Risk factors for HIV infection among female sex workers in Bangui, Central African Republic.

Objective: The aims of the study were i) to categorize female sex workers (FSW) according to socio-anthropologic criteria in Bangui; ii) to examine the association between a selection of demographic and risk variables with the different categories of female sex work as outcome, and iii) to investigate factors associated with HIV status.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted to describe the spectrum of commercial sex work in Bangui among 345 sexually active women. After collection of social and behavioral characteristics, each woman received a physical examination and a blood sample was taken for biological analyses, including HIV testing.

Spectrum of female commercial sex work in Bangui, Central African Republic.

Classification of professional and non-professional female sex workers (FSWs) into different categories, never previously reported in the Central African Republic (CAR), may be useful to assess the dynamics of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, design operational intervention programmes to combat HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and to adapt these programmes to the broad spectrum of sexual transactions in the CAR. Our study proposes a socio-behavioural classification of FSWs living in the CAR and engaged in transactional and commercial sex. Thus, the aims of the study were these: (i) to categorize FSWs according to socio-anthropologic criteria in Bangui and (ii) to examine the association between a selection of demographic and risk variables with the different categories of female sex work as an outcome.

Drug use and HIV in West Africa: a neglected epidemic.

Injecting drug use is poorly documented in West Africa. HIV prevalence studies are still rare. Recent studies show that drug injection is on the rise.

Assessment of a syndromic surveillance system based on morbidity data: results from the Oscour network during a heat wave.

Background: Syndromic surveillance systems have been developed in recent years and are now increasingly used by stakeholders to quickly answer questions and make important decisions. It is therefore essential to evaluate the quality and utility of such systems. This study was designed to assess a syndromic surveillance system based on emergency departments' (ED) morbidity rates related to the health effects of heat waves.

Curbing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in 38 French hospitals through a 15-year institutional control program.

Background: The Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) institution administers 38 teaching hospitals (23 acute care and 15 rehabilitation and long-term care hospitals; total, 23 000 beds) scattered across Paris and surrounding suburbs in France. In the late 1980s, the proportion of methicillin resistance among clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) reached approximately 40% at AP-HP.

Methods: A program aimed at curbing the MRSA burden was launched in 1993, based on passive and active surveillance, barrier precautions, training, and feedback.

Syndromic surveillance and heat wave morbidity: a pilot study based on emergency departments in France.

Background: The health impacts of heat waves are serious and have prompted the development of heat wave response plans. Even when they are efficient, these plans are developed to limit the health effects of heat waves. This study was designed to determine relevant indicators related to health effects of heat waves and to evaluate the ability of a syndromic surveillance system to monitor variations in the activity of emergency departments over time.

[From alert to laboratory: a coherent network designed to deal with to naturally occurring infectious disease outbreaks and bioterrorism].

Public health prevention requires early detection of disease outbreaks, whether naturally occurring or due to bioterrorism. Permanent surveillance and a network of laboratories are the two main pillars of effective outbreak management. Coordination of information, training, and procedures are under the responsibility of the French public health watch institute and the scientific advisory board for the Biotox-Piratox laboratory network.

Chikungunya infection in travelers.

The largest described outbreak of chikungunya virus has been occurring on the islands of the southwest Indian Ocean since March 2005. We describe the manifestations of chikungunya virus infection in travelers returning from these islands, with focus on skin manifestations.

Smoking by French general practitioners: behaviour, attitudes and practice.

Introduction: This paper examines smoking prevalence, sociodemographic factors and the medical practice of French general practitioners.

Method: Data from the 1998 cross-sectional national survey of 2,073 GPs. The questionnaire was administered by telephone.

[Smoking behavior in France: recent developments].

The French "cancer fight plan" was launched 2 years ago and has given a new impulse to smoking prevention. Among the different measures proposed, increasing the tobacco price dramatically was the more efficient to reduce the smoking prevalence, and epidemiological effects already exist. In just 2 years, the smoking prevalence has fallen from 35.

Introduction of SARS in France, March-April, 2003.

We describe severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in France. Patients meeting the World Health Organization definition of a suspected case underwent a clinical, radiologic, and biologic assessment at the closest university-affiliated infectious disease ward. Suspected cases were immediately reported to the Institut de Veille Sanitaire.

Occupational blood and body fluids exposures in health care workers: four-year surveillance from the Northern France network.

The risk of accidental blood and body fluid (BBF) exposure is a daily concern for health care workers throughout the world, and various strategies have been introduced during the past decade to help reduce that risk. To assess the impact of multifocal reduction strategies introduced in hospitals affiliated with the Northern France network, we recently examined data from 4 years of BBF-exposure reports filed by network employees. A total of 7,649 BBF exposures were reported by health care workers to occupational medicine departments in 61 hospitals.

Potential exposure to hepatitis C virus through accidental blood contact in interventional radiology.

Purpose: To quantify the prevalence of accidental blood exposure (ABE) among interventional radiologists and contrast that with the prevalence of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) undergoing interventional radiology procedures.

Materials And Methods: A multicenter epidemiologic study was conducted in radiology wards in France. The risk of ABE to radiologists was assessed based on personal interviews that determined the frequency and type of ABE and the use of standard protective barriers.

Lookback investigation of patients potentially exposed to HIV type 1 after a nurse-to-patient transmission.

A nurse-to-patient transmission of HIV type 1 was recently documented in a French hospital. The origin of the transmission remained unclear. To inform patients who may have been exposed to the nurse while they had received care, a lookback investigation that included mailings and a viral screening was conducted for 7580 patients.