title: Tuberculosis patients hospitalized in the Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon-a retrospective observational study.
abstract: Epidemiological data on tuberculosis in Central Africa are limited. We performed a retrospective observational study on clinical characteristics of 719 hospitalized tuberculosis patients in Lambaréné, Gabon. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection rate was high (34%) and in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in HIV-positive patients (10% versus 2%). Long-term information on patient outcome was limited; however, from 2008 to 2011, loss to follow up was noted in 28% of cases. Our data illustrate the high burden of TB in Gabon, where loss to follow up and emerging drug resistance are important problems for which comprehensive data are still lacking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Centre of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; CERMEL, Lambaréné, Gabon.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Stolp
authors.forename: M A M
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Huson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Beyeme
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Grobusch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005681:Gabon / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Central Africa; Gabon; drug resistance; human immunodeficiency virus; tuberculosis