Banso Baptist Hospital Research Articles

The Evolution of a Hospital-Based Cancer Registry in Northwest Cameroon from 2004 to 2015.

Effective cancer registration is required for the development of cancer management policies, but is often deficient in the developing world. In 2008 cancer registration was set up Banso Baptist Hospital and Mbingo Baptist Hospital in the Northwest region of Cameroon, using the Pediatric Oncology Networked Database (POND). The objective of this study was to analyze the POND registry data for patients with cancer aged 0-15 years for the period 2004-15. A total of 1029 malignancies were recorded in children 0-15 years in the study period. The male-to-female ratio was 1.4:1. The median age at diagnosis was 7.22 years. The most common malignancies were lymphomas followed by nephroblastoma, retinoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and Kaposi sarcoma. There were more Burkitt lymphomas cases between 2004 and 2009 than between 2010 and 2015, while the number of cases rose for other diagnoses like retinoblastoma and nephroblastoma. This report has demonstrated how pediatric oncology registration can be implemented, improved and sustained in a low- and middle-income country setting with limited resources. Using the data, these hospitals can improve their treatment planning and ensure the availability of essential chemotherapy for childhood cancers.

Implementation of An Electronic-Based Health Information System Maintaining the Paper Based System-Including: A Situational Analysis in Banso Baptist Hospital (BBH) In Cameroon

Implementation of An Electronic-Based Health Information System Maintaining the Paper Based System-Including: A Situational Analysis in Banso Baptist Hospital (BBH) In Cameroon

Deep neck infection and descending mediastinitis as lethal complications of dentoalveolar infection: two rare case reports

BackgroundWe report two cases of innocuous dentoalveolar infections which rapidly progressed to deep neck abscesses complicated by descending mediastinitis in a resource-constrained rural mission hospital in the Cameroon.Case presentationThe clinical presentations of a 35-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman both of Fulani origin in the Northern region of Cameroon were similar with submandibular fluctuant and tender swelling and differential warmth to palpation. The patients had tachycardia, high grade pyrexia, and normal blood pressure. Further physical and neurological examinations were unremarkable. An ultrasound scan of the neck swellings showed submandibular turbid collections. Plain chest radiographs confirmed empyema thoraces. Our patients had serial drainage of the neck abscesses as well as closed thoracostomy tube drainage which were connected to pleurovac and suctioning machines, with significant amount of pus drainage. Both patients were admitted to our intensive care unit for close monitoring. The first patient continued to make satisfactory clinical progress and was discharged by the fourth week of admission. The patient who had human immunodeficiency viral infection died on the fifth postoperative day.ConclusionsThe possibility of lethal complications and the associated morbidity and mortality portray this clinical entity as an important public health concern. Clinicians taking care of patients with dentoalveolar and oropharyngeal infections need to be sensitized to these potentially fatal complications. Alternatively, strategies to improve oral health and reduce the incidence of dental caries, the main cause of dental abscess, would maximize use of resources; especially in resources-constrained centers like ours in Banso Baptist Hospital.

OP76 HbA1c in children enrolled in CDiC Clinic in Banso Baptist Hospital (BBH)

OP76 HbA1c in children enrolled in CDiC Clinic in Banso Baptist Hospital (BBH)

Report on health screening of blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index in hospital staff in Cameroon, Africa

Introduction: In Africa, there is increasing attention on non-communicable diseases in response to a shifting of disease burden from infectious diseases to chronic illnesses, especially hypertension, diabetes and obesity. As part of the World Health Week, health screening was offered to all staff at Banso Baptist hospital to promote their awareness of their personal health and obtain a baseline assessment of the general health of the staff. Methods: A health screening was held for all hospital staff which included measurements of blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index. Demographic data were collected and limited to age, gender and staff position/activity. Results: Almost 60% of the staff participated in the screening with 5.8% having an elevated blood pressure and 2.8% an elevated blood sugar. the percent of overweight/obesity was 55.9% with women significantly more obese than men (p=0.0001). Discussion: Overweight and obesity were higher in the staff than expected with the women's percentage concerning. without interventions, there is the potential of increasing numbers of staff eventually developing hypertension, diabetes and other chronic illnesses. Prevention efforts have the potential to maintain staff wellness and productivity as well as preventing chronic illnesses.

Prevalence and Severity of Diabetic Retinopathy in Northwest Cameroon as Identified by Teleophthalmology

Diabetic retinopathy is a common ocular complication of diabetes mellitus, which can lead to significant visual impairment. The present study is the first to characterize the prevalence and severity of diabetic retinopathy and other ocular pathologies in a population of patients with diabetes who live in Northwest Cameroon using teleophthalmology. A retrospective review of the electronic charts of patients at the Banso Baptist Hospital and in neighboring communities between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008 was completed. The eyes of 253 consecutive patients with diabetes mellitus who attended mobile teleophthalmology clinics in Northwest Cameroon were included in the study. Eyes were graded for diabetic retinopathy using stereoscopic seven-field digital retinal images obtained by a mobile team in Cameroon and graded by ophthalmologists in Canada utilizing Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study criteria. Diabetic retinopathy was identified in 20.6% of eyes (18.2% nonproliferative, 2.4% proliferative) and in 24.3% of patients. About 8.0% of eyes demonstrated evidence of macular edema. Additional nondiabetes-related ocular pathologies were identified in 14.6% of eyes. Diabetic retinopathy was found to be common in people with diabetes who attended teleophthalmology clinics in Northwest Cameroon. The prevalence of treatable disease including macular edema and retinal neovascularization suggests that improved patient access to laser photocoagulation and vitreoretinal surgery would be beneficial in reducing vision loss in this vulnerable population. As the prevalence of diabetes increases across sub-Saharan Africa, the challenge of diagnosing and managing the complications of diabetes will increase.

The use of ultrasound in endemic Burkitt lymphoma in Cameroon

As ultrasound (US) has become more widely available in sub-Saharan Africa, emerging evidence suggests that the prevalence of abdominal disease in endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL) is higher than previous estimates. This retrospective chart review was designed to assess: (1) abdominal US utilisation, (2) the incidence of abdominal disease at diagnosis, (3) correlation of extent of disease at diagnosis with overall and event-free survival (EFS). The charts of 95 consecutive children with eBL diagnosed between April 2006 and 2008 and treated according to the Malawi 2002/03 protocol at the Banso Baptist Hospital in Cameroon were examined for demographics, clinical presentation, diagnostic workup and outcome. Analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Z-tests and Student's t-tests. Fifty of 95 presumptive eBL patients (52.7%) had fine needle aspirate (FNA) confirmation of their tumours. Ninety-four of 95 had an US at diagnosis. US was superior to clinical exam in demonstrating abdominal disease (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the rates of jaw (73%) and abdominal disease (82%) identified by US at diagnosis. EFS among patients whose disease was upgraded by US (64%) was better that of the patients with clinically diagnosed stage 3 disease. We demonstrate that US provides more accurate staging of eBL than clinical examination. Abdominal involvement is more common than previously reported and appears to be as frequent as disease of the jaw at presentation. Further study should determine if more accurate staging with US is useful in risk-stratifying treatment.

Cytopathology Including Fine-Needle Aspiration in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cameroon Experience

Surgical pathology is unavailable in most of sub-Saharan Africa because of equipment costs and lack of expertise. Cytopathology is an inexpensive and reliable alternative. To explore the utility of cytopathology in a rural hospital setting in Africa. A cytopathologist and a pathology resident from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, went to Cameroon to provide a cytopathology service at the Banso Baptist Hospital. Both performed the fine-needle aspiration procedures. Direct smears were fixed in alcohol and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Surgical specimens subsequently obtained from the patients were processed and reported at Calgary Laboratory Services, Canada. The histopathologic diagnoses were the gold standard for determining the accuracy of the cytologic diagnoses. Fifty-nine patients were examined during a 5-week period, 33 females (56%) and 26 males (44%). Sixteen (27%) were known to be HIV positive. Forty-four fine-needle aspiration procedures were performed for 43 patients (73%). The cost of each procedure was approximately US $10. Head and neck and breast were the sites most frequently sampled for aspirates. Cervical smears from 5 patients were also assessed, as were 8 fluid specimens and 2 touch preparations of prostatic core biopsies. The most frequent diagnoses for malignancy were carcinoma and lymphoma. Tuberculous lymphadenitis was diagnosed in 6 patients, 4 of whom were HIV positive. Surgical specimens were received from 18 patients (30%). Cytohistologic and clinicopathologic correlation revealed 1 false-positive (1.6%) and 1 false-negative (1.6%) diagnosis. Cytopathology is a reliable alternative for tissue diagnosis in low-resource settings.

On-going surveillance and control of neonatal Staphylococcus aureus infection in the OB unit, an experience from Banso Baptist Hospital (BBH) Surgical wound infections – a historical review

On-going surveillance and control of neonatal Staphylococcus aureus infection in the OB unit, an experience from Banso Baptist Hospital (BBH) Surgical wound infections – a historical review

On-going surveillance and control of neonatal Staphylococcus aureus infection in the OB unit, an experience from Banso Baptist Hospital (BBH) Surgical wound infections – a historical review

On-going surveillance and control of neonatal Staphylococcus aureus infection in the OB unit, an experience from Banso Baptist Hospital (BBH) Surgical wound infections – a historical review

Raising local standards of infection control in Cameroon

The team at Banso Baptist Hospital in Cameroon has introduced a number of improvements in local infection control standards and has succeeded in creating a safer and more conducive environment for staff and patients. Greater team spirit and persistent efforts have helped raise housekeeping standards and cleaning has become a regular feature across the hospital. The introduction of a sharps and waste disposal system has resulted in the reduction of needle-stick injuries among staff.

Injection safety campaign among diabetics, a challenge to infection prevention practitioners in developing countries

Corresponding author Nkwan Jacob Gobte, Infection Prevention and Control Nurse, Banso Baptist hospital Cameroon Baptist Convention health Board, Po Bo�� 9 Nso email: nkwangobte@yahoo.com Poverty burden in developing countries cannot be overemphasized. More than 50% of people in developing countries earn less than a dollar a day. diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that needs chronic care. Insulin dependent diabetes Mellitus (IddM) patients depend solely on insulin to bring their blood sugar to near normal – requiring purchase of insulin and syringes.