Sars-Cov-2 and COVID-19: Epidemiological, Diagnostic, and Therapeutic Aspects in Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo

Abstract

Introduction: The novel coronavirus also called SARS-COV-2 was declared a global pandemic by the WHO in March 2020. In the Republic of Congo, the first imported case was introduced on March 14, 2020. Pointe-Noire, whose 1st case was reported on March 17, 2020, is described as the second epicenter of the disease after Brazzaville the capital.

Objective: In this work, the authors described the epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects that contributed to the management of COVID-19 patients in Pointe-Noire.

Material and Method: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The situational analysis was based on the situation report (SITREP) n°: 434 including COVID-19 data from the department of Pointe-Noire since the declaration of the first case until June 19, 2021, a period of 15 months. The biological diagnosis was exclusively based on RT-PCR from a nasopharyngeal swab. The extraction was carried out using two processes: filter column extraction and magnetic ball extraction using different kits. Amplification was performed on five types of PCR instruments.

Results: At the last SITREP n°: 434 of the Pointe-Noire department, 61,083 patients were screened for COVID-19, of which 3,829 patients or 6.27% of cases were declared positive. Men accounted for 75.31% of cases. The average age of the patients was 45 ± 14 years. Pointe-Noire has recorded 62 COVID-19 deaths since the declaration of the first case with a fatality rate of 1.6%. The following instruments were used for amplification in different laboratories: MIC qPCR (Bio molecular System), GeneXpert (Cepheid), Q Tower 3G (Analytikjena), QIAquant 96 (QIAGEN) and DNA Technology DT prime 4 (DNA Technology). In total, 7 different types of kits were used (2019-nCoV TaqMan RT-PCR Kit (Norgen), DaAn Gene nCov RNA Kit (Daagen), Logix Smart™ Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Test Kit (Logix Smart), SD Biosensor COVID 19 RT PCR Test Kit (nCoVBiosensor), Real-Time Fluorescent RT-PCR Test Kit for Detecting SARS-CoV-2 (BGI), Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Nucleic acid diagnostic kit (SANSURE BIOTECH)). Extractions were done with: Total Nucleic Acid Preservation (Norgen), QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit (250) (Qiagen), Favorgen Plant Total RNA Mini Kit (Favorgen), Nucleic Aci Isolation or Purification Reagent (Daagen), AccuPrep ® DxViral RNA Extraction Kit (Bioneer) and Magnetic Viral RNA Extraction Kit (GALENVS). The therapeutic regimen with mainly 3 molecules (paracetamol, azitromicine and hydroxychloroquine) consisted of a treatment over 10 days with PCR controls on the 15th and 21st days

Conclusion: The government’s response mechanism against COVID-19 has had a positive impact on the evolution of the disease in Congo. The combination of good compliance with barrier measures, the screening and management strategy have been the means that have effectively curbed the disease in our country