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Dheda K, Charalambous S, Karat AS, von Delft A, Lalloo UG, van Zyl Smit R, Perumal R, Allwood BW, Esmail A, Wong ML, Duse AG, Richards G, Feldman C, Mer M, Nyamande K, Lalla U, Koegelenberg CFN, Venter F, Dawood H, Adams S, Ntusi NAB, van der Westhuizen HM, Moosa MYS, Martinson NA, Moultrie H, Nel J, Hausler H, Preiser W, Lasersohn L, Zar HJ, Churchyard GJ. A position statement and practical guide to the use of particulate filtering facepiece respirators (N95, FFP2, or equivalent) for South African health workers exposed to respiratory pathogens including Mycobacterium tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2. Afr J Thorac Crit Care Med 2021; 27:10.7196/AJTCCM.2021.v27i4.173. [PMID: 34734176 PMCID: PMC8545268 DOI: 10.7196/ajtccm.2021.v27i4.173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
SUMMARY Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted mainly by aerosol in particles <10 µm that can remain suspended for hours before being inhaled. Because particulate filtering facepiece respirators ('respirators'; e.g. N95 masks) are more effective than surgical masks against bio-aerosols, many international organisations now recommend that health workers (HWs) wear a respirator when caring for individuals who may have COVID-19. In South Africa (SA), however, surgical masks are still recommended for the routine care of individuals with possible or confirmed COVID-19, with respirators reserved for so-called aerosol-generating procedures. In contrast, SA guidelines do recommend respirators for routine care of individuals with possible or confirmed tuberculosis (TB), which is also transmitted via aerosol. In health facilities in SA, distinguishing between TB and COVID-19 is challenging without examination and investigation, both of which may expose HWs to potentially infectious individuals. Symptom-based triage has limited utility in defining risk. Indeed, significant proportions of individuals with COVID-19 and/or pulmonary TB may not have symptoms and/or test negative. The prevalence of undiagnosed respiratory disease is therefore likely significant in many general clinical areas (e.g. waiting areas). Moreover, a proportion of HWs are HIV-positive and are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 and death. RECOMMENDATIONS Sustained improvements in infection prevention and control (IPC) require reorganisation of systems to prioritise HW and patient safety. While this will take time, it is unacceptable to leave HWs exposed until such changes are made. We propose that the SA health system adopts a target of 'zero harm', aiming to eliminate transmission of respiratory pathogens to all individuals in every healthcare setting. Accordingly, we recommend: the use of respirators by all staff (clinical and non-clinical) during activities that involve contact or sharing air in indoor spaces with individuals who: (i) have not yet been clinically evaluated; or (ii) are thought or known to have TB and/or COVID-19 or other potentially harmful respiratory infections;the use of respirators that meet national and international manufacturing standards;evaluation of all respirators, at the least, by qualitative fit testing; andthe use of respirators as part of a 'package of care' in line with international IPC recommendations. We recognise that this will be challenging, not least due to global and national shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE). SA national policy around respiratory protective equipment enables a robust framework for manufacture and quality control and has been supported by local manufacturers and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. Respirator manufacturers should explore adaptations to improve comfort and reduce barriers to communication. Structural changes are needed urgently to improve the safety of health facilities: persistent advocacy and research around potential systems change remain essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Dheda
- Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine and UCT Lung Institute and South African MRC/UCT Centre for
the Study of Antimicrobial Resistance, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - S Charalambous
- The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - A S Karat
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - A von Delft
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- TB Proof, South Africa
| | - U G Lalloo
- Gateway Private Hospital Medical Centre, Umhlanga Ridge, South Africa
- Durban International Clinical Research Site, Durban, South Africa
| | - R van Zyl Smit
- Division of Pulmonology and Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - R Perumal
- Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine and UCT Lung Institute and South African MRC/UCT Centre for
the Study of Antimicrobial Resistance, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - B W Allwood
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - A Esmail
- Clinical Trials Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, South Africa
| | - M L Wong
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - A G Duse
- Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology of the NHLS & University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - G Richards
- Department of Critical Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - C Feldman
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - M Mer
- Department of Medicine, Divisions of Pulmonology and Critical Care, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - K Nyamande
- Department of Pulmonology, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - U Lalla
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - C F N Koegelenberg
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - F Venter
- Ezintsha, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - H Dawood
- Greys Hospital, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - S Adams
- Division of Occupational Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - N A B Ntusi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - H-M van der Westhuizen
- TB Proof, South Africa
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - M-Y S Moosa
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Internal Medicine, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Southern African HIV Clinicians Society
| | - N A Martinson
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Johns Hopkins University Center for TB Research, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - H Moultrie
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - J Nel
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - H Hausler
- TB HIV Care, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - W Preiser
- Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Service Tygerberg, Cape Town,
South Africa
| | - L Lasersohn
- South African Society of Anaesthesiologists
- Department of Anaesthesia, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Division of Critical Care, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - H J Zar
- Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, Red Cross Children’s Hospital and SAMRC Unit on Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - G J Churchyard
- The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Jones ASK, Bidad N, Horne R, Stagg HR, Wurie FB, Kielmann K, Karat AS, Kunst H, Campbell CNJ, Darvell M, Clarke AL, Lipman MCI. Determinants of non-adherence to anti-TB treatment in high income, low TB incidence settings: a scoping review. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2021; 25:483-490. [PMID: 34049611 DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.21.0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Improving adherence to anti-TB treatment is a public health priority in high-income, low incidence (HILI) regions. We conducted a scoping review to identify reported determinants of non-adherence in HILI settings.METHODS: Key terms related to TB, treatment and adherence were used to search MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, PsycINFO and CINAHL in June 2019. Quantitative studies examining determinants (demographic, clinical, health systems or psychosocial) of non-adherence to anti-TB treatment in HILI settings were included.RESULTS: From 10,801 results, we identified 24 relevant studies from 10 countries. Definitions and methods of assessing adherence were highly variable, as were documented levels of non-adherence (0.9-89%). Demographic factors were assessed in all studies and clinical factors were frequently assessed (23/24). Determinants commonly associated with non-adherence were homelessness, incarceration, and alcohol or drug misuse. Health system (8/24) and psychosocial factors (6/24) were less commonly evaluated.CONCLUSION: Our review identified some key factors associated with non-adherence to anti-TB treatment in HILI settings. Modifiable determinants such as psychosocial factors are under-evidenced and should be further explored, as these may be better targeted by adherence support. There is an urgent need to standardise definitions and measurement of adherence to more accurately identify the strongest determinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S K Jones
- Centre for Behavioural Medicine, Research Department of Practice and Policy, University College London (UCL) School of Pharmacy, London, UK
| | - N Bidad
- Centre for Behavioural Medicine, Research Department of Practice and Policy, University College London (UCL) School of Pharmacy, London, UK
| | - R Horne
- Centre for Behavioural Medicine, Research Department of Practice and Policy, University College London (UCL) School of Pharmacy, London, UK
| | - H R Stagg
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - F B Wurie
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, UCL, London, UK, Migrant Health, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - K Kielmann
- Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - A S Karat
- Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, Scotland, TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - H Kunst
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | | | - M Darvell
- UCL Respiratory, Division of Medicine, UCL, London, UK
| | - A L Clarke
- Centre for Behavioural Medicine, Research Department of Practice and Policy, University College London (UCL) School of Pharmacy, London, UK
| | - M C I Lipman
- UCL Respiratory, Division of Medicine, UCL, London, UK, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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McCreesh N, Grant AD, Yates TA, Karat AS, White RG. Tuberculosis from transmission in clinics in high HIV settings may be far higher than contact data suggest. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2021; 24:403-408. [PMID: 32317064 DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.19.0410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In South Africa, it is generally estimated that only 0.5-0.6% of people's contacts occur in clinics. Both people with infectious tuberculosis and people with increased susceptibility to disease progression may spend more time in clinics, however, increasing the importance of clinic-based transmission to overall disease incidence.METHODS: We developed an illustrative mathematical model of Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission in clinics and other settings. We assumed that 1% of contact time occurs in clinics. We varied the ratio of clinic contact time of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive people compared to HIV-negative people, and of people with infectious TB compared to people without TB, while keeping the overall proportion of contact time occurring in clinics, and each person's total contact time, constant.RESULTS: With clinic contact rates respectively 10 and 5 times higher in HIV-positive people and people with TB, 10.7% (plausible range 8.5-13.4%) of TB resulted from transmission in clinics. With contact rates in HIV-positive people and people with TB respectively 5 and 2 times higher, 5.3% (plausible range 4.3-6.3%) of all TB was due to transmission in clinics.CONCLUSION: The small amount of contact time that generally occurs in clinics may greatly underestimate their contribution to TB disease in high TB-HIV burden settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- N McCreesh
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London
| | - A D Grant
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK, Africa Health Research Institute, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - T A Yates
- Section of Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Imperial College London, London, Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - A S Karat
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - R G White
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London
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Karat AS, Omar T, Tlali M, Charalambous S, Chihota VN, Churchyard GJ, Fielding KL, Martinson NA, McCarthy KM, Grant AD. Lessons learnt conducting minimally invasive autopsies in private mortuaries as part of HIV and tuberculosis research in South Africa. Public Health Action 2019; 9:186-190. [PMID: 32042614 DOI: 10.5588/pha.19.0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Current estimates of the burden of tuberculosis (TB) disease and cause-specific mortality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive people rely heavily on indirect methods that are less reliable for ascertaining individual-level causes of death and on mathematical models. Minimally invasive autopsy (MIA) is useful for diagnosing infectious diseases, provides a reasonable proxy for the gold standard in cause of death ascertainment (complete diagnostic autopsy) and, used routinely, could improve cause-specific mortality estimates. From our experience in performing MIAs in HIV-positive adults in private mortuaries in South Africa (during the Lesedi Kamoso Study), we describe the challenges we faced and make recommendations for the conduct of MIA in future studies or surveillance programmes, including strategies for effective communication, approaches to obtaining informed consent, risk management for staff and efficient preparation for the procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Karat
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - T Omar
- Division of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - M Tlali
- The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - S Charalambous
- The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - V N Chihota
- The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - G J Churchyard
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - K L Fielding
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - N A Martinson
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, and South African Medical Research Council Soweto Matlosana Collaborating Centre for HIV/AIDS and TB, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Johns Hopkins University Center for TB Research, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - K M McCarthy
- The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Division of Public Health, Surveillance and Response, National Institute for Communicable Disease of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - A D Grant
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Africa Health Research Institute, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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Mukora R, Tlali M, Monkwe S, Charalambous S, Karat AS, Fielding KL, Grant AD, Vassall A. Cost of point-of-care lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan antigen testing in HIV-positive adults in South Africa. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2019; 22:1082-1087. [PMID: 30092876 PMCID: PMC6086286 DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.18.0046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization recommends point-of-care (POC) lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan (LF-LAM) for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis in selected human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive people. South Africa had 438 000 new TB episodes in 2016, 58.9% of which were contributed by HIV-positive people. LF-LAM is being considered for scale-up in South Africa. METHODS: We estimated the costs of using LF-LAM in HIV-positive adults with CD4 counts ⩽ 150 cells/μl enrolled in the TB Fast Track Trial in South Africa. We also estimated costs of POC haemoglobin (Hb), as this was used in the study algorithm. Data on clinic-level (10 intervention clinics) and above-clinic-level costs were collected. RESULTS: A total of 1307 LF-LAM tests were performed at 10 clinics over 24 months. The mean clinic-level costs were US$12.80 per patient for LF-LAM and POC Hb; LF-LAM costs were US$11.49 per patient. The mean above-clinic-level unit costs for LF-LAM were US$12.06 for clinic preparation, training, coordination and mentoring. The mean total cost of LF-LAM was US$23.55 per patient. CONCLUSION: At clinic level, the cost of LF-LAM was comparable to other TB diagnostics in South Africa. It is important to consider above-clinic-level costs for POC tests, as these may be required to support roll-out and ensure successful implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M Tlali
- Aurum Institute, Johannesburg
| | | | - S Charalambous
- Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - A S Karat
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - K L Fielding
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - A D Grant
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK, Africa Health Research Institute, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - A Vassall
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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