Global burden of tuberculous meningitis in children aged 0-14 years in 2019: a mathematical modelling study.

Background: Tuberculous meningitis is fatal if untreated and can lead to lifelong neurological sequelae. However, to our knowledge, there are no data on the number of children affected by this disease. We aimed to estimate the global disease burden and attributable mortality of childhood tuberculous meningitis by WHO regions, age groups, treatment status, and HIV status in 2019.

Virulence, multiple drug resistance, and biofilm-formation in Salmonella species isolated from layer, broiler, and dual-purpose indigenous chickens.

Globally, the significant risk to food safety and public health posed by antimicrobial-resistant foodborne Salmonella pathogens is driven by the utilization of in-feed antibiotics, with variations in usage across poultry production systems. The current study investigated the occurrence of virulence, antimicrobial resistant profiles, and biofilm-forming potentials of Salmonella isolates sourced from different chicken types. A total of 75 cloacal faecal samples were collected using sterile swabs from layer, broiler, and indigenous chickens across 15 poultry farms (five farms per chicken type).

Efficacy of Different Encapsulation Techniques on the Viability and Stability of Diverse Phage under Simulated Gastric Conditions.

causes a range of diseases in humans and livestock of considerable public health and economic importance. Widespread antimicrobial use, particularly in intensively produced livestock (e.g.

Assessment of facility-based tuberculosis data quality in an integrated HIV/TB database in three South African districts.

Background: Assessment of data quality is essential to successful monitoring & evaluation of tuberculosis (TB) services. South Africa uses the Three Interlinked Electronic Register (TIER.Net) to monitor TB diagnoses and treatment outcomes.

Healthcare seeking patterns for TB symptoms: Findings from the first national TB prevalence survey of South Africa, 2017-2019.

Background: Although tuberculosis (TB) symptoms have limited sensitivity they remain an important entry point into the TB care cascade.

Objectives: To investigate self-reported healthcare seeking for TB symptoms in participants in a community-based survey.

Methods: We compared reasons for not seeking care in participants reporting ≥1 of four TB screening symptoms (cough, weight loss, night sweats, fever) in the first South African national TB prevalence survey (2017-2019).

Prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis in South Africa, 2017-19: a multistage, cluster-based, cross-sectional survey.

Background: Tuberculosis remains an important clinical and public health issue in South Africa, which has one of the highest tuberculosis burdens in the world. We aimed to estimate the burden of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis among people aged 15 years or older in South Africa.

Methods: This multistage, cluster-based, cross-sectional survey included eligible residents (age ≥15 years, who had slept in a house for ≥10 nights in the preceding 2 weeks) in 110 clusters nationally (cluster size of 500 people; selected by probability proportional-to-population size sampling).

The global burden of tuberculous meningitis in adults: A modelling study.

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most lethal form of tuberculosis. The incidence and mortality of TBM is unknown due to diagnostic challenges and limited disaggregated reporting of treated TBM by existing surveillance systems. We aimed to estimate the incidence and mortality of TBM in adults (15+ years) globally.

Mortality during tuberculosis treatment in South Africa using an 8-year analysis of the national tuberculosis treatment register.

In 2011, the South African HIV treatment eligibility criteria were expanded to allow all tuberculosis (TB) patients lifelong ART. The impact of this change on TB mortality in South Africa is not known. We evaluated mortality in all adults (≥ 15 years old) treated for drug-susceptible TB in South Africa between 2009 and 2016.

Mortality in South African Children and Adolescents Routinely Treated for Tuberculosis.

Background: In South Africa, tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of death among those <20 years of age. We describe changes in TB mortality among children and adolescents in South Africa over a 13-year period, identify risk factors for mortality, and estimate excess TB-related mortality.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of all patients <20 years of age routinely recorded in the national electronic drug-susceptible TB treatment register (2004-2016).

The Impact of the Evolving Human Immunodeficiency Virus Response on the Epidemiology of Tuberculosis in South African Children and Adolescents.

Background: Few studies have evaluated tuberculosis control in children and adolescents. We used routine tuberculosis surveillance data to quantify age- and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-stratified trends over time and investigate the relationship between tuberculosis, HIV, age, and sex.

Methods: All children and adolescents (0-19 years) routinely treated for drug-susceptible tuberculosis in South Africa and recorded in a de-duplicated national electronic tuberculosis treatment register (2004-2016) were included.

Antimicrobial Resistance Factors of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases Producing and Isolated from Cattle Farms and Raw Beef in North-West Province, South Africa.

Background: Extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) producing Enterobacteriaceae cause severe infections in humans which leads to complicated diseases. There is increasing evidence that cattle contribute to the development and spread of multidrug resistant pathogens and this raises public health concern. Despite this, data on the concurrence of ESBL producing pathogens in cattle, especially in the North-West province are rare.

Evaluation of adherence to national treatment guidelines among tuberculosis patients in three provinces of South Africa.

Setting: Standardised tuberculosis (TB) treatment through directly observed therapy (DOT) is available in South Africa, but the level of adherence to standardised TB treatment and its impact on treatment outcomes is unknown.

Objectives: To describe adherence to standardised TB treatment and provision of DOT, and analyse its impact on treatment outcome.

Methods: We utilised data collected for an evaluation of the South African national TB surveillance system.

Cost-effectiveness of staff and workload profiles in retaining patients on antiretroviral therapy in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Background: There is paucity of information on the cost-effectiveness of delivery strategies to retain patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and this study tries to fill this gap.

Methods: The analysis is based on a representative sample of 2835 patients attending 32 ART sites in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Extended Cox regression and Kaplan Meier were used to estimate the transition probabilities to remain on ART among patients who attended sites with different staff and workload profiles.

Retrospective study on the critical factors for retaining patients on antiretroviral therapy in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Objective: To analyze the critical factors favoring the retention of patients under antiretroviral therapy (ART) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa.

Design And Methods: This retrospective study was based on the review of a representative sample of patients who began ART between March 2004 and May 2006 in 32 public sector sites and were followed up to July 1, 2007. Extended Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify the factors which significantly influenced treatment retention during the first 2 years of treatment.

Effect of artemether-lumefantrine policy and improved vector control on malaria burden in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Background: Between 1995 and 2000, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, experienced a marked increase in Plasmodium falciparum malaria, fuelled by pyrethroid and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance. In response, vector control was strengthened and artemether-lumefantrine (AL) was deployed in the first Ministry of Health artemisinin-based combination treatment policy in Africa. In South Africa, effective vector and parasite control had historically ensured low-intensity malaria transmission.