Absence of association between ex vivo susceptibility to doxycycline and pftetQ and pfmdt copy numbers in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Dakar, Senegal.

The objective of this study was to validate the use of pftetQ and pfmdt genes as molecular markers of decreased in vitro susceptibility to doxycycline in 113 Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Dakar, Senegal. The results show that copy numbers of pftetQ and pfmdt, estimated by TaqMan real-time PCR, are not significantly associated with reduced susceptibility to doxycycline in vitro; however, the number of samples with a high doxycycline IC(50) was likely to be too low to derive statistically significant results. Thus, no definitive conclusions could be drawn. The markers should be further tested by analysing more isolates.

[Broad-spectrum beta-lactamases: profile and perspectives after 3 years of systematic detection at the Main Hospital of Dakar (1 February 1992 to 1 February 1995)]. / Beta lactamases à spectre élargi: bilan et perspectives après trois ans de détection systématique à l'Hôpital Principal de Dakar (1er Février 1992-1er Février 1995).

After having undertaken an estimation upon infections from bacteria generating extended broad spectrum Beta-lactamase at "Hospital Principal" of Dakar between 1992 to 1993 and after having drawn the attention of authorities of the Hospital to the hazard caused by this sort of infections, authors come back in doing a second estimation during the two following years. The results of this estimation show that measures preciously taken, not with standing an certain impact, are clearly unsufficient and have got a limited effect in the future. They suggest practical solutions in the long run, solutions that have already been taken at "Hospital Principal" of Dakar and deserve to be kept on and encouraged.

[Nosocomial septicemias due to multiresistant enterobacteria: preliminary considerations in 32 cases observed in the African hospital environment]. / Septicémies nosocomiales à enterobactéries multirésistantes aux antibiotiques: considérations préliminaires à propos de 32 cas observés in milieu hospitalier africain.

In hospital settings in Africa the many other concerns of sanitary officials and the lack of available resources often make hospital hygiene and nosocomial infection secondary problems. To illustrate the importance of these issues in an African pediatric setting, this report describes a series of 32 cases of nosocomial septicemia that occurred within a 2-month period in the Pediatric Department of Principal Hospital in Dakar. There were 10 deaths. The infecting organisms were similar to those observed in industrial countries. Klebsiella Pneumoniae was identified in 16 cases, Escherichia coli in 5, and an association of both bacteria in 5. A profile of beta-lactamase enzymes with a classic epidemiologic spectrum was observed in 15 of 21 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and in 3 of 10 strains of Escherichia coli. The authors discuss the conditions that may have encouraged the outbreak of septicemia, regret the lack of a service to monitor hospital hygiene, and propose prophylactic measures using laboratory tests that are feasible in a hospital setting in Africa.