The feasibility and acceptability of integrating hepatitis C and HIV diagnostic testing on centralized molecular laboratory platforms in Myanmar.

BACKGROUND: In Myanmar, 1.3 million people have been exposed to hepatitis C (HCV). However, public sector access to viral load (VL) testing for HCV diagnosis remains limited; ten near-point-of-care (POC) devices are available nationally. Myanmar's National Health Laboratory (NHL) has surplus capacity on centralized molecular testing platforms used for HIV diagnostics, presenting an opportunity for integrating HCV testing to expand overall testing capacity. This pilot assessed the operational feasibility and acceptability of HCV/HIV integrated testing implemented with a comprehensive package of supportive interventions. METHODS: HCV VL samples were collected prospectively from consenting participants at five treatment clinics and tested at Myanmar's NHL (October 2019-February 2020) on the Abbott m2000. To optimize integration, laboratory human resources were bolstered, staff trainings were offered, and existing laboratory equipment was serviced/repaired as needed. Diagnostics data during the intervention period were compared against HIV diagnostics data in the seven months prior. We conducted three time and motion analyses at the laboratory and semi-structured interviews with laboratory staff to assess time needs and program acceptability. RESULTS: 715 HCV samples were processed during the intervention period with an average test processing time of 18 days (IQR: 8-28). Despite adding HCV testing, average monthly test volumes were 2,331 for HIV VL and 232 for early infant diagnosis (EID), comparable to the pre-intervention period. Processing times were 7 days for HIV VL and 17 days for EID, also comparable to the pre-intervention period. HCV test error rate was 4.3%. Platforms utilization increased from 18.4% to 24.6%. All staff interviewed were supportive of HCV and HIV diagnostics integration; suggestions were made for broader implementation and expansion. CONCLUSIONS: With a package of supportive interventions, integration of HCV and HIV diagnostics on a centralized platform was operationally feasible, did not adversely impact HIV testing, and was acceptable to laboratory staff. In Myanmar, integrated HCV VL diagnostic testing on centralized platforms may be an important addition to existing near-POC testing in expanding national testing capacity for HCV elimination.

Risk factors for tuberculosis treatment failure among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in four health regions of Burkina Faso, 2009: case control study.

INTRODUCTION: In Burkina Faso, the tuberculosis (TB) treatment failure rate increased from 2.5% in 2000 to 8.3% in 2006. The risk factors for TB treatment failure in the country are not well known. The study aims to determine the risk factors for treatment failure among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in four health region of Burkina Faso and to recommend appropriate interventions. METHODS: A case control study was conducted among pulmonary TB patients who began TB treatment in 2009. A case was any patient who remained smear-positive at fifth month of TB treatment and a control was a patient who tested smear-negative at fifth month of treatment. A structured questionnaire was administered to one hundred cases and one hundred controls to collect information on exposure factors. Odds ratio were calculated using bivariate and multivariate analysis to determine the association between exposures and outcome. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that independent risk factors for TB treatment failure were fail to take TB drugs for more than 14 consecutive days (OR = 18.53; 95% CI:4.56 - 75.22), sputum smear-positive at two months of treatment (OR = 11.52; 95%CI:5.18-25.60), existence of comorbidity (OR = 5.74; 95%CI:1.69-19.44), and use of traditional medicines or herbs (OR = 2.97; 95%CI:1.12-7.85). CONCLUSION: Early identification of patients with the above risk factors for intense case management will improve TB treatment outcome. Patient with smear positive at 2nd(nd) month of treatment require more intense follow-up, and involving traditional healers who provide traditional medicines or herbs in the educational programme on TB are required. The national referral laboratory capacity needs to be strengthened to do drug susceptibility testing and routine drug monitoring on cases of non conversion at 2(nd) month of treatment.

A pharmacovigilance study of adults on highly active antiretroviral therapy, South Africa: 2007 - 2011.

BACKGROUND: Of the 1.6 million South African people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), approximately 970,000 (55%) have been initiated on HAART. Despite these numbers, very little has been published about the safety profile of antiretroviral (ARV) medicines in the country. This study was performed at the Medunsa National Pharmacovigilance Centre and aimed to describe the demographic characteristics of patients enrolled in the pharmacovigilance surveillance study; highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) initiation regimen patterns; reasons for regimen changes; and adverse effects of ARV medicines. METHODS: A cohort study of HIV-infected individuals aged 15 years or older who were on ARV medicines was conducted at four sentinel sites. RESULTS: After HAART initiation, with an average lapse of 17.8 months (range: 0 - 83.8 months), 2,815 patients were enrolled into the study. Results show that patients were observed for 1,606.2 person-years for pharmacy visits (collection of ARV medicines) and 817.1 person-years for clinical visits (consultation with the doctor). Females constituted 69.6% (1,958/2,815) of the study population. Almost all patients initiated HAART on first-line regimens (2,801/2,815). Some patients (6.7%, 190/2,815) dropped out of the study after HAART initiation. Reasons for regimen changes were not recorded for 2.5% (22/891) of the patients who changed regimens. The primary reason for regimen changes was drug-related toxicity (76.1%, 678/891), mostly evident in patients taking first-line regimens. Adverse effects experienced by patients were polyneuropathy (24.0%, 163/678); lipodystrophy (23.9%, 162/678); neuropathy (10.6%, 72/678); and suspected lactic acidosis (3.8%, 26/678). CONCLUSION: The majority of prescribers complied with the HAART guidelines and initiated most patients on first-line regimens. However, adverse effects are evident in patients taking first-line regimens. We recommend that the Department of Health should introduce less toxic first-line ARV regimens. Future efforts will aim to initiate patients on HAART and enrol them into the study simultaneously to determine early risk profiles of ARV medicines.

Public health systems strengthening in Africa: the role of South Africa Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme.

The South Africa Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (SAFELTP) was created in 2006 after recognizing the need to build and sustain the country's human resource capacity in field (applied) epidemiology and public health practice. The programme was formed as a collaboration between the South Africa Department of Health (DoH), the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the University of Pretoria. The primary goal of the programme was to produce field-trained epidemiologists equipped with knowledge and practical skills to effectively and efficiently address the public health priorities of South Africa. SAFELTP is a 2-year full-time training, consisting of a combination of classroom-based instruction (30%) and mentored field work (70%). The training places emphasis on public health surveillance, investigation of disease epidemics, public health laboratory practice and communication of epidemiologic information, among other aspects of epidemiology research. At completion, residents are awarded a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the University of Pretoria. Since its inception in 2006, 48 residents have enrolled onto the programme and 30 (62%) of them have completed the training. Over the past 5 years, the residents have conducted more than 92 outbreak investigations, 47 surveillance evaluations, 19 planned studies, analyzed 37 large databases and presented more than 56 papers at local and international conferences. In recognition of the high-quality work, at least five SAFELTP residents have received awards at various international scientific conferences during the 5 years. In conclusion, the South Africa FELTP is now fully established and making valuable contributions to the country's public health system, albeit with innumerable challenges.

Outbreak of Rift Valley fever affecting veterinarians and farmers in South Africa, 2008.

BACKGROUND: During 2008, Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus re-emerged in South Africa as focal outbreaks in several provinces. AIMS: To investigate an outbreak affecting cattle farmers and farm workers, and the staff and students of a veterinary school, assess the prevalence of infection during the outbreak, document the clinical presentation of cases, and identify potential risk factors. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional serological survey of exposed veterinarians and farmers, who were examined to determine the presence of current or recent illness. Blood specimens were collected for virus isolation, nucleic acid detection and serology. A subset was interviewed using a standardised questionnaire to obtain data on recent exposures and risk factors for infection. RESULTS: Of 53 participants potentially exposed to infected domestic ruminants, 15% had evidence of recent infection and 4% evidence of past exposure to the RVF virus. The prevalence of acute infection was 21% in veterinarians compared with 9% in farmers and farm workers. After a mean incubation period of 4.3 days, the most frequent symptoms experienced included myalgia (100%), headache (88%) and malaise (75%). No asymptomatic cases were identified. Transmission, by direct contact with infected animals was the major risk factor in these professional groups. Performing animal autopsies was significantly associated with acute infection (risk ratio 16.3, 95% confidence interval 2.3 - 114.2). CONCLUSIONS: Increased risks associated with veterinary practices highlight a need for the use of personal protective equipment, and identify veterinarians as a primary target group for future vaccination.

Making systems work: the hard part of improving maternal health services in South Africa.

As part of a multi-country study, maternal health services were reviewed in one health district in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Poor record-keeping, inadequate supervision, poor levels of clinical knowledge and under-utilisation of midwife obstetric units were found. Interventions identified by local health service personnel to improve maternity care were developed, implemented and evaluated, included programme-specific (training in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and neonatal resuscitation) and system interventions (improving interpersonal relations and system functioning, use of routine data for monitoring purposes, improving supervision skills). This resulted in some positive outputs. Health worker knowledge and patient records improved, and there was some indication that supervision improved. However, system-wide interventions that could improve programmes were less successful. To build a learning organisation, a new culture of monitoring and evaluation, including routine self-evaluation, is required as core skills for all health workers. These data should be used at the point of collection. Changing reporting lines between programme and district managers may improve co-ordination between different authorities, and there is a need to enhance the manner in which staff are assessed, appraised, promoted and rewarded. Professional bodies who oversee training curricula, institutions that offer training, and institutions that provide funding for training and development need to take on the challenge of health systems development and avoid promoting programme-specific interventions only.