BackgroundToxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare life threatening dermatological disorder characterized by extensive epidermal detachment and erosion of mucous membranes. It is typically a side effect of some medications. Nevirapine, a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) is one of the frequently used components of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Skin rash is its common adverse reaction, usually mild and rarely progressing to TEN. Ophthalmic involvement is common as well but rarely progresses to blindness especially in the pediatric population.Case presentationWe report the case of a 3 year 5 month old child diagnosed with HIV who developed TEN 8 days after starting a Nevirapine based HAART regimen. Drug withdrawal and supportive treatment alone were the modalities employed to achieve complete re-epithelization of lesions. Patient was lost to follow-up 6 months after being in care and was only seen 3 years later with total loss of vision.ConclusionBlindness, though rare, can be a long-term complication of TEN in children especially with HIV infection. Physicians and patient caregivers should closely monitor these patients, especially during their early stages of treatment amongst others for development of adverse drug reactions. Long-term retention in care is pivotal for identification and prompt management of ocular and other chronic complications, albeit recognizing management challenges in low resourced settings.

Introduction Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most serious occupational hazards faced by healthcare workers (HCW). This study aimed at assessing the influence of knowledge and attitudes of HCWs in the Bamenda Health District (BHD) on their vaccination status. Methods this was a cross-sectional analytic study carried out in Bamenda health district, Cameroon. Random sampling method was used to select 10 private, 10 public, and 4 confessional health facilities, from which 280 HCW were included in the study by convenience sampling. Data were analysed using Epi Info 7 and presented using tables, figures, and percentages. Results the vaccination coverage among HCW in the BHD was found to be 13.9%. Healthcare workers who had no knowledge of the minimum number of doses for complete primary HBV vaccination were less likely to be vaccinated than those who had knowledge (p = 0.00). Healthcare workers who had been tested for HBsAg were more likely to be vaccinated than those who had not done the test (p = 0.00). Among HCW (90.7%) who knew they were more at risk of contracting HBV, 98.6% knew it can be prevented out of which 72.6% reported that vaccination is the most effective means of prevention; only 13.9% of HCW were vaccinated. Other factors could have influenced the vaccination status of HCW; high cost of the vaccine, lack of time for vaccination, negligence, and the non-availability of the vaccine. Conclusion awareness should be created among HCW and they should be encouraged to go for HBsAg screening and those who are negative should receive a full dose of HBV vaccine. Also, the vaccine should be subsidized and made available to all HCW in the BHD.

Background: HIV remains one of the major public health issues in Cameroon. Progress has been made in attaining the 90-90-90 according to the UNAIDS target, the Loss to follow-up (LTFU) remains a significant challenge to attain the second and third 90. There is a gap of information concerning assessing predictors and determinants of LTFU in the Cameroonian setting taking into consideration psychosocial, economic, cultural, financial, and treatment-related factors. This study seeks to assess and evaluate the determinants and predictors of LTFU among patients enrolled for treatment in the Centre Hospitalier Essos (CHE), Cameroon. Methods:We carried out a retrospective case-control study among 200 patients from which, 100 cases of patients LTFU and 100 controls of regular patients from the treatment centre. Simple random sampling was used to select 100 participants from the case list and matched with 100 participants from the control list. We compared several demographic, social, disease-related, and treatment-related characteristics of the two groups to determine which properties are significantly associated with LTFU. Data analysis was done using the SPSS software. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was done with p value < 0.05, odds ratio 95% CI.Results: Out of 200 participants, the mean age was 38 ± 9years. A total of 74 (37%) participants' HIV status was known by a family member. About 50% (54) of those who were married had an HIV-positive partner and of these, 86% (46) were on treatment. On multivariate analysis, distance to health facility; occurrence of opportunistic infections; patient receiving treatment for other conditions; duration of psychological follow-up and number of adherence counselling sessions were found to be independently associated with loss to follow-up. Conclusion:With LTFU, there is a consequent increased risk of HIV transmission and also increased morbidity and mortality. Reinforcement of adherence counseling sessions, intensification of patient tracking especially for patients with comorbidities, transfer of patients in suburbs to health facilities closer to their areas of residence will be important to curb LTFU rates and improve on retention of patients LTFU.

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Globally, HIV viral load suppression rate which is an indirect measure of the efficacy of antiretroviral (ART) medication is 47% and 52% in Africa. In Cameroon, the viral load (VL) suppression rate is 44.7% and poor adherence is widely documented as being responsible for the large gap in VL Suppression. Enhanced adherence counselling (EAC) sessions, and enrolment and participation in support groups are specific interventions to improve ART adherence and improve viral load suppression. This study assesses the uptake and contribution of support groups and EAC sessions in the management of adolescents with unsuppressed viral load results at Centre Hospitalierd'Essos, Yaounde.A retrospective correlational quantitative chart review was conducted for 138 files of HIV positive adolescents aged between 10-19-years with HIV viral loads above 1000 copies/ml enrolled in care between January 2009 and December 2019.The charts of the adolescents revealed that there was an association between completion of EAC sessions in adolescents with unsuppressed viral load and eventual viral load suppression (R.R = 2.5; CI 0.848-6.162; p = 0.033). However, there was no significant association between support group enrolment and active participation, and eventual VL Suppression. Furthermore, combining EAC and support group interventions was strongly associated with eventual VL Suppression in this group of initially unsuppressed adolescents (R.R = 7.5; C.I 2.544-22.360; p < 0.001). Suppression rates were good after completion of EAC sessions and participation in support group's enrolment for adolescents with a high viral load. As we move towards having 95% of ART-treated adolescents achieve and maintain viral suppression, there is need to reinforce EAC sessions and support groups enrolmentin ART clinics targeting this priority group.