Risk Factors for COVID-19 Related Death during the First Three Waves of the Pandemic in an Epidemic Treatment Center at Dakar, Senegal

Introduction-Objective: COVID-19 is a highly transmissible but often mild viral infection. However, some patients can present severe COVID-19 and subsequently die. The aim of the present study was to assess the risk factors for COVID-19 related death during the first three waves of the disease at the Epidemic Treatment Center (ETC) of Dakar Principal Hospital (DPH). Method: We conducted a descriptive and analytical perspective survival study from April 4, 2020 to September 25, 2021, including adult patients with COVID-19, hospitalized at the ETC of DPH. Log Rank test and multivariate Cox model were performed to identify risk factors for death. Results: We included 556 COVID-19 patients with mean age of 57 ± 17 years and a male-to-female ratio of 1.26. The number of deaths during one month of follow-up was 41, representing a cumulative risk of 7.4%. The log Rank test showed that being from the third wave (p = 0.0056), advanced age (p = 0.00098), presence of at least one comorbidity (p = 0.034), High blood pressure (p = 0.024), d-dimer level ≥ 1000 IU/L (p Conclusion: Our study showed that elderly and third-wave of COVID-19 patients were more at risk to die. Knowledge of risk factors for COVID-19 related death could improve the prognosis of these patients.

Epidemiological, Clinical and Outcome Aspects of Care-Related Tetanus in Dakar, Senegal

Introduction: Tetanus portals of entry are numerous. Amongst these, the carerelated portals of entry are rarely reported. The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and outcome aspects and identify the factors associated with death from care-related tetanus. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study of descriptive and analytical purposes. Data were collected from the medical records of patients admitted to the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department of the National University Hospital Center (CHNU) of Fann in Dakar for care-related tetanus during the period ranging from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2016. Care-related tetanus was defined as any case of tetanus occurring after a surgical procedure, including circumcisions performed even outside a health facility. Results: In eight years, 50 cases of care-related tetanus were recorded. Care-related tetanus accounted for 6.7% of hospitalized tetanus cases. The mean age of patients was 21 ± 22 years, with a male predominance (sex ratio: 6.14). The procedure had been performed in most cases, either in a health facility in 22 patients (44%) or at home in 16 patients (32%), and occurred after circumcision. In 62% of cases the portal of entry was urological, followed by orthopedic surgery (14%) and visceral surgery (10%). The procedures performed were dominated by circumcision (31 cases), limb amputation (3 cases) and inguinal hernia repair (2 cases). Tetanus was immediately generalized on admission in all patients. Eighty-four percent (84%) of patients were admitted with Mollaret stage II. Cardiovascular (11 cases), infectious (10 cases) and respiratory (9 cases) complications were the most frequent. The hospital case fatality rate was 24%. Factors associated with death were female gender (p = 0.03), age between 15 - 60 years (p = 0.02), incubation time Conclusion: Care-related tetanus remains a concern in poor income countries, particularly in Senegal. The drop of these cases will require better immunization coverage of the population. It is also appropriate to raise the awareness of health care providers and surgeons and to promote capacity building for better prevention of cases through sero-immunization of patients at risk before the procedure and rigorous asepsis.

Characteristics, Management, and Outcomes of Tetanus Cases in a Referral Center in Senegal, between 2010 and 2017

Tetanus is an infection caused by Clostridium tetani. The disease has been described from the earliest medical literature. Despite this old knowledge, the existence of a vaccine, and the progress made in pathophysiology and treatment, tetanus remains a real public health problem, particularly in developing countries. Tetanus in children and adults is still a frequent cause of hospitalization in the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department (SMIT) of the Fann National University Hospital (CHNU). We conducted this study with the main objective of carrying out a situational analysis of tetanus at SMIT from 2010 to 2017. We recorded 706 cases of tetanus in a total of 8123 hospitalized patients. The median age of the patients was 23 years [1 - 90 years]. The sex ratio (M/F) was 4/1. More than half (58.78%) came from suburban areas. The population was most frequently made up of students (24%) or manual workers (22.1%). At least one comorbidity was present in 107 patients (15.15%). The absence of a vaccination record was found in 99.56%. The main portal of entry was integumentary (83.3%), post-circumcision (5.7%) and otogenous (4%). Tetanus was generalized in 93.9% of cases. The main signs of tetanus found were trismus and dysphagia. Patients were most frequently classified as stage II (78.7%). Antibiotic therapy was based on metronidazole (51.41%). Anti-tetanus serotherapy was carried out by sub-occipital administration in 97.6%. Tracheostomy was performed in 48 patients. Complications occurred in 226 patients (32.01%). The main complications were respiratory (53.98%), infectious (45.13%) and cardiovascular (41.59%). The average delay in hospitalization was 3.6 ± 3.4 days. The mean length of hospital stay was 11.9 ± 8.2 days. The hospital case-lethality rate was 18.98%. Despite the decline in cases over the years in our country, tetanus remains a public health problem because of its prevalence, severity, and lethality.

Neuro-meningeal Tuberculosis in Adult Senegalese Patients: Profile and Outcome of Cases Diagnosed at a Referral Service, from 2015 to 2020

Background: Among patients treated for tuberculosis, 2% to 5% have a Central Nervous System (CNS) lesion, and its frequency rises to 10% in HIV-infected patients. Neuro-meningeal tuberculosis (NMT) is responsible for death and severe permanent neurological damage. This poor prognosis requires early diagnosis and rapid initiation of specific treatment. Unfortunately, the great clinical polymorphism and the lack of specificity of radiological and biological signs are frequently responsible for a delay in diagnosis and management. Senegal is one of the African countries where tuberculosis has remained a concern until now. And there are no studies carried out on this subject. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the profile and outcome of Neuro-meningeal tuberculosis (NMT) cases diagnosed at the infectious diseases department (SMIT) of Fann University Hospital in Dakar, (referral service for management of tuberculosis). Methods: We carried out a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study, reviewing medical records of adults diagnosed with NMT at the SMIT of Fann Hospital from January 2015 to December 2020. Results: We collected 55 cases of NMT. The median age was 38 years [range 16 - 77 years]. The sex ratio (M/F) was 3.23. HIV patients represented 41.82% of cases. A history of tuberculosis was found in 25.5% of cases. The delay in consultation was greater than one month in 60% of patients. Headaches were the most constant reason for consultation (94.55%). Meningeal signs were present in 94.55% of patients, and consciousness disorders and intracranial hypertension were present in 63.64% and 56.36% respectively. Nerve palsy was found in 38.18%. CSF was clear in 81.64%. GeneXpert MTB/RIF in CSF was performed in 33 patients and was positive in 4 patients. Brain CT was abnormal in 72.09% of cases. Tuberculoma, hydrocephalus and meningeal contrast enhancement were the main lesions. The neuro-meningeal localization was associated with a pulmonary form in 32.7%. The lethality rate was 21.8%;higher in women (46.2% vs 14.3%;p = 0.01), in patients with a delay in consultation > 1 month (p = 0.03), and in patients who presented with consciousness disorders (p = 0.007). Conclusion: Despite the availability of the GeneXpert MTB/RIF, diagnosis of NMT remains difficult. Because of its variable clinical expression and the low sensitivity of the GeneXpert MTB/rif in the CSF, it exposes patients to serious complications. Among the factors associated with death, we found consciousness disorders, a long delay in diagnosis.

Prevalence of Hypertension and Associated Factors in Patients Living with HIV Followed at the Ambulatory Treatment Center (CTA) of Fann National University Hospital in Dakar

Introduction: The efficacy of antiretroviral therapy in people living with HIV (PLHIV) has been associated with an important increase in metabolic disorders, such as hypertension (HTA). This work allowed us to estimate the prevalence of hypertension in PLHIV and to describe associated factors. Methods: A retrospective, descriptive and analytical study was carried out based on the records of people living with HIV followed at the Ambulatory Treatment Center (CTA), from January 1st 1998 to 31st, December 2014. The WHO criteria were used to diagnose hypertension. Data entry was performed using ESOPE software and data analysis was done using Epi Info software version 3.5.3. A multiple logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors associated with hypertension. Results: During the study period, 3624 patients followed at CTA were included of which 1184 patients (32.7%) had hypertension. The average age was 47. 3 years ±10.5 years, with a sex ratio of 0.7. The most common opportunistic infections at diagnosis were tuberculosis (14.9%) and oral candidiasis (15.3%). The HIV infection was advanced (stage 3 or 4 of WHO classification) for 39% of cases. Overweight and obesity was found in 19.1%. Only 17.6% were treated by protease inhibitors. Higher average age (OR:1,05;IC [1.04 - 1.05], p = 0.000001), higher average BMI (OR:5,3;IC [3.3 - 8.5], p = 0.00001), WHO clinical stage I-II (OR:1,4;IC [1.2 - 1.6], p = 0.00003), and ARV treatment (OR:2,5;IC [1.7 - 3.7], p = 0.000001) are associated with the occurrence of hypertension. Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension was high among PLHIV and associated factors were: advanced age, high BMI, WHO clinical stages I and II and antiretroviral therapy. Hence, the interest of a systematic screening of hypertension and others cardiovascular risk factors particularly in patients under ARV antiretroviral therapy.

Enterobacterial Infections Diagnosed at the Clinic of Infectious Diseases of Fann Hospital (2013-2014) Dakar, Senegal

Introduction: Entero bacteria are mainly found in the gut of man and animals. The frequent acquisition of antibiotic resistance mechanisms explains why they are the bacteria most often implicated in human infectious pathology. It is estimated to be involved in 50% of sepsis, 60% of enteritis, 70% of urinary tract infection case. Objective: To determine the prevalence of enterobacterial infections diagnosed at Fann Infectious Diseases Clinic, and describe their epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective and descriptive study, on patients hospitalized from January 2013 to December 2014, at Fann Infectious Diseases Clinic, with bacteriological confirmation of an enterobacteria infection. Results: A total of 129 cases were collected during the study period. The average age was 41 years, and female were predominant (60%) with a sex ratio of 0.67. Comorbidity was found in 88.4% of the cases, most of which were HIV infection. The most common clinical signs were infectious syndrome (53.49%) and general impairment (40.31%). The main gateway was urinary (55.8%). Samples were monomicrobial in 76.7% of cases. Klebsiella and Escherichia were the most common and 68.7% of the subjects had probabilistic treatment. Most enterobacterial strains were resistant to third generation cephalosporins (C3G), aminoglycosides to ciprofloxacin and cotrimoxazole. Aside from 4% of them, all were sensitive to imipenem. Conclusion: The advent of antibiotics has brought hope in the treatment of enterobacterial infections. However, an increase in their resistance to the usual antibiotics has been noted in recent years. As a result, the fight against antibiotic resistance must be a priority.

Characteristics of Liver Abscess in Department of Infectious Diseases at Fann Teaching University Hospital in Dakar, Senegal

Introduction: Abscesses of the liver are due to an infection of bacterial, parasitic or fungal origin. Through amoebiological imaging and serology, their diagnosis was facilitated. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic and evolutionary aspects of these liver abscesses at the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases in Fann Teaching University Hospital. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective and descriptive study, based on records of patients hospitalized for abscess of the liver over a period of 8 years, from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2015. Results: We collected 20 cases of abscesses including 12 cases of confirmed amoebic abscesses and 5 cases of pyogenic abscesses. The mean age of the patients was 43.15 ± 15.12 years. There were 18 men and 2 women. The average hospital stay was 32 days. The most common clinical signs were abdominal pain (100%), fever (75%), hepatomegaly (80%). A leukocytosis greater than 12,000 Gb/mm3 was found in 13 patients. The amoebic serology was positive in 71% of cases and negative in 29% of cases. No germ was isolated from the blood culture. On hepatic ultrasound the abscess was unique in 90%. Treatment was exclusively medical in 11 patients (55%). The trend was favorable in 85% of cases. Conclusion: The incidence of liver abscesses has significantly decreased. It is important to develop diagnostic tools better in the case of pyogenic abscesses.