Hematological profiles of patients with tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria infections in Bamako, Mali.

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in Mali. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections are very common but are often cofounded with TB because of the similarity of symptoms, which makes the diagnosis difficult. Hematological abnormalities associated with TB have been described, but not with NTM.

Use of light-emitting diode fluorescence microscopy to detect acid-fast bacilli in sputum as proficient alternative tool in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in countries with limited resource settings.

Background: Despite recent advances in the development of more sensitive technologies for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB), in resource-limited settings, the diagnosis continues to rely on sputum smear microscopy. This is because smear microscopy is simple, cost-efficient and the most accessible tool for the diagnosis of TB. Our study evaluated the performance of light-emitting diode fluorescence microscopy (LED-FM) using auramine/rhodamine (auramine) and the fluorescein di-acetate (FDA) vital stain in the diagnostic of pulmonary TB in Bamako, Mali.

Sex Differences in Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis Outcomes in Mali, West Africa.

Men and women often respond differently to infectious diseases and their treatments. Tuberculosis (TB) is a life-threatening communicable disease that affects more men than women globally. Whether male sex is an independent risk factor for unfavorable TB outcomes, however, has not been rigorously investigated in an African context, where individuals are likely exposed to different microbial and environmental factors.

High SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Healthcare Workers in Bamako, Mali.

In Mali, a country in West Africa, cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths among healthcare workers (HCWs) remain enigmatically low, despite a series of waves, circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants, the country's weak healthcare system, and a general lack of adherence to public health mitigation measures. The goal of the study was to determine whether exposure is important by assessing the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in HCWs. The study was conducted between November 2020 and June 2021.

Isoniazid preventive therapy in child household contacts of adults with active TB in Bamako, Mali.

Background And Objective: Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) is known to reduce the risk of developing active TB in about 59% in children aged ⩽15 years. We assessed adherence, completion and adverse events among children who were household contacts of a newly diagnosed adult with smear-positive TB in Bamako, Mali.

Methods: Children aged <15 years living in the same house with an adult smear-positive index case were enrolled in the study in the Bamako Region after consent was obtained from the parent or legal guardian.

Development and clinical evaluation of a new multiplex PCR assay for a simultaneous diagnosis of tuberculous and nontuberculous mycobacteria.

Background: The prevalence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been increasing worldwide in both developed and developing countries. NTM infection is clinically indistinguishable from tuberculosis and therefore poses significant challenges in patient management, especially in patients chronically treated for pulmonary TB. In this study, we evaluated a new highly sensitive Multiplex MTB/NTM assay that can differentiate M.

[Contribution of the University Clinical Research Center's laboratoryin the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in Mali].

Introduction: The rapid diagnostic capacities of laboratories in Mali have been an essential element in the response to COVID-19. The University Clinical Research center (UCRC) diagnosed the first cases of Mali COVID-19.

Objective: The objective was to describe the contribution of the UCRC in the diagnosis of Covid-19 and to clinically and epidemiologically characterize the patients tested in the UCRC laboratory.

[Drug-resistant tuberculosis with rifampicin in children co-infected with HIV in Bamako].

Drug-resistant tuberculosis, especially in children, is a major public health challenge. We report a case with rifampicin resistance diagnosed in an HIV co-infected in Bamako. The history of the disease suggests possible father-to-child transmission.

Fluorescein diacetate and rapid molecular testing for the early identification of rifampicin resistance in Mali.

Non-conversion on auramine smear microscopy indicates a lack of treatment response, possibly associated with initial rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB). However, dead bacteria still stain positive and may be detected. Fluorescein diacetate smear microscopy (FDA) shows live mycobacteria only.

Patients infected with Mycobacterium africanum versus Mycobacterium tuberculosis possess distinct intestinal microbiota.

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), is composed of eight subspecies. TB in West Africa, in contrast to other geographical regions, is caused by Mycobacterium africanum (MAF) in addition to M. tuberculosis (MTB), with both infections presenting similar symptoms.

Use of sodium dodecyl sulfate to improve tuberculosis sputum smear microscopy.

Sputum smear microscopy (SSM), the most widely available tool for tuberculosis (TB) detection, has limited performance in paucibacillary patients and requires highly experienced technicians. The objective of this study was to determine whether the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), a detergent that thins sputum, at 4% and 10%, improves the detection of acid-fast bacilli (AFB), the clarity of slides, and the biosafety of the technique. Thirty participants with presumptive TB were enrolled.

Diabetes Mellitus among new tuberculosis patients in Bamako, Mali.

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) increases worldwide, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. In Mali, the prevalence in the adult population is estimated at 1.8%, but tuberculosis (TB) patients are not systematically screened.

Association of Infection with Slower Disease Progression Compared with in Malian Patients with Tuberculosis.

(MAF) is known to endemically cause up to 40-50% of all pulmonary TB in West Africa. The aim of this study was to compare MAF with (MTB) with regard to time from symptom onset to TB diagnosis, and clinical and radiological characteristics. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bamako, Mali, between August 2014 and July 2016.

Mycobacterium africanum (Lineage 6) shows slower sputum smear conversion on tuberculosis treatment than Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Lineage 4) in Bamako, Mali.

Objective: Ancestral M. tuberculosis complex lineages such as M. africanum are underrepresented among retreatment patients and those with drug resistance.

Screening new tuberculosis patients in Mali for rifampicin resistance at 2months.

Objective/background: The recent call for universal drug susceptibility testing (DST) for all tuberculosis (TB) patients will be difficult to meet in settings where Xpert rollout is limited, such as low prevalence of HIV and Multi-drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR) settings. As recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, the success of TB treatment is measured by Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) microscopy or auramine-rhodamine fluorescent microscopy (FM) on sputum, in which conversion to negative smear at 2months (M) is an important predictor of treatment success, defined as a negative smear at 5M. The sputum smear that fails to convert to negative at 5M are screened for rifampicin resistance.