Dataset Information

Outcomes of the CT2 study: A 'one-stop-shop' for community-based hepatitis C testing and treatment in Yangon, Myanmar.

ABSTRACT:

Background

With the advent of low-cost generic direct-acting antivirals (DAA), hepatitis C (HCV) elimination is now achievable even in low-/middle-income settings. We assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of a simplified clinical pathway using point-of-care diagnostic testing and non-specialist-led care in a decentralized, community-based setting.

Methods

This feasibility study was conducted at two sites in Yangon, Myanmar: one for people who inject drugs (PWID), and the other for people with liver disease. Participants underwent on-site rapid anti-HCV testing and HCV RNA testing using GeneXpert^(R) . General practitioners determined whether participants started DAA therapy immediately or required specialist evaluation. Primary outcome measures were progression through the HCV care cascade, including uptake of RNA testing and treatment, and treatment outcomes.

Findings

All 633 participants underwent anti-HCV testing; 606 (96%) were anti-HCV positive and had HCV RNA testing. Of 606 tested, 535 (88%) were RNA positive and had pre-treatment assessments; 30 (6%) completed specialist evaluation. Of 535 RNA positive participants, 489 (91%) were eligible to initiate DAAs, 477 (98%) completed DAA therapy and 421 achieved SVR12 (92%; 421/456). Outcomes were similar by site: PWID site: 91% [146/161], and liver disease site: 93% [275/295]). Compensated cirrhotic patients were treated in the community; they achieved an SVR12 of 83% (19/23). Median time from RNA test to DAA initiation was 3 days (IQR 2-5).

Conclusions

Delivering a simplified, non-specialist-led HCV treatment pathway in a decentralized community setting was feasible in Yangon, Myanmar; retention in care and treatment success rates were very high. This care model could be integral in scaling up HCV services in Myanmar and other low- and middle-income settings.

SUBMITTER: Draper BL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8596916 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundPolicymakers, stakeholders and researchers have not been able to find research evidence about health systems using an easily understood taxonomy of topics, know when they have conducted a comprehensive search of the many types of research evidence relevant to them, or rapidly identify decision-relevant information in their search results.MethodsTo address these gaps, we developed an approach to building a 'one-stop shop' for research evidence about health systems. We developed a taxonomy of health system topics and iteratively refined it by drawing on existing categorization schemes and by using it to categorize progressively larger bundles of research evidence. We identified systematic reviews, systematic review protocols, and review-derived products through searches of Medline, hand searches of several databases indexing systematic reviews, hand searches of journals, and continuous scanning of listservs and websites. We developed an approach to providing 'added value' to existing content (e.g., coding systematic reviews according to the countries in which included studies were conducted) and to expanding the types of evidence eligible for inclusion (e.g., economic evaluations and health system descriptions). Lastly, we developed an approach to continuously updating the online one-stop shop in seven supported languages.ResultsThe taxonomy is organized by governance, financial, and delivery arrangements and by implementation strategies. The 'one-stop shop', called Health Systems Evidence, contains a comprehensive inventory of evidence briefs, overviews of systematic reviews, systematic reviews, systematic review protocols, registered systematic review titles, economic evaluations and costing studies, health reform descriptions and health system descriptions, and many types of added-value coding. It is continuously updated and new content is regularly translated into Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.ConclusionsPolicymakers and stakeholders can now easily access and use a wide variety of types of research evidence about health systems to inform decision-making and advocacy. Researchers and research funding agencies can use Health Systems Evidence to identify gaps in the current stock of research evidence and domains that could benefit from primary research, systematic reviews, and review overviews.

Project description:Data on causes of community-onset bloodstream infection in Myanmar are scarce. We aimed to identify etiological agents of bloodstream infections and patterns of antimicrobial resistance among febrile adolescents and adults attending Yangon General Hospital (YGH), Yangon, Myanmar. We recruited patients ≥12 years old with fever ≥38°C who attended YGH from 5 October 2015 through 4 October 2016. A standardized clinical history and physical examination was performed. Provisional diagnoses and vital status at discharge was recorded. Blood was collected for culture, bloodstream isolates were identified, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed. Using whole-genome sequencing, we identified antimicrobial resistance mechanisms of Enterobacteriaceae and sequence types of Enterobacteriaceae and Streptococcus agalactiae. Among 947 participants, 90 (9.5%) had bloodstream infections (BSI) of which 82 (91.1%) were of community-onset. Of 91 pathogens isolated from 90 positive blood cultures, we identified 43 (47.3%) Salmonella enterica including 33 (76.7%) serovar Typhi and 10 (23.3%) serovar Paratyphi A; 20 (22.0%) Escherichia coli; 7 (7.7%) Klebsiella pneumoniae; 6 (6.6%), Staphylococcus aureus; 4 (4.4%) yeasts; and 1 (1.1%) each of Burkholderia pseudomallei and Streptococcus agalactiae. Of 70 Enterobacteriaceae, 62 (88.6%) were fluoroquinolone-resistant. Among 27 E. coli and K. pneumoniae, 18 (66.6%) were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producers, and 1 (3.7%) each were AmpC beta-lactamase- and carbapenemase-producers. Fluoroquinolone resistance was associated predominantly with mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining region. blaCTX-M-15 expression was common among ESBL-producers. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus was not detected. Fluoroquinolone-resistant, but not multiple drug-resistant, typhoidal S. enterica was the leading cause of community-onset BSI at a tertiary hospital in Yangon, Myanmar. Fluoroquinolone and extended-spectrum cephalosporin resistance was common among other Enterobactericeae. Our findings inform empiric management of severe febrile illness in Yangon and indicate that measures to prevent and control enteric fever are warranted. We suggest ongoing monitoring and efforts to mitigate antimicrobial resistance among community-onset pathogens.

Project description:Participation in established cancer screening programs remains variable. Therefore, a renewed focus on how to increase screening uptake, including addressing structural barriers such as time, travel, and cost is needed. One approach could be the provision of combined cancer screening, where multiple screening tests are provided at the same time and location (essentially a 'One Stop' screening shop). This cohort study explored both cancer screening behavior and the acceptability of a combined screening approach.Participants of the North Western Adelaide Health Study (NWAHS), South Australia were invited to participate in a questionnaire about cancer screening behaviors and the acceptability of a proposed 'One Stop' cancer screening shop. Data were collected from 10th August 2015 to 18th January 2016, weighted for selection probability, age, and sex and analyzed using descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analysis.1,562 people, 52% female (mean age 54.1?years?±?15.2) participated. Reported screening participation was low, the highest being for Pap Smear (34.4%). Common reasons for screening participation were preventing sickness (56.1%, CI 53.2-59.0%), maintaining health (51%, CI 48-53.9%), and free program provision (30.9%, CI 28.2-33.6%). Females were less likely to state that screening is not beneficial [OR 0.37 (CI 0.21-0.66), p?<?0.001] and to cite sickness prevention [OR 2.10 (CI 1.46-3.00), p?<?0.001] and free program [OR 1.75 (CI 1.22-2.51), p?<?0.003] as reasons for screening participation. Of those who did not participate, 34.6% (CI 30.3-39.1%) stated that there was nothing that discouraged them from participation, with 55- to 64-year olds [OR 0.24 (CI 0.07-0.74), p?<?0.04] being less likely to cite this reason. 21% (CI 17.2-24.8%) thought they did not need screening, while a smaller proportion stated not having time (6.9%, CI 4.9-9.7%) and the costs associated with screening (5.2%, CI 3.5-7.7%). The majority of participants (85.3%, CI 81.9-88.2%) supported multiple screening being offered at the same time and location.Identified screening behaviors in this study are similar to those reported in the literature. The high support for the concept of combined cancer screening demonstrates that this type of approach is acceptable to potential end users and warrants further investigation.