Treatment outcomes of drug-resistant tuberculosis in people living with HIV in Odesa province, Ukraine, 2014-2016.

INTRODUCTION: Odesa province has the highest TB/HIV prevalence in Ukraine, exceeding the total prevalence in the country by 3 times. The objective of this study was to investigate the unfavorable treatment outcomes and associated factors in patient with drug-resistant (DR) TB in people living with HIV (PLH) in Odesa. METHODOLOGY: A cohort study with secondary data analysis was conducted among 373 PLH with confirmed pulmonary DR TB for 2014-2016. RESULTS: About 2/3rd of the cohort were males from urban areas. Mean age and CD4 counts were 39 and 203, respectively. The overall treatment success was 44.2% with the most unfavorable treatment outcomes being observed in extensively and pre-extensively drug resistant (XDR and PreXDR) TB. The mean time between the results of GeneXpert (manufactured by Cepehid) and DR TB treatment based on GeneXpert was 1.3 days. However, the mean time between DR TB treatment based on GeneXpert and results of drug susceptibility test (DST) was 37.0 days referring to a late reporting of DST and to a late adjustment of previously prescribed treatment. The factors associated with the treatment unfavorable outcome included XDR and Pre-XDR TB, lack of antiretroviral treatment (ART), contrimoxazole preventive therapy (CPT) and CD4 test. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of successful DR TB treatment in PLH in Odesa remains low. The delayed reporting of DST contributes to lack of timely adjusted treatments. XDR and Pre-XDR TB, lack of ART and CPT are associated with unfavorable treatment outcomes. Additional studies would help to understand the temporal relationship between CD4 test and treatment outcomes.

The reporting of the mode of transmission among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Lviv oblast, Ukraine, 2014-2018.

INTRODUCTION: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are one of the key populations driving HIV/AIDS epidemic globally. To date, MSM is the only population in Ukraine where the prevalence and incidence of HIV is increasing. As HIV-positive MSM might feel uncomfortable to report homosexual intercourses as a possible mode of transmission (MoT) of HIV, they prefer being registered as patients with heterosexual or non-defined MoT. This study aimed to calculate the proportion of misclassified MoT among HIV-positive MSM registered in Lviv oblast, Ukraine, during 2014-2018. METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional study with 127 HIV-positive MSM patients from Lviv region for the period of 2014-2018. RESULTS: Out of 127 HIV-positive MSM included in the study, 110 (86.6%) were from urban areas. In addition, 52 patients (40.9%) were diagnosed with stage 1 HIV, 16 (12.6%) - stage 2, 19 (15%) - stage 3, and 36 (28.3%) - stage 4. CD4 count < 200 cells/µL was found in 35 (27.6%) patients. Mean time from registration to antiretroviral therapy initiation was 80 days. During the first visit to medical doctor out of those 48 patients who had previously reported "other modes" of HIV transmission, 33 patients (68.7%) disclosed homosexual MoT of HIV. The remaining 15 (31.3%) patients disclosed their homosexual MoT of HIV later - during their regular follow-up visits to the doctor. CONCLUSION: Special measures are needed to improve the reporting of homosexual MoT which can potentially strengthen the HIV care among MSM.

Linking intravenous drug users to treatment through non-governmental organizations in Ukraine: how well is it working?

INTRODUCTION: Alliance for Public Health, the International Charitable Foundation, coordinates HIV prevention in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) working with people who inject drugs (PWID) in Ukraine. We aimed to describe the performance of the differential model of linking PWID to HIV care and treatment (Community Initiated Treatment Intervention - CITI). METHODOLOGY: A retrospective cohort study using routine program data was conducted among 8,927 PWID who were tested positive for the first time during January 2016 - June 2017. Study outcomes were enrollment into CITI and initiating antiretroviral treatment (ART). Factors associated with outcomes were estimated by logistic regressions with random effects. RESULTS: Among the study participants, 54% enrolled into CITI and 23% initiated ART. CITI enrolment was associated with being married (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.17; 95%: 1.02-1.34); less than weekly compared to daily (AOR = 1.31; 95%: 1.13-1.52); less than 5 years of drug use compared to > 14 years (AOR = 1.73; 95%: 1.40-2.13), and having no criminal records (AOR = 1.30; 95%: 1.12-1.50). Factors of non-ART initiation were male gender (AOR = 1.33; 95%: 1.16-1.53); being single (AOR = 1.48; 95%: 1.21-1.82); drug use duration > 14 years compared to < 5 years (AOR = 1.38; 95%: 1.03-1.85), unemployment (AOR = 1.45; 95%: 1.15-1.83) and history of incarceration (AOR = 1.21; 95%: 1.003-1.45). CONCLUSION: Mobilizing the NGO community and PWID to engage in outreach HIV testing activity and harm reduction for key populations has succeeded in opening the gateway to prevention, care and ART for thousands of PWID in Ukraine.