The incidence of histoplasmosis and cryptococcal antigenemia among patients attending a large HIV clinic in Trinidad.

Our aim was to determine the incidence disseminated histoplasmosis and cryptococcal antigenemia among 280 patients with a CD4<350 cells/mm3 attending a large HIV clinic in Trinidad over the period November 2021-June 2022. Sera were screened for cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) using the Immy CrAg Immunoassay (EIA) and the Immy CrAg lateral flow assay (LFA). Urine was screened for Histoplasma antigen using the Immy EIA and the Optimum Imaging Diagnostics (OIDx) LFA. For the purposes of analysis, it was assumed, that all patients with positive urine Histoplasma antigen tests by both EIA and LFA and those with a single positive urine Histoplasma antigen test and clinical features of disseminated histoplasmosis were true positives. The incidence of probable disseminated histoplasmosis and cryptococcal antigenemia were 6.4% (18/280) and 2.5% (7/280) respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the Immy Histoplasma EIA were 100% (95% CI, 81.5%-100%) and 98.5% (95% CI, 96.1% - 99.6%) respectively as compared to the OIDx Histoplasma LFA of 88.9% (95% CI, 65.3% - 98.6%) and 93.9% (95% CI, 90.3% - 96.5%) respectively, with substantial agreement between the 2 test kits (Kappa value = 0.763; 95% CI 0.685, 0.841). Testing for disseminated histoplasmosis in HIV patients is important in endemic areas.

Correlates and Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Persons Living With HIV in Trinidad and Tobago.

BACKGROUND: Persons living with HIV may be at risk of more severe forms of COVID-19 infection and minimizing health risks largely depends on their acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccinations. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the correlates and predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among persons living with HIV in Trinidad and Tobago. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey using a structured interview was conducted. Data were compiled on patient socio-demographics, diagnosed chronic diseases, psychological factors, and decisions to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Pearson χ2 tests examined the associations between study variables and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, and multivariable logistic regression analyses examined its predictors. RESULTS: In this study, 84% were virally suppressed, i.e., HIV viral load <1000 copies/ml. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was found to be 39%. Univariate analysis showed that higher vaccine hesitancy was significantly associated with females (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.23-3.33) and patients of mixed ethnicity (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.07-3.15). In our multivariable analysis, psychological factors namely, confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.05-0.47), the perceived benefits of the vaccine (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.37-0.79), and cues to action (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.47-0.97) were observed as predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. CONCLUSION: Psychological factors such as confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine, perceived benefits of the vaccine, and cues to action were possible predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. This study underscored the continued need for strategies to increase confidence and knowledge about the benefits of taking the COVID-19 vaccine among persons living with HIV.

The expansion of a patient tracer programme to identify and return patients loss to follow up at a large HIV clinic in Trinidad.

BACKGROUND: Patients who default from HIV care are usually poorly adherent to antiretroviral treatment which results in suboptimal viral suppression. The study assessed the outcomes of retention in care and viral suppression by expansion of an intervention using two patient tracers to track patients lost to follow up at a large HIV clinic in Trinidad. METHODS: Two Social Workers were trained as patient tracers and hired for 15 months (April 2017-June 2018) to call patients who were lost to follow up for 30 days or more during the period July 2016-May 2018 at the HIV clinic Medical Research Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago. RESULTS: Over the 15-month period, of the of 2473 patients who missed their scheduled visits for 1 month or more, 261 (10.6%) patients were no longer in active care-89 patients dead, 65 migrated, 55 hospitalized, 33 transferred to another treatment clinic and 19 incarcerated. Of the remaining 2212 patients eligible for tracing, 1869 (84.5%) patients were returned to care, 1278 (68.6%) were virally unsuppressed (viral load > 200 copies/ml) and 1727 (92.4%) were re-initiated on ART. Twelve months after their return, 1341 (71.7%) of 1869 patients were retained in care and 1154 (86.1%) of these were virally suppressed. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression showed that persons were more likely to be virally suppressed if they were employed (OR, 1.39; 95% CI 1.07-1.80), if they had baseline CD4 counts < 200 cells/mm3 (OR, 1.71; 95% CI 1.26-2.32) and if they were retained in care at 12 months (OR, 2.48; 95% CI 1.90-3.24). Persons initiated on ART for 4-6 years (OR, 3.09; 95% CI 1.13-8.48,), 7-9 years (OR, 3.97; 95% CI 1.39-11.31), > 10 years (OR, 5.99; 95% CI 1.74-20.64 were more likely to be retained in care. CONCLUSIONS: Patient Tracing is a feasible intervention to identify and resolve the status of patients who are loss to follow up and targeted interventions such as differentiated care models may be important to improve retention in care.