Evaluating the tolerability and acceptability of a locally produced alcohol-based handrub and hand hygiene behaviour among health workers in Sierra Leone: a longitudinal hospital-based intervention study.

Background: Alcohol-based handrub (ABHR) is the gold standard for hand hygiene (HH) and is a cornerstone of infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies. However, several factors influence the efficient use of ABHR by health workers. This study evaluated the tolerability and acceptability of a locally produced ABHR product and HH behaviour among health workers.

Incidence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) among healthcare workers during the first and second wave in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a descriptive study.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at the frontline of response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Protecting HCWs is of paramount importance to the World Health Organization (WHO). Outbreak investigation which is based on a critical assessment of core components of infection prevention and control (IPC) programs allows for the identification of different sources of exposure to the COVID-19 virus and for informing additional IPC recommendations.

Etiologies and factors associated with mortality in patients with non-traumatic coma in a tertiary hospital in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Non-traumatic coma (NTC) is a common medical condition often associated with poor outcomes. Identifying underlying causes is crucial for effective management and prognostication, particularly in resource-poor settings. This study aimed to identify the most common causes and prognostic factors of NTC in a tertiary hospital in Bukavu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) as well as other simple and affordable clinical and paraclinical tools.

Impact of multimodal strategies including a pay for performance strategy in the improvement of infection prevention and control practices in healthcare facilities during an Ebola virus disease outbreak.

Background: Strategy to mitigate various Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreaks are focusing on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) capacity building, supportive supervision and IPC supply donation. This study was conducted to assess the impact of a Pay for Performance Strategy (PPS) in improving IPC performance in healthcare facilities (HF) in context of the 2018-2019 Nord Kivu/ Democratic Republic of the Congo EVD outbreak.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted analysing the impact of a PPS on the IPC performance.

Transitioning the COVID-19 response in the WHO African region: a proposed framework for rethinking and rebuilding health systems.

The onset of the pandemic revealed the health system inequities and inadequate preparedness, especially in the African continent. Over the past months, African countries have ensured optimum pandemic response. However, there is still a need to build further resilient health systems that enhance response and transition from the acute phase of the pandemic to the recovery interpandemic/preparedness phase.

Ebola virus disease nosocomial infections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a descriptive study of cases during the 2018-2020 outbreak.

Objectives: To describe the characteristics of nosocomial cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between July 2018 and May 2020 in order to inform future interventions.

Methods: Nosocomial cases of EVD were identified during outbreak response surveillance, and a retrospective analysis of cases was conducted according to demographic characteristics and type of health facility (HF).

Results: Of 3481 cases of EVD, 579 (16.

The impact of on IPC compliance during the Ebola virus outbreak in Mbandaka/Democratic Republic of the Congo: a before and after design.

Objectives: To assess the impact of refresher training of healthcare workers (HCWs) in infection prevention and control (IPC), ensuring consistent adequate supplies and availability of IPC kits and carrying out weekly monitoring of IPC performance in healthcare facilities (HCFs) DESIGN: This was a before and after comparison study SETTINGS: This study was conducted from June to July 2018 during an Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in Equateur Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Participants: 48 HCFs INTERVENTIONS: HCWs capacity building in basic IPC, IPC kit donation and IPC mentoring.

Primary Outcome Measures: IPC score RESULTS: 48 HCFs were evaluated and 878 HCWs were trained, of whom 437 were women and 441 were men.

Human respiratory syncytial virus: prevalence, viral co-infections and risk factors for lower respiratory tract infections in children under 5 years of age at a general hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) acute respiratory infection (ARI) in children under the age of 5 years at the Provincial General Hospital of Bukavu (PGHB), and to analyse factors associated with the risk of ARI being diagnosed as lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI).

Methodology: A total of 146 children under 5 years visiting the PGHB for ARI between August and December 2016 were recruited, and socio-demographic information, clinical data and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected. The samples were analysed by a multiplex reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction targeting 15 different viruses.

Pulmonary localization of in a 16 months-old male patient in a tertiary care hospital in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Introduction: is a human filarial parasite transmitted by biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) belonging to the genus and it is widely spread in sub-Saharan Africa. While most cases are asymptomatic, mansonelliasis can be associated with angioedema, arthralgia, swellings, pain in the scrotum or in serous cavities such as the pleura, the peritoneum, the pericardium, etc. Mansonelliasis can be really hard to treat, but it has been shown that an intensive treatment using albendazole can clear the parasite.

Antimicrobial resistance of bacteria isolated from patients with bloodstream infections at a tertiary care hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Background: Bloodstream infection (BSI) is a life-threatening condition that requires rapid antimicrobial treatment.

Methods: We determined the prevalence of bacterial isolates associated with BSI at Bukavu General Hospital (BGH), South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and their patterns of susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs, from February 2013 to January 2014.

Results: We cultured 112 clinically relevant isolates from 320 blood cultures.

Antimicrobial resistance in urinary isolates from inpatients and outpatients at a tertiary care hospital in South-Kivu Province (Democratic Republic of Congo).

Background: The rate of antimicrobial resistant isolates among pathogens causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is not known. The aim of the current study was to determine this rate at the Bukavu Provincial General Hospital (province of South-Kivu, DRC).

Findings: A total of 643 isolates (both from inpatients and outpatients) collected from September 2012 to August 2013 were identified using biochemical methods, and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility.