African Journal of
Bacteriology Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Bacteriol. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2006-9871
  • DOI: 10.5897/JBR
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 123

Full Length Research Paper

Contribution of COVID-19 diagnosis in patients seen at the tuberculosis laboratory in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Kayes Heath district

Maiga A.
  • Maiga A.
  • Laboratory of Medical Biology and Hospital Hygiene, Point-G University Hospital, Bamako, Mali.
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Cisse A. B.
  • Cisse A. B.
  • National Institute of Public Health, Bamako, Mali
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Soumano I.
  • Soumano I.
  • Kayes Reference Health Center, Mali.
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Ag. Baraika M.
  • Ag. Baraika M.
  • Laboratory of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy (FAPH), University of Sciences, Technics and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali.
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Sangare A. K.
  • Sangare A. K.
  • Charles Merieux Infectiology Center, Bamako, Mali.
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Diarra B.
  • Diarra B.
  • Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, University of Sciences, Technics and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali.
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Traore B.
  • Traore B.
  • Charles Merieux Infectiology Center, Bamako, Mali.
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Traore A.
  • Traore A.
  • National Institute for Training in Health Sciences, Bamako, Mali.
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Hamidou A
  • Hamidou A
  • Kayes Reference Health Center, Mali.
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Samake H
  • Samake H
  • National Institute of Public Health, Bamako, Mali.
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Maiga I. I.
  • Maiga I. I.
  • Laboratory of Medical Biology and Hospital Hygiene, Point-G University Hospital, Bamako, Mali.
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Guindo I.
  • Guindo I.
  • Laboratory of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy (FAPH), University of Sciences, Technics and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali.
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  •  Received: 05 January 2024
  •  Accepted: 09 February 2024
  •  Published: 31 March 2024

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges to tuberculosis (TB) services, leading to an increase in TB deaths for the first time in a decade. The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in patients attending the Kayes Reference Health Center for tuberculosis diagnosis and anti-tuberculosis treatment monitoring. This was a cross-sectional and prospective study conducted at the Reference Health Center (CSREF) laboratory in Kayes from December 1, 2021, to February 28, 2022. Sputum and nasopharyngeal samples were collected from all patients suspected of tuberculosis and those undergoing anti-tuberculosis follow-up. The search for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and the detection of SARS-CoV-2 were performed using fluorescence microscopy and the GeneXpert Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 test, respectively. A total of 463 patients were included in the study, with males representing the majority at 67% (N=308), and the age group of 35 to 44 being the most represented at 19% (N=86). SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 70 patients, with 69% (N=48) being male and 31% (N=22) female. The age group of 65 and over was the most affected by SARS-CoV-2, followed by the age group of 55 to 64, with 21% and 17% of cases detected, respectively. In this study, 16% of patients undergoing tuberculosis diagnosis and 12% of patients undergoing microscopic monitoring of anti-tuberculosis treatment tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. A total of 1.9% (N=9) of patients were co-infected, with 7 cases detected during tuberculosis diagnosis and 2 during treatment monitoring. Based on these results, bidirectional screening for COVID-19 and tuberculosis should be integrated into our health system.

 

Key words: Tuberculosis, Covid-19, CSREF, Kayes, Mali.