Category Archives: Prevention, Engagement and Care Cascade
HCV cure and reinfection among people with HIV/HCV coinfection and people who inject drugs
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Highly effective, well-tolerated interferon-free direct-acting antivirals (DAA) have revolutionised hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapeutics, with the opportunity for broad treatment scale-up among marginalised or “high-risk” populations, including...
Adverse effects of oral second-line antituberculosis drugs in children
INTRODUCTION: Increasing numbers of children with drug-resistant tuberculosis are accessing second-line antituberculosis drugs; these are more toxic than first-line drugs. Little is known about the safety of new antituberculosis drugs...
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in HIV-infected and HIV-exposed, uninfected children
INTRODUCTION: Incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) among HIV-infected children is 20-40 fold greater compared to HIV-uninfected children, including among HIV-infected children on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Also, HIV-exposed, uninfected children...
Clinical outcomes of routine opt-out antenatal human immunodeficiency virus screening: A systematic review
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical outcome of routine screening of human immunodeficiency virus in antenatal clinic settings. BACKGROUND: Despite the growing advances in human immunodeficiency virus management, nearly...
Discontinuation from antiretroviral therapy: A continuing challenge among adults in HIV care in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduces the immunological benefit of treatment and increases complications related to human immune-deficiency virus (HIV). However, the risk factors for ART discontinuation are poorly...
Patient-reported barriers to adherence to antiretroviral therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Maintaining high levels of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a challenge across settings and populations. Understanding the relative importance of different barriers to adherence will help inform the...
Systematic review of renal and bone safety of the antiretroviral regimen efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in patients with HIV infection
BACKGROUND: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is a component of many combinations of antiretroviral treatment (ART) regimens. Although potent and generally well tolerated, TDF may cause renal and bone toxicity. The...
Feasibility of antiretroviral treatment monitoring in the era of decentralized HIV care: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Regular monitoring of HIV patients who are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) is required to ensure patient benefits and the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of ART programs. Prompted by WHO...
Clostridium difficile: A healthcare-associated infection of unknown significance in adults in sub-Saharan Africa
BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) causes a high burden of disease in high-resource healthcare systems, with significant morbidity, mortality, and financial implications. CDI is a healthcare-associated infection for which the...
A review of trials investigating efavirenz-induced neuropsychiatric side effects and the implications
Efavirenz is part of the first-line treatment for HIV patients including those in South Africa with approximately 50% experiencing neuropsychiatric side effects. A systematic review of papers reporting neuropsychiatric side...
