21
views
0
recommends
+1 Recommend
0 collections
    0
    shares
      • Record: found
      • Abstract: found
      • Article: found
      Is Open Access

      A qualitative evaluation of an implementation study for cryptococcal antigen screening and treatment in Uganda

      research-article

      Read this article at

      Bookmark
          There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

          Abstract

          Cryptococcal meningiti s causes 15% of AIDS-related deaths globally. Screening and preemptive treatment for cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) in the blood of persons with advanced HIV/AIDS reduces mortality. National and international HIV guidelines recommend CrAg screening; however, implementation studies and evaluations of how to integrate CrAg screening programs into existing HIV care infrastructure are lacking.

          During a CrAg screening program in Kampala, Uganda, we interviewed 15 health care workers (2 coordinating research nurses and 13 clinic personnel) from 6 HIV clinics between March and April 2017, to identify barriers to implementation as well as facilitating factors for program success. The interviews were coded and themes compiled.

          We found key factors for successful implementation of a CrAg screening program were: adequate supplies of fluconazole and CrAg lateral flow assay (LFA) point-of-care tests, timely patient follow-up, and quick turnaround time of laboratory results. Although both CrAg LFA kits and fluconazole are on the national formulary, stockouts are common, affecting patient care. The CrAg screening recommendation by national HIV guidelines remains integral to the success of the program, as overburdened clinics are otherwise reluctant to adopt additional screening. Collaboration with Ministries of Health for support with enforcing national guidelines, and procuring supplies is paramount to a successful CrAg screening program.

          Development of a CrAg screening and treatment program within the HIV clinic infrastructure has a number of barriers. Education and training of clinic staff, along with partnership with the Ministry of Health to ensure adequate supplies, facilitated the program.

          Related collections

          Most cited references8

          • Record: found
          • Abstract: found
          • Article: not found

          Cryptococcal infection in a cohort of HIV-1-infected Ugandan adults.

          Despite the recognition of Cryptococcus neoformans as a major cause of meningitis in HIV-infected adults in sub-Saharan Africa, little is known about the relative importance of this potentially preventable infection as a cause of mortality and suffering in HIV-infected adults in this region. A cohort study of 1372 HIV-1-infected adults, enrolled and followed up between October 1995 and January 1999 at two community clinics in Entebbe, Uganda. Systematic and standardized assessment of illness episodes to describe cryptococcal disease and death rates. Cryptococcal disease was diagnosed in 77 individuals (rate 40.4/1000 person-years) and was associated with 17% of all deaths (77 out of 444) in the cohort. Risk of infection was strongly associated with CD4 T cell counts 100 days in 11% of patients). Survival following diagnosis was poor (median survival 26 days; range 0-138). Cryptococcal infection is an important contributor to mortality and suffering in HIV-infected Ugandans. Improvements in access to effective therapy of established disease are necessary. In addition, prevention strategies, in particular chemoprophylaxis, should be evaluated while awaiting the outcome of initiatives to make antiretroviral therapy more widely available.
            Bookmark
            • Record: found
            • Abstract: found
            • Article: found
            Is Open Access

            The Effect of Therapeutic Lumbar Punctures on Acute Mortality From Cryptococcal Meningitis

            Intracranial pressure management with repeat lumbar puncture (LP) was investigated in patients with cryptococcal meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa. Conducting at least 1 additional LP soon after cryptococcal diagnosis was related to decreased risk of acute mortality regardless of initial pressure.
              Bookmark
              • Record: found
              • Abstract: found
              • Article: not found

              A Prospective Evaluation of a Multisite Cryptococcal Screening and Treatment Program in HIV Clinics in Uganda.

              Cryptococcus is a leading cause of AIDS-related mortality. Cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) is detectable in blood before meningitis onset and predicts death. CrAg screening among those with advanced HIV, and treatment of those CrAg+ with fluconazole, has demonstrated survival benefit. However, implementation and widespread uptake have been slow outside clinical trials.
                Bookmark

                Author and article information

                Journal
                Medicine (Baltimore)
                Medicine (Baltimore)
                MEDI
                Medicine
                Wolters Kluwer Health
                0025-7974
                1536-5964
                August 2018
                03 August 2018
                : 97
                : 31
                : e11722
                Affiliations
                [a ]Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
                [b ]Infectious Diseases Institute
                [c ]School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
                Author notes
                []Correspondence: Sarah M. Lofgren, Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, 420 Delaware Street, SE, MMC 250, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (e-mail: Lofg0020@ 123456umn.edu ).
                Article
                MD-D-17-08056 11722
                10.1097/MD.0000000000011722
                6081137
                30075580
                36fdeea3-2d27-44f1-8bfb-a782d18b33cc
                Copyright © 2018 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

                This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0

                History
                : 21 December 2017
                : 7 July 2018
                Categories
                4850
                Research Article
                Observational Study
                Custom metadata
                TRUE

                cryptococcal screening,cryptococcus,field study,implementation science,qualitative research

                Comments

                Comment on this article