Seroprevalence of maternal HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis in a major maternity hospital in North Kordofan, Sudan.

Routine infectious diseases screening of Sudanese pregnant women has been patchy due to scarcity of healthcare resources and social stigma. We sought to determine the seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) at El Obeid Maternity Hospital in western Sudan. We also explored the association between these infections and a set of socio-demographic and maternal variables.

Effect of immediate initiation of antiretroviral therapy on risk of severe bacterial infections in HIV-positive people with CD4 cell counts of more than 500 cells per μL: secondary outcome results from a randomised controlled trial.

Background: The effects of antiretroviral therapy on risk of severe bacterial infections in people with high CD4 cell counts have not been well described. In this study, we aimed to quantify the effects of immediate versus deferred ART on the risk of severe bacterial infection in people with high CD4 cell counts in a preplanned analysis of the START trial.

Methods: The START trial was a randomised controlled trial in ART-naive HIV-positive patients with CD4 cell count of more than 500 cells per μL assigned to immediate ART or deferral until their CD4 cell counts were lower than 350 cells per μL.

Effects of hydroxychloroquine on immune activation and disease progression among HIV-infected patients not receiving antiretroviral therapy: a randomized controlled trial.

Context: Therapies to decrease immune activation might be of benefit in slowing HIV disease progression.

Objective: To determine whether hydroxychloroquine decreases immune activation and slows CD4 cell decline.

Design, Setting, And Patients: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial performed at 10 HIV outpatient clinics in the United Kingdom between June 2008 and February 2011.

Seroprevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among pregnant women in eastern Sudan.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey to determine the prevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among pregnant women attending a major hospital in Kassala state, eastern Sudan. Unlinked anonymous testing of residual blood specimens, which were originally collected for other routine clinical purposes, was performed using rapid immunochromatographic assays. In total, 430 residual blood specimens were consecutively collected over a 6-week period (April-May 2010).

Paediatric HIV in central Sudan: high sero-prevalence and poor performance of clinical case definitions.

Background: Paediatric clinical case definitions (CCDs) for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been proposed as screening tools in resource-limited countries.

Objectives: We assessed the performance of the World Health Organisation CCD (WHO-CCD), the Bloemfontein CCD (B-CCD) and a locally modified version of the Bloemfontein CCD (MB-CCD) in comparison with HIV serology in acutely hospitalised children aged 1.5-14 years.