Biological confirmation of the presence of Vibrio cholerae in clinical and environmental samples is often constrained due to resource- and labor-intensive gold standard methods. To develop low-cost, simple, and sustainable surveillance techniques, we modified previously published specimen sampling and culture techniques and applied the use of enriched dipstick testing in conjunction with the use of filter paper for DNA specimen preservation during clinical and environmental surveillance in the Far North of Cameroon from August 2013 to October 2014. The enriched dipstick methodology during routine use in a remote setting demonstrated a specificity of 99.8% compared with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The novel application of filter paper as a preservation method for cholera DNA specimens reduced the need for cold chain storage and allowed for PCR characterization and confirmation of V. cholerae. The application of basic technologies such as the enriched dipstick, the use of simplified gauze filtration for environmental sample collection, and the use of filter paper for sample preservation enabled early case identification with reduced logistics and supply cost while reporting minimal false-positive results. Simplified laboratory and epidemiological methodologies can improve the feasibility of cholera surveillance in rural and resource-constrained areas, facilitating early case detection and rapid response implementation.

Cholera outbreaks are recurrent in Cameroon and despite the efforts put together during epidemics, they are always associated with a high case fatality. Inadequate demand for health care is one of the major factors that might be responsible for the high case fatality. This study was conducted to describe the health seeking behaviour of suspected cases of cholera in four health districts of the Far North Cameroon. We conducted a health facility based descriptive study involving suspected cases of cholera received in health facilities. Data was collected from August 2013 to October 2015 with the help of a questionnaire and analysis done by running frequency and calculating confidence interval at 95% with Epi Info version 3.5.4. A total of 1849 cases were enrolled, with 997 (53.9%) being males. 534 (28.9%) were children under the age of 5 and 942 (50.9%) were above the age of 14. About 373 (20%) of diarrhoeal patients arrived in the health facility more than 2 days following the onset of diarrhoea, with 916 (50%) of them being seriously dehydrated. Also, about 624 (34%) of these patients had sought treatment elsewhere before coming to the health facility where they were enrolled, and about 86% of them did not received ORS. Taking 2 or more days after diarrhoea onset or taking more than 1 h to travel from home to health facility was associated with severe dehydration in patients. The delay between the onset of diarrhoea and seeking treatment from a health provider determines the seriousness of suspected cases of cholera in the Far North Cameroon. While conducting an anthropological study to understand reasons why a health provider is not the first option during diarrhoeal episodes, we recommend that a system of community case detection and reference to health facilities should be put in place during cholera outbreaks to minimize its case fatality rate.

INTRODUCTION: many studies still show significant numbers of surgical patients contracting nosocomial infections each year globally with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to identify potential bacteria reservoirs that may be responsible for nosocomial infection in surgical services in the Yaound? University Teaching Hospital (YUTH) and the Central Hospital Yaound? (CHY). METHODS: a cross sectional descriptive study was conducted from June to August 2012. Air, water, and surface samples were collected from two surgical services and subjected to standard bacteriological analysis. RESULTS: a total of 143 surface samples were collected. Bacteria were isolated in all surfaces except from one trolley sample and a surgical cabinet sample. The predominant species in all services was coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CNS). The average number ofcolonieswas132. 82CFU/25cm2. The bacteria isolated in the air were similar to those isolated from surfaces. From the 16 water samples cultured, an average of 50.93 CFU/100ml bacteria were isolated. The distribution of isolated species showed a predominance of Burkholderiacepacia. CONCLUSION: these results showed the importance of the hospital environmentas a potentialreservoirand sourceof nosocomialinfectionsamongst surgicalpatient at YUTH and CHY, thus we suggest that Public health policy makers in Cameroon must define, publish guidelines and recommendations for monitoring environmental microbiota in health facilities.

Du fait de l'accès limité au laboratoire au Cameroun, la prise en charge des cas de diarrhée dans la plus part des formations sanitaires est basée sur le diagnostic de présomption. L'objectif de notre étude était de déterminer la distribution et la sensibilité aux antibiotiques habituellement prescrits contre les bactéries pathogènes associés aux diarrhées à l'Hôpital Régional Annexe de Kousseri(HRAK) de Juillet à Octobre 2015. Il s'agissait d'une étude descriptive et transversale ciblant toute personne consentante consultant pour diarrhée à l'HRAK pendant la période d'étude. De chaque patient était collectés un échantillon de selles et les données par questionnaire anonyme administré en face à face. Chaque échantillon de selles était cultivé sur milieu spécifique aux enterobactéries et analysé suivant la méthode standard de coproculture. La sensibilité des souches isolées aux antibiotiques fréquemment prescrits, a été évaluée et les proportions des patients présentant chaque germe pathogène et de germe sensible à chaque antibiotique étaient estimées. Au total 45(30,0%) des 150 cas de diarrhée inclus étaient associés à une bactérie enteropathogéne dont 37(82,2%) chez les enfants de 0 à 5 ans. Escherichia coli était la bactérie la plus représentée avec 30 cas(66%) suivis des cas de Salmonella spp, 7(16%); Vibrio spp, 5(11%); Aeromonas spp, 2(4%) et Shigella spp, 1(2%). Les antibiogrammes réalisés ont montré que 17(56,7%), 14(46,7%) et 5(16,7%) E. coli étaient sensibles à la Ciprofloxacine, Ceftriaxone, au Cotrimoxazole respectivement. 4(57,14%), 2(28,57%) Salmonella spp. était sensible au Ceftriaxone et au cotrimoxazole respectivement. Près du tiers des cas de diarrhée consultant à l'HRAK en saison de pluie sont associés à au moins une bactérie pathogène. La sensibilité des germes isolés aux antibiotiques couramment prescrits reste très limitée. Dans les formations sanitaires de l'Extrême Nord Cameroun ou le personnel de santé est obligé de faire des prescriptions d'antibiotiques contre les diarrhées sur la base des diagnostics de présomption, un système de surveillance des germes associés et de la sensibilité de ceux-ci aux antibiotiques prescrits en routine devra être mis en place.

Background: Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is essential in ensuring population’s access to immunization. Surveys are part of this M&E approach but its timing limits the use of its results to improve the coverage of the evaluated campaign. An oral cholera vaccination campaign was organized in a health district of the Far North region of Cameroon and involved an innovative M&E approach. The aim of this project was to assess the feasibility and effect of using recommendations of a community-based immunization and communication coverage survey conducted after the first round of an OCV campaign on the coverage of the second-round of the campaign. Methods: Two community-based surveys were included in the M&E plan and conducted at the end of each of the campaign rounds. Data were collected by trained and closely supervised surveyors and reported using smartphones. Key results of the first-round survey were disseminated to campaign implementing team prior to the second round. The two rounds of the pre-emptive campaign were organized by the Cameroon Ministry of Public Health and partners with a two-week interval in the Mogode Health District of the Far North region of Cameroon in May and June 2017. Results: Of 120 targeted clusters, 119 (99.1%) and 117 (97.5%) were reached for the first and second rounds respectively. Among the Mogode population eligible for vaccination, the immunization coverage based on evidence (card or finger mark) were estimated at 81.0% in the first round and increased to 88.8% in the second round (X²=69.0 and p <0.00). For the second round, we estimated 80.1% and 4.3% of persons who were administered 2 doses and 1 dose of OCV with evidence respectively, and 3.8% of persons who have not been vaccinated. The distribution of campaign communication coverage per health area was shared with the campaign coordination team for better planning of the second round campaign activities. Conclusions: It is feasible to plan and implement coverage survey after first round OCV campaign and use its results for the better planning of the second round. For the present study, this is associated to the improvement of OCV coverage in the second-round vaccination. If this is persistent in other contexts, it may apply to improve coverage of any health campaign that is organized in more than one round.

Background: In Cameroon, the coverage, completeness, and timeliness of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) vaccines administration in children have remained heterogeneous and below the national and districts targets in several districts. In an effort to solve this problem, many interventions have been tested but none has shown significant improvement of the situation. Objective: This trial aims to test whether involving Community Volunteers to assess children vaccination status and demographic movements and using recorded data to plan catch-up immunization sessions can improve children vaccination timeliness, completeness and coverage. Methods: Communities of the Foumban Health district, West region of Cameroon will be selected and assigned to either intervention or control groups using a restricted randomization of 2. In the intervention group, one Community Volunteer per community will be trained to visit households and record EPI-targeted children in a register, record their demographic movements, and assess their immunization status monthly for a year. The information recorded will be snapped and sent to the competent health center immunization team through WhatsApp. These will be used to plan and implement monthly community catch up immunization sessions in collaboration with the community volunteer. In the control group, the routine immunization sessions will be conducted with health centers organizing either weekly vaccination sessions for communities situated not farther than 5 kilometers away from the health facility or monthly vaccination sessions in communities situated more than 5 kilometers away from the health center. Baseline, mid-term and end-line surveys will be conducted to assess and compare immunization coverage, timeliness, and completeness. Results: Funded in 2018, data collection started in 2018 and has been completed. Data analysis and reporting are ongoing. Conclusions: This trial is expecting to test an innovative approach to improving children’s immunization timeliness, completeness and coverage of immunization by tracking EPI targeted population vaccination status and denominator at household level and building collaboration between the community and health facilities vaccination teams to organize monthly community-based response vaccination sessions. This intervention is expected to improve children sustainable access to EPI vaccination as it offers assessing and responding to their immunization needs at monthly basis using low cost local human resources. Trial Registration: Pan African Clinical Trials Registry ID PACTR201808527428720; tinyurl.com/u058qnse International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/21734