Costs of dengue in three French territories of the Americas: an analysis of the hospital medical information system (PMSI) database.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is a major emerging public health concern in tropical and subtropical countries. Severe dengue can lead to hospitalisation and death. This study was performed to assess the economic burden of hospitalisations for dengue from 2007 to 2011 in three French territories of the Americas where dengue is endemic (French Guiana, Martinique and Guadeloupe). METHODS: Data on dengue-associated hospitalisations were extracted from the French national hospital administrative database, Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information (PMSI). The numbers of stays and the corresponding number of hospitalised patients were determined using disease-specific ICD-10 codes. Associated hospital costs were estimated from the payer perspective, using French official tariffs. RESULTS: Overall, 4183 patients (mean age 32 years; 51 % male) were hospitalised for dengue, corresponding to 4574 hospital stays. In nearly all hospital stays (98 %; 4471), the illness was medically managed and the mean length of stay was 4.3 days. The mean cost per stay was €2522, corresponding to a total hospital cost of €11.5 million over the 5 years assessed. The majority of hospitalisations (80 % of patients) and associated costs (75 % of total hospital costs) were incurred during two epidemics. CONCLUSION: Severe dengue is associated with significant hospital costs that escalate during outbreaks.

[Isolation of free-living amoebae from the nasal mucosa of man. Potential risk (author's transl)]. / Isolement d'amibes libres à partir de la muqueuse nasale de l'homme. Risque éventuel.

From march 1976 until december 1978, we have analysed 1039 nasal swabs in order to discover the healthy free-living amoebae carriers. So, we have isolated 9 strains of which one Hartmannella vermiformis. From the 8 remaining Acanthamoebae, only one, ORL 561 (Acanthamoeba hatchetti) is as pathogenic for mice as the 2 other identical known strains and A. culbertsoni.