Severe Acute Bacterial Infections in Children With Sickle Cell Disease in Togo.

BACKGROUND

Bacterial infections are considered a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients, especially children, with sickle cell disease.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims at determining, a year after the introduction of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine the distribution of severe acute bacterial infections and germs in children with sickle cell disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Records of children 0 to 15 years of age and admitted from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019 (5 y), were examined retrospectively in the four sickle cell monitoring units in Lomé.

RESULTS

The main infections found were pleuropulmonary (46.1%), urinary tract (32.8%), and osteoarticular (9.3%). A germ was isolated in 139 of the 265 cases (52.4%). 65.5% of the microorganisms isolated were Gram-negative organisms, with mostly Escherichia coli (31.6%) , and Klebsiella pneumoniae (18%) being the main germs. They were mainly responsible of urinary tract and osteoarticular infections. The majority of these Enterobacteriaceae was Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing (41.1%, n = 37). Gram-positive cocci were represented by Staphylococcus sp (25.9%), Streptococcus sp (4.3%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (2.9%), and Enterococcus (1.4%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common germ in pleuropulmonary (40%), osteoarticular (47.3%), and sepsis (28.6%) infections.

CONCLUSION

Even if the infections found remained classic, there is a redistribution of germs with a decline in Salmonella and increase of Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumoniae , and Staphylococcus aureus .