Operational Research for Cryptococcal Antigen Screening

Summary

This will be a stepped wedge randomized trial design to evaluate the implementation of cryptococcal antigen (CRAG) screening and preemptive anti-fungal therapy of HIV-infected persons entering antiretroviral therapy (ART) outpatient treatment in Uganda. Those who are ART eligible with a CD4≤100 cells/mcL will have a serum/plasma CRAG performed by lateral flow assay. Those who are CRAG-positive and asymptomatic will be treated with high dose fluconazole. After 6 months survival with retention-in-care will be compared between those who are CRAG+ and CRAG negative

Timeline

Start

2012-07-01

Primary completion

2015-06

Completion

2015-06

Publications

• Background Rajasingham R, Meya DB, Boulware DR. Integrating cryptococcal antigen screening and pre-emptive treatment into routine HIV care. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2012 Apr 15;59(5):e85-91. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0b013e31824c837e.
• Background Meya DB, Manabe YC, Castelnuovo B, Cook BA, Elbireer AM, Kambugu A, Kamya MR, Bohjanen PR, Boulware DR. Cost-effectiveness of serum cryptococcal antigen screening to prevent deaths among HIV-infected persons with a CD4+ cell count < or = 100 cells/microL who start HIV therapy in resource-limited settings. Clin Infect Dis. 2010 Aug 15;51(4):448-55. doi: 10.1086/655143.
• Results Meya DB, Kiragga AN, Nalintya E, Morawski BM, Rajasingham R, Park BJ, Mubiru A, Kaplan JE, Manabe YC, Boulware DR. Reflexive Laboratory-Based Cryptococcal Antigen Screening and Preemptive Fluconazole Therapy for Cryptococcal Antigenemia in HIV-Infected Individuals With CD4 <100 Cells/microL: A Stepped-Wedge, Cluster-Randomized Trial. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2019 Feb 1;80(2):182-189. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001894.

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Indications