[Relapse after surgical treatment of mycobacterium ulcerans infection (buruli ulcer): study of risk factors in 84 patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo].
OBJECTIVE
To identify risk factors for relapse after exclusively surgical treatment of Mycobacterium ulcerans infection (Buruli ulcer).


METHODS
Study was carried out in 102 patients treated exclusively by surgery for Buruli ulcer at various care facilities in the Congo from January 1, 2000 to January 1, 2005.


RESULTS
Outcomes included relapse in 22 patients (21.5%), cure in 62 (60.7%), and unknown in 18 (17.6%). Statistical analysis identified the following variables as independent risk factors for relapse after exclusively surgical treatment: incomplete surgical excision (OR = 91.83; P = 0.0000; IC to 95%), age under 16 years (OR = 14.80; P = 0.0000; IC to 95%) and pre-ulcerative Buruli lesions (edema and plaque) (OR = 3.18; P = 0.0215; IC to 95%).


CONCLUSIONS
Quality of excision, patient age, and clinical form of lesion are the main predictors of relapse after isolated surgical treatment of Buruli ulcer.
Kibadi
K
K
Département de Chirurgie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo. akibadi@yahoo.fr
Mputu-Yamba
J B
JB
Mokassa
B
B
Panda
M
M
Muyembe-Tamfum
J J
JJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D054312:Buruli Ulcer / Q000601:surgery*; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors