Tuberculosis

Investigating Metabolic and Molecular Ecological Evolution of Opportunistic Pulmonary Fungal Coinfections: Protocol for a Laboratory-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Fungal-bacterial cocolonization and coinfections pose an emerging challenge among patients suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB); however, the underlying pathogenic mechanisms and microbiome interactions are poorly understood. Understanding how environmental microbes, such as fungi and bacteria, coevolve and develop traits to evade host immune responses and resist treatment is critical to controlling opportunistic pulmonary fungal coinfections. In this project, we propose to study the coexistence of fungal and bacterial...

March 11, 2024Comments OffRead more...

Gender differences among patients with drug resistant tuberculosis and HIV co-infection in Uganda: a countrywide retrospective cohort study

Background: Gender differences among patients with drug resistant tuberculosis (DRTB) and HIV co-infection could affect treatment outcomes. We compared characteristics and treatment outcomes of DRTB/HIV co-infected men and women in Uganda. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with DRTB from 16 treatment sites in Uganda. Eligible patients were aged ≥ 18 years, had confirmed DRTB, HIV co-infection and a treatment outcome registered between 2013 and 2019. We compared socio-demographic and...

July 30, 2023Comments OffRead more...

Tuberculosis contact tracing yield and associated factors in Uganda

Background: The yield of tuberculosis (TB) contact tracing is historically low in Uganda. We determined factors associated with a positive contact tracing yield at an urban public TB clinic in Kampala, Uganda. Methods: We reviewed contact tracing registers of index TB cases registered between 2015 and 2020 at Kitebi Health Center, a primary level facility. Contacts who had symptoms of TB were designated as having presumptive TB. A contact investigation that...

July 30, 2023Comments OffRead more...

HIV, tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus and hypertension admissions and premature mortality among adults in Uganda from 2011 to 2019: is the tide turning?

Background: The growing burden of diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN) on the background of endemic Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) is a concern in low- and middle-income countries. We aimed to describe annual trends in admissions, mortality rates and premature mortality (years of potential life lost—YPLLs) due to HIV, tuberculosis (TB), diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN) in Uganda. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study, retrieving electronic...

July 30, 2023Comments OffRead more...

Essential in vitro diagnostics for advanced HIV and serious fungal diseases: international experts’ consensus recommendations

An accurate, timely diagnosis is the cornerstone of good medical practice. For opportunistic fungal infections in AIDS and other invasive mycoses, this is dependent on the availability of and accessibility to the relevant diagnostic tests. A call for a model List of Essential In Vitro Diagnostics (EDL)—“listed tests that should be reasonably available for people who need them, whether in the form of point-of-care tests in physicians’ offices and pharmacies...

July 30, 2023Comments OffRead more...