Article
Infectious Diseases
Jennifer A. Brown, Bienvenu L. Nsakala, Kuena Mokhele, Itumeleng Rakuoane, Josephine Muhairwe, Tracy R. Glass, Alain Amstutz, Nadine Tschumi, Jennifer M. Belus, Thomas Klimkait, Niklaus D. Labhardt
Summary: The transition from EFV to DTG did not have negative impacts on the mental health and HIV/ART-related symptoms of people living with HIV, and potentially showed moderate improvements, supporting the rollout of DTG.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mathebe Kopo, Thabo Ishmael Lejone, Nadine Tschumi, Tracy Renee Glass, Mpho Kao, Jennifer Anne Brown, Olivia Seiler, Josephine Muhairwe, Ntoli Moletsane, Niklaus Daniel Labhardt, Alain Amstutz
Summary: Southern and Eastern Africa has a large number of young people living with HIV, and this population group has poor outcomes in HIV care. A research team developed the PEBRA care model, which provides peer education-based services for HIV-positive young people. A cluster-randomized trial was conducted in Lesotho to compare the PEBRA model with standard clinic care, and the results did not show conclusive evidence for an effect on viral suppression.
Article
Immunology
Niklaus Daniel Labhardt, Jennifer Anne Brown, Nikita Sass, Nathan Ford, Sydney Rosen
Summary: Same-day initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people with HIV has been recommended by the World Health Organization, as it increases engagement in care and viral suppression. However, observational studies using routine data have found lower engagement in care with same-day ART. This discrepancy is mainly due to differences in enrollment time points and the omission of patients lost between diagnosis and treatment. Despite a potential higher risk of attrition from care, the benefits of same-day ART outweigh this risk.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Jennifer A. Brown, Anthony Hauser, Irene A. Abela, Chloe Pasin, Selina Epp, Tsepang Mohloanyane, Bienvenu L. Nsakala, Alexandra Trkola, Niklaus D. Labhardt, Roger D. Kouyos, Huldrych F. Guenthard
Summary: Sex, age, and body weight were found to be associated with serological responses to endemic human coronaviruses (HCoVs) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a HIV cohort in Lesotho. The strength of response to HCoVs and SARS-CoV-2 showed a positive correlation. These findings contribute to our understanding of the impact of biological, clinical, and social/behavioral factors on serological responses to coronaviruses in southern Africa.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Niklaus D. Labhardt, Lucia Gonzalez Fernandez, Bulemba Katende, Josephine Muhairwe, Moniek Bresser, Alain Amstutz, Tracy R. Glass, Morten Ruhwald, Jilian A. Sacks, Camille Escadafal, Mathabo Mareka, Sekhele M. Mooko, Margaretha de Vos, Klaus Reither
Summary: This study assessed the diagnostic performance of nasal and nasopharyngeal swabs for the SD Biosensor STANDARD Q COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test. The sensitivity for nasopharyngeal, nasal, and combined nasal and nasopharyngeal swabs was 70.2%, 67.3%, and 74.4% respectively. The specificity for all swabs was above 97%.
Article
Immunology
Alexandra Griessbach, Frederique Chammartin, Irene A. Abela, Patrizia Amico, Marcel P. Stoeckle, Anna L. Eichenberger, Barbara Hasse, Dominique L. Braun, Mace M. Schuurmans, Thomas F. Mueller, Michael Tamm, Annette Audige, Nicolas J. Mueller, Andri Rauch, Huldrych F. Gunthard, Michael T. Koller, Alexandra Trkola, Selina Epp, Alain Amstutz, Christof M. Schonenberger, Ala Taji Heravi, Katharina Kusejko, Heiner C. Bucher, Matthias Briel, Benjamin Speich
Summary: The extension of the COVERALL trial demonstrated that the antibody response of the third Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine dose was not inferior to the third Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine dose in individuals with HIV and solid organ transplants.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Sarah Drager, Matthias von Rotz, Niklaus D. Labhardt, Martin Siegemund, Katharina M. Rentsch, Michael Osthoff, Fabian C. Franzeck
Summary: This study analyzed the attainment of early pharmacological targets of continuous infusion meropenem and piperacillin/tazobactam and the use of real-time therapeutic drug monitoring. The results showed that the pharmacological target attainment of meropenem and piperacillin/tazobactam was excellent and moderate, respectively, in critically ill patients. The monitoring was mainly used to decrease the dosage of meropenem.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Olivia Seiler, Mathebe Kopo, Mpho Kao, Thabo Ishmael Lejone, Nadine Tschumi, Tracy Renee Glass, Jennifer Anne Brown, Niklaus Daniel Labhardt, Alain Amstutz
Summary: This study investigated the preferences of young people living with HIV in Lesotho for HIV care. The results showed a sustained interest in SMS reminders for adherence and refill visits as well as additional support from peer educators. However, there was a lower interest in ART refill outside the health facility than expected, with medication pick-up at the facility, especially during Saturday clinic clubs, being favored.
AIDS RESEARCH AND TREATMENT
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Nadine Tschumi, Malebanye Lerotholi, Lipontso Motaboli, Moliehi Mokete, Niklaus D. Labhardt, Jennifer A. Brown
Summary: According to the Viral Load Cohort North-East Lesotho (VICONEL) study, 14,242 adults in the human immunodeficiency virus cohort switched from efavirenz- or nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) to dolutegravir-based ART by October 2021. The rates of viral suppression to <50 copies/mL were 84.8%, 93.9%, and 95.4% before, 12 months after, and 24 months after the transition, respectively. Factors such as sex, age, pretransition viral load, and treatment backbone were correlated with viremia at 24 months.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Critical Care Medicine
Alain Amstutz, Benjamin Speich, France Mentre, Corina Silvia Rueegg, Drifa Belhadi, Lambert Assoumou, Charles Burdet, Srinivas Murthy, Lori Elizabeth Dodd, Yeming Wang, Kari A. O. Tikkinen, Florence Ader, Maya Hites, Maude Bouscambert, Mary Anne Trabaud, Mike Fralick, Todd C. Lee, Ruxandra Pinto, Andreas Barratt-Due, Fridtjof Lund-Johansen, Fredrik Mueller, Olli P. O. Nevalainen, Bin Cao, Tyler Bonnett, Alexandra Griessbach, Ala Taji Heravi, Christof Schonenberger, Perrine Janiaud, Laura Werlen, Soheila Aghlmandi, Stefan Schandelmaier, Yazdan Yazdanpanah, Dominique Costagliola, Inge Christoffer Olsen, Matthias Briel
Summary: This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the benefits and harms of remdesivir compared to placebo or usual care in COVID-19 patients hospitalized. The study found that remdesivir reduced mortality in patients who required no or conventional oxygen support but did not have enough evidence for patients on ventilators.
LANCET RESPIRATORY MEDICINE
(2023)