Prevalence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria among people with acid-fast positive presumptive tuberculosis in Mali.

Background: Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental agents that can cause opportunistic pulmonary disease in humans and animals, often misdiagnosed as tuberculosis (TB). In this study, we describe the cases of NTM identified during the first national anti-TB drug resistance survey conducted in Mali and explore associated risk factors.

Methods: Sputum was collected from people presenting for pulmonary TB diagnosis from April to December 2019, regardless of age.

Surveillance and agnostic capture sequencing of samples from individuals with rash-associated illness in Mali indicates regional transmission of measles virus from West and Central Africa.

Measles is vaccine-preventable extremely contagious disease caused by the measles virus. High vaccination coverage is needed to prevent outbreaks of disease. Although molecular surveillance of measles is critical to characterize outbreaks and track viral evolution, few whole-genome sequences of measles virus from West Africa are available despite continual outbreaks in the region.

Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 variants in West Africa: Insights into genomic surveillance in resource-constrained settings.

SARS-CoV-2 geno-surveillance has been challenging in West Africa. Despite the multiple challenges encountered, particularly in West Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts were made to circumscribe the spread of the disease and to provide methods and resources for surveillance. We aim to describe the dynamic of SARS-CoV-2 variants and highlight the efforts made in genomic surveillance in West Africa.

Performance of two SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen detection tests in resource limited settings, the case of Mali.

Introduction: While real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) is the recommended laboratory method to diagnose severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, its use in resource limited settings can be difficult to maintain due to high testing demand and shortage of reagents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performances of Realy Tech™ and Standard Q™ in comparison to RT-PCR in a relatively low COVID-19 prevalence setting, Mali.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study between January and April 2021 in Bamako and Kati regions to evaluate both rapid tests during a large SARS-CoV-2 prevalence study in Mali.

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.

Resistance phenotypes and molecular characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus associated with pleuritis in patients at "Hôpital du Mali" teaching hospital.

Background: one of the pathogens strongly implicated in hospital infections. Data on the resistance and molecular characteristics of this bacterium are rare in Mali.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the antibiotic resistance patterns, virulence factors of isolates from pleural fluid infections in hospitalized patients.

Microbiological Methods Used in the Enterics for Global Health Surveillance Study.

Background: is a major cause of diarrhea in young children worldwide. Multiple vaccines targeting are in development, and phase 3 clinical trials are imminent to determine efficacy against shigellosis.

Methods: The Enterics for Global Health (EFGH) surveillance study is designed to determine the incidence of medically attended shigellosis in 6- to 35-month-old children in 7 resource-limited settings.

High frequency of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella and Escherichia coli causing diarrheal diseases at the Yirimadio community health facility, Mali.

Background: Diarrhoea is a public health problem, especially in developing countries where it is the second leading cause of child mortality. In Low Income Countries like in Mali, self-medication and inappropriate use of antibiotics due to the scarcity of complementary diagnostic systems can lead to the development of multidrug-resistant bacteria causing diarrhoea. The objective of this work was to determine the microorganisms responsible for diarrhoea in children under 15 years of age and to characterize their sensitivity to a panel of antibiotics used in a peri-urban community in Mali.

ESBL and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in infectious pleural effusions: current epidemiology at Hôpital du Mali.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health concern, with extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemases being major contributors. Pleural infection (PI) is a severe condition in West Africa, complicated by AMR. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and molecular characteristics of ESBL and carbapenemase-producing enterobacteria in pleural effusions in Mali.

Modeling Optimal Laboratory Testing Strategies for Bacterial Meningitis Surveillance in Africa.

Since 2010, the introduction of an effective serogroup A meningococcal conjugate vaccine has led to the near-elimination of invasive Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A disease in Africa's meningitis belt. However, a significant burden of disease and epidemics due to other bacterial meningitis pathogens remain in the region. High-quality surveillance data with laboratory confirmation is important to monitor circulating bacterial meningitis pathogens and design appropriate interventions, but complete testing of all reported cases is often infeasible.

An oral history of medical laboratory development in francophone West African countries.

Background: Underdeveloped and underused medical laboratories in sub-Saharan Africa negatively affect the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of ailments.

Objective: We identified political, disease-related and socio-economic factors that have shaped the laboratory sector in Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso to inform laboratory-strengthening programmes.

Methods: We searched peer-reviewed and grey literature from February 2015 to December 2018 on laboratory and health systems development from colonial times to the present and conducted in-depth interviews with 73 key informants involved in (inter)national health or laboratory policy, organisation, practice or training.

A Coordinated Public Health Laboratory Response to COVID-19 in Mali.

Ability to rapidly and accurate diagnose pathogens during disease outbreaks is essential for public health. Diagnosis depends largely on laboratory capacity, which can be challenging in resource limited settings. We report Mali's experience involving four research laboratories in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Gastrointestinal symptoms revealing COVID-19 in Malian breast cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy].

In this review, we report a case of a bone's metastatic breast cancer in Malian patient treated by chemotherapy in whom SRAS-COV-2's diagnosis was made 9days after the onset gastrointestinal symptoms. Patient quickly died before any COVID-19's treatment. According to the poor outcomes of cancer patients with COVID-19, authors emphasize to an intensive attention to such patients in order to find the best therapeutic balance between the two pathologies during this pandemic.

A New Sequence Type of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup C Associated With a 2016 Meningitis Outbreak in Mali.

In 2016, Mali reported a bacterial meningitis outbreak consisting of 39 suspected cases between epidemiologic weeks 9 and 17 with 15% case fatality ratio in the health district of Ouéléssebougou, 80 kilometers from the capital Bamako. Cerebrospinal fluid specimens from 29 cases were tested by culture and real-time polymerase chain reaction; 22 (76%) were positive for bacterial meningitis pathogens, 16 (73%) of which were Neisseria meningitidis (Nm). Of the Nm-positive specimens, 14 (88%) were N meningitidis serogroup C (NmC), 1 was NmW, and 1 was nongroupable.

Very high prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in bacteriemic patients hospitalized in teaching hospitals in Bamako, Mali.

The worldwide dissemination of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae, (ESBL-E) and their subset producing carbapenemases (CPE), is alarming. Limited data on the prevalence of such strains in infections from patients from Sub-Saharan Africa are currently available. We determined, here, the prevalence of ESBL-E/CPE in bacteriemic patients in two teaching hospitals from Bamako (Mali), which are at the top of the health care pyramid in the country.

Prevalence of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolated from blood cultures in Mali.

Introduction: The increasing frequency of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae is becoming a serious public health concern. This study sought to determine ESBL frequency in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from patients' blood cultures in two university teaching hospitals of Bamako, Mali.

Methodology: During a three-month period, the presence of Enterobacteriaceae from blood cultures of patients admitted to the university teaching hospitals of Bamako was evaluated.

Antiretroviral treatment outcome in HIV-1-infected patients routinely followed up in capital cities and remote areas of Senegal, Mali and Guinea-Conakry.

Introduction: Access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) becomes more and more effective in resource-limited settings (RLS). However, this global effort would be even more profitable if the access to laboratory services especially in decentralized settings was strengthened. We report the virological outcome and HIV-1 drug resistance in three West African countries using dried blood spots (DBS) samples.