TB screening, prevention and treatment cascade in a Malawi prison.

BACKGROUND Incarcerated individuals, especially in high HIV and TB burden settings, are at increased risk of latent TB infection and/or TB disease. We implemented a comprehensive HIV-TB intervention in a Malawi prison and studied its feasibility.METHODS Between February and December 2019, consenting individuals underwent screening for HIV, TB infection and TB disease. HIV-positive individuals without TB disease were treated with a fixed-dose combination of isoniazid, cotrimoxazole and vitamin B6 (INH-CTX-B6). HIV-negative persons with TB infection received 12 weeks of isoniazid and rifapentine (3HP).RESULTS Of 1,546 consenting individuals, 1,498 (96.9%) were screened and 1,427 (92.3%) included in the analysis: 96.4% were male, the median age was 31 years (IQR 25-38). Twenty-nine (2.1%) participants were diagnosed with TB disease, of whom 89.7% started and 61.5% completed TB treatment. Of the 1,427 included, 341 (23.9%) were HIV-positive, of whom 98.5% on antiretroviral therapy and 95% were started on INH-CTX-B6. Among 1,086 HIV-negative participants, 1,015 (93.5%) underwent the tuberculin skin test (TST), 670 (65.9%) were TST-positive, 666 (99.4%) started 3HP and 570 (85.5%) completed 3HP treatment.CONCLUSION A comprehensive TB screening and treatment package among incarcerated individuals was acceptable and feasible, and showed high prevalence of HIV, TB disease and TB infection. Treatment uptake was excellent, but treatment completion needs to be improved. Greater investment in comprehensive HIV-TB services, including access to shorter TB regimens and follow-up upon release, is needed for incarcerated individuals.

Implementation of an outbreak response vaccination campaign with typhoid conjugate vaccine - Harare, Zimbabwe, 2019.

Introduction: Typhoid fever is a public-health problem in Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, with seasonal outbreaks occurring annually since 2010. In 2019, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) organized the first typhoid conjugate vaccination campaign in Africa in response to a recurring typhoid outbreak in a large urban setting. Method: As part of a larger public health response to a typhoid fever outbreak in Harare, Gavi approved in September 2018 a MOHCC request for 340,000 doses of recently prequalified Typbar-TCV to implement a mass vaccination campaign. To select areas for the campaign, typhoid fever surveillance data from January 2016 until June 2018 was reviewed. We collected and analyzed information from the MOHCC and its partners to describe the vaccination campaign planning, implementation, feasibility, administrative coverage and financial costs. Results: The campaign was conducted in nine high-density suburbs of Harare over eight days in February-March 2019 and targeted all children aged 6 months-15 years; however, the target age range was extended up to 45 years in one suburb due to the past high attack rate among adults. A total of 318,698 people were vaccinated, resulting in overall administrative coverage of 85.4 percent. More than 750 community volunteers and personnel from the MOHCC and the Ministry of Education were trained and involved in social mobilization and vaccination activities. The MOHCC used a combination of vaccination strategies (i.e., fixed and mobile immunization sites, a creche and school-based strategy, and door-to-door activities). Financial costs were estimated at US$ 2.39 per dose, including the vaccine and vaccination supplies (US$ 0.79 operational costs per dose excluding vaccine and vaccination supplies). Conclusion: A mass targeted campaign in densely populated urban areas in Harare, using the recently prequalified typhoid conjugate vaccine, was feasible and achieved a high overall coverage in a short period of time.

The HIV cascade of care among serodiscordant couples in four high HIV prevalence settings in sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND:  HIV-serodiscordant couples are at high risk of HIV transmission. In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV-serodiscordant couples contribute ~30% of all new infections in the region. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the prevalence of HIV-serodiscordant couples and evaluate steps of the HIV cascade of care among people living with HIV in serodiscordant relationships in four high-prevalence settings in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS:  Four HIV prevalence surveys were conducted: in Ndhiwa (Kenya) in 2012, in Chiradzulu (Malawi) in 2013, and in Gutu (Zimbabwe) and Nsanje (Malawi) in 2016. Eligible individuals aged 15 - 59 years were asked to participate in voluntary rapid HIV testing. Viral load and CD4 counts were measured on those who tested HIV-positive. A couple was defined as a man and a woman who reported being married or cohabiting and were living together in the same household. RESULTS: Among 4 385 couples, the prevalence of HIV serodiscordancy was 10.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 10.2 - 11.5) overall, ranging from 6.7% (95% CI 5.6 - 7.9) in Nsanje to 15.8% (95% CI 14.5 - 17.3) in Ndhiwa. Men were the HIV-positive partner in 62.7% of the serodiscordant couples in Ndhiwa, in 60.4% in Gutu, in 48.8% in Chiradzulu and in 50.9% in Nsanje. Status awareness among HIV-positive partners in serodiscordant couples ranged from 45.4% in Ndhiwa to 70.7% in Gutu. Viral load suppression (VLS) ranged from 33.9% in Ndhiwa to 68.5% in Nsanje. VLS was similar by sex in three settings, Ndhiwa (37.8% (men) v. 27.8% (women); p=0.16), Nsanje (60.7% v. 76.9%; p=0.21) and Gutu (48.2% v. 55.6%; p=0.63), and dissimilar by sex in Chiradzulu (44.4% v. 62.7%; p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Low HIV status awareness and poor VLS among HIV-positive partners are major gaps in preventing transmission among serodiscordant couples. Intensifying programmes that target couples to test for HIV and timely antiretroviral therapy initiation could increase VLS and reduce HIV transmission.

Scaling up HIV viral load monitoring in Manicaland, Zimbabwe: challenges and opportunities from the field.

BACKGROUND: Demand for viral load (VL) monitoring is expected to increase; however, implementation of the multifaceted VL testing poses numerous challenges. We report experiences from Médecins Sans Frontiéres (MSF) and partners in the scale-up of HIV VL in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) of Zimbabwe. METHODS: A retrospective data review of routine reports from MSF-supported health facilities in Manicaland Province (Zimbabwe) was conducted. These secondary aggregate data were triangulated, and emerging themes of lessons learnt from VL monitoring were shared. RESULTS: A VL testing coverage of 63% (5966/9456) was achieved among the 40 health facilities, together with a switch rate to second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) of 46.4% (108/233). The key enablers to scaling-up the VL monitoring were well-equipped and supported VL laboratories, the operationalisation of the on-the-job clinical mentoring and systematic weaning off of better performing health facilities. Concerted efforts from different implementing partners and funders in the HIV programme, and close collaboration with MoHCC were pivotal. CONCLUSION: Our experience indicates that clinical mentoring is effective, and resulted in high VL testing coverage and up-skilling primary health care workers in VL monitoring. Attention must be focused on innovations for improving VL result utilisation, especially the identification and management of patients who fail ART.

HIV testing and retention in care of infants born to HIV- infected women enrolled in 'Option B+', Thyolo, Malawi.

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission 'Option B+' originated in Malawi in 2011 to prevent new infections in infants exposed to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We assessed 12-month programme retention and HIV testing uptake among infants born to HIV-infected mothers from September 2011 to June 2012 in Thyolo District Hospital. Of 513 infants, 368 (71.7%) remained in care at 12 months. Altogether, 412 (80.3%) underwent HIV DNA polymerase chain reaction testing, with 267 (52.0%) tested at 6-12 weeks, and 255 (49.7%) underwent rapid HIV testing, with 144 (28.1%) tested at 12 months. Eighty-eight (17.2%) infants had both tests as scheduled. Measures are needed to improve adherence to national testing protocols.

L'option B+ de la prévention de la transmission mère-enfant a débuté au Malawi en 2011 afin de prévenir de nouvelles infections chez les enfants exposés au virus de l'immunodéficience humaine (VIH). Nous avons évalué un programme de 12 mois de rétention et de réalisation du test VIH parmi les bébés nés de mères VIH-positives de septembre 2011 à juin 2012 à l'hôpital de district de Thyolo. Sur 513 nourrissons, 368 (71,7%) sont restés en soins pendant 12 mois. Au total, 412 bébés (80,3%) ont bénéficié d'une recherche de VIH par ADN-PCR ; 267 (52%) ont été testés entre 6 et 12 semaines et 255 (49,7%) ont eu un test rapide, dont 144 (28,1%) testés à 12 mois. Quatre-vingt-huit bébés (17,2%) ont eu deux tests comme prévu. Il est nécessaire d'améliorer l'adhésion aux protocoles nationaux de dépistage.

En el 2011 se puso en marcha en Malawi la estrategia Opción B+ de prevención de la transmisión maternoinfantil, con el fin de evitar nuevas infecciones por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) en los lactantes expuestos. Se evaluó durante un período de 12 meses, entre septiembre del 2011 y junio del 2012, la fidelización al programa y la práctica de la prueba diagnóstica del VIH a los lactantes de madres infectadas por el VIH en el Hospital Distrital de Thyolo. De los 513 lactantes expuestos atendidos durante el período del estudio, 368 continuaban en el programa a los 12 meses (71,7%). En total, se practicó la prueba del VIH mediante la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR-ADN) a 412 lactantes (80,3%); en 267 niños la prueba se realizó entre las 6 y las 12 semanas de edad (52,0 %). La prueba serológica rápida del VIH se practicó en 255 lactantes (49,7%) y en 144 de estos casos a los 12 meses (28,1%). Ochenta y ocho niños recibieron ambas pruebas, en conformidad con las pautas del programa. Es preciso adoptar medidas encaminadas a mejorar el cumplimiento de los protocolos nacionales en materia de pruebas diagnósticas del VIH.

Neumonía cavitaria crónica por Rhodococcus equi en dos pacientes con síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida / Pneuromia caavitaria chronic by Rhodococcus equi in two patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Se comunican dos casos de pacientes seropositivos para el Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia Humana, con diagnóstico de neumonía cavitaria crónica por Rhodococcus equi, que presentan los primeros casos de esta patología registrados en la bibliografía latinoamericana de acuerdo con nuestra búsqueda. Se resumen las diferencias en las formas de presentación en pacientes inmunocompetentes e inmunocomprometidos, con una revisión de los casos reportados en la literatura internacional. Uno de los pacientes permitió evaluar la eficiencia terapéutica del tratamiento indicado (AU)

Neumonía cavitaria crónica por Rhodococcus equi en dos pacientes con síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida / Pneuromia caavitaria chronic by Rhodococcus equi in two patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Se comunican dos casos de pacientes seropositivos para el Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia Humana, con diagnóstico de neumonía cavitaria crónica por Rhodococcus equi, que presentan los primeros casos de esta patología registrados en la bibliografía latinoamericana de acuerdo con nuestra búsqueda. Se resumen las diferencias en las formas de presentación en pacientes inmunocompetentes e inmunocomprometidos, con una revisión de los casos reportados en la literatura internacional. Uno de los pacientes permitió evaluar la eficiencia terapéutica del tratamiento indicado