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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Effect of a control project on clinical profiles and outcomes in buruli ulcer: A before/after study in bas-congo, democratic republic of congo
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Volume 5, No. 12, Article e1402, Year 2011
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Description
Background: Buruli ulcer (BU) is a necrotizing bacterial infection of skin, subcutaneous tissue and bone caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Although the functional impairment caused by BU results in severe suffering and in socio-economic problems, the disease remains largely neglected in Africa. The province of Bas-Congo in Democratic Republic of Congo contains one of the most important BU foci of the country, i.e. the Songololo Territory in the District of Cataractes. This study aims to assess the impact of a BU control project launched in 2004 in the Songololo Territory. Methods: We used a comparative non-randomized study design, comparing clinical profiles and outcomes of the group of patients admitted at the General Reference Hospital (GRH) of the "Institut Médical Evangélique" (IME) of Kimpese 3 years before the start of the project (2002-2004) with those admitted during the 3 years after the start of the project (2005-2007). Results: The BU control project was associated with a strong increase in the number of admitted BU cases at the GRH of IME/Kimpese and a fundamental change in the profile of those patients; more female patients presented with BU, the proportion of relapse cases amongst all admissions reduced, the proportion of early lesions and simple ulcerative forms increased, more patients healed without complications and the case fatality rate decreased substantially. The median duration since the onset of first symptoms however remained high, as well as the proportion of patients with osteomyelitis or limitations of joint movement, suggesting that the diagnostic delay remains substantial. Conclusion: Implementing a specialized program for BU may be effective in improving clinical profiles and outcomes in BU. Despite these encouraging results, our study highlights the need of considering new strategies to better improve BU control in a low resources setting. © 2011 Phanzu et al.
Authors & Co-Authors
Phanzu, Delphin Mavinga
Congo
General Reference Hospital of Kimpese
Belgium, Antwerpen
Prins Leopold Instituut Voor Tropische Geneeskunde
Suykerbuyk, Patrick
Belgium, Antwerpen
Prins Leopold Instituut Voor Tropische Geneeskunde
Imposo, Désiré Bofunga B.
Congo
General Reference Hospital of Kimpese
Lukanu, Philippe Ngwala
Congo
Central Office of the Rural Health Zone of Kimpese
Minuku, Jean Bedel Masamba
Congo
Central Office of the Rural Health Zone of Nsona Mpangu
Lehman, Linda
United States, Greenville
American Leprosy Missions
Saunderson, Paul R.
United States, Greenville
American Leprosy Missions
De-Jong, Bouke Catherine
Belgium, Antwerpen
Prins Leopold Instituut Voor Tropische Geneeskunde
Lutumba, Pascal Tshindele
Congo
Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale
Portaels, Françoise Ç.Oise
Belgium, Antwerpen
Prins Leopold Instituut Voor Tropische Geneeskunde
Boelaert, Marleen C.
Belgium, Antwerpen
Prins Leopold Instituut Voor Tropische Geneeskunde
Statistics
Citations: 28
Authors: 11
Affiliations: 6
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0001402
ISSN:
19352727
e-ISSN:
19352735
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Study Design
Quasi Experimental Study
Study Locations
Congo
Participants Gender
Female