Publications by authors named "Patrick Hochedez"

Background: Humanitarian aid workers are exposed to deployment-related health threats. Identifying subgroups at a higher risk of infection in this diverse population could help optimize prevention.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective study based on anonymized data of humanitarian aid workers that visited our clinic for a post-deployment visit between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2021.

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We report the case of a 19-year-old Malian patient, who presented with urethritis and a vesicular rash during the summer of 2022, following a probable heterosexual intercourse. The epidemic context among the male homosexual population and the clinical picture without genital lesions or lymphadenopathy allowed us to discuss both chickenpox and mpox, the latter being finally confirmed by the detection of Monkeypox virus DNA from vesicular fluid.

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A syphilis outbreak began in Martinique, French Antilles, in 2004, initially among men who had sex with men (MSM) and who were living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The outbreak subsequently affected all groups at risk, leading to a first epidemic peak in 2008. After an initial decrease, the outbreak started growing again in 2014 among patients living with HIV with unprecedented incidence among MSM.

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Article Synopsis
  • The observational study focused on infective endocarditis (IE) in the French West Indies (FWI) from 2000 to 2012, analyzing 201 patients to understand their characteristics and factors linked to in-hospital mortality.
  • Key findings showed that nearly 46% had no known heart disease, with community-acquired IE being the most common and a notable portion of cultures returning negative.
  • The in-hospital fatality rate was 19%, with older age, healthcare-associated IE, and the presence of IE linked to higher mortality, suggesting a unique epidemiological profile compared to both developed and developing countries.
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Background: Leptospirosis is a potentially life-threatening but curable zoonosis whose prognosis depends on accurate and timely diagnosis. Because of its non-specific clinical presentation, laboratory testing is essential to confirm the diagnosis. Here, we aimed to assess the performance of two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) (ELISA Serion and ELISA-Hb Pasteur) and one immunodot (GenBio) using quantitative PCR (qPCR) as gold standard, instead of the traditional microscopic agglutination test, for the diagnosis of acute leptospirosis in an endemic area.

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We report two cases of encephalopathy (one with seizures, one with electroencephalogram changes) in patients with Zika virus infection. The cases occurred on Martinique in February 2016, during the Zika virus outbreak. Awareness of the various neurological complications of Zika virus infection is needed for patients living in areas affected by Zika virus infections or for travellers to these areas.

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We report two cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome who had concomitant Zika virus viruria. This viruria persisted for longer than 15 days after symptom onset. The cases occurred on Martinique in January 2016, at the beginning of the Zika virus outbreak.

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To identify factors associated with disease severity, we examined 102 patients with quantitative PCR-confirmed leptospirosis in Martinique during 2010-2013. Associated factors were hypotension, chest auscultation abnormalities, icterus, oligo/anuria, thrombocytopenia, prothrombin time <68%, high levels of leptospiremia, and infection with L. interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae/Copenhageni.

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Objective: Characterization of HIV-1 sequences in newly infected individuals is important for elucidating the mechanisms of viral sexual transmission. We report the identification of transmitted/founder viruses in eight pairs of HIV-1 sexually-infected patients enrolled at the time of primary infection ("recipients") and their transmitting partners ("donors").

Methods: Using a single genome-amplification approach, we compared quasispecies in donors and recipients on the basis of 316 and 376 C2V5 env sequences amplified from plasma viral RNA and PBMC-associated DNA, respectively.

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Shewanella spp. are saprophytic bacteria that are part of the marine microflora in warm climates and are rarely pathogenic. However, Shewanella spp.

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Background: Leptospirosis is one of the most important neglected tropical bacterial diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean. However, very little is known about the circulating etiological agents of leptospirosis in this region. In this study, we describe the serological and molecular features of leptospires isolated from 104 leptospirosis patients in Guadeloupe (n = 85) and Martinique (n = 19) and six rats captured in Guadeloupe, between 2004 and 2012.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines the clinical and microbiological features of children treated at a hospital in Fort de France following the Haiti earthquake.
  • It finds that the majority of bacterial infections in these children were Gram-negative.
  • Many infections appeared to come from the environment, with a notable number also acquired during their hospital stay.
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Three athletes who participated in a race in the tropical forest of the Caribbean island of Martinique were subsequently diagnosed with leptospirosis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We investigated an outbreak to evaluate possible risk factors, and to determine the appropriate public health recommendations. Of 230 athletes, we contacted 148 (64%) and 20 (13.

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Aeromonas species are Gram-negative bacilli of the water environment whose survival appears facilitated by warm climates. There have been no reports on Aeromonas species in the [corrected] Caribbean to date. Our aim was to describe clinical and bacteriological features in patients presenting with such bacteremia in Martinique and Guadeloupe.

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Background: Key symptoms observed during the febrile phase of dengue may identify patients who are likely to progress to severe disease.

Objectives: To test this hypothesis, we examined the relationships between symptoms reported by patients at presentation and the development of severe outcomes.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of data recorded prospectively in 560 adult dengue patients admitted to an emergency department.

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Syphilis reemerged in Martinique in 2004 and initially affected 3 HIV-infected patients. By March 2008, syphilis was diagnosed for 37 men and 18 women. As of October 31, 2009, this outbreak had not yet been brought under control.

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Objectives: Data are lacking on the spectrum of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) diagnosed in returning travelers.

Study Design: All consecutive travelers consulting our tropical unit between November 1, 2002 and October 31, 2003 were included if they presented within 1 month after their return from the tropics, with mucocutaneous signs suggesting STDs.

Results: Forty-nine patients (12 women and 37 men; median age 36.

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Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) are a leading cause of cutaneous problems in travelers. Sixty travelers who presented with an SSTI were prospectively included over a 20-month period. Bacterial analysis and research for Panton-Valentine leukocidine (PVL) were performed according to clinical and bacterial presentation.

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Febrile exanthema frequently presents as an acute condition in travelers. Sixty-two travelers who presented with febrile exanthema were prospectively included over a 20-month period. Diagnostic tests were performed according to clinical presentation and risk exposures.

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Mycobacterium abscessus is an emerging rapidly growing mycobacterium that causes tuberculous-like lesions in humans. We studied the immune control of this organism in C57BL/6 mice challenged intravenously with 10(7) CFU. Bacteria were eliminated from both the spleen and the liver within 90 days, and liver histology showed organized granulomatous lesions.

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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.

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Background: Few on-site studies involving local doctors have been published.

Methods: We conducted a prospective on-site study of health problems occurring among French tourists to Nepal between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2001, and compared the results with those of an identical study performed in 1984.

Results: Of the 21,457 French tourists who visited Nepal in 2001, 276 (1.

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