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HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C among people who inject drugs are on the rise in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. But the regional response to the epidemic falls short both in terms of the quality and scale of response. From the threat of the death sentence for drug offenses to the burden of refugees fleeing conflict, there are many legal, political and social barriers that hinder the introduction and expansion of harm reduction in the region. However Iran and Morocco are two pioneering countries and over the last decade they have been providing evidence that harm reduction is feasible and acceptable in MENA. Using different approaches, these two countries have overcome various obstacles and encouraged discussion and collaboration among stakeholders, including government, health professionals, civil society and community-based organizations. In so doing they have created an enabling environment to endorse a national harm strategy., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are major public health concerns. We aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections among HIV-infected patients, and to identify the main circulating hepatitis strains in Morocco. The study was carried out in 503 HIV-infected patients. Our survey indicated that the prevalence of HIV/hepatitis co-infection was 10.6%; 5.2% of patients were HBV surface antigen positive, and 5.4% of patients were anti-HCV positive. Among the HBV surface antigen-positive group, HBV DNA sequencing identified exclusively genotype D (D1: 26.7%; D7: 73.3%) in accordance with what is found in the general population. In contrast, sequencing of HCV isolates produced an unusual subtype distribution with a decreasing order of prevalence: 1a, 3a (both 23.5%), 1b, 4a (both 17.6%), 1c (11.8%) and 6h (6%)., (© 2013 The Authors Clinical Microbiology and Infection © 2013 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.)

Introduction: We report a retrospective study in the medical intensive care unit of the Casablanca Ibn-Rochd University hospital., Material and Methods: All patients over 14 years of age with falciparum malaria, who were admitted to ICUs between 1996 and 2001, were included. The main epidemiological features, criteria of admission, treatment, and outcome were investigated., Results: Ten patients were included for severe imported malaria. The mean age was 32+/-4 years. All patients had acquired falciparum malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Chemoprophylaxis was inadequate in all patients. The mean time from symptom onset to treatment initiation was 9+/-2 days. Criteria of admission were impaired consciousness (7), acute renal failure (4), and respiratory distress (3). The most worrying factors were the severity of consciousness disorders, the acute respiratory distress syndrome, the metabolic acidosis, and the refractory shock. All patients presented with nosocomial respiratory infection related to Gram-negative bacilli, in the evolution. All patients received quinine therapy with loading dose and symptomatic treatment. Five patients died., Conclusion: The lethality of severe imported malaria is still high despite optimal management in ICUs. Improving chemoprophylaxis and an earlier diagnosis may reduce significantly the mortality rate.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a necrotizing renal infection characterized by bacterial gas production in the renal and perirenal area. It is a rare infection diagnosed in diabetic patients in most cases. Emphysematous pyelonephritis has a high mortality rate. We herein report one case of bilateral emphysematous pyelonephritis managed by medical therapy alone.

Objective: Compliance in HIV infection treatment is a major stake to give worldwide access to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment and especially in Africa. In September 2003, we undertook a study on compliance among HIV positive patients under antiretroviral treatment. These patients were included in a therapeutic educational program in the infectious diseases department of the Casablanca University Hospital (Morocco). The main objective of the study was to assess obstacles to compliance and to find possible solutions., Design: A transversal investigation was made, based on questionnaires for patients under ARV treatment, chosen consecutively. The physician's and the educator's opinion on patient compliance was collected., Results: Patients were between 21 and 65 years of age. Ninety-two patients were questioned and 89 analyzed. Treatment duration lasted from 2 to 67 months. Compliance according to educators was good (>90%) for 78 patients. The main obstacles for a good compliance were difficulty to respect administration schedule and the long distance between home and hospital, or the presence of adverse effects and other diseases., Conclusions: The role of the therapeutic educational program in improving compliance was largely highlighted.

Measurement of cerebrospinal fluid lactic acid by an enzymatic test has been evaluated in 164 patients. The upper limit of normal CSF lactate was 300 mg/l. The CSF lactate level is useful for differential diagnosis between partially treated pyogenic meningitis and tuberculous meningitis. The increase of CSF lactate is not specific for meningitis and must be interpreted taking into account the clinical situation.