Category Archives: Co-infections
A systematic review and meta-analysis of sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses in travellers
Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood-borne viruses (BBVs) impose a global health and economic burden. International travellers facilitate the spread of infectious diseases, including STIs. Hence, this review assessed the...
Association of vitamin D with HIV infected individuals, TB infected individuals, and HIV-TB co-infected individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is a worldwide disease. VDD is also associated with an increased risk of HIV-related comorbidities and mortality, and patients have a tendency to develop active...
Impact of COVID-19 on access to and delivery of sexual and reproductive healthcare services in countries with universal healthcare systems: A systematic review
OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unforeseen impacts on sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) services worldwide, and the nature and prevalence of these changes have not been extensively synthesized. We...
The effect of HIV and mpox co-infection on clinical outcomes: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction: Co-infection with HIV and mpox is a significant issue for public health because of the potential combined impact on clinical outcomes. However, the existing literature lacks a comprehensive synthesis of...
Rapid systematic review of interventions to improve antenatal screening rates for syphilis, hepatitis B, and HIV in low- and middle-income countries
Background: Infectious diseases including syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B are major contributors to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The World Health Organization...
Disparities in COVID-19 mortality amongst the immunosuppressed: A systematic review and meta-analysis for enhanced disease surveillance
Background Effective disease surveillance, including that for COVID-19, is compromised without a standardised method for categorising the immunosuppressed as a clinical risk group. Methods We conducted a systematic review and...
Impact of harm minimization interventions on reducing blood-borne infection transmission and some injecting behaviors among people who inject drugs: An overview and evidence gap mapping
Background This study aimed to synthetize the evidence on the effectiveness of harm minimization interventions on reducing blood-borne infection transmission and injecting behaviors among people who inject drugs (PWID) through...
Combined “Test and Treat” campaigns for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C: A systematic review to provide evidence to support World Health Organization treatment guidelines
BACKGROUND: Worldwide, more than 39 million individuals are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 296 million with chronic hepatitis B (HBV), and 58 million with chronic hepatitis C (HCV). Despite...
Factors and presenting symptoms associated with intestinal spirochaetosis in men who have sex with men: A systematic review
The transmission dynamics and presenting symptoms of intestinal spirochaetosis (Brachyspira pilosicoli, Brachyspira aalborgi) are poorly understood but is seen more frequently in men who have sex with men (MSM) where...
Association between genital mycoplasmas (Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis) and HIV infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Several studies have reported the occurrence of genital mycoplasmas (Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, and Mycoplasma fermentans) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, but findings are conflicting. The aim...
Facility-based indicators to manage and scale up cervical cancer prevention and care services for women living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A three-round online Delphi consensus method
BACKGROUND: Of women with cervical cancer (CC) and HIV, 85% live in sub-Saharan Africa, where 21% of all CC cases are attributable to HIV infection. We aimed to generate internationally...
Syphilis prevalence among people living with and without HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Syphilis is a curable sexually transmitted infection which, untreated, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In people living with HIV (PLWH), syphilis carries greater risks of disease progression....
