Publications by authors named "Ramesh Reddy Allam"
Objectives: To describe the implementation of screening for cryptococcal antigenaemia by point-of-care (POC) serum cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) lateral flow assay, measure the prevalence and factors associated with serum cryptococcal antigenaemia in the routine programmatic setting.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Setting: Seventeen publicly funded antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres in Mumbai, India.
We conducted a nationally representative population-based survey in 60 districts from 15 Indian states covering all five geographic regions during 2017-2018 to estimate the age specific seroprevalence of dengue. Of the 12,300 sera collected, 4,955 were positive for IgG antibodies against dengue virus using IgG Indirect ELISA indicating past dengue infection. We tested 4,948 sera (seven had inadequate volume) positive for IgG antibodies on indirect ELISA using anti-dengue IgG capture ELISA to estimate the proportion of dengue infections with high antibody titers, suggestive of acute or recent secondary infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Diphtheria is becoming a significant public health issue in several Indian states, particularly affecting children over the age of 5.
- The study analyzed serum samples from 8,309 children aged 5-17 years across various regions in India to assess immunity levels to diphtheria using antibody concentration measurements.
- Findings revealed that approximately 29.7% of children were fully immune, 59.8% were partially immune, and 10.5% were non-immune, with variations in non-immune rates based on geographic region and between urban and rural populations.
Article Synopsis
- A study was conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) across different age groups in India, aiming to understand the infection rates in various regions since the virus re-emerged in 2005.
- The research involved a cross-sectional serosurvey with 17,930 randomly selected individuals, focusing on three age groups (5-8, 9-17, and 18-45 years) and testing for IgG antibodies against CHIKV.
- Findings showed an overall seroprevalence of 18.1%, with the highest prevalence in the southern region (43.1%) and the lowest in the northeast (0.3%), indicating significant age and regional differences in
Introduction: India introduced a hepatitis-B (HB) vaccine in the Universal Immunization Program in 2002-2003 on a pilot basis, expanded to ten states in 2007-2008 (phase-1), and the entire country in 2011-2012 (phase-2). We tested sera from a nationally representative serosurvey conducted duing 2017, to estimate the seroprevalence of different markers of HB infection among children aged 5-17 years in India and to assess the impact of vaccination.
Methods: We tested sera from 8273 children for different markers of HB infection and estimated weighted age-group specific seroprevalence of children who were chronically infected (HBsAg and anti-HBc positive), and immune due to past infection (anti-HBc positive and HBsAg negative), and having serological evidence of HB vaccination (only anti-HBs positive).
Article Synopsis
- The National AIDS Control Programme helps pregnant women get tested and treated for HIV at clinics.
- This study looked at how education levels affect HIV risk among Indian women in different age groups.
- The results showed that more education means a lower risk of HIV, especially for older women, so policymakers should create education programs to help reduce HIV rates.
Background: The burden of dengue virus (DENV) infection across geographical regions of India is poorly quantified. We estimated the age-specific seroprevalence, force of infection, and number of infections in India.
Methods: We did a community-based survey in 240 clusters (118 rural, 122 urban), selected from 60 districts of 15 Indian states from five geographical regions.
Since September 2015, the World Health Organization has recommended antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, regardless of clinical stage or CD4 count (1). This Treat All policy was based on evidence that ART initiation early in HIV infection as opposed to waiting for the CD4 count to decline to certain levels (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Ensuring the quality and effectiveness of counselling is imperative for enabling people living with HIV to cope with treatment adherence. Countrywide assessment of antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres was undertaken to assess the quality and effectiveness of counselling. The insights gained from the assessment are expected to build an improved understanding of the counselling aspect and contribute to informing decisions strengthening the counselling provided at ART centres.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Following a decade of provision of free antiretroviral therapy (ART) in India, a nationwide assessment of ART services was conducted to review quality of care at ART centers. This paper presents the methods and defines replicable model of undertaking large scale assessments.
Methods: During the period January 2014-March 2015, 357 ART centers were reviewed under four domains, namely, operations, technical, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and logistics.
Introduction: The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) is the largest tuberculosis (TB) control program in the world based on Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS) strategy. Globally, most countries have been using a daily regimen and in India a shift towards a daily regimen for TB treatment has already begun. The daily strategy is known to improve program coverage along with compliance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: India accounts for approximately 72% of reported diphtheria cases globally, the majority of which occur in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The aim of this study is to better understand lack of knowledge on diphtheria vaccination and to determine factors associated with diphtheria and low knowledge and negative attitudes.
Methods: We performed a 1:1 case-control study of hospitalized diphtheria cases in Hyderabad.
Background: We estimated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among urban Indian young adults (18-25 years) as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III), Internation Diabetes Federation (IDF), and Indian consensus statement criteria.
Method: We included 473 urban young adults through simple random sampling methodology to estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors for metabolic syndrome.
Results: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was estimated to be 3.
Background: The national antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiative in India began in 2004. In order to better inform the national program, we estimated the mean cumulative survival probability and loss to follow-up (LFU) rate among patients initiated on ART.
Methods: We identified a cohort of people living with HIV (PLHIV) aged ≥15 years initiated on ART in two ART centres in Hyderabad city, Andhra Pradesh state, India between January 2008 and December 2008.