Category Archives: Epidemiology
Is sexual risk behaviour associated with an increased risk of transfusion-transmissible infections in blood donors from Western and Pacific countries? A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The donor medical questionnaire is designed to aid blood establishments in supporting a safe blood supply. According to blood donor deferral policies, sexual risk behaviour (SRB) leads...
Cryptococcal antigenemia and its predictors among HIV infected patients in resource limited settings: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic fungal infection that primarily affects people with advanced HIV/AIDS and is an important cause of morbidity and mortality around the globe. By far the most...
The prevalence of cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) and benefits of pre-emptive antifungal treatment among HIV-infected persons with CD4+ T-cell counts < 200 cells/muL: Evidence based on a meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Current WHO guidelines (2018) recommend screening for cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) in HIV-infected persons with CD4+ T cell counts< 100 cells/muL, followed by pre-emptive antifungal therapy among CrAg positive (CrAg+)...
Cryptococcal meningitis: A review of cryptococcal antigen screening programs in Africa
INTRODUCTION: Cryptococcal meningitis remains a significant contributor to AIDS-related mortality despite widened access to antiretroviral therapy. Cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) can be detected in the blood prior to development of meningitis....
Clostridium difficile in immunocompromised hosts: A review of epidemiology, risk factors, treatment, and prevention
Clostridium difficile is a significant pathogen in healthcare today, impacting both hospitalized and community-based patients. Immunocompromised patients experience a high incidence of C. difficile infection, ranging from 6% to 33%...
Impact of male circumcision on risk of HIV infection in men in a changing epidemic context — Systematic review and meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: WHO/UNAIDS recommended Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision in 2007 based on systematic review of observational studies prior to 1999 and three randomized controlled trials (RCTs). To inform updated WHO guidance,...
Use of the multiplier method to estimate the size of populations most at risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection in China: A systematic review
OBJECTIVE: United Nations Programme on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and World Health Organization believe that some of the benchmark numbers collected may be inaccurate when using the multiplier...
HIV nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis among men who have sex with men: A systematic review and meta-analysis of global data
HIV nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis (nPEP) has been prescribed to men who have sex with men (MSM) for decades, but the global situation of nPEP implementation among this population remains unclear....
Burden of Talaromyces marneffei infection in people living with HIV/AIDS in Asia during ART era: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Talaromyces marneffei (TM) is a dimorphic fungus mainly prevalent in Southeast Asian countries, which often causes disseminated life-threatening infection. TM infection often occurs in HIV/AIDS patients even in the...
Differences in outcomes of chemoradiation in women with invasive cervical cancer by HIV status: A systematic review
PURPOSE: Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death among women worldwide, and women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) carry the highest burden of disease. Chemoradiation...
A systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association between urogenital schistosomiasis and HIV/AIDS infection
BACKGROUND: Urogenital schistosomiasis and HIV/AIDS infections are widespread in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. The co-occurrence of both diseases has led to the possible hypothesis that...
Global burden of hypertension among people living with HIV in the era of increased life expectancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Although HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) increase the risk for hypertension in people living with HIV (PLHIV), the global and regional burden of hypertension in PLHIV is not...
