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BACKGROUND: The lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan assay, Determine TB LAM (Determine LAM), offers the potential for timely tuberculosis (TB) treatment among people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH). METHODS: In this cluster-randomized trial, Determine LAM was made available with staff training with performance feedback at 3 hospitals in Ghana. Newly admitted PWH with a positive World Health Organization four-symptom screening for TB, severe illness, or advanced HIV were enrolled. The primary outcome was days from enrollment to TB treatment initiation. We also reported the proportion of patients with a TB diagnosis, initiating TB treatment, all-cause mortality, and Determine LAM uptake at 8 weeks. RESULTS: We enrolled 422 patients including 174 (41.2%) in the intervention group. The median CD4 count was 87 (interquartile range [IQR], 25-205) cells/µL, and 32.7% were on antiretroviral therapy. More patients were diagnosed with TB in the intervention compared with the control group: 59 (34.1%) versus 46 (18.7%) (P < .001). Time to TB treatment remained constant, but patients were more likely to initiate TB treatment (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.19 [95% CI, 1.60-3.00]) during the intervention. Of patients with a Determine LAM test available, 41 (25.3%) tested positive. Of those, 19 (46.3%) initiated TB treatment. Overall, 118 patients had died (28.2%) at 8 weeks of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The Determine LAM intervention in real-world practice increased TB diagnosis and the probability of TB treatment but did not reduce time to treatment initiation. Despite high uptake, only half of the LAM-positive patients initiated TB treatment.
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BACKGROUND: Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections (CRBSIs) are notable complications among patients receiving maintenance haemodialysis. However, data on the prevalence of CRBSIs is lacking. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and factors associated with CRBSIs among patients receiving haemodialysis in the renal unit of the largest tertiary hospital in Ghana. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on patients receiving maintenance haemodialysis via central venous catheters (CVC) between September 2021 and April 2022. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors that were predictive of CRBSI. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 23 and a p-value<0.05 was statistically significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of CRBSI was 34.2% (52/152). Of these, more than half of them (53.9%(28/52)) had Possible CRBSI while 11.5% (6/52) had Definite CRBSI. Among the positive cultures, 62% (21/34) were from catheter sites whilst the rest were from peripheral blood. Gram-negative cultures made up 53% (18/34) of positive cultures with the rest being Gram positive cultures. Acinetobacter baumannii (33.3% (6/18)) was the commonest organism isolated among Gram-negative cultures whilst Coagulase negative Staphylococci (43.7% (7/16)) was the commonest organism isolated among Gram-positve cultures. Gram-negative bacilli were more predominant in this study making up 52.9% of the total bacteria cultured. Sex, duration of maintenance dialysis, underlying cause of End-stage kidney disease, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), neutrophil count and lymphocyte count were significantly predictive of CRBSI status (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of CRBSI among patients undergoing haemodialysis. The commonest causative agent was Coagulase negative Staphylococci, however there was a predominance of Gram-negative bacilli as compared to Gram positive cocci. There is a need to set up infection surveillance unit in the renal unit to track CRBSI and put in place measures to reduce these CRBSI.
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Bacteriemia , Infecções Relacionadas a Cateter , Cateteres Venosos Centrais , Humanos , Estudos Transversais , Centros de Atenção Terciária , Gana/epidemiologia , Coagulase , Bacteriemia/etiologia , Bacteriemia/microbiologia , Cateteres Venosos Centrais/efeitos adversos , Bactérias Gram-Negativas , Diálise Renal/efeitos adversos , Staphylococcus , Infecções Relacionadas a Cateter/etiologia , Infecções Relacionadas a Cateter/complicaçõesRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Living with HIV/AIDS is remarkably stressful and has an adverse effect on one's physical and mental health. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the introduction of highly active anti-retroviral therapy has led to an increased number of children with perinatal acquired HIV who are living into adolescence and adulthood. Developing strategies to cope with HIV becomes imperative, especially among these adolescents. The study determined the factors that influence coping strategies among adolescents living with HIV. METHODS: An analytic cross-sectional design was used. A total of 154 adolescents aged 10-19 years living with HIV were systematically sampled at the Fevers Unit of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital from June to December, 2021. The adolescent version of the KidCope tool was used to assess the choice of coping strategies. Stata 16 was used to determine associations between independent variables and the coping strategies identified. Only variables that were significant at p = 0.1 or less in the crude model were used to run the adjusted regression model. The level of significance was set at p = 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 19.2 ± 0.45 years with 51.9% (80/154) of participants being males. A majority, 57.1% of the participants employed positive coping strategies with 87.0% (135/154) using cognitive restructuring strategy. In an adjusted linear regression model, participants coping strategies were significantly associated with their educational level (p = 0.04) and presence of both parents as caregivers (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Participants largely adopted positive coping strategies in managing the disease. Factors that influenced the choice of coping strategies were higher levels of education and the presence of both parents as caregivers. The importance of a good social support structure and pursuing further education needs to be emphasized in counselling adolescents living with HIV as it promotes the choice of positive coping strategies.
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Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida , Infecções por HIV , Masculino , Gravidez , Feminino , Criança , Humanos , Adolescente , Adulto Jovem , Adulto , Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida/tratamento farmacológico , Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida/epidemiologia , Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida/psicologia , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Infecções por HIV/psicologia , Gana , Estudos Transversais , Adaptação PsicológicaRESUMO
Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) and medical mycology receive little attention in Ghana. However, the present evolution of biomarker assays for IFIs, offers an opportunity for an increased access to fungal laboratory testing in resource-limited settings, and probably make a case for availability of essential antifungal agents. Using surveys and personal communications, the state of medical mycology and IFI in Ghana were highlighted. Inadequate awareness and insufficient access to fungal diagnostics and therapeutics were identified as the key challenges, the establishment of the Ghana Medical Mycology Society was discussed, and recommendations were made to improve the status quo.
Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) receive little attention in Ghana, despite its growing relevance globally. Using surveys and personal communications, the main challenges were identified, and the formation of the Ghana Medical Mycology Society was discussed as a tool to improve the status quo.
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Infecções Fúngicas Invasivas , Micologia , Animais , Antifúngicos/uso terapêutico , Gana , Infecções Fúngicas Invasivas/diagnóstico , Infecções Fúngicas Invasivas/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções Fúngicas Invasivas/microbiologia , Infecções Fúngicas Invasivas/veterinária , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
With the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART), many HIV-infected children are growing into adolescence and adulthood. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Fevers Unit of one of the teaching hospitals in Ghana. The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) and pill count were used to assess adherence, while measured viral load levels of participants were used to assess viral suppression. The rate of viral suppression (<400 copies/ml) was 68.2%. Participants with high MMAS-8 scores were 8.4 times more likely to be virally suppressed compared to those with low MMAS-8 scores (OR = 8.4, p = 0.003, 95% CI: 2.11-33.48). The commonest reason for missing doses of their antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) was forgetfulness. Efforts must be made by all stakeholders involved in HIV care to engage adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYALHIV) on personal and/or group levels to help identify and improve particular ART adherence issues so as to increase viral suppression rates.
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Fármacos Anti-HIV , Infecções por HIV , Adolescente , Adulto , Fármacos Anti-HIV/uso terapêutico , Terapia Antirretroviral de Alta Atividade , Criança , Estudos Transversais , Gana/epidemiologia , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Humanos , Adesão à Medicação , Centros de Atenção Terciária , Carga Viral , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is the most frequent neurological complication in people living with HIV/AIDS. Neurological damage was identified to not only be caused by the viral infection itself but also through neurotoxic antiretroviral therapy (ART). PN is associated with a variety of risk factors; however, detailed knowledge is scarce for sub-Saharan African populations, bearing among the highest HIV/AIDS infection burden.In a cross-sectional study, we assessed the prevalence of PN in 525 adult outpatients suffering from HIV/AIDS and admitted to the largest tertiary hospital in Ghana. Through a detailed questionnaire and clinical examination including neurologic assessment and laboratory blood sample testing, this study investigated associations of PN with demographic and health determinants and identified risk factors associated with sensory neuropathy.The prevalence of PN in the Ghanaian cohort was 17.7% and increased odd ratios (OR) when patients were taller (> 1.57 m; OR = 3.84; 95% CI 1.38-10.66) or reached the age > 34 years (p = 0.124). Respondents with longer education duration had significantly less PN (≥ 9 years of education; OR = 0.49; 95% CI 0.26-0.92). The study also identified significant association of PN to both waist and hip girth and neutrophil counts. Curiously, higher adjusted odd ratios (aOR) of PN of patients under ART treatment were observed when CD4 lymphocytes were elevated (aOR = 0.81; 95% CI 0.36-1.83 and aOR = 2.17; 95% CI 0.93-5.05, for 300 and 600 counts, respectively). For patients on ART, an increase of 10 CD4 cell count units increased their chance of developing PN by 1% (aOR = 1.01; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.03).Despite current drug application regulations, prevalence of PN is still unacceptably high in sub-Saharan African populations. Reduction in chronic morbidity through a health system with routine monitoring, early diagnosis and prompt intervention, and effective case management can improve people living with HIV/AIDS' quality of life.
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Fármacos Anti-HIV/efeitos adversos , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso Periférico/induzido quimicamente , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso Periférico/epidemiologia , Adulto , Fármacos Anti-HIV/administração & dosagem , Terapia Antirretroviral de Alta Atividade , Contagem de Linfócito CD4 , Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos/efeitos dos fármacos , Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos/virologia , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Gana/epidemiologia , HIV/efeitos dos fármacos , HIV/enzimologia , HIV/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Infecções por HIV/patologia , Infecções por HIV/virologia , Humanos , Masculino , Razão de Chances , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso Periférico/fisiopatologia , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso Periférico/virologia , Prevalência , Qualidade de Vida/psicologia , Fatores de Risco , Inquéritos e Questionários , Centros de Atenção TerciáriaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has considerably reduced HIV/AIDS-related morbidity and mortality; however, the therapy has been associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and genetic predisposition factors may aggravate disease outcome. This study was aimed at investigating the relationship between haptoglobin phenotypes and risk factors of CVD in HIV patients. METHODS: A total of 105 HIV sero-positive patients on HAART and 75 HIV-infected HAART-naïve individuals were enrolled in the study. Socio-demographics and clinical characteristics of the participants were obtained using a well-structured questionnaire. Lipid profile, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and haptoglobin (Hp) phenotypes were analysed from serum whiles haemoglobin (Hb) level, CD4+ cell count and HIV viral RNA load were determined using whole blood. RESULTS: Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) was significantly higher in patients on HAART than the naïve group (P < 0.05). Age, BMI, visceral fat, systolic blood pressure LDH and lipid variables strongly and positively correlated with AIP (P < 0.05), with the exception of HDL-c (P < 0.001) which showed a negative correlation. HAART was associated with hypertension (χ2 = 4.33, P = 0.037), hypercholesterolaemia (χ2 = 10.99, P < 0.001), elevated LDL-c (χ2 = 10.30, P < 0.001) and decreased HDL-c (χ2 = 3.87, P = 0.09). Hp2-2 and Hp0 collectively was strongly associated with hypertension (OR = 2.54, P = 0.011), obesity (OR = 5.97, P < 0.001) and hypercholesterolaemia (OR = 2.99, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: HIV/AIDS patients on HAART expressing Hp phenotypes with weak antioxidant capacity have an increased risk of developing CVD.
OBJECTIF: La thérapie antirétrovirale hautement active (HAART) a considérablement réduit la morbidité et la mortalité liées au VIH/SIDA; cependant, le traitement a été associé au développement de maladie cardiovasculaire (MCV) et des facteurs de prédisposition génétique pourraient aggraver l'évolution de la maladie. Cette étude visait à étudier la relation entre les phénotypes de l'haptoglobine et les facteurs de risque de MCV chez les patients VIH. MÉTHODES: Un total de 105 patients VIH positifs sous HAART et 75 personnes infectés par le VIH mais naïfs au HAART ont été recrutés pour l'étude. Les caractéristiques sociodémographiques et cliniques des participants ont été obtenues à l'aide d'un questionnaire bien structuré. Le profil lipidique, les phénotypes de la lactate déshydrogénase (LDH) et de l' haptoglobine (Hp) ont été analysés à partir du sérum tandis que le taux d'hémoglobine (Hb), la numération des cellules CD4+ et la charge d'ARN viral du VIH ont été déterminés en utilisant du sang total. RÉSULTATS: L'indice athérogène du plasma (IAP) était significativement plus élevé chez les patients sous HAART que chez le groupe naïf (p <0,05). Les variables âge, IMC, graisse viscérale, tension artérielle systolique, LDH et lipides étaient fortement et positivement corrélées à l'IAP (p < 0,05), à l'exception du HDL-c (p < 0,001) qui présentait une corrélation négative. L'HAART a été associée à l'hypertension (χ2 = 4,33; p = 0,037), l'hypercholestérolémie (χ2 = 10,99; p <0,001), une LDL-c élevée (χ2 = 10,30; p <0,001) et une diminution de HDL-c (χ2 = 3,87; p = 0,09). Ensemble, Hp2-2 et Hp0 étaient fortement associés à l'hypertension (OR = 2,54; p = 0,011), à l'obésité (OR = 5,97; p <0,001) et à l'hypercholestérolémie (OR = 2,99; p <0,001). CONCLUSION: Les patients VIH/SIDA sous HAART exprimant des phénotypes Hp à faible capacité antioxydante ont un risque accru de développer une maladie cardiovasculaire.
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Antioxidantes/análise , Terapia Antirretroviral de Alta Atividade/efeitos adversos , Doenças Cardiovasculares/epidemiologia , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Haptoglobinas/análise , Adulto , Aterosclerose/sangue , Aterosclerose/epidemiologia , Doenças Cardiovasculares/sangue , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Gana , Infecções por HIV/sangue , Humanos , Hipercolesterolemia/sangue , Hipercolesterolemia/epidemiologia , Hipertensão/sangue , Hipertensão/epidemiologia , Lipídeos/sangue , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fenótipo , Medição de Risco , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Health-related stigma is a great challenge to the treatment of diseases. In epilepsy like other conditions, it causes affected individuals to conceal their illness. In this study, we described stigma perceived by patients with epilepsy at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), a tertiary referral facility, and the Accra Psychiatry Hospital in Ghana (APH). We then compared the perception of stigma in patients with epilepsy to stigma perceived by persons living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) (PLWHA), a chronic communicable disease stigmatized in Ghana. METHODS: A total of 351 patients with epilepsy were recruited from both sites by systematic random sampling and interviewed. The Kilifi Stigma Scale for Epilepsy was used to determine individual patient's stigma score. Statistical analysis was done using multiple logistic regression analysis to control for the effect of measured independent variables that were significant on univariate analysis: age, gender, marital status, income, type of epilepsy, and the frequency of seizures, on the outcome variable. Comparative analysis of the mean stigma score in patients with epilepsy and persons living with HIV/AIDS was done using the Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U test (Wilcoxon rank sum test). RESULTS: The presence of perceived stigma using the Kilifi Stigma Score Estimation was 32.02% (62), 33.33% (49), and 28.88% (54) among respondents from KBTH, APH, and PLWHA respectively. Results from Wilcoxon rank sum test showed that the median stigma score between the three groups was significant; KBTH and APH (p-value; 0.0258), KBTH and PLWHA (p-value; 0.00001), and APH and PLWHA (p-value; 0.0000). Age (<40â¯years), seizure frequency, ethnic group (Ewe and Guan), and being divorced showed high odds for perceived stigma among KBTH patients with epilepsy. Having tertiary education led to lower odds for perceived stigma in epilepsy for APH patients with epilepsy. CONCLUSION: This study showed that epilepsy is associated with a high stigma perception. The perceived stigma was greater than stigma in PLWHAs in Accra. Stigma was affected by unemployment, ethnicity (Ewe and Guan), and uncontrolled seizures. Increasing age reduced perceived stigma and the management of patients with epilepsy in a psychiatric facility might have impacted negatively on the perceived stigma.
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Epilepsia/psicologia , Infecções por HIV/psicologia , Percepção , Estigma Social , Inquéritos e Questionários , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Estudos Transversais , Epilepsia/etnologia , Feminino , Gana/etnologia , Infecções por HIV/etnologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estereotipagem , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a major health problem in diabetes patients in high-income countries, but the PAD burden in sub-Saharan Africa is largely undetermined. We studied the prevalence of PAD and exertional leg symptoms in diabetes (DM) patients in a tertiary hospital in Ghana. METHODS: In a case control study design, 485 DM and 330 non-diabetes participants were recruited. PAD was diagnosed as Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) < 0.9. Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire (ECQ) was used to assess exertional leg symptoms. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of classical intermittent claudication was 10.3 % and ABI-diagnosed PAD was 26.7 %, with 3.5 % of the participants having both classic intermittent claudication and ABI-diagnosed PAD. The prevalence of exertional leg symptoms were similar in diabetes patients with and without PAD. In non-diabetes participants, intermittent claudication and rest pain were higher in PAD patients than in non-PAD participants. In multivariable logistic regression, intermittent claudication [OR (95 % CI), 3.39 (1.14 - 8.1), p < 0.05] and rest pain [4.3 (1.58 - 9.67), p < 0.001] were independently associated with PAD in non-diabetes group, and rest pain [1.71 (1.13 - 2.17), p < 0.05] was associated with PAD in all participants. CONCLUSIONS: There is high burden of PAD and exertional leg pains in DM patients in Ghana. PAD is expressed as intermittent claudication and rest pain in non-diabetes individuals.
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Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiologia , Claudicação Intermitente/epidemiologia , Isquemia/epidemiologia , Extremidade Inferior/irrigação sanguínea , Doença Arterial Periférica/epidemiologia , Adulto , Idoso , Índice Tornozelo-Braço , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Distribuição de Qui-Quadrado , Diabetes Mellitus/diagnóstico , Feminino , Gana/epidemiologia , Humanos , Claudicação Intermitente/diagnóstico , Isquemia/diagnóstico , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Análise Multivariada , Razão de Chances , Doença Arterial Periférica/diagnóstico , Prevalência , Fatores de Risco , Inquéritos e Questionários , Centros de Atenção TerciáriaRESUMO
Background: Opportunistic infections (OIs) among newly diagnosed HIV patients are a marker for inadequateness of HIV awareness and testing. Despite global efforts at creating awareness for early detection, late HIV diagnosis and its associated OIs still exist. This study sought to determine the prevalence and patterns of OIs and associated factors among newly diagnosed HIV patients in Ghana. Methods: A retrospective study using data extraction was conducted among 423 newly diagnosed HIV patients aged ≥18 years at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital from July 1st 2018 to December 2019. Multivariate logistic regression was adopted to assess factors associated to OIs. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 16, and p-value < 0.05 was deemed significant. Results: The mean age of patients with a new HIV diagnosis was 40.15 ± 11.47 years. Male versus female sex differential was 30.3% and 69.7%, respectively. The prevalence of OIs among newly diagnosed HIV patients was 33.1% (95% CI = 34.6-44.1). About 70% (120/166) of patients with OIs were classified into WHO clinical stage III and IV. The most common OIs were candidiasis (oro-pharyhngeal-esophageal) (36.9%), and cerebral toxoplasmosis (19.9%). The odds of an OI at the time of HIV diagnosis among females was 51% lower than in males (aOR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.28-0.86). Being employed increased the odds of OIs by 2.5 compared to the unemployed (aOR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.11-5.61). Participants classified as World Health Organization (WHO) HIV clinical stage III and IV were 15.88 (95% CI = 9.41-26.79) times more likely to experience OIs. Conclusion: One in three patients newly diagnosed with HIV presented with an opportunistic infection, with men more likely to experience such infections. Significant attention should be given to improving case-finding strategies, especially among men.
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Infecções Oportunistas Relacionadas com a AIDS , Infecções por HIV , Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Adolescente , Adulto , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Infecções por HIV/diagnóstico , Infecções Oportunistas Relacionadas com a AIDS/diagnóstico , Infecções Oportunistas Relacionadas com a AIDS/epidemiologia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Gana/epidemiologia , Hospitais de EnsinoRESUMO
Diagnosis and management of cryptococcal meningitis in HIV-infected adolescents is challenging in poor resource settings. A high index of suspicion based on clinical presentation is critical for early identification and treatment. This report sought to describe the clinical presentation and outcomes of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis in adolescents.
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Introduction: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reduced mortality and improved life expectancy among HIV patients but does not provide a cure. Patients must remain on lifelong medications and deal with drug resistance and side effects. This underscores the need for HIV cure research. However, participation in HIV cure research has risks without guaranteed benefits. We determined what HIV healthcare providers know about HIV cure research trials, the risks involved, and what kind of cure interventions they are likely to recommend for their patients. Methods: We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 39 HIV care providers consisting of 12 physicians, 8 counsellors, 14 nurses, 2 pharmacists, 2 laboratory scientists, and 1 community advocate from three hospitals. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded, and thematic analysis was performed independently by two investigators. Results: Participants were happy about the success of current treatments and hopeful that an HIV cure will be found in the near future, just as ART was discovered through research. They described cure as total eradication of the virus from the body and inability to test positive for HIV or transmit the virus. In terms of risk tolerance, respondents would recommend to their patients' studies with mild to moderate risks like what patients on antiretroviral therapy experience. Participants were reluctant to recommend treatment interruption to patients as part of a cure study and wished trials could be performed without stopping treatment. Healthcare providers categorically rejected death or permanent disability as an acceptable risk. The possibility of finding a cure that will benefit the individual or future generations was strong motivations for providers to recommend cure trials to their patients, as was transparency and adequate information on proposed trials. Overall, the participants were not actively seeking knowledge on cure research and lacked information on the various cure modalities under investigation. Conclusion: While hopeful for an HIV cure, healthcare providers in Ghana expect a cure to be definitive and pose minimal risk to their patients.
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OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic had a disruptive impact on tuberculosis (TB) and HIV services. We assessed the in-hospital TB diagnostic care among people with HIV (PWH) overall and before and during the pandemic. METHODS: In this prospective study, adult PWH admitted at three hospitals in Ghana were recruited if they had a positive World Health Organization four-symptom screen or one or more World Health Organization danger signs or advanced HIV. We collected data on patient characteristics, TB assessment, and clinical outcomes after 8 weeks and used descriptive statistics and survival analysis. RESULTS: We enrolled 248 PWH with a median clusters of differentiation 4 count of 80.5 cells/mm3 (interquartile range 24-193). Of those, 246 (99.2%) patients had a positive World Health Organization four-symptom screen. Overall, 112 (45.2%) patients obtained a sputum Xpert result, 66 (46.5%) in the prepandemic and 46 (43.4%) in the pandemic period; P-value = 0.629. The TB prevalence of 46/246 (18.7%) was similar in the prepandemic 28/140 (20.0%) and pandemic 18/106 (17.0%) population; P-value = 0.548. The 8-week all-cause mortality was 62/246 (25.2%), with no difference in cumulative survival when stratifying for the pandemic period; log-rank P-value = 0.412. CONCLUSION: The study highlighted a large gap in the access to TB investigation and high early mortality among hospitalized PWH, irrespective of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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COVID-19 , Infecções por HIV , Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Tuberculose , Adulto , Humanos , Estudos Prospectivos , Pandemias , Gana , Estudos de Coortes , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Tuberculose/diagnóstico , Hospitais , Escarro , Teste para COVID-19RESUMO
Background: The urine Determine LAM test has the potential to identify tuberculosis (TB) and reduce early mortality among people living with HIV. However, implementation of the test in practice has been slow. We aimed to understand how a Determine LAM intervention was received and worked in a Ghanaian in-hospital context. Design/Methods: Nested in a Determine LAM intervention study, we conducted a two-phase explanatory sequential mixed methods study at three hospitals in Ghana between January 2021 and January 2022. We performed a quantitative survey with 81 healthcare workers (HCWs), four qualitative focus-group discussions with 18 HCWs, and 15 in-depth HCW interviews. Integration was performed at the methods and analysis level. Descriptive analysis, qualitative directed content analysis, and mixed methods joint display were used. Results: The gap in access to TB testing when relying on sputum GeneXpert MTB/Rif alone was explained by difficulties in obtaining sputum samples and an in-hospital system that relies on relatives. The Determine LAM test procedure was experienced as easy, and most eligible patients received a test. HCWs expressed that immediate access to Determine LAM tests empowered them in rapid diagnosis. The HCW survey confirmed that bedside was the most common place for Determine LAM testing, but qualitative interviews with nurses revealed concerns about patient confidentiality when performing and disclosing the test results at the bedside. Less than half of Determine LAM-positive patients were initiated on TB treatment, and qualitative data identified a weak link in the communication of the Determine LAM results. Moreover, HCWs were reluctant to initiate Determine LAM-positive patients on TB treatment due to test specificity concerns. The Determine LAM intervention did not have an impact on the time to TB treatment as expected, but patients were, in general, initiated on TB treatment rapidly. We further identified a barrier to accessing TB treatment during weekends and that treatment by tradition is administrated early in the morning. Conclusion: The Determine LAM testing was feasible and empowered HCWs in the management of HIV-associated TB. Important gaps in routine care and Determine LAM-enhanced TB care were often explained by the context. These findings may inform in-hospital quality improvement work and scale-up of Determine LAM in similar settings.
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Infecções por HIV , Tuberculose , Humanos , Gana , Pacientes Internados , Comunicação , Tuberculose/diagnóstico , Infecções por HIV/diagnósticoRESUMO
The greatest HIV-1 genetic diversity is found in West/Central Africa due to the pandemic's origins in this region, but this diversity remains understudied. We characterized HIV-1 subtype diversity (from both sub-genomic and full-genome viral sequences), drug resistance and coreceptor usage in 103 predominantly (90%) antiretroviral-naive individuals living with HIV-1 in Ghana. Full-genome HIV-1 subtyping confirmed the circulating recombinant form CRF02_AG as the dominant (53.9%) subtype in the region, with the complex recombinant 06_cpx (4%) present as well. Unique recombinants, most of which were mosaics containing CRF02_AG and/or 06_cpx, made up 37% of sequences, while "pure" subtypes were rare (<6%). Pretreatment resistance to at least one drug class was observed in 17% of the cohort, with NNRTI resistance being the most common (12%) and INSTI resistance being relatively rare (2%). CXCR4-using HIV-1 sequences were identified in 23% of participants. Overall, our findings advance our understanding of HIV-1 molecular epidemiology in Ghana. Extensive HIV-1 genetic diversity in the region appears to be fueling the ongoing creation of novel recombinants, the majority CRF02_AG-containing, in the region. The relatively high prevalence of pretreatment NNRTI resistance but low prevalence of INSTI resistance supports the use of INSTI-based first-line regimens in Ghana.
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Infecções por HIV , Soropositividade para HIV , HIV-1 , Humanos , HIV-1/genética , Gana/epidemiologia , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Epidemiologia Molecular , Filogenia , Resistência a Medicamentos , Genótipo , Farmacorresistência Viral/genéticaRESUMO
Background: Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) and disseminated histoplasmosis (DH) are common in people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) and diagnosed by detecting cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) and Histoplasma antigen (HistoAg), respectively. In Ghana, CM and DH are rarely suspected by clinicians due to limited epidemiological data. Methods: This study was conducted among PWH in Ghana who are unwell. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected by questionnaire. Serum and/or urine were screened for CrAg and HistoAg, using IMMY CrAg lateral flow assay (LFA) and IMMY Histoplasma enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kits, respectively, regardless of symptoms. Samples run with IMMY Histoplasma EIA were simultaneously run with Optimum Imaging Diagnostics (OIDx) Histoplasma LFA. Laboratory investigations were conducted by the research team, and diagnosis incorporating clinical assessment, screening, and confirmatory testing results and treatment decisions were made by the clinical team. Treatment and outcome information on CM and DH patients were evaluated. Results: Overall, 150 participants were recruited. There were 73% (n = 109) females, and the age range was 18-62 years. The prevalence rates of CrAg and HistoAg were 2.7% (4 of 150) and 4.7% (5 of 107), respectively. The OIDx Histoplasma LFA showed a high concordance (98.4%) with the IMMY Histoplasma EIA. All antigen-positive cases by standard tests were diagnosed with CM and DH. Antifungal treatment was given in 5 patients and follow-up revealed 2 deaths and 3 recoveries. Conclusions: Histoplasmosis among PWH may be more common than previously anticipated and may be more frequent than cryptococcosis in Ghana. The performance of the OIDx Histoplasma LFA should be further explored.
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BACKGROUND: To limit the spread of COVID-19 due to imported cases, Burkina Faso has set up quarantine measures for arriving passengers. We aimed to determine the incidence and predictors of imported cases of COVID-19 in Burkina Faso. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed using data from passengers arriving at the airport from April 9 to August 31, 2020. The data was extracted from the District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) platform. Cox regression was used to identify predictors of imported cases of COVID-19. RESULTS: Among 6,332 travelers who arrived in the study period, 173 imported cases (2.7%) were recorded. The incidence rate was 1.9 cases per 1,000 traveler-days (95%CI: 1.6-2.2 per 1,000). Passengers arriving in April (Adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 3.56; 95%CI: 1.62-7.81) and May (aHR = 1.92; 95% CI: 1.18-3.12) were more at risk of being tested positive compared to those arriving in August, as well as, passengers presenting with one symptom (aHR = 3.71; 95% CI: 1.63-8.43) and at least two symptoms (aHR = 10.82; 95% CI: 5.24-22,30) compared to asymptomatic travelers. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of imported cases was relatively low in Burkina Faso between April and August 2020. The period of travel and the presence of symptoms at arrival predicted the risk of being tested positive to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This is essential in the context of the high circulation of virus variants worldwide and the low local capacity to perform genotyping tests to strengthen the surveillance and screening capacities at the points of entry into the country.
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COVID-19 , Burkina Faso/epidemiologia , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Humanos , Incidência , Estudos Prospectivos , SARS-CoV-2RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: the provision of antiretroviral treatment (ART) to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) has improved their life expectancy significantly. Conversely, this has been associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases. Yet, research to improve understanding of cardiovascular risk factors among PLHIV remains limited. This study examines the prevalence and correlates of cardiovascular risk factors among PLHIV at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra, Ghana. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was conducted at the KBTH, Accra, Ghana. Patients were recruited from the adult HIV outpatient clinic at the infectious disease unit, KBTH. The sample comprised 525 PLHIV, aged 18 years and above. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a multivariable binary logistic regression. RESULTS: among the patients, 9.7% (n=51) had hypertension and 15.6% (n=82) were reportedly patients with diabetes. With respect to the serum lipid profile, 24.8% (n=130) had hypertriglyceridemia, 49.1% (n=258) had hypercholesterolemia, 26.3% (138) had low high-density lipoprotein, and high low-density lipoprotein was found in 27.2% (n=143) of the cohort. The multivariable binary logistic regression results showed that being unemployed, underweight, being on ART, being male, having a higher level of education, and not having health insurance subscription significantly increased the odds of cardiovascular risk factors among the patients. CONCLUSION: current findings buttress concern for elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases among PLHIV and calls for increased attention for comprehensive care that includes the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases and its risk factors among this vulnerable group.
Assuntos
Fármacos Anti-HIV/administração & dosagem , Doenças Cardiovasculares/epidemiologia , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Adulto , Fármacos Anti-HIV/efeitos adversos , Doenças Cardiovasculares/etiologia , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Gana/epidemiologia , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Fatores de Risco de Doenças Cardíacas , Hospitais de Ensino , Humanos , Masculino , Prevalência , Centros de Atenção Terciária , Adulto JovemRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of radiologically diagnosed pneumonia among COVID-19 patients and associated factors. DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective manual data extraction of 275 medical records of COVID-19 patients was conducted at two COVID-19 national treatment centres in Accra from March to May 2020. All patients had a chest x-ray done. MAIN OUTCOME AND ANALYSIS: The main outcome was the presence of pneumonia. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test of independence were employed to determine the associations between independent variables and the presence of pneumonia. All analysis was performed using Stata 16, and a p-value ≤ 0.05 was deemed significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of pneumonia was 44%(95%CI) =38.2-50.0). Chi-square independent test indicated that pneumonia in the COVID-19 patients was associated with educational level, history of domestic and international travel, mass gathering in the past 14 days before diagnosis, and discharge plan (p-value< 0.05). Patients classified as secondary cases (61.5%) and those discharged as fully recovered from the health facility (61.2%) had a higher prevalence of pneumonia. In addition, COVID-19 patients with hypertension (32.1%) and asthma (5.2%) had a significantly higher prevalence of pneumonia. CONCLUSION: Overall, the prevalence of pneumonia was 44% and was associated with the demographic and personal characteristics of the patients. Early detection through contact tracing and community surveillance should be intensified to pick up more asymptomatic cases. The role of the chest x-ray for triaging patients and for clinical management of symptomatic patients remains key. FUNDING: None declared.
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COVID-19 , Pneumonia , COVID-19/diagnóstico por imagem , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Gana/epidemiologia , Humanos , Pneumonia/diagnóstico por imagem , Pneumonia/epidemiologia , Prevalência , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de Risco , SARS-CoV-2 , Raios XRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Though antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reduced HIV infection into a manageable chronic disease, it does not provide for a cure. HIV cure trials may carry risks for patients who are generally doing well on ART, making it imperative that their input is sought as various types of cure methods and trials are designed. Few studies have sought the views of African patients on HIV cure studies. The objective of this study was to determine the views and preferences of people living with HIV (PLWH) in Ghana on cure research. METHODS: We used a questionnaire to interview 251 PLWH in Ghana about their willingness to engage in HIV cure research. We investigated their motivations, the types of cure they would prefer and which risks were acceptable to them. RESULTS: Most participants were enthusiastic about participating in cure research and driven by both altruistic and personal motives. Patients preferred a cure where they would continue follow-up with their doctor (88%) compared to being assured that they have been completely cured and did not need further follow-up (11%). The vast majority of the respondents were risk averse. Most patients (67%) would decline to interrupt ART as part of a protocol for HIV cure research. In bivariate analysis, participants above the age of 40 years were more likely to agree to treatment interruption during cure studies (OR 2.77; 95% CI 1.21-.6.34. p â= â0.0159). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that preferred cure modalities and risk tolerance for patients in Africa may be different from those of other parts of the world. Extensive social science and behavioural studies are needed on the continent to help inform future cure trials.