Lost opportunities to identify and treat HIV-positive patients: results from a baseline assessment of provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling (PITC) in Malawi.

OBJECTIVE: To assess implementation of provider-initiated testing and counselling (PITC) for HIV in Malawi. METHODS: A review of PITC practices within 118 departments in 12 Ministry of Health (MoH) facilities across Malawi was conducted. Information on PITC practices was collected via a health facility survey. Data describing patient visits and HIV tests were abstracted from routinely collected programme data. RESULTS: Reported PITC practices were highly variable. Most providers practiced symptom-based PITC. Antenatal clinics and maternity wards reported widespread use of routine opt-out PITC. In 2014, there was approximately 1 HIV test for every 15 clinic visits. HIV status was ascertained in 94.3% (5293/5615) of patients at tuberculosis clinics, 92.6% (30,675/33,142) of patients at antenatal clinics and 49.4% (6871/13,914) of patients at sexually transmitted infection clinics. Reported challenges to delivering PITC included test kit shortages (71/71 providers), insufficient physical space (58/71) and inadequate number of HIV counsellors (32/71) while providers from inpatient units cited the inability to test on weekends. CONCLUSIONS: Various models of PITC currently exist at MoH facilities in Malawi. Only antenatal and maternity clinics demonstrated high rates of routine opt-out PITC. The low ratio of facility visits to HIV tests suggests missed opportunities for HIV testing. However, the high proportion of patients at TB and antenatal clinics with known HIV status suggests that routine PITC is feasible. These results underscore the need to develop clear, standardised PITC policy and protocols, and to address obstacles of limited health commodities, infrastructure and human resources.

Salmonella Bloodstream Infections in Hospitalized Children with Acute Febrile Illness-Uganda, 2016-2019.

Invasive Salmonella infection is a common cause of acute febrile illness (AFI) among children in sub-Saharan Africa; however, diagnosing Salmonella bacteremia is challenging in settings without blood culture. The Uganda AFI surveillance system includes blood culture-based surveillance for etiologies of bloodstream infection (BSIs) in hospitalized febrile children in Uganda. We analyzed demographic, clinical, blood culture, and antimicrobial resistance data from hospitalized children at six sentinel AFI sites from July 2016 to January 2019. A total of 47,261 children were hospitalized. Median age was 2 years (interquartile range, 1-4) and 26,695 (57%) were male. Of 7,203 blood cultures, 242 (3%) yielded bacterial pathogens including Salmonella (N = 67, 28%), Staphylococcus aureus (N = 40, 17%), Escherichia spp. (N = 25, 10%), Enterococcus spp. (N = 18, 7%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (N = 17, 7%). Children with BSIs had longer median length of hospitalization (5 days versus 4 days), and a higher case-fatality ratio (13% versus 2%) than children without BSI (all P < 0.001). Children with Salmonella BSIs did not differ significantly in length of hospitalization or mortality from children with BSI resulting from other organisms. Serotype and antimicrobial susceptibility results were available for 49 Salmonella isolates, including 35 (71%) non-typhoidal serotypes and 14 Salmonella serotype Typhi (Typhi). Among Typhi isolates, 10 (71%) were multi-drug resistant and 13 (93%) had decreased ciprofloxacin susceptibility. Salmonella strains, particularly non-typhoidal serotypes and drug-resistant Typhi, were the most common cause of BSI. These data can inform regional Salmonella surveillance in East Africa and guide empiric therapy and prevention in Uganda.

Alliance, Trust, and Loss: Experiences of Patients Cared for by Students in a Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship.

PURPOSE: The longitudinal integrated clerkship (LIC) model, which allows medical students to participate in comprehensive care of a panel of patients over time, is rapidly expanding because of recognized benefits to students and faculty. This study aimed to determine how LIC student contact affected patients' experiences and self-described health outcomes. METHOD: This qualitative case study used semistructured patient interviews to understand the impact of LIC learners at the University of Colorado School of Medicine on patients at Denver Health. Patients with at least 3 encounters with an LIC student and over age 18 were selected. Thirty patients were invited to participate in 2016-2017; 14 (47%) completed interviews before the thematic analysis reached saturation. Four researchers independently analyzed interview transcripts and reached consensus on emergent categories and themes. RESULTS: Six broad themes were identified: beginnings of a relationship, caring demonstrated by student, growing to trust student, reaching a therapeutic alliance, improvement of patient outcomes due to student involvement, and a sense of loss after students completed the LIC program. CONCLUSIONS: Patients deeply valued the therapeutic alliances built with LIC students involved in their care over time. These alliances led to improved patient experience, mitigation of perceived health system failures, and subjective improvement in health outcomes. Patients described a sense of loss at the end of the LIC when students were no longer involved in their care. Curricula that support students building longitudinal therapeutic relationships with their patients are an opportunity to improve patient experience while promoting students' professional development.

The HIV diagnostic assistant: early findings from a novel HIV testing cadre in Malawi.

OBJECTIVES: In 2015, Malawi piloted the HIV diagnostic assistant (HDA), a cadre of lay health workers focused primarily on HIV testing services. Our objective is to measure the effect of HDA deployment on country-level HIV testing measures. DESIGN: Interrupted time series analysis of routinely collected data to assess immediate change in absolute numbers and longitudinal changes in trends. METHODS: Data from all HDA sites were divided into two periods: predeployment (October 2013 to June 2015) and postdeployment (July 2015 to December 2017). Monthly rates of several key HIV testing measures were evaluated: HIV testing, including all tests done, new positives, and confirmatory testing. Syphilis testing at antenatal clinic (ANC) and early infant diagnosis were also assessed. FINDINGS: The number of patients tested for HIV per month increased after HDA deployment across all sex, age, and testing subgroups. The number of tests immediately increased by 35 588 (P = 0.031), and the postintervention trend was significantly greater than the preintervention slope (+3442 per month, P = 0.001). Of 7.4 million patients tested for HIV in the postdeployment period, 2.6 million (34%) were attributable to the intervention. The proportion of new positives receiving confirmatory tests increased from 28% preintervention to 98% postintervention (P < 0.0001). Syphilis testing rates at ANC improved, with 98% of all tests attributable to HDA deployment. The number and proportion of infants receiving DNA-PCR testing at 2 months experienced significant trend increases (P < 0.0001). INTERPRETATION: HDA deployment is associated with significant increases in total HIV testing, identification of new positives, confirmatory testing, syphilis testing at ANC, and early infant diagnosis testing.

Family Testing: An Index Case Finding Strategy to Close the Gaps in Pediatric HIV Diagnosis.

Despite significant advances in pediatric HIV treatment, too many children remain undiagnosed and thus without access to lifesaving antiretroviral therapy. It is critical to identify these children and initiate antiretroviral therapy as early as possible. Although the children of HIV-infected adults are at higher risk of infection, few access HIV testing services because of missed opportunities in existing case finding programs. Family testing is an index case finding strategy through which HIV-infected patients are systematically screened to identify family members with unknown HIV status. By specifically targeting a high-risk population, family testing is a pragmatic, high-yield, and efficient approach to identify previously undiagnosed HIV-infected children and link them to care before they become symptomatic. Despite this, incorporation of family testing into national guidelines and implementation of this case finding approach is variable. In this article, we review the evidence base for family testing, describe its challenges, and provide guidance and sample tools for program managers aiming to integrate family testing into existing health systems.

An Analysis of the Last Clinical Encounter before Outpatient Mortality among Children with HIV Infection and Exposure in Lilongwe, Malawi.

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) contributes to nearly 20% of all deaths in children under five years of age in Malawi. Expanded coverage of antiretroviral therapy has allowed children to access treatment on an outpatient basis. Little is known about characteristics of the final outpatient encounter prior to mortality in the outpatient setting. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study assessed clinical factors associated with mortality among HIV-exposed infants and HIV-infected children less than 18 years of age at the Baylor College of Medicine Abbott Fund Children's Center of Excellence in Lilongwe, Malawi. We compared clinical indicators documented from the final outpatient encounter for patients who died in the outpatient setting versus those who were alive after their penultimate clinical encounter. RESULTS: Of the 8,546 patients who were attended to over a 10-year period at the Baylor Center of Excellence, 851 had died (10%). Of children who died, 392 (46%) were directly admitted to the hospital after their last clinical encounter and died as inpatients. Of the remaining 459 who died as outpatients after their last visit, 53.5% had a World Health Organization (WHO) stage IV condition at their last visit, and 25% had a WHO stage III condition. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that poor nutritional status, female gender, shorter time as a patient, more clinical encounters in the prior month, if last visit was an unscheduled sick visit, and if the patient had lost weight since their prior visit independently predicted increased mortality in the outpatient setting after the final clinical encounter. CONCLUSION: Clinical indicators may assist in identifying children with HIV who have increased risk of mortality in the outpatient setting. Recognizing these indicators may aid in identifying HIV-infected children who require a higher level of care or closer follow-up.

Assessing infection control practices to protect health care workers and patients in Malawi from nosocomial transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) in health settings threatens health care workers and people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. Nosocomial transmission is reduced with implementation of infection control (IC) guidelines. The objective of this study is to describe implementation of TB IC measures in Malawi. We conducted a cross-sectional study utilizing anonymous health worker questionnaires, semi-structured interviews with facility managers, and direct observations at 17 facilities in central Malawi. Of 592 health care workers surveyed, 34% reported that all patients entering the facility were screened for cough and only 8% correctly named the four most common signs and symptoms of TB in adults. Of 33 managers interviewed, 7 (21%) and 1 (3%) provided the correct TB screening questions for use in adults and children, respectively. Of 592 health workers, only 2.4% had been screened for TB in the previous year. Most (90%) reported knowing their HIV status, 53% were tested at their facility of employment, and half reported they would feel comfortable receiving ART or TB treatment at their facility of employment. We conclude that screening is infrequently conducted and knowledge gaps may undercut its effectiveness. Further, health care workers do not routinely access TB and HIV diagnostic and treatment services at their facility of employment.

PMTCT Option B+ Does Not Increase Preterm Birth Risk and May Prevent Extreme Prematurity: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Malawi.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate preterm birth risk among infants of HIV-infected women in Lilongwe, Malawi, according to maternal antiretroviral therapy (ART) status and initiation time under Option B+. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study of HIV-infected women delivering at ≥27 weeks of gestation, April 2012 to November 2015. Among women on ART at delivery, we restricted our analysis to those who initiated ART before 27 weeks of gestation. METHODS: We defined preterm birth as a singleton live birth at ≥27 and <37 weeks of gestation, with births at <32 weeks classified as extremely to very preterm. We used log-binomial models to estimate risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between ART and preterm birth. RESULTS: Among 3074 women included in our analyses, 731 preterm deliveries were observed (24%). Overall preterm birth risk was similar in women who had initiated ART at any point before 27 weeks and those who never initiated ART (risk ratio = 1.14; 95% confidence interval: 0.84 to 1.55), but risk of extremely to very preterm birth was 2.33 (1.39 to 3.92) times as great in those who never initiated ART compared with those who did at any point before 27 weeks. Among women on ART before delivery, ART initiation before conception was associated with the lowest preterm birth risk. CONCLUSIONS: ART during pregnancy was not associated with preterm birth, and it may in fact be protective against severe adverse outcomes accompanying extremely to very preterm birth. As preconception ART initiation appears especially protective, long-term retention on ART should be a priority to minimize preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies.