiques (24;4) et pulmonaires (20;5) et ont necessite plus d'hospitalisation. Aucun cas de deces n'a ete observe. Les urgences medicales liees a l'infection par le VIH chez l'adulte concernent essentiellement les affe ctions opportunistes. Elles posent le pro bleme de leur prise en charge therap e u t i q u e.). L' age moyen des patients etait de 35 ans. Le sex - ratio H/F etait de 1. Les motifs de consultation les plus frequents: l ' a l t e ration de l'etat general (62); la diarrhee (39;1) et la toux (20;5) ; 54des pathologies avaient une evolution chronique. Les signes physiques etaient l'amaigrissement important (83;6); la fievre (50); la paleur des conjonctives (29); les signes respiratoires (19;2) et la deshydratation (19). Les atteintes organiques les plus frequentes etaient digestives (39;7); neurologiques (24;4) et pulmonaires (20;5) et ont necessite plus d'hospitalisation. Aucun cas de deces n'a ete observe. Les urgences medicales liees a l'infection par le VIH chez l'adulte concernent essentiellement les affe ctions opportunistes. Elles posent le pro bleme de leur prise en charge therapeutique

[Pregnancy and periodontal health. Study of 133 pregnant women]. / Grossesse et état de santé parodontale. Etude aupres de 133 femmes enceintes.

The pregnancy is a modified physiological state having consequences on the buccal sphere generally and on the periodontal tissues in particular. We proceeded to the periodontal exam of 133 pregnant women; in spite of a relatively acceptable hygiene, 73.7% of them present periodontal changes. These changes concern especially the superficial periodontal. We did not observe the presence of deep pockets periodontal. It emerges of our study that neither the period of pregnancy, nor the parity have influence in the importance of the periodontal hurts.

[Localized tetanus in Abidjan: clinical and prognostic features (1976-1997)]. / Le tétanos localisé à Abidjan: particularités cliniques et évolutives (1976-1997).

UNLABELLED: Localised tetanus, rarely described in Africa, was examined retrospectively in Abidjan, over a period of 22 years (1976-97). Forty-five patients--representing an incidence rate of 2% of tetanus cases--were reported in this time span. The mean age was 23 years, and none of the patients had had prior access to adequate immunoprophylaxis. Three clinical forms were observed: tetanus of the limbs (32 cases, 71%), cephalic tetanus (11 cases, 25%), and abdominal tetanus (2 cases, 4%). Infection had occurred via wounds of the limbs (38%), intramuscular injections (33%), craniofacial wounds (25%), and abdominal wounds (2%). No portal of entry was identified for 2% of the cases. 37 patients were cured (82%) of whom 5 retained sequelae (11%). 7 deaths were observed (16%). In terms of prognosis, the only risk was secondary generalisation of tetanus (27%). CONCLUSION: Localised tetanus is far from being mild and incurs significant rates of sequelae. The only efficient treatment is immunisation-based prophylaxis.

[Adult non-viral lymphocytic meningitis in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire)]. / Méningites lymphocytaires non virales de l'adulte à Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).

Our prospective and longitudinal study aimed to analyse the aetiologies, clinical features and prognostic of non viral lymphocytes meningitis (NVLM). We recruited 131 patients, 77 males (59%) and 54 females (41%) sex-ratio 1.4. The mean age was 35 years [15-67]. 117 patients were HIV positive (89%) and 14 (11%) were HIV negative. Feverish meningoencephalitis was present in 85% of cases, with 7 days for mean delay of admission into hospital. 80 germs were found in the C.S.F. 70 Cryptococcus neoformans, 4 Mycobacterium tuberculosis, 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 1 Candida albicans, 1 Neisseria meningitis and 1 Trypanosoma gambiense. 63 aetiologies were linked to lymphocytes meningitis by indirect deduction: 41 cases of tuberculous meningitis with lung X-ray anomalies and M. tuberculosis in sputum (11 times), 11 cases of cerebral malaria with Plasmodium falciparum in blood, 11 cases of cerebral toxoplasmosis by significant features with cerebral tomodensitometry. Letality was 53%, 35% of patients improved and 12% were lost to follow-up. Our study shows the difficulties in the management of the NVLM, due to the delay of diagnosis, particularly for tuberculous meningitis.

[Neurosurgical complications of purulent meningitis in the tropical zone]. / Complications neurochirurgicales des méningites purulentes en zone tropicale.

Our retrospective study concerned 35 cases of surgical complications related to bacterial meningitis in 16 adults and 19 children. The mean age was 28 years for adults (15-56 years), and 6 months for children (1-12 months). Portal of entry for meningitis was found in 12 cases (35%): 8 sinusitis and 4 otitis. Delay to appearance of complications was 4.5 days, and to diagnosis confirmation 9 days with CT scan (17 cases), and transfontanellar ultrasonography (19 cases). The complications were: hydrocephalus, 19 cases (54%), brain empyemas, 7 cases (20%), abscesses, 10 cases (28.5%), ventriculitis, 2 cases (6%). Twenty-two bacteria were isolated from the CSF: Streptococcus pneumoniae (15 cases), Haemophilus influenzae (5 cases), Neisseria meningitidis (1 case), and Escherichia coli (1 case). Fourteen patients underwent neurosurgical treatment based on aspiration in case of suppuration and external drainage in case of hydrocephalus. The associated medical treatment was antibiotics combining third-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolone, and metronidazol, with a mean duration of 12 days. Recovery rate was 89%, letality 11%, and after effect rate were 33%. Our results confirm the low frequency of neurosurgical complications related to bacterial meningitis, but it emphasizes the role of an early CT-scan for diagnosis and prognosis.

[Problems produced by the use of antitubercular agents in a reference service for HIV/AIDS in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire)]. / Problèmes engendrés par l'utilisation des antituberculeux dans un service de référence pour VIH/SIDA à Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).

This study reports on the experience using antituberculosis drugs in a HIV/AIDS reference service in Abidjan during a 64 month period. Prevalence of tuberculosis is 1.9% out of a total of 23,957 patients. The annual incidence rate increased slowly from 0.9% in 1990 to 3.5% in 1995. Seropositivity to HIV is 90.8%. Predominant locations of tuberculosis are pulmonary (60.3%), extrapulmonary (19.7%) and multifocal or disseminated (20%). The average period of diagnosis (9.9 days) and average duration of antituberculosis treatment in hospital (11.8 days) are similar whatever the serological status and the location of the infection may be. However, the mortality rate is more important in HIV positive patients (39.7%) than in HIV negative (17.6%) p = 0.01. The decision to treat is taken by infectiologists only in 88% of the cases, by pneumologists only in 2.5%, and both by infectiologists and pneumologists in 9.5%. Side-effects due to antituberculosis drugs were noticed in 19 patients leading to an interruption of the treatment in 10 cases. The authors recommend that health personnel be trained for the management of tuberculosis.

Oropharyngeal candidiasis in AIDS patients from Abidjan (Ivory Coast): antifungal susceptibilities and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis analysis of Candida albicans isolates.

Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MEE) and in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing were used to investigate the Candida albicans strain diversity in twenty nine AIDS patients from Abidjan (Ivory Coast). All patients were monitored for a first episode of oropharyngeal candidiasis and were randomly clustered into three groups of therapy: ketoconazole, amphotericin B or nystatin. Oral swabs were collected before every treatment, 14 and 30 days after the initiation of the therapy; a total of 67 isolates were investigated. No resistant or less susceptible isolate to any antifungal agent was found despite the emergence of clinical relapses, mainly for patients treated with nystatin or amphotericin B. The MEE analysis revealed 27 different electrophoretic types (ETs). Genetic distances between ETs were statistically analyzed and represented on a dendrogram. The 27 ETs clustered into three groups; in each group, ETs represented variants of the same strain. A segregation of the C. albicans isolates seemed to be as a function of the serotype.