Antimicrobial resistance profiles of and associated risk factors for nosocomial infection among patients at two tertiary healthcare facilities in Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces, Zambia.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of pathogens such as is among the top 10 threats to global health. However, clinical and molecular data are scarce in Zambia. We, therefore, evaluated the AMR profiles of nosocomial infections (NIs).

Determinants of uncontrolled allergic rhinitis in Kinshasa hospitals.

Objective: To identify the determinants of uncontrolled allergic rhinitis (UCAR) in a hospital setting in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional study of 153 patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). The diagnosis of AR was based on clinical grounds according to the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) criteria.

Pattern of and Associated with Human Exposure to Dengue Virus in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Dengue is a worldwide public health concern. The current study assessed the extent of human exposure to the dengue virus in relation to the distribution pattern of and in Kinshasa. Cross-sectional surveys were carried out in 2021 and 2022.

Risk factors for mortality in COVID-19 patients in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: Mortality rates of coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) disease continue to increase worldwide and in Africa. In this study, we aimed to summarize the available results on the association between sociodemographic, clinical, biological, and comorbidity factors and the risk of mortality due to COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We followed the PRISMA checklist (S1 Checklist).

Prevalence and Outcomes of COVID -19 Patients with Happy Hypoxia: A Systematic Review.

Background: In Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), some patients have low oxygen saturation without any dyspnea. This has been termed "happy hypoxia." No worldwide prevalence survey of this phenomenon has been conducted.

Pulmonary rehabilitation in Africa: where are we? a multimethod study.

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an integral part of the management of patients with chronic respiratory diseases. However, there is limited information available on the effectiveness and practice of PR in Africa. This study was conducted to examine the prevalence, structure, and organization of PR in Africa, as well as its substance and claimed efficacy.

Factors associated with death in COVID-19 patients over 60 years of age at Kinshasa University Hospital, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Introduction: the objectives of the present study were to determine the mortality rate in patients over 60 years of age with COVID-19 and to identify risk factors.

Methods: the present historical cohort study took place at the Kinshasa University Hospital (KUH), DRC. Older patients admitted from March 2020 to May 2021 and diagnosed COVID-19 positive at the laboratory were selected.

Mortality associated with COVID-19 and hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hypertension is a common comorbidity in COVID-19 patients. However, little data is available on mortality in COVID-19 patients with hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Herein, the authors conducted a systematic review of research articles published from January 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021.

SARS-CoV2 infection in symptomatic patients: interest of serological tests and predictors of mortality: experience of DR Congo.

Background: In symptomatic patients, the diagnostic approach of COVID-19 should be holistic. We aimed to evaluate the concordance between RT-PCR and serological tests (IgM/IgG), and identify the factors that best predict mortality (clinical stages or viral load).

Methods: The study included 242 patients referred to the University hospital of Kinshasa for suspected COVID-19, dyspnea or ARDS between June 1st, 2020 and August 02, 2020.

The African Network for Improved Diagnostics, Epidemiology and Management of common infectious Agents.

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, acute respiratory infections (ARI), acute gastrointestinal infections (GI) and acute febrile disease of unknown cause (AFDUC) have a large disease burden, especially among children, while respective aetiologies often remain unresolved. The need for robust infectious disease surveillance to detect emerging pathogens along with common human pathogens has been highlighted by the ongoing novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The African Network for Improved Diagnostics, Epidemiology and Management of Common Infectious Agents (ANDEMIA) is a sentinel surveillance study on the aetiology and clinical characteristics of ARI, GI and AFDUC in sub-Saharan Africa.

Epidemiological, clinical and biological profile of neuromeningeal cryptococcosis among people living with HIV in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Neuromeningeal cryptococcosis (NMC) is one of the most frequent opportunistic infections (OI) in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. In Kinshasa, the latest data on cryptococcosis were published in 1996. The objective was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and biological profiles of NMC in HIV-infected people living in Kinshasa.

The Critical Need for Pooled Data on Coronavirus Disease 2019 in African Children: An AFREhealth Call for Action Through Multicountry Research Collaboration.

Globally, there are prevailing knowledge gaps in the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among children and adolescents; and these gaps are especially wide in African countries. The availability of robust age-disaggregated data is a critical first step in improving knowledge on disease burden and manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among children. Furthermore, it is essential to improve understanding of SARS-CoV-2 interactions with comorbidities and coinfections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis, malaria, sickle cell disease, and malnutrition, which are highly prevalent among children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients at Kinshasa University Hospital, Democratic Republic of the Congo, from March to June 2020.

Introduction: since the 1 case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Kinshasa on March 102020, mortality risk factors have not yet been reported. The objectives of the present study were to assess survival and to identify predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients at Kinshasa University Hospital.

Methods: a retrospective cohort study was conducted, 141 COVID-19 patients admitted at the Kinshasa University Hospital from March 23 to June 15, 2020 were included in the study.

Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pregnancy on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Africa: An AFREhealth Call for Evidence through Multicountry Research Collaboration.

In the African context, there is a paucity of data on SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated COVID-19 in pregnancy. Given the endemicity of infections such as malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis (TB) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), it is important to evaluate coinfections with SARS-CoV-2 and their impact on maternal/infant outcomes. Robust research is critically needed to evaluate the effects of the added burden of COVID-19 in pregnancy, to help develop evidence-based policies toward improving maternal and infant outcomes.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 in Africa: Early Insights from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Little is known about the clinical features and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Africa. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 between March 10, 2020 and July 31, 2020 at seven hospitals in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Outcomes included clinical improvement within 30 days (primary) and in-hospital mortality (secondary).

Factors associated with uncontrolled asthma in adult asthmatics in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: The ultimate goal of asthma treatment is long-term control. Uncontrolled asthma is a major public health problem worldwide, but there is a lack of data on asthma control and its causes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Objective: To determine the socio-demographic, environmental, clinical, and biological factors and comorbidities associated with uncontrolled adult asthma in Kinshasa, DRC.

Seroprevalence and Virus Activity of Rift Valley Fever in Cattle in Eastern Region of Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a zoonotic disease that is characterized by periodic and severe outbreaks in humans and animals. Published information on the occurrence of RVF in domestic animals is very scarce in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). To assess possible circulation of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) in cattle in the eastern province of DRC, 450 sera collected from cattle in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri provinces were analyzed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), for the detection of viral Immunoglobulin (Ig) G and M, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), for detection of viral RVF RNA.

Drug use in the management of uncomplicated malaria in public health facilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Background: Malaria the first causes of death from parasitic infection worldwide. Interventions to reduce the burden of malaria have produced a tremendous drop in malaria morbidity and mortality. However, progress is slower in DRC, which shares with Nigeria 39% of deaths related to malaria globally.

Molecular surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Malaria is a major public health problem in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite progress achieved over the past decade in the fight against malaria, further efforts have to be done such as in the surveillance and the containment of Plasmodium falciparum resistant strains. We investigated resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies currently in use in Democratic Republic of Congo by surveying molecular polymorphisms in three genes: pfcrt, pfmdr1 and pfk13 to explore possible emergence of amodiaquine, lumefantrine or artemisinin resistance in Democratic Republic of Congo.

High Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum Infection in Asymptomatic Individuals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Malaria remains a major public health problem in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with 14 million cases reported by the WHO Malaria Report in 2014. Asymptomatic malaria cases are known to be prevalent in endemic areas and are generally untreated, resulting in a significant source of gametocytes that may serve as reservoir of disease transmission. Considering that microscopy certainly underestimates the prevalence of Plasmodium infections within asymptomatic carriers and that PCR assays are currently recognized as the most sensitive methods for Plasmodium identification, this study was conducted to weigh the asymptomatic carriage in DRC by a molecular method.