Implementation of a prospective study for enhancing surveillance of invasive bacterial infections in North Africa

Hanen Smaoui (1, 2) , Hassiba Tali-Maamar (3, 4) , Saïd Zouhair (5) , Selma Bouheraoua (3, 4) , Khaoula Mefteh (1, 2) , Mohammed Bouskraoui (5, 6) , Amine Amiche (7) , Mouloud Khris (8) , Ala-Eddine Deghmane (9) , Muhamed-Kheir Taha (9)

1 University of Tunis El Manar
2 Béchir Hamza Children's Hospital
3 Université d'Alger 1 (Benyoucef Benkhedda)
4 Institut Pasteur d'Algérie
5 UCA - Université Cadi Ayyad [Marrakech]
6 CHUMVI - Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Mohammed VI [Marrakech, Morocco]
7 Sanofi Pasteur [Dubaï]
8 Sanofi Pasteur [Casablanca]
9 IP - Institut Pasteur [Paris]

Objectives We implemented a project named MENINGSTOP in three countries of North Africa (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia). The main objective was to use real-time PCR to detect, identify and type the three main agents (Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae) responsible for invasive bacterial infections (IBI). Methods The protocol of WHO and US CDC for real-time PCR was used to detect and type the three bacterial agents in clinical samples. We also designated two quality exercises using an external interlaboratory study and cross-testing of 10% of randomly selected samples. Results Among the 752 samples tested, 18% were positive for one of the three agents. N. meningitidis was the most frequent globally reaching 9% of all samples (7% to 17% range) followed by S. pneumoniae 8% of all samples (6% to 15%). Group B meningococci was the most frequent (74% of all positive samples for meningococci and ranging from 50% to 90%). Quality assurance showed >85% correlation scores. Conclusions Real-time PCR can help improving epidemiological surveillance. Data confirm the prevalence of meningococci B. Our project adds a reliable tool to enhance surveillance and to help decision making in vaccination strategies against IBI.

Mots clés: Algeria; Invasive bacterial infections; Morocco; Quality assurance; Tunisia; real-time PCR; surveillance

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]; Maladies infectieuses; Santé publique et épidémiologie

Hanen Smaoui, Hassiba Tali-Maamar, Saïd Zouhair, Selma Bouheraoua, Khaoula Mefteh, et al.. Implementation of a prospective study for enhancing surveillance of invasive bacterial infections in North Africa. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2022, 115, pp.101-105. ⟨10.1016/j.ijid.2021.11.036⟩. ⟨hal-04133426⟩