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Need for standardization and compliance to treatment protocols for COVID-19 within the African Region of the World Health Organization

*1Fuller, W. L., 1Mukankubito, I., 1Nikiema, J. B., 1Ali Ahmed, Y., and 2Aboderin, A. O.
1World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo 2Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria *Correspondence to: wfuller@who.int

Abstract:
COVID-19 pandemic changed the face of global health and brought about new issues in global health security and economy. The World Health Organization published guidelines for clinical management of COVID-19 four months after declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic. Scholarly reviews and studies from member states within WHO AFRO reveals significant deviation from the WHO published protocols on COVID-19. Assessment of national treatment protocols of 30 of 47 WHO AFRO member states showed widespread inappropriate use of antimicrobial agents for patients, which may worsen the global and concerning threat of antimicrobial resistance. There is need for adopting interventions that optimize antimicrobial use in the context of pre- and post-pandemic preparedness to ensure long-term effectiveness and sustainability for antimicrobials. Treatment guidelines are to be adopted or adapted depending on best clinical evidence available. Non-compliance with guidelines might lead to mismanagement of infectious diseases with attendant negative consequences including antimicrobial resistance and misdirection of critical resources and supplies amongst others. Continue reading “Need for standardization and compliance to treatment protocols for COVID-19 within the African Region of the World Health Organization”

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COVID-19 in children aged 0-15 years seen at Amirou Boubacar Diallo National Hospital in Niamey, Niger, 2020-2021

1,2Idé Amadou, H., 3Mahamadou Yacouba, M., 2,4Dodo, B., 5Boua Togola, O., 2,4Aboubacar, S., 6Ousmane, A., 2,4Garba, M., and 2Mainassara, S.

1Medical and Health Research Center (CERMES), BP: 10887, Niamey, Niger

2Amirou Boubacar Diallo National Hospital (HNABD), BP: 10146, Niamey, Niger

3Direction of Surveillance and Response to Epidemics (DSRE), BP: 623, Niamey, Niger

4Faculty of Health Sciences, Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, BP: 10146, Niamey, Niger 5General Direction of Health and Public Hygiene, BP: 233, Bamako, Mali 6Faculty of Health Sciences, Dan Dicko Dan Koulodo University of Maradi, Niger *Correspondence to: ide.habibatou@yahoo.fr; Tel: 00 227 91 12 50 30/ 98 34 36 68

Abstract:
Background: In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic affected all age groups. Although COVID-19 is generally benign in children, a diagnostic problem may arise due to clinical similarities with certain pathologies such as malaria, dengue fever and influenza. The objective of this study is to describe the epidemiological profile of COVID 19 in children seen at consultation and to determine the prevalence of influenza, malaria and dengue fever as differential diagnoses. Continue reading “COVID-19 in children aged 0-15 years seen at Amirou Boubacar Diallo National Hospital in Niamey, Niger, 2020-2021”

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Falciparum malaria is associated with risk markers of type 2 diabetes mellitus in individuals with or without   COVID-19 exposure

[1]Adatsi, R., 2Pappoe, F., 3Bockarie, A. S., 4Derkyi-Kwarteng, L., 5Nsiah, P., 1Weyori, E. W.,

2Dankwa, K., 2Aniakwaa-Bonsu, E., 6Setorglo, J., and *6Acquah, S

1Public Health Reference Laboratory, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana

2Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana

3Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana

4Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana

5Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana

6Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana

*Correspondence to: sacquah@ucc.edu.gh

 

Abstract:

Background: Scientific information on the impact of malaria on the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after recovery from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is limited in the Ghanaian context. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between selected risk markers of T2DM in falciparum malaria patients post-COVID-19 or not at a tertiary hospital in Ghana. Continue reading “Falciparum malaria is associated with risk markers of type 2 diabetes mellitus in individuals with or without   COVID-19 exposure”

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COVID-19 and Dengue co-infection in paediatric patients: An endemic in a pandemic

†Pavani, S., †Srinath, M., Sultana, W., Rani, V. S., *Mehreen, S. F., and Ravi, V.

Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Osmania Medical College, Koti, Hyderabad-500095, Telangana, India

*Correspondence to: drfakihamehreen@gmail.com; +91 8500499786

†Authors have equal contribution to the study

 

Abstract:

Background: The clinical presentation and outcome of COVID-19 are likely to be complicated by co-infection with other endemic viruses such as Dengue. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of co-infections of SARS-CoV-2 and Dengue viruses in paediatric patients from Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading “COVID-19 and Dengue co-infection in paediatric patients: An endemic in a pandemic”

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Prevalence of COVID-19 at the Wahgnion-Gold mining site in Burkina Faso and use of RT-PCR initial cycle threshold to monitor the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 load

+1Cissé, A., +*1,2Lingani, M., 1Tao, M., 1Nana, S., 1Kaboré, B., 3Eric D. A. S., 4Nassouri, A., 1Diagbouga, S., 5Bamba, S., and 1Tarnagda, Z.

1National Influenza Reference Laboratory, Unité des Maladies à Potentiel Epidémique, Maladies Émergentes et

Zoonoses, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Burkina Faso

2Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Nanoro, Burkina Faso

3Teranga Gold Corporation, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

4Wahgnion Gold Operation, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

5Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Santé, Université Nazi BONI, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

*Correspondence to: lingani10@yahoo.fr; +joint first authors

 

Abstract:

 Background: To control the spread of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), it is necessary to adequately identify and isolate infectious patients particularly at the work place. Real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay is the recommended confirmatory method for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of SARSCoV-2 infection in Burkina Faso and to use the initial cycle threshold (Ct) values of RT-PCR as a tool to monitor the dynamics of the viral load.

Methodology: Between September 2021 and February 2022, oropharyngeal and/or nasopharyngeal swab samples of consecutively selected COVID-19 symptomatic and apparently healthy workers from the Wahgnion mining site in the South-western Burkina Faso who consented to the study were collected according to the two weeks shift program and tested for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR assay. Patients positive for the virus were followed-up weekly until tests were negative. Association of the initial RT-PCR Ct values with disease duration was assessed by adjusted linear regression approach. Two-sided p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Continue reading “Prevalence of COVID-19 at the Wahgnion-Gold mining site in Burkina Faso and use of RT-PCR initial cycle threshold to monitor the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 load”

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A systematic review of clinical characteristics, co-morbidities and outcomes of COVID-19 in children and adolescents

 

*1Adegboro, B., 2Musa-Booth, T. O., 3Mba, I. N., 4Ibrahim, R. R., 1Medugu, N.,

5Abayomi, S. A., and 6Babazhitsu, M.

 

Departments of 1Medical Microbiology/Immunology and

3Chemical Pathology, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria

21928, Woodlawn Drive, Woodlawn, Maryland 21207, USA

4Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria

5Department of Medical Microbiology, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria

6Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria

*Correspondence to: boazadegboro@gmail.com; boaz.adegboro@nileuniverity.edu.ng

Abstract:

Background: COVID-19 is a major global health challenge that has affected all age groups and gender, with over 5 million deaths reported worldwide to date. The objective of this study is to assess available information on COVID-19 in children and adolescents with respect to clinical characteristics, co-morbidities, and outcomes, and identify gaps in the literatures for appropriate actions.                   Continue reading “A systematic review of clinical characteristics, co-morbidities and outcomes of COVID-19 in children and adolescents”

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Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants: a mini-review

1Musa-Booth, T. O., *2Adegboro, B., and 2Medugu, N.
11928 Woodlawn Drive, Woodlawn, Maryland 21207, USA

2Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria

*Correspondence to: boazadegboro@gmail.com; boaz.adegboro@nileuniversity.edu.ng

Abstract:

SARS-CoV-2 has evolved over time with several mutations, especially on the spike protein, which has led to emergence of various variants. With the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 come new challenges in surveillance, effectiveness of preventive and treatment strategies, and outcome of the disease. Despite the lockdowns, mask mandates and other preventive measures put in place, in addition to over 10 million vaccine doses that have been administered globally as of February 2022, COVID-19 cases have risen to over 435 million and resulted in over 5.9 million deaths, largely as a result of the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants. To review the evolution of these variants, we searched different online database sources using keywords such as “source of SARS-CoV-2”, “SARS-CoV-2 origin”, “evolution of SARS-CoV-2”, “SARS-CoV-2 variants”, “variants of concern”, “variants of interest”, and “variants of high consequence”. This was to enable us give a good report about the various variants of SARS-CoV-2 that have emerged so far, and the public health challenges posed by them. Continue reading “Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants: a mini-review”

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Predictive factors of clinical assays on hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 mortality during the first year of the pandemic: a meta-synthesis

*1,2Million, M., 1,2Dudouet, P., 1,2Chabriere, E., 1,3Cortaredona, S., 1,2Roussel, Y., 1,2Brouqui, P., and 1,2Raoult, D.

1IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
2Aix Marseille Univ., IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, Marseille, France
3Aix Marseille Univ., IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
*Correspondence to: Prof. Matthieu Million. MEPHI, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 19-21 Boulevard Jean Moulin 13385 Marseille Cedex 05, France. E-mail: matthieumillion@gmail.com; Phone: + 33 (0) 4 13 73 24 01; Fax: + 33 (0) 4 13 73 24 02

Abstract:
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a violent debate about the efficacy of a repurposed drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and a new broad-spectrum antiviral (remdesivir) and about randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies. To understand conflicting results in the literature, we performed a meta-synthesis to determine whether intrinsic qualitative criteria within studies may predict apparent efficacy or ineffectiveness of HCQ and remdesivir. Continue reading “Predictive factors of clinical assays on hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 mortality during the first year of the pandemic: a meta-synthesis”

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Pathologic changes in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: a review

*1Babazhitsu, M., 2Adegoke, O. O., 3Abayomi, S. A., and 4Adegboro, B.

1Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria 2Department of Pathology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria 3Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria 4Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja

*Correspondence to: babazhitsu.makun@udusok.edu.ng; +234 8032874925

Abstract:
Severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) enters cells using the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which are expressed by the respiratory tract endothelium, epithelial cells of the stomach, duodenum, ileum, rectum, cholangiocytes, and hepatocytes. Pathological examinations of these organs are not feasible method of diagnosis but can explain pathological changes, pathogenesis of the disease, and the cause of death in COVID-19 cases. In this review, we performed a literature search for COVID-19-related pathological changes seen during post-mortem examinations in different organs of the body including the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidney, skin, heart and blood. Our findings showed that SARS-CoV-2 has damaging effects on many organs, probably due to the host immune responses to the presence of the virus. It is recommended that both antiviral and immunomodulatory agents should be considered in the management of COVID-19 patients for better prognosis, and clinical outcome. Continue reading “Pathologic changes in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: a review”

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A review of the possible prognostic values of biochemical changes in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections

*1Adegboro, B., 2Babazhitsu, M., and 3Mba, N. I.

Departments of 1Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and 3Chemical Pathology, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja 2Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria

*Correspondence to: boazadegboro@gmail.com; boaz.adegboro@nileuniversity.edu.ng

Abstract:
Because of high mortality and long-term hospital stay among patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections, it is important to search for biochemical changes in different organs and systems that could be useful in diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19. We conducted a literature search of online databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Google scholar for relevant materials on biochemical changes in SARS-COV-2 infections published between December 2019 and March 2021. The review shows that SARS-COV-2 uses the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) for attachment and entry into host cells. These ACE2 are abundantly expressed by the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract and moderately expressed by the epithelial cells of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, ileum, rectum, cholangiocytes, liver hepatocytes, pancreatic beta cells, and kidney tubular cells. This explains the systemic nature of SARS-COV-2 infection, and the high morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19. Although, tests to assess biochemical changes are not specific enough for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, they may be useful for predicting outcome of COVID-19. This review highlights biochemical parameters that are significantly elevated or reduced in SARS-COV-2 infections, and which can be used as predictive factors of the severity and prognosis in COVID-19 patients. Continue reading “A review of the possible prognostic values of biochemical changes in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections”