National public health response to an outbreak of toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae among asylum seekers in England, 2022: a descriptive epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND: In July, 2022, an increase in diphtheria cases caused by toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae (C diphtheriae) was reported among asylum seekers arriving by small boats to England. Rising case numbers presented challenges for case and contact management in initial reception centres, prompting changes to national guidance and implementation of population-based control measures. This study aimed to describe the outbreak of toxigenic C diphtheriae among asylum seekers arriving by small boats to England during 2022 by use of national surveillance data. METHODS: We undertook a descriptive epidemiological analysis of cases of toxigenic C diphtheriae among asylum seekers arriving by small boats to England during 2022, incorporating genomic sequencing data, antibiotic susceptibility testing results, and epidemiological data obtained through the UK Health Security Agency's national enhanced surveillance programme. Health Protection Teams conducted risk assessments, and operational data (including details regarding offer and uptake of antibiotics and vaccinations) were obtained from National Health Service partners supporting the intervention programme. FINDINGS: In 2022, C diphtheriae isolates from 86 asylum seekers arriving by small boats were submitted to the National Reference Laboratory for confirmation and testing. Toxigenic C diphtheriae was confirmed for 72 (84%) cases and one individual with typical diphtheritic lesions but from whom no C diphtheriae was isolated from clinical swabs was also included as a probable case, resulting in 73 cases of diphtheria. 71 (97%) were male, 39 (53%) were younger than 18 years, and 36 (49%) presented with cutaneous diphtheria. The prevalence of diphtheria was highest among Afghans (1·3%) compared with all other nationalities (<0·1%). Local antibiotic susceptibility testing identified six cases with a macrolide resistant strain. INTERPRETATION: The increase in diphtheria coincided with a high volume of asylum seekers arriving by small boats to England during 2022, and subsequently increased clinical awareness of the disease among this population. Long-term disruption to vaccination programmes in origin countries along with barriers to accessing health care along migrant routes puts asylum seekers arriving by small boats at risk of disease. With arrivals expected to continue in 2023, the UK Health Security Agency has recommended continuation of population-based control measures in England until October, 2023, subject to ongoing review. FUNDING: The UK Health Security Agency.

Association between opioid agonist therapy use and HIV testing uptake among people who have recently injected drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Globally, nearly one in five people who inject drugs (PWID) are living with HIV, and the rate of new HIV infections in PWID is increasing in some settings. Early diagnosis is crucial for effective HIV control. We reviewed the evidence on the association between opioid agonist therapy (OAT) and HIV testing uptake among PWID. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review searching MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and PsycINFO for studies published from January 2000 to March 2019. Reference lists and conference proceedings were hand-searched. Observational and intervention studies were eligible for inclusion. Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomised Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. Meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models. RESULTS: Of 13 373 records identified, 11 studies from Australia, Europe, Malaysia and the United States were included. All studies had at least a serious risk of bias, largely due to confounding and selection bias, making it difficult to draw causal conclusions from the evidence. Ten studies provided data on the association between current OAT use and recent HIV testing. Six showed a positive association, while four provided little evidence of an association: pooled odds ratio (OR) = 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.28-2.27. Looking at having ever been on OAT and having ever been HIV tested, seven studies showed a positive association and three showed either weak or no evidence of an association: pooled OR = 3.82, 95% CI = 2.96-4.95. CONCLUSIONS: Opioid agonist therapy may increase uptake of HIV testing among people who inject drugs, providing further evidence that opioid agonist therapy improves the HIV treatment care cascade.