Journal Article > ResearchAbstract Only
Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2021 September 1; Volume 25 (Issue 9); 696-700.; DOI:10.5588/ijtld.21.0125
Murphy RA, Douglas-Jones B, Mucinya G, Sunpath H, Govender T
Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2021 September 1; Volume 25 (Issue 9); 696-700.; DOI:10.5588/ijtld.21.0125
The wider availability of dolutegravir (DTG) containing HIV therapy for patients living with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) presents several advantages. DTG-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) has superior potency, reduces pill burden, and may reduce overall treatment-related toxicity, giving it the potential to improve outcomes in both diseases. While the uptake of DTG-based ART in programs where drug-resistant TB is treated remains unknown, there is early evidence from three programs that uptake is increasing. The use of DTG-based ART should be scaled-up, beginning with antiretroviral-naïve or virologically suppressed patients initiating MDR-TB treatment.
Journal Article > Short ReportFull Text
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2021 April 1; Volume Publish Ahead of Print; DOI:10.1097/QAI.0000000000002689
Bossard C, Schramm B, Wanjala S, Jain L, Mucinya G, et al.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2021 April 1; Volume Publish Ahead of Print; DOI:10.1097/QAI.0000000000002689
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
AIDS Care. 2021 August 26; Volume 34 (Issue 9); 1-8.; DOI:10.1080/09540121.2021.1966697
Burns R, Venables E, Odhoch L, Kocholla L, Wanjala S, et al.
AIDS Care. 2021 August 26; Volume 34 (Issue 9); 1-8.; DOI:10.1080/09540121.2021.1966697
Advanced HIV causes substantial mortality in sub-Saharan Africa despite widespread antiretroviral therapy coverage. This paper explores pathways of care amongst hospitalised patients with advanced HIV in rural Kenya and urban Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a view to understanding their care-seeking trajectories and poor health outcomes. Thirty in-depth interviews were conducted with hospitalised patients with advanced HIV who had previously initiated first-line antiretroviral therapy, covering their experiences of living with HIV and care-seeking. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and translated before being coded inductively and analysed thematically. In both settings, participants' health journeys were defined by recurrent, severe symptoms and complex pathways of care before hospitalisation. Patients were often hospitalised after multiple failed attempts to obtain adequate care at health centres. Most participants managed their ill-health with limited support networks, lived in fragile economic situations and often experienced stress and other mental health concerns. Treatment-taking was sometimes undermined by strict messaging around adherence that was delivered in health facilities. These findings reveal a group of patients who had "slipped through the cracks" of health systems and social support structures, indicating both missed opportunities for timely management of advanced HIV and the need for interventions beyond hospital and clinical settings.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
BMC Infect Dis. 2020 October 7; Volume 20 (Issue 1); 734.; DOI:10.1186/s12879-020-05470-0
Mangana F, Massaquoi L, Moudachirou R, Harrison RE, Kaluangila T, et al.
BMC Infect Dis. 2020 October 7; Volume 20 (Issue 1); 734.; DOI:10.1186/s12879-020-05470-0
BACKGROUND
HIV continues to be the main determinant morbidity with high mortality rates in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a high number of patients being late presenters with advanced HIV. Clinical management of advanced HIV patients is thus complex and requires strict adherence to updated, empirical and simplified guidelines. The current study investigated the impact of the implementation of a new clinical guideline on the management of advanced HIV in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
METHODS
A retrospective analysis of routine clinical data of advanced HIV patients was conducted for the periods; February 2016 to March 2017, before implementation of new guidelines, and November 2017 to July 2018, after the implementation of new guidelines. Eligible patients were patients with CD4 < 200 cell/µl and presenting with at least 1 of 4 opportunistic infections. Patient files were reviewed by a medical doctor and a committee of 3 other doctors for congruence. Statistical significance was set at 0.05%.
RESULTS
Two hundred four and Two hundred thirty-one patients were eligible for inclusion before and after the implementation of new guidelines respectively. Sex and age distributions were similar for both periods, and median CD4 were 36 & 52 cell/µl, before and after the new guidelines implementation, respectively. 40.7% of patients had at least 1 missed/incorrect diagnosis before the new guidelines compared to 30% after new guidelines, p < 0.05. Clinical diagnosis for TB and toxoplasmosis were also much improved after the implementation of new guidelines. In addition, only 63% of patients had CD4 count test results before the new guidelines compared to 99% of patients after new guidelines. Death odds after the implementation of new guidelines were significantly lower than before new guidelines in a multivariate regression model that included patients CD4 count and 10 other covariates, p < 0.05.
CONCLUSIONS
Simplification and implementation of a new and improved HIV clinical guideline coupled with the installation of laboratory equipment and point of care tests potentially helped reduce incorrect diagnosis and improve clinical outcomes of patients with advanced HIV. Regulating authorities should consider developing simplified versions of guidelines followed by the provision of basic diagnostic equipment to health centers.
HIV continues to be the main determinant morbidity with high mortality rates in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a high number of patients being late presenters with advanced HIV. Clinical management of advanced HIV patients is thus complex and requires strict adherence to updated, empirical and simplified guidelines. The current study investigated the impact of the implementation of a new clinical guideline on the management of advanced HIV in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
METHODS
A retrospective analysis of routine clinical data of advanced HIV patients was conducted for the periods; February 2016 to March 2017, before implementation of new guidelines, and November 2017 to July 2018, after the implementation of new guidelines. Eligible patients were patients with CD4 < 200 cell/µl and presenting with at least 1 of 4 opportunistic infections. Patient files were reviewed by a medical doctor and a committee of 3 other doctors for congruence. Statistical significance was set at 0.05%.
RESULTS
Two hundred four and Two hundred thirty-one patients were eligible for inclusion before and after the implementation of new guidelines respectively. Sex and age distributions were similar for both periods, and median CD4 were 36 & 52 cell/µl, before and after the new guidelines implementation, respectively. 40.7% of patients had at least 1 missed/incorrect diagnosis before the new guidelines compared to 30% after new guidelines, p < 0.05. Clinical diagnosis for TB and toxoplasmosis were also much improved after the implementation of new guidelines. In addition, only 63% of patients had CD4 count test results before the new guidelines compared to 99% of patients after new guidelines. Death odds after the implementation of new guidelines were significantly lower than before new guidelines in a multivariate regression model that included patients CD4 count and 10 other covariates, p < 0.05.
CONCLUSIONS
Simplification and implementation of a new and improved HIV clinical guideline coupled with the installation of laboratory equipment and point of care tests potentially helped reduce incorrect diagnosis and improve clinical outcomes of patients with advanced HIV. Regulating authorities should consider developing simplified versions of guidelines followed by the provision of basic diagnostic equipment to health centers.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Public Health Action. 2023 August 1; Volume 13 (Issue 2(Suppl1)); 7-12.; DOI:10.5588/pha.23.0005
Ditondo P, Luemba A, Chuy RI, Mucinya G, Ade S
Public Health Action. 2023 August 1; Volume 13 (Issue 2(Suppl1)); 7-12.; DOI:10.5588/pha.23.0005
CONTEXTE
Médecins Sans Frontières Belgique a mis en place des diagnostics au point de service (DPS) pour le dépistage précoce d’un VIH avancé, et en présence de celle-ci, d’une TB et d’une cryptococcose, dans six centres de santé (Kasai, St Ambroise, St Joseph, Libondi, Lisanga et Kimia) à Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo (RDC).
OBJECTIF
Documenter leur contribution dans le diagnostic de ces affections.
MÉTHODE
Ceci est une étude transversale rétrospective sur des adolescents et adultes VIH-positif, admis avec suspicion d’un VIH avancé. Une comparaison 2 ans avant et 2 ans après installation des DPS a été réalisée.
RÉSULTATS
Au total, 745 et 887 patients étaient retenus respectivement avant et après l’installation des DPS. L’âge moyen était de 39,7 ans (déviation standard [DS] 12,04); 66% (n = 1 077) étaient des femmes. Les patients avec CD4 dosés étaient passés de 40,3% (n = 300) à 64,4% (n = 573) (P < 0,001). Après l’installation des DPS, ils variaient entre 47,8% (Lisanga) et 97,1% (Kasai). La proportion d’infection à VIH avancé était comparable (n = 158, 52,7% vs. n = 288, 50,3%; P = 0,779). Chez les patients avec un VIH avancé, la TB était dépistée chez 28,5% (n = 82), dont 41,5% (n = 34) de confirmation; la cryptococcose était dépistée chez 24,7% (n = 71), dont 9,9% (n = 7) de confirmation. Des disparités entre les centres étaient observés.
CONCLUSION
Les DPS ont augmenté l’accès des patients au dosage des CD4 et au diagnostic d’un VIH avancé dans les six centres dans la RDC. Cependant des actions sont requises pour améliorer cette performance, y compris le dépistage de la TB et de la cryptococcose.
Médecins Sans Frontières Belgique a mis en place des diagnostics au point de service (DPS) pour le dépistage précoce d’un VIH avancé, et en présence de celle-ci, d’une TB et d’une cryptococcose, dans six centres de santé (Kasai, St Ambroise, St Joseph, Libondi, Lisanga et Kimia) à Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo (RDC).
OBJECTIF
Documenter leur contribution dans le diagnostic de ces affections.
MÉTHODE
Ceci est une étude transversale rétrospective sur des adolescents et adultes VIH-positif, admis avec suspicion d’un VIH avancé. Une comparaison 2 ans avant et 2 ans après installation des DPS a été réalisée.
RÉSULTATS
Au total, 745 et 887 patients étaient retenus respectivement avant et après l’installation des DPS. L’âge moyen était de 39,7 ans (déviation standard [DS] 12,04); 66% (n = 1 077) étaient des femmes. Les patients avec CD4 dosés étaient passés de 40,3% (n = 300) à 64,4% (n = 573) (P < 0,001). Après l’installation des DPS, ils variaient entre 47,8% (Lisanga) et 97,1% (Kasai). La proportion d’infection à VIH avancé était comparable (n = 158, 52,7% vs. n = 288, 50,3%; P = 0,779). Chez les patients avec un VIH avancé, la TB était dépistée chez 28,5% (n = 82), dont 41,5% (n = 34) de confirmation; la cryptococcose était dépistée chez 24,7% (n = 71), dont 9,9% (n = 7) de confirmation. Des disparités entre les centres étaient observés.
CONCLUSION
Les DPS ont augmenté l’accès des patients au dosage des CD4 et au diagnostic d’un VIH avancé dans les six centres dans la RDC. Cependant des actions sont requises pour améliorer cette performance, y compris le dépistage de la TB et de la cryptococcose.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
AIDS Care. 2021 August 26; Volume 34 (Issue 9); 1179-1186.; DOI:10.1080/09540121.2021.1966697
Burns R, Venables E, Odhoch L, Kocholla L, Wanjala S, et al.
AIDS Care. 2021 August 26; Volume 34 (Issue 9); 1179-1186.; DOI:10.1080/09540121.2021.1966697
Advanced HIV causes substantial mortality in sub-Saharan Africa despite widespread antiretroviral therapy coverage. This paper explores pathways of care amongst hospitalised patients with advanced HIV in rural Kenya and urban Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a view to understanding their care-seeking trajectories and poor health outcomes. Thirty in-depth interviews were conducted with hospitalised patients with advanced HIV who had previously initiated first-line antiretroviral therapy, covering their experiences of living with HIV and care-seeking. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and translated before being coded inductively and analysed thematically. In both settings, participants' health journeys were defined by recurrent, severe symptoms and complex pathways of care before hospitalisation. Patients were often hospitalised after multiple failed attempts to obtain adequate care at health centres. Most participants managed their ill-health with limited support networks, lived in fragile economic situations and often experienced stress and other mental health concerns. Treatment-taking was sometimes undermined by strict messaging around adherence that was delivered in health facilities. These findings reveal a group of patients who had "slipped through the cracks" of health systems and social support structures, indicating both missed opportunities for timely management of advanced HIV and the need for interventions beyond hospital and clinical settings.