1
|
Kwizera R, Kiiza TK, Akampurira A, Kimuda S, Mugabi T, Meya DB. Evolution of Laboratory Diagnostics for Cryptococcosis and Missing Links to Optimize Diagnosis and Outcomes in Resource-Constrained Settings. Open Forum Infect Dis 2024; 11:ofae487. [PMID: 39282635 PMCID: PMC11398909 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcal meningitis is one of the leading causes of death in sub-Saharan Africa among patients with advanced HIV disease. Early diagnosis is crucial in improving treatment outcomes. Despite advances and the availability of modern and point-of-care diagnostics for cryptococcosis, gaps still exist in resource-constrained settings, leading to unfavorable treatment outcomes. Here, we review the current outstanding issues or missing links that need to be filled to optimize the diagnosis of cryptococcosis in resource-constrained settings to improve treatment outcomes. We highlight the evolution of cryptococcosis diagnostics; the roles of early fungicidal activity, cryptococcal antigen titers, antifungal susceptibility testing, and therapeutic drug monitoring; and the missing links to optimize diagnosis and outcomes, including practical recommendations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Kwizera
- Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Tadeo K Kiiza
- Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Andrew Akampurira
- Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Sarah Kimuda
- Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Timothy Mugabi
- Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - David B Meya
- Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Stott KE, Mohabir JT, Bowers K, Tenor JL, Toffaletti DL, Unsworth J, Jimenez-Valverde A, Ahmadu A, Moyo M, Gondwe E, Chimang'anga W, Chasweka M, Lawrence DS, Jarvis JN, Harrison T, Hope W, Lalloo DG, Mwandumba HC, Perfect JR, Cuomo CA. Integration of genomic and pharmacokinetic data to predict clinical outcomes in HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis. mBio 2024:e0159224. [PMID: 39189739 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01592-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcal meningitis causes an estimated 112,000 global deaths per annum. Genomic and phenotypic features of the infecting strain of Cryptococcus spp. have been associated with outcomes from cryptococcal meningitis. Additionally, population-level pharmacokinetic variability is well documented in these patient cohorts. The relative contribution of these factors to clinical outcomes is unknown. Based in Malawi, we conducted a sub-study of the phase 3 Ambition-CM trial (ISRCTN72509687), collecting plasma and cerebrospinal fluid at serial time points during the first 14 days of antifungal therapy. We explored the relative contribution of pathogen genotype, drug resistance phenotype, and pharmacokinetics on clinical outcomes including lumbar opening pressure, pharmacodynamic effect, and mortality. We report remarkable genomic homogeneity among infecting strains of Cryptococcus spp., within and between patients. There was no evidence of acquisition of antifungal resistance in our isolates. Genotypic features of the infecting strain were not consistently associated with adverse or favorable clinical outcomes. However, baseline fungal burden and early fungicidal activity (EFA) were associated with mortality. The strongest predictor of EFA was the level of exposure to amphotericin B. Our analysis suggests the most effective means of improving clinical outcomes from HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis is to optimize exposure to potent antifungal therapy. IMPORTANCE HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis is associated with a high burden of mortality. Research into the different strain types causing this disease has yielded inconsistent findings in terms of which strains are associated with worse clinical outcomes. Our study suggests that the exposure of patients to potent anti-cryptococcal drugs has a more significant impact on clinical outcomes than the strain type of the infecting organism. Future research should focus on optimizing drug exposure, particularly in the context of novel anticryptococcal drugs coming into clinical use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katharine E Stott
- Antimicrobial Pharmacodynamics and Therapeutics Group, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Jason T Mohabir
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Katharine Bowers
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jennifer L Tenor
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dena L Toffaletti
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jennifer Unsworth
- Antimicrobial Pharmacodynamics and Therapeutics Group, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Jimenez-Valverde
- Antimicrobial Pharmacodynamics and Therapeutics Group, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ajisa Ahmadu
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Melanie Moyo
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- Department of Medicine, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Ebbie Gondwe
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Wezi Chimang'anga
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - David S Lawrence
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Joseph N Jarvis
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Tom Harrison
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George's University London, London, United Kingdom
| | - William Hope
- Antimicrobial Pharmacodynamics and Therapeutics Group, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - David G Lalloo
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Henry C Mwandumba
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - John R Perfect
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Benjamin I, Benson CU, Adalikwu SA, Nduoma FA, Akor FO, Odey MO, Ezeani EC, Anyambula IA, Odume MA, Louis H. Investigating the potential of thiazolyl carbohydrazides derivatives as anti-Candida albicans agents: An intuition from molecular modelling, pharmacokinetic evaluation, and molecular docking analysis. CHEMICAL PHYSICS IMPACT 2023; 7:100275. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chphi.2023.100275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/21/2024]
|