Safety, effectiveness and immunogenicity of heterologous mRNA-1273 boost after prime with Ad26.COV2.S among healthcare workers in South Africa: The single-arm, open-label, phase 3 SHERPA study.

Limited studies have been conducted on the safety and effectiveness of heterologous COVID-19 vaccine boosting in lower income settings, especially those with high-HIV prevalence., The Sisonke Heterologous mRNA-1273 boost after prime with Ad26.COV2.

Preventing occupational injuries in the informal construction industry: a study protocol for the development of a safety education intervention for bricklayers and carpenters in Osun State, Nigeria.

Background: Occupational injuries are a growing public health problem. Approximately 1,000 workers die daily from occupational injuries globally. Artisans working in the informal sector of the construction industry in many low/middle income countries like Nigeria have a higher injury predisposition.

Pembrolizumab Plus Carboplatin and Paclitaxel as First-Line Therapy for Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (KEYNOTE-B10): A Single-Arm Phase IV Trial.

Purpose: Standard-of-care first-line treatment for recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) is pembrolizumab plus platinum and fluorouracil (FU). However, FU is associated with potential challenges (continuous 4-day infusion, high administration costs, and cardiovascular and gastrointestinal toxicities), creating a clinical need for alternative chemotherapy combinations. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of first-line pembrolizumab plus carboplatin and paclitaxel for R/M HNSCC in the open-label, single-arm, phase IV KEYNOTE-B10 study (ClinicalTrials.

Factors associated with reactogenicity to an investigational HIV vaccine regimen in HIV vaccine trials network 702.

Background: Reactogenicity informs vaccine safety, and may influence vaccine uptake. We evaluated factors associated with reactogenicity in HVTN 702, a typical HIV vaccine efficacy trial with multiple doses and products.

Methods: HVTN 702, a phase 2b/3 double-blind placebo-controlled trial, randomized 5404 African participants aged 18-35 years without HIV to placebo, or ALVAC-HIV (vCP2438) at months 0, 1 and ALVAC-HIV (vCP2438) + Bivalent Subtype C gp120/MF59 at months 3, 6, 12 and 18.

Safety and immunogenicity of a subtype C ALVAC-HIV (vCP2438) vaccine prime plus bivalent subtype C gp120 vaccine boost adjuvanted with MF59 or alum in healthy adults without HIV (HVTN 107): A phase 1/2a randomized trial.

Background: Adjuvants are widely used to enhance and/or direct vaccine-induced immune responses yet rarely evaluated head-to-head. Our trial directly compared immune responses elicited by MF59 versus alum adjuvants in the RV144-like HIV vaccine regimen modified for the Southern African region. The RV144 trial of a recombinant canarypox vaccine vector expressing HIV env subtype B (ALVAC-HIV) prime followed by ALVAC-HIV plus a bivalent gp120 protein vaccine boost adjuvanted with alum is the only trial to have shown modest HIV vaccine efficacy.

Incidence of herpes simplex virus type 2 positivity among women living with human immunodeficiency virus in South Africa.

Background: For women living with HIV (WLHIV), co-infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) causes severe genital ulcers and presents additional challenges for their HIV care. To inform preventive strategies, we aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors of HSV-2 positivity in a prospective cohort of South African women.

Methods: The CAPRISA 002 study enrolled women at acute HIV infection between 2004 and 2020.

Isoniazid resistance-conferring mutations are associated with highly variable phenotypic resistance.

Background: High-dose isoniazid is recommended in the 9-12 months short-course regimen for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis with mutation. However, there is insufficient evidence to support the assumption of genotypic-phenotypic concordance. This study aimed to identify the genetic mutations associated with high-level phenotypic isoniazid resistance.

Sociodemographic and environmental factors associated with diarrhoeal illness in children under 5 years in Uganda, 2016: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Uganda is among the 10 countries in the sub-Saharan Africa region that have the highest prevalence of diarrhoeal disease. Evidence suggests that the severity of childhood diarrhoeal disease is escalated through various sociodemographic and environmental factors.

Objectives: To assess prevalence of diarrheal illness in children below the age of 5 years in Uganda in 2016 and associated factors.

Metformin Increases Cell Viability and Regulates Pro-Inflammatory Response to Mtb.

Introduction: Current TB treatment regimens are pathogen-directed and can be severely compromised by the development of drug resistance. Metformin has been proposed as an adjunctive therapy for TB, however relatively little is known about how metformin modulates the cellular interaction between Mtb and macrophages. We aimed to characterize how metformin modulates Mtb growth within macrophages.

Contribution of wastewater to antimicrobial resistance: A review article.

Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global challenge that has raised concern globally, owing to its detrimental effects on the health and economy of countries. The ever-growing threat of AMR and sources of AMR are still being investigated. Wastewater plays an important role as a habitat for bacteria and an environment conducive to gene transfer.

Incidence, recurrence, and prevalence of bacterial vaginosis from acute to chronic HIV infection in a prospective cohort of women in South Africa.

Purpose: We investigated the incidence, recurrence, prevalence, and risk factors for bacterial vaginosis (BV) diagnosis starting from acute HIV infection among South African women.

Methods: The Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa 002 study tested and treated women for BV (Nugent score 7-10) once/twice annually from acute to chronic HIV infection (2004-2020). We estimated BV incidence as the number of new cases and recurrence as the number of subsequent diagnoses per 100 person-years (PYs).

Strengthening Social Compact and Innovative Health Sector Collaborations in Addressing COVID-19 in South African Workplaces.

Workplaces are nodes for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 transmission and require strategies to protect workers' health. This article reports on the South African national coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) strategy that sought to ensure workers' health, protect the economic activity, safeguard livelihoods and support health services. Data from the Occupational Health Surveillance System, Surveillance System of Sentinel Hospital Sites, and government databases (public sector health worker and Compensation Fund data) was supplemented by peer-reviewed articles and grey literature.

A potential role of cockroaches in the transmission of pathogenic bacteria with antibiotic resistance: A scoping review.

Introduction: The role of cockroaches in the cause of disease or human infections is not immediately obvious. The present study aimed to review the currently available research on the potential role of cockroaches in the transmission of pathogenic bacteria and bacteria with antibiotic resistance.

Methodology: A scoping review included the studies published for a period between January 2001 and December 2020.

Impact of Point-of-Care Testing on the Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections in South Africa: Evidence from the HVTN702 Human Immunodeficiency Virus Vaccine Trial.

Background: Alternative approaches to syndromic management are needed to reduce rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in resource-limited settings. We investigated the impact of point-of-care (POC) versus central laboratory-based testing on STI treatment initiation and STI adverse event (STI-AE) reporting.

Methods: We used Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models to compare times to treatment initiation and STI-AE reporting among HVTN702 trial participants in South Africa.

The Changing Paradigm of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Treatment: Successes, Pitfalls, and Future Perspectives.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) remains a global crisis due to the increasing incidence of drug-resistant forms of the disease, gaps in detection and prevention, models of care, and limited treatment options. The DR-TB treatment landscape has evolved over the last 10 years. Recent developments include the remarkable activity demonstrated by the newly approved anti-TB drugs bedaquiline and pretomanid against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The effect of a hand hygiene intervention on the behaviour, practices and health of parents of preschool children in South Africa.

Introduction: Diarrhoea and upper respiratory diseases are a leading cause of child mortality in children under 5 years of age both in South Africa and worldwide. Hand hygiene (HH) interventions play a critical role in reducing HH-related diseases, and the inclusion of all stakeholders in such interventions has improved the success of such interventions. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of an HH intervention on the behaviour, practices, and health of parents of preschool children.

Diagnostic Accuracy of the Rapid Xpert HIV-1 Viral Load XC, Xpert HIV-1 Viral Load, & m-PIMA HIV-1/2 Viral Load in South African Clinics.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the analytic performance of 3 rapid HIV viral load assays: the novel Xpert HIV-1 VL XC (Xpert XC), Xpert HIV-1 VL (Xpert VL), and m-PIMA HIV-1/2 VL (m-PIMA).

Setting: Two South African clinics.

Methods: We conducted a prospective diagnostic accuracy study.

COVID-19 hospital admissions and mortality among healthcare workers in South Africa, 2020-2021.

Objectives: This study describes the characteristics of admitted HCWs reported to the DATCOV surveillance system, and the factors associated with in-hospital mortality in South African HCWs.

Methods: Data from March 5, 2020 to April 30, 2021 were obtained from DATCOV, a national hospital surveillance system monitoring COVID-19 admissions in South Africa. Characteristics of HCWs were compared with those of non-HCWs.

Impact of the macro-environment on the reporting of occupational injuries and illnesses by low-income workers compared to middle-income workers in South Africa: a mixed-methods study protocol.

Introduction: Construction workers, mineworkers and manufacturing employees in South Africa must report occupational injuries and illnesses to their employer as stipulated in section 14 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and section 22 of the Mine Health and Safety Act. However, under-reporting of workplace injuries and illnesses is common globally.This protocol seeks to ascertain if macro-environment factors impact reporting of workplace injuries and illnesses and compare reporting between low-income and middle-income workers.

Elevated soil and blood lead levels with increasing residential proximity to a mine tailings facility in Soweto, South Africa.

Mining has long been associated with the release of a range of toxic metals including lead, elevated levels of which have been found in land surrounding mine dumps as far afield as Spain, India, Macedonia and Nigeria. Mining has been a key pillar of economic development in South Africa for around a century and a half, and has left a legacy of major environmental contamination, with the poorest experiencing the highest burden of exposure. The current study was undertaken to ascertain the concentrations of lead in soil and in the blood of adults and children residing at increasing distances from a cluster of large tailings facilities (MTFs) in greater Johannesburg, South Africa.

Burden of sexually transmitted infections from acute HIV infection among women in South Africa: Evidence from a prospective cohort study.

Purpose: HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) often co-occur. However, less evidence exists on the long-term STI dynamics among persons living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa to inform interventions. We investigated the incidence, prevalence and factors associated with STIs, starting from acute HIV infection in a cohort of South African women.

Psychological Distress in South African Healthcare Workers Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of Associations and Mitigating Factors.

While the global COVID-19 pandemic has been widely acknowledged to affect the mental health of health care workers (HCWs), attention to measures that protect those on the front lines of health outbreak response has been limited. In this cross-sectional study, we examine workplace contextual factors associated with how psychological distress was experienced in a South African setting where a severe first wave was being experienced with the objective of identifying factors that can protect against HCWs experiencing negative impacts. Consistent with mounting literature on mental health effects, we found a high degree of psychological distress (57.

Pregnancy rates and outcomes in a longitudinal HIV cohort in the context of evolving antiretroviral treatment provision in South Africa.

Background: In South Africa, women continue to face a high burden of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and the possible complications thereof during pregnancy. We assessed pregnancy incidence rates and outcomes in a longitudinal HIV cohort study over a 15-year period.

Methods: We evaluated pregnancies among women ≥ 18 years between 2004 and 2019 in the CAPRISA 002 study.