Publications by authors named "Susan M McAllister"
Article Synopsis
- Early diagnosis of HIV is crucial for effective treatment and controlling its spread; the study focused on late diagnoses in New Zealand from 2011-2020.
- Out of 1145 adults analyzed, 40.5% were diagnosed late, with 24.9% having advanced HIV disease; the majority of late presenters were men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM).
- Factors contributing to late presentation included older age, being of non-European ethnicity, and testing due to symptoms, highlighting the need to identify barriers to testing and create strategies to encourage earlier diagnosis, especially among heterosexuals and diverse ethnic groups.
Article Synopsis
- Gay and bisexual men (GBM) represent a significantly higher percentage of HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhoea cases in New Zealand, with rates calculated for the first time by sexual orientation.
- In 2019, GBM accounted for 76.3% of HIV, 65.7% of syphilis, and 39.4% of gonorrhoea notifications, showing stark disparities in case rates compared to heterosexual individuals.
- The study highlights serious inequities in STIs among GBM in New Zealand, emphasizing the need for targeted surveillance and interventions based on sexual orientation.
Background: Indonesia has the second largest tuberculosis (TB) burden globally. Attempts to scale-up TB control efforts have focused on TB households. However, in most high burden settings, considerable Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) transmission occurs outside TB households.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with worse tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes, especially among those with poor glycemic control. We examined whether a structured clinical algorithm could improve glycemic control in TB patients with DM.
Methods: In an open label randomized trial, TB-DM patients were randomized to scheduled counselling, glucose monitoring, and adjustment of medication using a structured clinical algorithm (intervention arm) or routine DM management (control arm), with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) at month 6 as the primary end point.
Article Synopsis
- Diabetes patients are at a significantly higher risk of developing tuberculosis (TB), prompting a study to implement active TB screening among diabetic patients in Indonesia, Peru, Romania, and South Africa.
- The study involved 2,063 DM patients, using clinical symptoms and chest X-rays for diagnosis, revealing that a small percentage (0.73%) of them were new TB cases.
- Findings emphasize the need for routine symptom-based TB screening in diabetic patients, particularly in high TB-burden regions, to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment.
Costs related to tuberculosis (TB) can impose a significant burden on patients and their families and create barriers to diagnosis and treatment. Our study aimed to quantify out-of-pocket costs expended by TB patients in Bandung, Indonesia. This cross-sectional study recruited adults with TB from community health centers (CHCs), public and private hospitals, and private practitioners (PPs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction And Aims: Gay and bisexual men (GBM) who inject drugs are disproportionately affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) because of dual transmission risks. New Zealand has a progressive history of harm reduction and was the first country to publicly fund needle exchange programs in 1988 for people who inject drugs (PWID). We combine national HIV epidemiological and bio-behavioural surveillance data to understand HIV risk among this subpopulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHigh tuberculosis incidence among people living with diabetes in Indonesia.
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg
February 2020
Background: Data regarding the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) among people living with diabetes (PLWD) in TB-endemic settings are scarce. We examined TB incidence among PLWD in Indonesia who had previously been screened for latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease.
Methods: PLWD (≥18 y of age) in an urban setting were examined a mean 3.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) became publicly funded in New Zealand (NZ) on 1 March 2018. PrEP could have a substantial population-level effect on HIV transmission if scaled up rapidly. An accurate estimate of the size of the PrEP-eligible population would guide implementation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Background Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) became publicly funded in New Zealand (NZ) on 1 March 2018. PrEP could have a substantial population-level effect on HIV transmission if scaled up rapidly. An accurate estimate of the size of the PrEP-eligible population would guide implementation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To describe the characteristics and management of Diabetes mellitus (DM) patients from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
Methods: We systematically characterised consecutive DM patients attending public health services in urban settings in Indonesia, Peru, Romania and South Africa, collecting data on DM treatment history, complications, drug treatment, obesity, HbA1c and cardiovascular risk profile; and assessing treatment gaps against relevant national guidelines.
Results: Patients (median 59 years, 62.
Background: Screening and treatment of latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease could reduce diabetes mellitus (DM)-associated TB. We aimed to describe the prevalence of LTBI and pulmonary TB among patients with DM in a TB-endemic setting.
Methods: Patients with DM attending a hospital and community centres in Bandung, Indonesia, underwent LTBI screening using interferon gamma release assay (IGRA).
Objectives: To describe trends in HIV diagnoses among men who have sex with men (MSM) in New Zealand 1996-2008, and to identify characteristics associated with HIV diagnoses in the resurgent phase.
Methods: Data collected through routine surveillance of HIV infection, where the mode of transmission included homosexual contact, were analysed over the period 1996-2008.
Results: Annual HIV diagnoses were low during 1996-2000, rose sharply between 2001 and 2005, and remained at an elevated plateau between 2006 and 2008.