genomes recovered from Baltic Sea samples in Denmark.

We report the genomic characteristics of the human pathogen isolated from seawater and green algae in the Baltic Sea. Initially misidentified as through culture and MALDI-TOF, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) confirmed them as , highlighting the importance of WGS analysis in accurate classification of emerging pathogens.

Harnessing Bacteriophages to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Infections in Africa: A Comprehensive Review.

The conventional treatment of bacterial infections with antibiotics is becoming increasingly ineffective due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. This literature review explores the potential of bacteriophages as an alternative or adjunctive therapy to antibiotics in combating MDR infections in Africa. This analysis focuses on current research regarding the integration of phage therapy into African healthcare, highlighting its challenges and opportunities.

Epidemiology, treatment outcome and resistance profile of pulmonary tuberculosis cases at the Niamey national anti-tuberculosis center in Niger: a retrospective study.

Introduction: tuberculosis remains a major public health problem, with continuing high levels of prevalence, and mortality. In Niger, the incidence of tuberculosis remains high. This study aims to investigate the epidemiology of pulmonary tuberculosis at the National Anti-Tuberculosis Center of Niamey in Niger.

Empowering public health: building advanced molecular surveillance in resource-limited settings through collaboration and capacity-building.

The rapid detection and continuous surveillance of infectious diseases are important components of an effective public health response. However, establishing advanced molecular surveillance systems, crucial for monitoring and mitigating pandemics, poses significant challenges in resource-limited developing countries. In a collaborative effort, research institutions from Benin joined forces with Mali's National Institute of Public Health to implement a state-of-the-art molecular surveillance system in Mali.

Strengthening clinical bacteriology laboratory diagnostics to combat sepsis and antimicrobial resistance in Benin: a train-the-trainer approach.

Introduction: Improved laboratory diagnostics is needed to support sepsis diagnosis and combat increasing antibiotic resistance in Benin. We trained clinical laboratory experts and technicians to improve their skills in accurate and up-to-date diagnostics.

Methods: A Train-the-Trainer (TtT) approach was used to design the course that combines theoretical and practical laboratory skills, specifically addressing the knowledge gaps we had previously identified in our national survey.

Knowledge and practices of traditional management of child malnutrition and associated pathologies in Benin.

Background: Child malnutrition is a major public health challenge, affecting millions of children worldwide, with alarming proportions of children under five in Benin. The complexity of managing this condition is increased by its potential association with opportunistic pathologies. An interesting approach arises from the use of medicinal plants, to address child malnutrition and its associated pathologies.

Prevalence and zoonotic risk factors of tuberculosis in cattle at the cattle-wildlife-human interface in South and East Cameroon.

Background And Aim: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a contagious and notifiable disease, which is prevalent in cattle populations of many countries and in several wildlife species worldwide. However, the role of wildlife in the transmission and/or maintenance of bTB at the human-wild animal-animal interface and the epidemiology of zoonotic disease are poorly understood in Cameroon, where many wildlife species exist. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and zoonotic risk factors of bTB at the cattle-wildlife-human interface in the South and East regions of Cameroon.

Occurrence profiling, risk assessment, and correlations of antimicrobials in surface water and groundwater systems in Southwest Nigeria.

The presence of antimicrobials in water has grown into a major global health concern. This study thus focused on the presence, ecological implications, and potential health risks associated with nine antimicrobials: five antibiotics (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, and tetracycline) and four parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben) in surface water and groundwater samples collected from three Southwestern States in Nigeria (Osun, Oyo, and Lagos States). These antimicrobials were widely detected across the three States with ciprofloxacin being the most dominant having maximum average concentrations of 189 μg L and 319 μg L in surface water and groundwater respectively.

Local knowledge, practices, challenges of ethnopharmacologically used medicinal plants in Benin and implications for brain illnesses.

Traditional medicine (TM) is a significant resource for primary healthcare management all over the world, and principally in Africa. Quality improvement activities that promote evidence-based practices and the integration of traditional medicine into primary healthcare systems can help improve the quality of patient care. In the Republic of Benin (West Africa), traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) provide different treatments and ways of use, depending on the ailments and the medicinal plants used.

Prevalence and characterization of ESBL-producing in healthy pregnant women and hospital environments in Benin: an approach based on Tricycle.

Introduction: Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing are recognized as significant pathogens due to their resistance to multiple antibiotics. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ESBL-producing () in different settings, including healthy pregnant women, the food chain, and the environment of tertiary hospitals in Benin.

Methods: Samples were collected from various sources, including fecal samples from healthy pregnant women, food samples from hospital canteens, and hospital effluents from four tertiary hospitals in southern Benin.

Whole genomes from bacteria collected at diagnostic units around the world 2020.

The Two Weeks in the World research project has resulted in a dataset of 3087 clinically relevant bacterial genomes with pertaining metadata, collected from 59 diagnostic units in 35 countries around the world during 2020. A relational database is available with metadata and summary data from selected bioinformatic analysis, such as species prediction and identification of acquired resistance genes.

Isolation and characterization of three novel Acinetobacter baumannii phages from Beninese hospital wastewater.

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that is mostly associated with hospital-acquired infections. The rapid emergence of multi- and pan-drug-resistant Acinetobacter strains poses an increasing challenge in hospitals. Phage therapy offers one treatment option for infections caused by A.

Unleashing the Potential of Medicinal Plants in Benin: Assessing the Status of Research and the Need for Enhanced Practices.

Medicinal plants play a crucial role in the primary health care of the population in developing countries such as Benin. The national universities of Benin conduct research on the pharmacological, toxicological, and phytochemical properties of these plants, but the resulting knowledge often does not lead to the development of phytomedicines for the improvement of public health. This study aims to assess the current status of research on medicinal plants in Benin.

Situation analysis of urogenital bilharzia in West Africa (2010-2021) and control strategies and prospects: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Schistosomes are parasitic diseases caused by flatworms (schistosomes or bilharzia), transmitted in the urine or in the faeces, and involving intermediate hosts (freshwater molluscs). Their recrudescence in endemic areas is no longer in question and remains a crucial public health problem in the world in general and in West Africa in particular. In order to eradicate bilharzia, many control strategies and policies have been implemented on both sides.

Investigating Catheter-Related Infections in Southern Benin Hospitals: Identification, Susceptibility, and Resistance Genes of Involved Bacterial Strains.

The use of catheters and bladder catheters in hospitals can increase the risk of bacterial infections. This study aimed to identify the bacterial strains involved in catheter-related infections (CRI) in southern Benin hospitals. The study included 407 samples, including 95 catheter tip samples and 312 urine samples collected from bladder catheters from patients on the first day and 48 h after admission.

Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant Activity, and Acute Toxicity Evaluation of Extract Used in Traditional Medicine.

Medicinal plants such as are increasingly used for their purgative virtues to treat stomach aches, fever, and jaundice. This study aims to screen the phytochemical compounds and to assess the antioxidant activity and the acute oral toxicity of leaves. The plant was harvested, dried, pulverized, and preserved.

Metagenomic Analysis of the Abundance and Composition of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Hospital Wastewater in Benin, Burkina Faso, and Finland.

Antibiotic resistance is a global threat to human health, with the most severe effect in low- and middle-income countries. We explored the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the hospital wastewater (HWW) of nine hospitals in Benin and Burkina Faso, two low-income countries in West Africa, with shotgun metagenomic sequencing. For comparison, we also studied six hospitals in Finland.

Assessment of blood cultures and antibiotic susceptibility testing for bacterial sepsis diagnosis and utilization of results by clinicians in Benin: A qualitative study.

Objectives: We assessed the current status of blood culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) practices in clinical laboratories in Benin, and how the laboratory results are used by physicians to prescribe antibiotics.

Methods: The qualitative study covered twenty-five clinical laboratories with a bacteriology unit and associated hospitals and pharmacies. Altogether 159 laboratory staff, physicians and pharmacists were interviewed about their perceptions of the state of laboratory diagnostics related to sepsis and the use of antibiotics.

Antibiotic profiling of multidrug resistant pathogens in one-day-old chicks imported from Belgium to benin.

Background: Little data exist on the presence of resistant pathogens in day-old chicks imported into Benin. The occurrence of pathogenic bacteria was assessed in 180 one-day-old chicks imported from Belgium and received at the Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport in Cotonou (Benin). The samples included swabbing the blisters of 180 chicks, followed by 18 pools of 10 swabs for bacterial isolation.

Determination of MIC, MPC, and MSW of Ilex paraguariensis against non-typhoidal Salmonella with identification of the mechanisms of resistance and pathogenicity factors.

This study investigated the antibacterial activity of the aqueous extract of Ilex paraguariensis against 32 different strains of nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) through the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), mutant prevention concentration (MPC), and mutant selection window (MSW) and the detection of virulence genes by multiplex PCR assays. The MIC values of Ilex paraguariensis against Salmonella spp. strains varied between 0.

Antibiotic resistomes and their chemical residues in aquatic environments in Africa.

The aquatic environment is a hotspot for the transfer of antibiotic resistance to humans and animals. Several reviews have put together research efforts on the presence and distribution of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and antibiotic chemical residue (ACRs) in food, hospital wastewater, and even in other aquatic environments. However, these reports are largely focused on data from developed countries, while data from developing countries and especially those in Africa, are only marginally discussed.

Assessment of Larval Toxicity and the Teratogenic Effect of Three Medicinal Plants Used in the Traditional Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections in Benin.

Objective: Linn, Benth, and De Wild are three plants commonly used in the traditional treatment of urinary tract infections in Benin. This study sets out to assess the cytotoxic and teratogenic effects of extracts of these plants on larvae and hen embryos.

Methods And Results: The aqueous and ethanolic extracts were obtained by maceration of the powders in solvents.