Studies of intestinal helminth infections are influenced by the constraints sample collection, as identification ova in stools is affected time since evacuation from host. Different methods may be required to optimise diagnostic sensitivity under different study conditions. In context studies rural Malawi, we collected stool samples with delays production subjects collection field staff, examination laboratory. Stools were processed Kato-Katz (KK) or formol-ether concentration (FEC) methods....

Background The overuse of antimicrobial medicines is a global health concern, including as major driver resistance. In many low- and middle-income countries, substantial proportion antibiotics are purchased over-the-counter without prescription. But while widely available, information on when how to use them not.

Abstract Introduction The ability to achieve an accurate test result and interpret it correctly is critical the impact effectiveness of HIV self‐testing (HIVST). Simple easy‐to‐use devices, instructions for use (IFU) other support tools have been shown be key good performance in sub‐Saharan Africa may highly contextual. objective this study was explore utility cognitive interviewing optimizing local understanding manufacturers’ IFUs HIVST result. Methods Functionally literate antiretroviral...

An IFN-γ response to M. tuberculosis-specific antigens is an effective biomarker for tuberculosis infection but it cannot discriminate between latent TB and active disease. Combining a number of cytokine/chemokine responses may enable differentiation from disease.Asymptomatic recently-exposed individuals (spouses patients) were recruited tuberculin skin tested, bled followed-up two years. Culture supernatants, six-day culture diluted whole blood samples stimulated with tuberculosis-derived...

ABSTRACT Tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health problem, with the highest burden occurring in low-income countries. In these countries, use of more sensitive diagnostics, such as Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert), still limited by costs. A cost-saving strategy to diagnose other diseases pool samples from various individuals and test them single tests. The positive are then retested individually identify patients disease. We assessed pooled testing optimize affordability for diagnosis TB. Adults...

In the Arkhangelsk region of Northern Russia, multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) rates in new cases are amongst highest world. 2014, MDR-TB reached 31.7% among and 56.9% retreatment cases. The development diagnostic tools allows for faster detection both TB should lead to reduced transmission by earlier initiation anti-TB therapy.The PROVE-IT (Policy Relevant Outcomes from Validating Evidence on Impact) Russia study aimed assess impact implementation line probe assay (LPA) as part...

Abstract Background Hepatitis C virus self-testing (HCVST) is an additional approach that may expand access to HCV testing. We conducted a mixed-methods cross-sectional observational study assess the usability and acceptability of HCVST among people who inject drugs (PWID), men have sex with (MSM) transgender (TG) in Tbilisi, Georgia. Methods The was from December 2019 June 2020 PWID at one harm reduction site MSM/TG community-based organization. used convergent parallel design. Usability...

Summary Objectives To determine the levels of resistance to first‐line tuberculosis drugs in three cities geopolitical zones Nigeria. Methods A total 527 smear‐positive sputum samples from Abuja, Ibadan and Nnewi were cultured on BACTEC‐ MGIT 960. Drug susceptibility tests (DST) for streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin ethambutol performed 428 culture‐positive BACTEC‐MGIT960. Results Eight per cent specimens multi‐drug‐resistant Mycobacterium (MDR‐TB) with varying individual multiple...

Introduction: Since the endorsement of GeneXpert MTB/RIF by WHO, many countries have embarked on implementing this technology. Objective: We outline cost installing in district hospitals Abuja, Nigeria.

Background Opportunities in digital distribution place mobile games as a promising platform for health. However, designing game that can compete the saturated market and deliver persuasive health messages feel like an insurmountable challenge. Although user-centered design is widely advocated, factors such user’s subject domain expertise, budget constraints, poor data collection methods restrict benefits of user involvement. Objective This study aimed to develop playable acceptable health,...

The lack of capacity in laboratory systems is a major barrier to achieving the aims London Declaration (2012) on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). To counter this, strengthening initiatives have been carried out NTD laboratories worldwide. Many these focus individuals' skills or institutional processes and structures ignoring crucial interactions between wider national international context. Furthermore, rigorous methods assess once they implemented are scarce. address gaps we developed...

BackgroundIndia is known to be endemic numerous infectious diseases. The disease profile of India changing due increased human environmental interactions, urbanisation and climate change. There are also predictions explosive growth in zoonotic Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) was implemented Gujarat 2004.MethodsWe analysed IDSP data on seven laboratory confirmed diseases from 2005–2011 temporal spatial trends compared this the National Health Profile (NHP) for same period with...

Abstract Introduction Scale‐up of HIV self‐testing ( HIVST ) will play a key role in meeting the United Nation's 90‐90‐90 targets. Delayed re‐reading used devices has been by early implementation studies to validate performance self‐test kits and estimate positivity among self‐testers. We investigated stability results on under controlled conditions assess its potential as quality assurance approach for scale‐up. Methods 444 OraQuick ® ‐1/2 rapid antibody tests were conducted using...

To quantify the likely impact of recent WHO policy recommendations regarding smear microscopy and introduction appropriate low-cost fluorescence on a) case detection b) laboratory workload.An audit register in an urban hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi, application a simple modelling framework. The adoption new definition smear-positive could directly increase by up to 28%. Examining Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) sputum smears for 10 minutes before declaring them negative has previously been shown (over above...

FluoroType MTB is a sensitive test for TB but specificity low compared with fully integrated molecular systems http://ow.ly/WhEO30b1luY.

Objective To document the prevalence of multidrug resistance among people newly diagnosed with -and those retreated for -tuberculosis in Malawi.Methods We conducted a nationally representative survey sputum-smear-positive tuberculosis between 2010 and 2011.For all consenting participants, we collected demographic clinical data, two sputum samples tested human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).The underwent testing at Central Reference Laboratory Lilongwe, Malawi.All Mycobacterium isolates found...

COVID-19 has caused significant public health problems globally, with catastrophic impacts on systems. This study explored the adaptations to services in Liberia and Merseyside UK at beginning of pandemic (January-May 2020) their perceived impact routine service delivery. During this period, transmission routes treatment pathways were as yet unknown, fear care worker was high death rates among vulnerable hospitalised patients high. We aimed identify cross-context lessons for building more...

Summary Objectives To quantify the risk of infection and disease in spouses tuberculosis patients extent to which intervention could reduce this highly exposed group. Methods We compared HIV prevalence, TB prevalence incidence tuberculin skin test (TST) results community controls. HIV‐positive were offered isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT), TST was repeated at 6, 12 24 months. Results recruited 148 smear‐positive ascertained prospectively 3% had active TB. identified 203 previously...

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the most threatening diseases and Nigeria has world's largest burdens. This study performed high-throughput spoligotyping directly on sputum smears to describe Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains circulating among new TB patients in Nigeria. Methods All State control programmes were requested submit 25–50 smear-positive Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stained slides for screening during 2013–2014. DNA was extracted from 929 drug-resistance analysis using microbead-based...

Abstract Introduction HIV self‐testing ( HIVST ) is being introduced as a new way for more undiagnosed people to know their status. As countries start implement , assuring the quality and regulating in vitro diagnostics, including are essential. We aimed document emerging regulatory landscape perceptions of key stakeholders involved policy regulation prior implementation three low‐ middle‐income countries. Methods Between April August 2016, we conducted semi‐structured interviews Malawi,...