Place of urolithiasis in the spectrum of urological pathologies, practices and use of endourological procedures in the management of calculi of the upper urinary tract: results of a survey of referral centres in Africa.

Our aim was to determine the current trend of endourology in the management of upper urinary tract calculi in Africa reference centres. We conducted an online multiple-choice questionnaire survey involving 46 centres from 27 countries using a structured well-designed Google Form (®) questionnaire. The questionnaires were distributed to the head of service through their emails. The questions collected demographic data about the centre, the epidemiology of urolithiasis, diagnostic means and management of upper urolithiasis, especially access to endourology procedures and their practices. Descriptive analyses were performed. The participation rate was 77.9%. Urinary lithiasis was one of the three main pathologies encountered in 42/46 centres. 33 centres had easy access to CT scanners and 34 had operating theatres equipped with endo-urological surgery equipment. Of these 34 centres, 30 perform endourology for the management of upper urinary tract stones. Rigid ureteroscopy is the main technique used by the centres. It is the only endourology technique used for stone management by 12 centres (40%). 7/30 (23.3%) have the option of performing rigid ureteroscopy, flexible ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy. The frequency of procedures varies widely, with 43.3% rarely performing endourological surgery. Seventeen centres have their operating theatre equipped with a fluoroscope and 6/42 centres have extracorporeal lithotripsy. Open surgery is still used in 29/42 centres (69.1%). Laparoscopy is available in 50% of centres, but none reported performing laparoscopic lithotomy. In Africa, urinary lithiasis plays an important role in the activities of referral centres. Modern management techniques are used to varying degrees (not all centres have them) and with very variable frequency. Open surgery is still widely performed as a management. Rigid ureteroscopy is the main endourological technique. It is essential to develop the practice of modern urology in Africa, mainly endourology.

Presence of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in asymptomatic population of N'Djamena, Chad.

INTRODUCTION: Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) are an important specific defence against viral infections, as these antibodies bind to specific receptor(s) and block the viral entry. NAbs assessments are therefore useful in determining individual or herd immunity to SARS-CoV-2. This study aims to deepen the investigation by assessing the positivity rate of neutralizing anti-spike antibodies to understand the real protection of the studied population against SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: This study involved 260 plasma samples from a larger cohort of 2,700 asymptomatic volunteer donors, enrolled between August and October 2021 in health facilities of N'Djamena. In this study four different kits and techniques including the pseudotype assay have been used and compared with detect the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Pseudotyped vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), was used both the identify and measure the NAbs that to evaluate the performance of two cheaper and easy to use commercial kits, specific for the detection of receptor-binding domain antibodies (anti-RBD) against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. RESULTS: The VSV spike neutralization assay showed that 59.0% (n = 59) samples were positive for NAbs with titers ranging from 1:10 to 1:4800. While 23 out the 41 negative NAbs samples were detected positive using anti-RBD (Abbott) test. Furthermore, a direct and significant strong correlation was found between NAbs and anti-RBD, specifically with Abbott kit. Taken together, the Roche and Abbott methods indicated agreement at the high concentrations of antibodies with the VSV-pseudovirus method. Abbott and Roche indicated a good sensitivity, but the Abbott system test appeared to have better specificity than the Roche test. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated a high presence of NAbs against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein among asymptomatic individuals in N'Djamena. This could be one of the reasons for the low severity of Covid-19 observed in this area, given the key role of NAbs in blocking SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Prévalence des accidents exposant aux produits biologiques potentiellement contaminés par les virus des hépatites B et C chez les agents de santé à Ndjamena

Introduction. Les professions sanitaires sont exposées au risque d'infection virale B et C des accidents résultant du contact professionnel avec les milieux biologiques. Les données sur les accidents exposant au sang (AES) sont rares en Afrique noire. Le but de notre étude était d'évaluer la prévalence des AES au sein du personnel soignant en milieu hospitalier à Ndjamena. Méthodes. Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale réalisée du 8 Août au 8 Novembre 2015 dans cinq hôpitaux de la ville de Ndjamena à l'aide d'un questionnaire standardisé administré par des enquêteurs à des agents de santé. Résultats. le taux de participation à l'enquête était faible (34,2%). Parmi les personnes interrogées, 60,2% affirmaient avoir eu un AES, surtout des infirmiers (57%). Seuls 38% déclaraient administrativement leur accident. L'attitude après un AES était insuffisante et consistait essentiellement en une désinfection et une sérologie de la personne source (51,9%). Une formation sur les hépatites virales avait été reçue par 44 des agents interrogés (12%). La couverture vaccinale VHB, le portage des anticorps anti VHC et de l'AgHBs étaient respectivement de 38,7%, 1,6% et de 13%. Conclusion. La prévalence des AES est élevée chez les agents de santé de Ndjamena. Leurs connaissances sur les hépatites B et C sont insuffisantes. De ce fait, la mise en œuvre d'un programme de sensibilisation sur les hépatites et la vaccination du personnel s'avère indispensable

[Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of blunt abdominal trauma in patients undergoing surgery at the General Hospital of National Reference of N'Djamena, Chad: about 49 cases]. / Aspects des traumatismes fermés de l'abdomen opérés à l'Hôpital Général de Référence Nationale de N'Djaména (HGRN), Tchad: à propos de 49 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Blunt abdominal traumas are common. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 49 patients with blunt abdominal trauma who underwent surgery at the General Hospital of National Reference of N'Djamena, Chad over a period of 5 years. Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic parameters of patients were studied. RESULTS: The study included 42 men and 7 women, mean age 21.3 years. The causes of blunt abdominal traumas were: road traffic accidents in 61.2% of cases; wall collapses (14.3%); assaults (8.2%). Blunt abdominal traumas were more frequent in August (14.28%) and October (16.32%). The waiting time for admission in hospital was 6-12h in 43% of cases. At discharge, wounded patients used private car in 85.7% of cases. Clinically, patients were often hemodynamically stable (55.1%). Medical imaging was dominated by direct radiography of the abdomen (57.1%). The most observed lesions were those located only in the small intestine (16.32%) or related to that of the bladder (8.16%) and spleen (2.04%). Laparotomy was negative in 6.12% of cases. Morbidity (12.2%) was dominated by abdominal wall abscess. Mortality rate was 6.1%. CONCLUSION: Road traffic accidents are the leading cause of blunt abdominal traumas. It is important to minimize delays in diagnosis, and treatment. Road safety measures should be implemented to prevent accidents.