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Fungal infections (FIs) are spreading globally, raising a significant public health concern. However, its documentation remains sparse in Africa, particularly in Rwanda. This report provides a comprehensive review of FIs in Rwanda based on a systematic review of reports published between 1972 and 2022. The findings reveal a rich diversity of fungal pathogens, including Blastomyces, Candida, Cryptococcus, Histoplasma, Microsporum, Pneumocystis, Rhinosporidium, and Trichophyton caused human infections. Candida infections predominantly affect the vagina mucosa, while Histoplasma duboisi was linked to disseminated infections. Other pathogens, such as Blastomyces dermatitidis and Rhinosporidium seeberi, were associated with cerebellar and nasal mucosa infections, respectively. The widespread observation of soilborne fungi affecting bean crops highlights the pathogens' threat to agricultural productivity, food security, and socioeconomic stability, as well as potential health impacts on humans, animals, and the environment. Of particular importance is that there is no information about FIs among animals in the country. Moreover, the analysis underscores significant limitations in the detection, reporting, and healthcare services related to FIs in the country, indicating gaps in diagnostic capacity and surveillance systems. This is underscored by the predominant use of traditional diagnostic techniques, including culture, cytology, and histopathology in the absence of integrating more sensitive and specific molecular tools in investigating FIs. Developing the diagnostic capacities and national surveillance systems are urgently needed to improve the health of crops, animals, and humans, as well as food security and socioeconomic stability in Rwanda. Also, it is important to indicate severe gaps in the evidence to inform policymaking, guide strategic planning, and improve healthcare and public health services, underscoring the urgent need to build national capacity in fungal diagnosis, surveillance, and research. Raising awareness among the public, scientific community, healthcare providers, and policymakers remains crucial. Furthermore, this report reveals the threats of FIs on public health and food insecurity in Rwanda. A multisectoral one health strategy is essential in research and intervention to determine and reduce the health and safety impacts of fungal pathogens on humans, animals, and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Since the roll-out of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay, continuous surveillance can provide an estimate of rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB) prevalence, provided high drug susceptibility testing (DST) coverage is achieved. We use national data from Rwanda to describe rifampicin DST coverage, estimate the prevalence of RR-TB and assess its predictors. Methods Routinely collected DST data were entered into an electronic TB case-based surveillance system. DST coverage was calculated among all bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB patients notified from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020 in Rwanda. The prevalence of RR-TB was estimated among those with DST results. Univariable and multivariable analysis was performed to explore predictors for RR TB. Results Among 4066 patients with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB, rifampicin DST coverage was 95.6% (4066/4251). RR-TB was diagnosed in 73 patients. The prevalence of RR-TB was 1.4% (53/3659; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.89%) and 4.9% (20/406; 95% CI 3.03 to 7.51%) in new and previously treated TB cases, respectively. Predictors of RR-TB were: (1) living in Kigali City (adjusted OR [aOR] 1.65, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.65); (2) previous TB treatment (aOR 3.64, 95% CI 2.14 to 6.19); and (3) close contact with a known RR-TB patient (aOR 11.37, 95% CI 4.19 to 30.82). Conclusions High rifampicin DST coverage for routine reporting allowed Rwanda to estimate the RR-TB prevalence among new and previously treated patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine prevalent MDR-TB genotypes and describe treatment outcome and bacteriology conversion in MDR-TB patients.Methods: Review of laboratory records of 173 MDR-TB patients from all over Rwanda who initiated treatment under programmatic management of MDR-TB (PMDT) between 2014 and 2015. Fifty available archived isolates were genotyped by mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units - variable number of tandem repeats (MIRU-VNTR) genotyping.Result: Of the 170 patients whose outcome was known, 114 (66.3%) were cured and 36 (21%) completed the treatment, giving a successful outcome (cured and completed) of 150 (87.3%) patients. Of 20 MDR-TB patients with unfavourable treatment outcome, 18 died, one failed and one defaulted/stopped treatment. Of the 18 patients who died, 11 (61%) were HIV-coinfected. The treatment outcome was successful for 93.9% among HIV negative and 81.8% among HIV-coinfected patients (P = 0.02). Sputum smear conversion occurred in 3, 46, 57 and 78 patients before 2, 3, 4 and 6 months, respectively, with median time of sputum smear and culture conversion at 3 months. The 44 MDR-TB isolates with MIRU-VNTR result, showed high genetic diversity with low clustering rate (9.09%) and Uganda II being the most prevalent sub-family lineage detected in 68.2% of isolates. Beijing family was the least common genotype detected (2.3%, 1 isolate).Conclusion: The high success rates for MDR-TB treatment achieved in Rwanda were comparable to outcomes observed in resource-rich settings with HIV being an independent risk factor for poor treatment outcome. High genetic diversity and low clustering rate reported here suggest that reactivation of previous disease plays an important role in the transmission of MDR-TB in Rwanda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Besides inclusion in 1st line regimens against tuberculosis (TB), pyrazinamide (PZA) is used in 2nd line anti-TB regimens, including in the short regimen for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) patients. Guidelines and expert opinions are contradictory about inclusion of PZA in case of resistance. Moreover, drug susceptibility testing (DST) for PZA is not often applied in routine testing, and the prevalence of resistance is unknown in several regions, including in most African countries. Methods: Six hundred and twenty-three culture isolates from rifampicin-resistant (RR) patients were collected in twelve Sub-Saharan African countries. Among those isolates, 71% were from patients included in the study on the Union short-course regimen for MDR-TB in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Niger, and Rwanda PZA resistance, and the rest (29%) were consecutive isolates systematically stored from 2014–2015 in Mali, Rwanda, Senegal, and Togo. Besides national guidelines, the isolates were tested for PZA resistance through pncA gene sequencing. Results: Over half of these RR-TB isolates (54%) showed a mutation in the pncA gene, with a significant heterogeneity between countries. Isolates with fluoroquinolone resistance (but not with injectable resistance or XDR) were more likely to have concurrent PZA resistance. The pattern of mutations in the pncA gene was quite diverse, although some isolates with an identical pattern of mutations in pncA and other drug-related genes were isolated from the same reference center, suggesting possible transmission of these strains. Conclusion: Similar to findings in other regions, more than half of the patients having RR-TB in West and Central Africa present concomitant resistance to PZA. Further investigations are needed to understand the relation between resistance to PZA and resistance to fluoroquinolones, and whether continued use of PZA in the face of PZA resistance provides clinical benefit to the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: An effective rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) treatment regimen should include prevention of resistance amplification. While bedaquiline (BDQ) has been recommended in all-oral RR-TB treatment regimen since 2019, resistance is rising at alarming rates. This may be due to BDQ's delayed bactericidal effect, which increases the risk of selecting for resistance to fluoroquinolones and/or BDQ in the first week of treatment when the bacterial load is highest. We aim to strengthen the first week of treatment with the injectable drug amikacin (AMK). To limit the ototoxicity risk while maximising the bactericidal effect, we will evaluate the safety of adding a 30 mg/kg AMK injection on the first and fourth day of treatment., Methods and Analysis: We will conduct a single-arm clinical trial on 20 RR-TB patients nested within an operational study called ShoRRT (All oral Shorter Treatment Regimen for Drug resistant Tuberculosis). In addition to all-oral RR-TB treatment, patients will receive two doses of AMK. The primary safety endpoint is any grade 3-4 adverse event during the first 2 weeks of treatment related to the use of AMK. With a sample size of 20 patients, we will have at least 80% statistical power to support the alternative hypothesis, indicating that less than 14% of patients treated with AMK experience a grade 3-4 adverse event related to its use. Safety data obtained from this study will inform a larger multicountry study on using two high doses of AMK to prevent acquired resistance., Ethics and Dissemination: Approval was obtained from the ethics committee of Rwanda, Rwanda Food and Drug Authority, Universitair Ziekenhuis, the Institute of Tropical Medicine ethics review board. All participants will provide informed consent. Study results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and conferences., Trial Registration Number: NCT05555303., Competing Interests: Competing interests: CSM is a staff member of the WHO. The other authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)