A clinical strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, PAe1100, was found to be resistant to all antipseudomonal beta-lactam antibiotics and to aminoglycosides, including gentamicin, amikacin, and isepamicin. PAe1100 produced two beta-lactamases, TEM-2 (pI 5.6) and a novel, TEM-derived extended-spectrum beta-lactamase called TEM-42 (pI 5.8), susceptible to inhibition by clavulanate, sulbactam, and tazobactam. Both enzymes, as well as the aminoglycoside resistance which resulted from AAC(3)-IIa and AAC(6')-I production, were encoded by an 18-kb nonconjugative plasmid, pLRM1, that could be transferred to Escherichia coli by transformation. The gene coding for TEM-42 had four mutations that led to as many amino acid substitutions with respect to TEM-2: Val for Ala at position 42 (Ala42), Ser for Gly238, Lys for Glu240, and Met for Thr265 (Ambler numbering). The double mutation Ser for Gly238 and Lys for Glu240, which has so far only been described in SHV-type but not TEM-type enzymes, conferred concomitant high-level resistance to cefotaxime and ceftazidime. The novel, TEM-derived extended-spectrum beta-lactamase appears to be the first of its class to be described in P. aeruginosa.

Protective devices against vectors are used by travelers in malaria-endemic areas but their efficacy for protection against mosquitoes has rarely been evaluated. The level of exposure to malaria transmission of 205 soldiers deployed in Africa and the efficacy of their anti-vector prophylaxis was evaluated by comparison of their IgM and IgG responses against five pre-erythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum antigens (circumsporozoite protein, sporozoite threonine- and asparagine-rich protein, sporozoite- and liver-stage antigen, liver stage antigen 1, and SR11.1) before and at the end of their deployment, and three months after returning to France for 106 of these soldiers. The immune responses increased significantly during the mission in 35% (95% confidence interval = 28-42%) of the individuals. The permanent use of insecticide-treated bed nets and long-sleeve battle dress at night were associated with protective efficacy. The analysis of these antibody responses was sensitive enough to evaluate exposure to malaria transmission and the efficacy of anti-vector devices in travelers using antimalarial chemoprophylaxis.

Ebola patients frequently exhibit behavioral modifications with ideation slowing and aggressiveness, sometimes contrasting with mild severity of Ebola disease. We performed lumbar punctures in 3 patients with this presentation and found Ebola virus in all cerebrospinal fluid samples. This discovery helps to discuss the concept of a specific Ebola virus encephalitis.

We report 2 outbreaks of Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive, doxycycline-resistant, methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infections in French soldiers operating in Côte d'Ivoire. In a transssectional survey, nasal carriage of this strain was found in 2.9% of 273 soldiers about to be sent to Côte d'Ivoire and was associated with prior malaria prophylaxis with doxycycline.

Rhabdomyolysis is a frequent disorder in EVD and seems to be more common than in other viral infections. It may contribute to the renal failure observed in nonsurviving patients. More studies are needed to determine the impact of rhabdomyolysis on EVD outcome.

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As of today, little data is available on COVID-19 in African countries, where the case management relied mainly on a treatment by association between hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and azithromycin (AZM). This study aimed to understand the main clinical outcomes of COVID-19 hospitalized patients in Senegal from March to October 20202. We described the clinical characteristics of patients and analysed clinical status (alive and discharged versus hospitalized or died) at 15 days after Isolation and Treatment Centres (ITC) admission among adult patients who received HCQ plus AZM and those who did not receive this combination. A total of 926 patients were included in this analysis. Six hundred seventy-four (674) (72.8%) patients received a combination of HCQ and AZM. Results showed that the proportion of patient discharge at D15 was significantly higher for patients receiving HCQ plus AZM (OR: 1.63, IC 95% (1.09–2.43)). Factors associated with a lower proportion of patients discharged alive were: age ≥ 60 years (OR: 0.55, IC 95% (0.36–0.83)), having of at least one pre-existing disorder (OR: 0.61, IC 95% (0.42–0.90)), and a high clinical risk at admission following NEWS score (OR: 0.49, IC 95% (0.28–0.83)). Few side effects were reported including 2 cases of cardiac rhythmic disorders in the HCQ and AZM group versus 13 in without HCQ + AZM. An improvement of clinical status at 15 days was found for patients exposed to HCQ plus AZM combination.

A multicentre European study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotype O12 isolates with a common antibiotic resistance pattern was conducted. Resistance to beta-lactams and aminoglycosides was observed in 24 of the 25 isolates, as often reported in Europe, and all 25 isolates were significantly more susceptible to fosfomycin than 189 isolates of other serotypes (72% vs. 13.2%). The mutational frequency of serotype O12 was similar to that of other serotypes and thus could not explain the susceptibility to fosfomycin. As a number of epidemiological studies using various methods, especially ribotyping with EcoRI, have shown that most strains are similar, it has been suggested that a single strain of this serotype is widespread. However, in this study ribotyping with EcoRI and PvuII distinguished seven clones among 24 ticarcillin resistant serotype O12 isolates, although one ribotype predominated (67%). Thus the hypothesis of spread of one clone across Europe cannot explain the common resistance phenotype observed in different clones of serotype O12. Resistance of beta-lactams and aminoglycosides might be explained by greater receptiveness for transposable resistance mechanisms, and susceptibility to fosfomycin by increased permeability of the outer membrane.