A loop-mediated isothermal amplification test for yaws: a multi-country diagnostic accuracy evaluation.

Background: To meet the WHO target of eradicating yaws by 2030, highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tools are needed. A multiplex Treponema pallidum-Haemophilus ducreyi loop-mediated isothermal amplification (TPHD-LAMP) test holds promise as a near-patient diagnostic tool for yaws and H ducreyi. We conducted a prospective evaluation in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and the Republic of the Congo to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the TPHD-LAMP test, as well as to assess its acceptability, feasibility, and cost.

Asymptomatic infections with Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis among women in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is common in settings with limited access to diagnostic testing. However, this approach does not capture asymptomatic STIs. Untreated asymptomatic infections may result in serious complications and sequelae in women.

Novel point-of-care cytokine biomarker lateral flow test for the screening for sexually transmitted infections and bacterial vaginosis: study protocol of a multicentre multidisciplinary prospective observational clinical study to evaluate the performance and feasibility of the Genital InFlammation Test (GIFT).

Introduction: A prototype lateral flow device detecting cytokine biomarkers interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-1β has been developed as a point-of-care test-called the Genital InFlammation Test (GIFT)-for detecting genital inflammation associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and/or bacterial vaginosis (BV) in women. In this paper, we describe the rationale and design for studies that will be conducted in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Madagascar to evaluate the performance of GIFT and how it could be integrated into routine care.

Methods And Analysis: We will conduct a prospective, multidisciplinary, multicentre, cross-sectional and observational clinical study comprising two distinct components: a biomedical ('diagnostic study') and a qualitative, modelling and economic ('an integration into care study') part.

High adherence to intermittent and continuous use of a contraceptive vaginal ring among women in a randomized controlled trial in Kigali, Rwanda.

Background: The introduction of female-initiated drug-delivery methods, including vaginal rings, have proven to be a promising avenue to address sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies, which disproportionally affects women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa. Efficient uptake of existing and new technologies such as vaginal rings requires in depth understanding of product adherence. This remains a major challenge as data on adherence to vaginal rings from African countries is limited.

Frequent chlamydia and gonorrhoea but very infrequent syphilis among men who have sex with men using HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in West Africa.

Objectives: Although oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV is being rolled out in West Africa, data on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in PrEP users are scarce. We assessed the prevalence, incidence and determinants of bacterial STIs in men who have sex with men (MSM) taking PrEP in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and Togo.

Methods: A prospective cohort study among MSM initiating PrEP as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention package was conducted between 2017 and 2021 in community-based clinics in the four study countries.

Antimicrobial susceptibility profile of from patients attending a medical laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar between 2014 and 2020: phenotypical and genomic characterisation in a subset of isolates.

Objectives: Antimicrobial-resistant (NG) is a concern. Little is known about antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and associated genetic resistance mechanisms of NG in Madagascar. We report susceptibility data of NG isolates obtained by the medical laboratory (CBC) of the Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar, during 2014-2020.

Incidence and risk factors of neonatal bacterial infections: a community-based cohort from Madagascar (2018-2021).

Background: Few studies on neonatal severe bacterial infection are available in LMICs. Data are needed in these countries to prioritize interventions and decrease neonatal infections which are a primary cause of neonatal mortality. The BIRDY project (Bacterial Infections and Antimicrobial Drug Resistant among Young Children) was initially conducted in Madagascar, Senegal and Cambodia (BIRDY 1, 2012-2018), and continued in Madagascar only (BIRDY 2, 2018-2021).

Associations between age of menarche, early sexual debut and high-risk sexual behaviour among urban Tanzanian schoolgirls: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This cross-sectional survey aimed to explore associations between age of menarche, early sexual debut and high-risk sexual behaviour among urban Tanzanian schoolgirls.

Methods: Secondary schoolgirls aged 17-18 years from Mwanza, Tanzania, participated in structured face-to-face questionnaire-based interviews, conducted by nurses and clinicians. Age of menarche was evaluated in categories of 11-12, 13-14, 15-16 or ≥17 years.

and Antimicrobial Resistance Among a Cohort of West African Men Who Have Sex With Men Using Preexposure Prophylaxis (CohMSM-PrEP ANRS 12369-Expertise France Study).

Background: Antimicrobial resistance to macrolides and fluoroquinolones in (MG) among men who have sex with men (MSM) is worryingly high in high-resource countries. Data in Africa are lacking. We aimed to assess the burden of MG including the presence of resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) in MG among MSM using human immunodeficiency virus preexposure prophylaxis in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, and Togo.

Neonatal acquisition of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in the community of a low-income country (NeoLIC): protocol for a household cohort study in Moramanga, Madagascar.

Introduction: Data regarding the acquisition of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) in neonates at the community level are scarce in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the burden of neonatal sepsis is high.Our study aims at identifying and quantifying the role of the different routes of ESBL-PE transmission for neonates, which are still undefined in the community in LMICs.

Methods And Analysis: In a semirural community in Madagascar, 60 mothers and their neonates will be recruited at delivery, during which a maternal stool sample and meconium of the newborn will be collected.

Characterization of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from patients suspected of pulmonary or bubonic plague during the Madagascar epidemic in 2017.

Klebsiella pneumoniae can lead to a wide range of diseases including pneumonia, bloodstream and urinary tract infections. During a short period of a pulmonary plague epidemic in October 2017 in Madagascar, 12 K. pneumoniae isolates were identified in ten sputum and two buboes aspirate samples.

LAMP4yaws: , loop mediated isothermal amplification - protocol for a cross-sectional, observational, diagnostic accuracy study.

Introduction: Yaws, caused by the bacterium subsp. is a neglected tropical disease targeted for eradication by 2030. Improved diagnostics will be essential to meet this goal.

Leveraging serology to titrate immunisation programme functionality for diphtheria in Madagascar.

Diphtheria is a potentially devastating disease whose epidemiology remains poorly described in many settings, including Madagascar. Diphtheria vaccination is delivered in combination with pertussis and tetanus antigens and coverage of this vaccine is often used as a core measure of health system functioning. However, coverage is challenging to estimate due to the difficulty in translating numbers of doses delivered into numbers of children effectively immunised.

Worryingly high prevalence of resistance-associated mutations to macrolides and fluoroquinolones in Mycoplasma genitalium among men who have sex with men with recurrent sexually transmitted infections.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) recurrently infected with STIs are playing a pivotal role in contemporary Sexually transmitted infections (STI) epidemics. Our aim was to assess whether these individuals had more () infections and more resistance to macrolides and fluoroquinolones of compared to those who were not recurrently infected with STIs.

Methods: The study was performed on 179 Belgian MSM PrEP users that were followed up for 18 months.

Global phylogeny of Treponema pallidum lineages reveals recent expansion and spread of contemporary syphilis.

Syphilis, which is caused by the sexually transmitted bacterium Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum, has an estimated 6.3 million cases worldwide per annum.

LAMP assays for the simple and rapid detection of clinically important urinary pathogens including the detection of resistance to 3rd generation cephalosporins.

Background: Timely and accurate identification of uropathogens and determination of their antimicrobial susceptibility is paramount to the management of urinary tract infections (UTIs). The main objective of this study was to develop an assay using LAMP (Loop mediated isothermal amplification) technology for simple, rapid and sensitive detection of the most common bacteria responsible for UTIs, as well as for the detection of the most prevalent genes (encoding cefotaximases from CTX-M group 1) responsible for resistance to 3rd generation of cephalosporins.

Method: We designed primers targeting Proteus mirabilis, while those targeting Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecalis and the CTX-M group 1 resistance gene were benchmarked from previous studies.

Recurrent Sexually Transmitted Infections Among a Cohort of Men Who Have Sex With Men Using Preexposure Prophylaxis in Belgium Are Highly Associated With Sexualized Drug Use.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) experiencing recurrent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may play a crucial role in the STI epidemic. However, there is limited understanding of what kind of behavior leads to recurrent STIs.

Methods: A total of 179 MSM using preexposure prophylaxis were followed up for 18 months and were screened quarterly for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis from 2015 to 2018 in Belgium.

Molecular pathways to high-level azithromycin resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Background: The prevalence of azithromycin resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is increasing in numerous populations worldwide.

Objectives: To characterize the genetic pathways leading to high-level azithromycin resistance.

Methods: A customized morbidostat was used to subject two N.

Ulcerative skin lesions among children in Cameroon: It is not always Yaws.

Outbreaks of yaws-like ulcerative skin lesions in children are frequently reported in tropical and sub-tropical countries. The origin of these lesions might be primarily traumatic or infectious; in the latter case, Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue, the yaws agent, and Haemophilus ducreyi, the agent of chancroid, are two of the pathogens commonly associated with the aetiology of skin ulcers. In this work, we investigated the presence of T.

Did Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Roll-Out Influence the Epidemic of Rectal Lymphogranuloma Venereum in Belgium? Results From the National Surveillance System.

Background: An increase of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in HIV negative men who have sex with men is reported in several European countries including Belgium before the implementation of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Setting: The epidemiological characteristics of the male rectal LGV epidemic in Belgium were explored before and after the introduction of PrEP.

Methods: Segmented regression models were used to examine a change in trends before and after the introduction of PrEP in the male rectal LGV epidemic in Belgium and among men attending a large HIV/sexually transmitted infection clinic in Antwerp, Belgium.