Search

Relatively few COVID-19 cases and deaths have been reported through much of sub-Saharan Africa, including South Sudan, although the extent of SARS-CoV-2 spread remains unclear due to weak surveillance systems and few population-representative serosurveys.We conducted a representative household-based cross-sectional serosurvey in Juba, South Sudan. We quantified IgG antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain and estimated seroprevalence using a Bayesian regression model accounting for test performance.We recruited 2,214 participants from August 10 to September 11, 2020 and 22.3% had anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers above levels in pre-pandemic samples. After accounting for waning antibody levels, age, and sex, we estimated that 38.5% (32.1 - 46.8) of the population had been infected with SARS-CoV-2. For each RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 case, 104 (87-126) infections were unreported. Background antibody reactivity was higher in pre-pandemic samples from Juba compared to Boston, where the serological test was validated. The estimated proportion of the population infected ranged from 30.1% to 60.6% depending on assumptions about test performance and prevalence of clinically severe infections.SARS-CoV-2 has spread extensively within Juba. Validation of serological tests in sub-Saharan African populations is critical to improve our ability to use serosurveillance to understand and mitigate transmission.

Introduction: S. aureus is recognized as the common cause of nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Macrolide-Lincosamide-Streptogramin B (MLSB) is thought to be alternative therapies against MRSA infections. Clindamycin is the most favored agent because of exceptional pharmacokinetic characteristics. However, increasing resistance to clindamycin among MRSA strains is a serious challenge. The current study investigated the profile of clindamycin resistance among MRSA isolates from Humans, and their respective livestock (in particular swine) using D-test in greater Kabale region. Materials and Methods: Three hundred phenotypic MRSA isolates previously isolated from Humans and swine were confirmed by mecA PCR. We performed D-test using erythromycin (15 μg) and clindamycin (2 μg) discs in accordance to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) protocol. Results: Of all 300 MRSA isolates, 6% (n = 18) were sensitive to Erythromycin and Clindamycin (S). The rate of inducible clindamycin resistance (iMLSB) was 42% (n = 125) and 38% (n = 115) was resistance to both Erythromycin and clindamycin (cMLSB). However, 14% (n = 42) were resistant to erythromycin but sensitive to clindamycin (MS) without “D” zone negative. Conclusion: Clindamycin resistance (both cMLSB and iMLSB) among MRSA was high and “D” test should be adopted routinely during antimicrobial susceptibility testing by disc diffusion testing to rapidly detect iMLSB and cMLSB.