Trends and factors associated with HIV viral load non-suppression among treatment-experienced female sex workers in Kenya.

Background: Transactional sexual relations in the absence of condom use is a well established behaviour that strongly contributes to HIV transmission if the infected person is not virally suppressed. In this study, we determined the trends and factors associated with viral load non-suppression (VLNS) among treatment-experienced FSWs in Kenya.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data collected from seven sex workers' outreach clinics between 2015 and 2022.

Monoclonal Antibodies for Rift Valley Fever Virus Nucleocapsid: Application in IgG/IgM ELISA for Sero-Diagnosis.

Introduction: Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) belonging to the Phenuiviridae family is responsible for a zoonotic disease called Rift Valley fever (RVF). Currently, RVFV has spread from Africa to Asia, and due to its ability to cause high mortality rates, it has significantly impacted human health and economic development in many societies. Highly specific and sensitive systems for sero-diagnosis of RVFV infection are needed for clinical use.

Opportunities and challenges on hospital preparedness to handle motorcycle accidents in Busia County, Kenya: an exploratory qualitative study.

Introduction: motorcycles continue to be a popular mode of transport in Kenya. However, the related injuries cause significant morbidity and mortality and remain to be a major and neglected public health issue. This raised the crucial need for hospital preparedness in managing morbidities and in reducing mortalities.

A Machine Learning Approach to Predict HIV Viral Load Hotspots in Kenya Using Real-World Data.

Background: Machine learning models are not in routine use for predicting HIV status. Our objective is to describe the development of a machine learning model to predict HIV viral load (VL) hotspots as an early warning system in Kenya, based on routinely collected data by affiliate entities of the Ministry of Health. Based on World Health Organization's recommendations, hotspots are health facilities with ≥20% people living with HIV whose VL is not suppressed.

In-hospital mortality during the wild-type, alpha, delta, and omicron SARS-CoV-2 waves: a multinational cohort study in the EuCARE project.

Background: Investigating outcomes of hospitalised COVID-19 patients throughout the pandemic is crucial to understand the impact of different SARS-CoV-2 variants. We compared 28-day in-hospital mortality of Wild-type, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variant infections. Whether the difference in risk by variant varied by age was also evaluated.

Correction: Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and retrospective mortality in a refugee camp, Dagahaley, Kenya.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Factors associated with viral load non-suppression among treatment-experienced pre-teenage children living with HIV in Kenya: a nationwide population-based cohort study, 2015-2021.

Background: Viral load non-suppression (VLNS) in children is a major public health concern because of attendant HIV disease progression and risk of morbidity and mortality. Based on a nationally representative database we present estimates of the prevalence, trends and factors associated with VLNS in Kenyan pre-teenage children between 2015 and 2021.

Methods: Kenya National AIDS & STI Control Program's (NASCOP) maintains an early infant diagnosis and viral load (EID/VL) database for all persons living with HIV who are enrolled in the country's primary care clinics for purposes of monitoring progress towards achievement of the 95% viral suppression goals.

Accreditation of a molecular HIV diagnostic laboratory following the Strengthening Laboratory Management Towards Accreditation (SLMTA)-Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) approach in Kenya: an implementation science study.

Introduction: accreditation is the most effective approach to ensure the quality of services. Laboratory performance can be evaluated using the World Health Organization (WHO)-SLIPTA checklist, which checks a laboratory´s compliance with ISO 15189 on a five-star score scale and improved using the SLMTA approach. Compliance is assessed by an external body and can result in accreditation.

EuCARE-hospitalised study protocol: a cohort study of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the EuCARE project.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2), the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), can lead to hospitalisation, particularly in elderly, immunocompromised, and non-vaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals. Although vaccination provides protection, the duration of this protection wanes over time. Additional doses can restore immunity, but the influence of viral variants, specific sequences, and vaccine-induced immune responses on disease severity remains unclear.

Burden of hypertension and associated factors among HIV-positive adults in Busia County, Kenya.

Introduction: the use of antiretroviral (ARVs) for the management of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection has resulted in a prolonged lifespan among HIV-positive individuals. Both HIV infection and ARVs treatment put this population at a greater risk of developing hypertension. The study aimed at establishing the burden of hypertension and associated factors among HIV-positive population.

Genomic surveillance of SARS-COV-2 reveals diverse circulating variant lineages in Nairobi and Kiambu Counties, Kenya.

Genomic surveillance and identification of COVID-19 outbreaks are important in understanding the genetic diversity, phylogeny, and lineages of SARS-CoV-2. Genomic surveillance provides insights into circulating infections, and the robustness and design of vaccines and other infection control approaches. We sequenced 57 SARS-CoV-2 isolates from a Kenyan clinical population, of which 55 passed quality checks using the Ultrafast Sample placement on the Existing tRee (UShER) workflow.

Comparison of the performance of Aptima HIV-1 Quant Dx Assay with Abbott RealTime HIV Assay for viral load monitoring using plasma and Dried Blood Spots collected in Kenya.

Introduction: HIV-1 viral Load (VL) testing is recommended for the monitoring of antiretroviral treatment. Dried Blood Spots (DBS) are an effective sample type in resource limited settings, where safe phlebotomy and reliable shipping are hard to guarantee. In HIV high burden countries, high throughput assays can improve access to testing services.

Usability of HIV-1 Assay Using DBS for Early Infant Diagnosis in Field Settings in Kenya.

Background: The Xpert HIV-1 Qualitative assay has been in use in Kenya since 2016 for infant diagnosis of HIV. Recently, the assay has been improved and its impact of this on ease of use is yet to be determined. We sought to determine the usability of Xpert® HIV-1 Qual XC assay using dried blood spots (DBS) for early infant diagnosis following this improvement.

Digital PCR Applications in the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Era: a Roadmap for Future Outbreaks.

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to a global public health disaster. The current gold standard for the diagnosis of infected patients is real-time reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). As effective as this method may be, it is subject to false-negative and -positive results, affecting its precision, especially for the detection of low viral loads in samples.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in female sex workers in an STI clinic in Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: Gonorrhea caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the second most prevalent curable sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Female Sex Workers (FSWs) are at a higher risk of contracting gonorrhea due to their risky sexual behaviors like inconsistent condom use and multiple sexual partners. We determined the prevalence and risk factors associated with gonorrhea and its antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among symptomatic FSWs attending Sexual Workers Outreach Program (SWOP) city clinic in Nairobi, Kenya.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and retrospective mortality in a refugee camp, Dagahaley, Kenya.

Background: Camps of forcibly displaced populations are considered to be at risk of large COVID-19 outbreaks. Low screening rates and limited surveillance led us to conduct a study in Dagahaley camp, located in the Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya to estimate SARS-COV-2 seroprevalence and, mortality and to identify changes in access to care during the pandemic.

Methods: To estimate seroprevalence, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among a sample of individuals (n = 587) seeking care at the two main health centres and among all household members (n = 619) of community health workers and traditional birth attendants working in the camp.

Prevalence and factors associated with HIV-1 drug resistance mutations in treatment-experienced patients in Nairobi, Kenya: A cross-sectional study.

An estimated 1.5 million Kenyans are HIV-seropositive, with 1.1 million on antiretroviral therapy (ART), with the majority of them unaware of their drug resistance status.

Correlation of HIV-1 drug resistant mutations and virologic failure.

Introduction: mutations are important by ensuring that the HIV-1 agent remains fit in the environment and evades drugs that are developed purposely to kill them. In Kenya, mutations conferring resistance to available ARVs have been reported in previous studies. However, there is a paucity of information on whether these previous studies have reported all mutations conclusively that confer resistance to available drugs leading to virologic failure.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 genetic diversity in HIV positive individuals on antiretroviral therapy in a cross-sectional study conducted in Teso, Western Kenya.

Introduction: high HIV-1 infection rates and genetic diversity especially in African population pose significant challenges in HIV-1 clinical management and drug design and development. HIV-1 is a major health challenge in Kenya and causes mortality and morbidity in the country as well as straining the healthcare system and the economy. This study sought to identify HIV-1 genetic subtypes circulating in Teso, Western Kenya which borders the Republic of Uganda.

Two-Step Reverse Transcription Droplet Digital PCR Protocols for SARS-CoV-2 Detection and Quantification.

Diagnosis of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is a priority for all countries across the globe. Currently, reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is the gold standard for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis as no permanent solution is available. However effective this technique may be, research has emerged showing its limitations in detection and diagnosis especially when it comes to low abundant targets.

Prospective evaluation of accuracy of HIV viral load monitoring using the Aptima HIV Quant Dx assay with fingerstick and venous dried blood spots prepared under field conditions in Kenya.

Quantification of HIV-1 RNA is essential for clinical management of HIV patients. The limited throughput and significant hands-on time required by most HIV Viral load (VL) tests makes it challenging for laboratories with high test volume, to turn around patient results quickly. The Hologic Aptima HIV-1 Quant Dx Assay (Aptima), has the potential to alleviate this burden as it is high throughput and fully automated.

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus-1 drug-resistant mutations among adults on first- and second-line antiretroviral therapy in a resource-limited health facility in Busia County, Kenya.

Introduction: in Kenya, about 1.5 million people are living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Antiretroviral therapy aids in viral suppression.

Developing multiplex ddPCR assays for SARS-CoV-2 detection based on probe mix and amplitude based multiplexing.

: With the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, different articles have been published highlighting the superiority of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) over the gold-standard reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) in SARS-CoV-2 detection. However, few studies have been reported on developing multiplex ddPCR assays for SARS-CoV-2 detection and their performance. This study shows steps on how to develop different ddPCR SAR-CoV-2 assays including higher order multiplex assays for SARS-CoV-2 detection and antiviral screening.