Category Archives: Testing
Quality and reporting of diagnostic accuracy studies in TB, HIV and malaria: Evaluation using QUADAS and STARD standards
Background: Poor methodological quality and reporting are known concerns with diagnostic accuracy studies. In 2003, the QUADAS tool and the STARD standards were published for evaluating the quality and improving...
Improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of TB among people living with HIV: The role of operational research
Operational research is necessary to improve the access to and delivery of tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis and treatment interventions for people living with HIV. We conducted an extensive review of the...
The HIV/AIDS prevention research synthesis project: Scope, methods, and study classification results
In 1996, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with many partners, initiated the HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis (PRS) project to accumulate HIV prevention research studies and...
HIV testing in community settings in resource-rich countries: A systematic review of the evidence
OBJECTIVES: Community HIV testing represents an opportunity for diagnosing HIV infection among individuals who may not have contact with health services, especially in hard-to-reach groups. The aim of this review...
Pulmonary tuberculosis in severely-malnourished or HIV-infected children with pneumonia: A review
Presentation of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) as acute pneumonia in severely-malnourished and HIV-positive children has received very little attention, although this is very important in the management of pneumonia in children...
A systematic review of the screening accuracy of the HIV Dementia Scale and International HIV Dementia Scale
BACKGROUND: The HIV Dementia Scale (HDS) and International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS) are brief tools that have been developed to screen for and aid diagnosis of HIV-associated dementia (HAD). They...
Efficacy of anti-leishmania therapy in visceral leishmaniasis among HIV infected patients: A systematic review with indirect comparison
OBJECTIVE: We conducted a systematic literature review with indirect comparison of studies evaluating therapeutic efficacy and toxicity associated to visceral leishmaniasis (VL) therapy among HIV infected individuals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS:...
Evidence behind the WHO guidelines: Hospital care for children: What is the role of HIV antigen testing in infants < 12-months old?
The World Health Organization has produced guidelines for the management of common illnesses in hospitals with limited resources. This series reviews the scientific evidence behind WHO’s recommendations. The WHO guidelines,...
Efficacy of behavioral interventions to increase condom use and reduce sexually transmitted infections: A meta-analysis, 1991 to 2010
Objective: In the absence of an effective HIV vaccine, safer sexual practices are necessary to avert new infections. Therefore, we examined the efficacy of behavioral interventions to increase condom use...
Periodic presumptive treatment of curable sexually transmitted infections among sex workers: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Unprotected sex work remains a major driver of HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) epidemics in many countries. STI treatment can lower disease burden, complications and prevalence of HIV cofactors. Periodic...
