Browsing by Author "Musoke, Philippa"
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Item A cross-sectional study of the magnitude, barriers, and outcomes of HIV status disclosure among women participating in a perinatal HIV transmission study, “The Nevirapine Repeat Pregnancy study”(BMC Public Health, 2015) Kiweewa, Flavia M; Bakaki, Paul M; McConnell, Michelle S; Musisi, Maria; Namirembe, Constance; Nakayiwa, Frances; Kusasira, Fiona; Nakintu, Dorothy; Mubiru, Michael C; Musoke, Philippa; Fowler, Mary GlennBackground HIV status disclosure is a difficult emotional task for HIV-infected persons and may create the opportunity for both social support and rejection. In this study, we evaluated the proportions, patterns, barriers and outcomes of HIV- 1 status disclosure among a group of women in Uganda. Methods An exit interview was conducted one year post-partum for 85 HIV-infected women who participated in a study of HIV-1 transmission rates among NVP-experienced compared with NVP-naïve women in “The Nevirapine Repeat Pregnancy (NVP-RP) Study” at the Makerere University-Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration, Kampala-Uganda, between June 2004 and June 2006.ResultsOf the 85 women interviewed, 99 % had disclosed their HIV status to at least one other person. Disclosure proportions ranged between 1 % to employer(s) and 69 % to a relative other than a parent. Only 38 % of the women had disclosed to their sex partners. Women with an HIV-infected baby were more likely than those with an uninfected baby to disclose to their sex partner, OR 4.9 (95 % CI, 2.0 –11.2), and women were less likely to disclose to a partner if they had previously disclosed to another relative than if they had not, OR 0.19 (95 % CI, 0.14–0.52). The most common reasons for non-disclosure included fear of separation from the partner and subsequent loss of financial support 34 %, and not living with the partner (not having opportunities to disclose) 26 %. While most women (67 %) reported getting social support following disclosure, 22 % reported negative outcomes (neglect, separation from their partners, and loss of financial support). Following disclosure of HIV status, 9 % of women reported that their partner (s) decided to have an HIV test. Conclusion Results from this study show high overall HIV disclosure proportions and how this disclosure of HIV status can foster social support. However, proportions of disclosure specifically to male sex partners were low, which suggests the need for interventions aimed at increasing male involvement in perinatal care, along with supportive counseling.Item A Hospital-Based Birth Defects Surveillance System In Kampala, Uganda(BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2019) Mwanja, Daniel Mumpe; Mosha, Linda Barlow; Williamson, Dhelia; Valencia, Diana; Serunjogi, Robert; Kakande, Ayoub; Matovu, Joyce Namale; Nankunda, Jolly; Male, Doreen Birabwa; Okwero, Margaret Achom; Sabiiti, Jesca Nsungwa; Musoke, PhilippaIn 2010, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution calling upon countries to prevent birth defects where possible. Though birth defects surveillance programs are an important source of information to guide implementation and evaluation of preventive interventions, many countries that shoulder the largest burden of birth defects do not have surveillance programs. This paper shares the results of a hospital-based birth defects surveillance program in Uganda which, can be adopted by similar resource-limited countries.All informative births, including live births, stillbirths and spontaneous abortions; regardless of gestational age, delivered at four selected hospitals in Kampala from August 2015 to December 2017 were examined for birth defects. Demographic data were obtained by midwives through maternal interviews and review of hospital patient notes and entered in an electronic data collection tool. Identified birth defects were confirmed through bedside examination by a physician and review of photographs and a narrative description by a birth defects expert. Informative births (live, still and spontaneous abortions) with a confirmed birth defect were included in the numerator, while the total informative births (live, still and spontaneous abortions) were included in the denominator to estimate the prevalence of birth defects per 10,000 births.The overall prevalence of birth defects was 66.2/10,000 births (95% CI 60.5–72.5). The most prevalent birth defects (per 10,000 births) were: Hypospadias, 23.4/10,000 (95% CI 18.9–28.9); Talipes equinovarus, 14.0/10,000 (95% CI 11.5–17.1) and Neural tube defects, 10.3/10,000 (95% CI 8.2–13.0). The least prevalent were: Microcephaly, 1.6/10,000 (95% CI 0.9–2.8); Microtia and Anotia, 1.6/10,000 (95% CI 0.9–2.8) and Imperforate anus, 2.0/10,000 (95% CI 1.2–3.4).A hospital-based surveillance project with active case ascertainment can generate reliable epidemiologic data about birth defects prevalence and can inform prevention policies and service provision needs in low and middle-income countries.Item A hospital-based birth defects surveillance system in Kampala, Uganda(BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2019) Mumpe-Mwanja, Daniel; Barlow-Mosha, Linda; Williamson, Dhelia; Valencia, Diana; Serunjogi, Robert; Kakande, Ayoub; Namale-Matovu, Joyce; Nankunda, Jolly; Birabwa-Male, Doreen; Okwero, Margaret Achom; Nsungwa-Sabiiti, Jesca; Musoke, PhilippaBackground: In 2010, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution calling upon countries to prevent birth defects where possible. Though birth defects surveillance programs are an important source of information to guide implementation and evaluation of preventive interventions, many countries that shoulder the largest burden of birth defects do not have surveillance programs. This paper shares the results of a hospital-based birth defects surveillance program in Uganda which, can be adopted by similar resource-limited countries. Methods: All informative births, including live births, stillbirths and spontaneous abortions; regardless of gestational age, delivered at four selected hospitals in Kampala from August 2015 to December 2017 were examined for birth defects. Demographic data were obtained by midwives through maternal interviews and review of hospital patient notes and entered in an electronic data collection tool. Identified birth defects were confirmed through bedside examination by a physician and review of photographs and a narrative description by a birth defects expert. Informative births (live, still and spontaneous abortions) with a confirmed birth defect were included in the numerator, while the total informative births (live, still and spontaneous abortions) were included in the denominator to estimate the prevalence of birth defects per 10,000 births. Results: The overall prevalence of birth defects was 66.2/10,000 births (95% CI 60.5–72.5). The most prevalent birth defects (per 10,000 births) were: Hypospadias, 23.4/10,000 (95% CI 18.9–28.9); Talipes equinovarus, 14.0/10,000 (95% CI11.5–17.1) and Neural tube defects, 10.3/10,000 (95% CI 8.2–13.0). The least prevalent were: Microcephaly, 1.6/10,000 (95% CI 0.9–2.8); Microtia and Anotia, 1.6/10,000 (95% CI 0.9–2.8) and Imperforate anus, 2.0/10,000 (95% CI 1.2–3.4). Conclusion: A hospital-based surveillance project with active case ascertainment can generate reliable epidemiologic data about birth defects prevalence and can inform prevention policies and service provision needs in low and middle income countries.Item A Phase I/II Study Of The Safety And Pharmacokinetics Of Nevirapine In HIV-1-Infected Pregnant Ugandan Women And Their Neonates (HIVNET 006)(Aids, 1999) Musoke, Philippa; Guay, Laura A.; Bagenda, Danstan; Mirochnick, Mark; Nakabiito, Clemensia; Fleming, Thomas; Elliott, Terry; Horton, Scott; Dransfield, Kevin; Pav, Joseph W.; Murarka, Amal; Allen, Melissa; Fowler, Mary Glenn; Mofenson, Lynne; Hom, David; Mmiro, Francis; Jackson, J. BrooksTo determine the safety, pharmacokinetics, tolerance, antiretroviral activity, and infant HIV infection status after giving a single dose of nevirapine to HIV-1-infected pregnant women during labor and their newborns during the first week of life.An open label phase I/II study.Tertiary care hospital, Kampala, Uganda.Nevirapine, 200mg, was given as a single dose during labor to 21 HIV-1-infected pregnant Ugandan women. In cohort 1, eight infants did not receive nevirapine whereas in cohort 2, 13 infants received a single dose of nevirapine, 2mg/kg, at 72h of age.The number and type of adverse events; nevirapine concentrations in the plasma and breast milk; maternal plasma HIV-1 RNA copy number before and up to 6 weeks after delivery; and HIV-1 infection status of the infants were monitored.Nevirapine was well tolerated by women and infants; no serious adverse events that were related to nevirapine were observed. Median nevirapine concentration in the women at delivery was 1623ng/ml (range 238-2356ng/ml); median cord/maternal blood ratio of 0.75 (0.37-0.93). The median half-life in women was 61.3h (27-90h) and the transplacental nevirapine half-life in infants who did not receive a neonatal dose was 54h. The median half-life after a single dose at 72h in infants was 46.5h. During the first week of life, the median colostrum/breast milk to maternal plasma nevirapine concentration was 60.5% (25-122%). The median nevirapine concentration in breast milk 1 week after delivery was 103ng/ml (25-309ng/ml). Plasma nevirapine concentrations were above 100ng/ml in all infants from both cohorts tested at age 7 days. Maternal HIV-1 RNA levels decreased by a median of 1.3 logs at 1 week postpartum, and returned to baseline by 6 weeks postpartum. Detectable plasma HIV-1 RNA was observed in one out of 22 (4.5%) infants at birth; three out of 21 (14%) at 6 weeks; and four out of 21 (19%) at 6 months of age.The administration of a single dose of nevirapine to women during labor and to their newborns at 72h was well tolerated and showed potent antiretroviral activity in the women at 1 week after dosing without rebound above baseline 6 weeks after a single dose. The nevirapine concentration was maintained above the target of 100ng/ml in infants at age 7 days, even in those infants not receiving a neonatal dose. This regimen has promise as prophylaxis against intrapartum and early breast milk transmission in a breastfeeding population.Item Adherence To Antiretroviral Therapy In Children Attending Mulago Hospital, Kampala(Annals of tropical paediatrics, 2007) Barungi, Nicolette Nabukeera; Kalyesubula, Israel; Kekitiinwa, Addy; Tusiime, Jayne Byakika; Musoke, PhilippaNon-adherence reduces the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy in children attending the paediatric HIV/AIDS clinic at Mulago Hospital, Kampala.To determine the levels of adherence to HAART and identify factors associated with non-adherence.A cross-sectional study of 170 children aged 2–18 years. Adherence to HAART was defined as taking ≥95% of prescribed medication. It was determined using three measures: a 3-day self-report by the caregivers, clinic-based pill counts at enrolment and home-based unannounced pill counts 2–3 weeks later.The 3-day self-reported ≥95% adherence was 89.4% (n=170). Using clinic-based pill counts, 94.1% (n=170) had ≥95% adherence to treatment compared with only 72% (n=164) by unannounced pill counts. When the primary caregiver was the only one who knew the child's serostatus, he/she was three times more likely to be non-adherent (p=0.02, OR 3.34, 95% CI 1.14–9.82). Those who had been hospitalised twice or more before starting HAART were more likely to have ≥95% adherence (p=0.02, OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.20–0.92). The majority of children had good adherence levels when estimated by unannounced pill counts. Disclosing the child's HIV serostatus only to the primary caregiver and having been hospitalised only once or not at all were associated with poor adherence.Item Adherence to antiretroviral therapy in children attending Mulago Hospital, Kampala(Annals of tropical Paediatrics, 2007) Nabukeera-Barungi, Nicolette; Kalyesubula, Israel; Kekitiinwa, Addy; Byakika-Tusiime, Jayne; Musoke, PhilippaBackground: Non-adherence reduces the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy in children attending the paediatric HIV/AIDS clinic at Mulago Hospital, Kampala. Aim: To determine the levels of adherence to HAART and identify factors associated with non-adherence. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 170 children aged 2–18 years. Adherence to HAART was defined as taking >95% of prescribed medication. It was determined using three measures: a 3-day self-report by the caregivers, clinic-based pill counts at enrolment and home-based unannounced pill counts 2–3 weeks later. Results: The 3-day self-reported >95% adherence was 89.4% (n5170). Using clinic-based pill counts, 94.1% (n5170) had >95% adherence to treatment compared with only 72% (n5164) by unannounced pill counts. When the primary caregiver was the only one who knew the child’s serostatus, he/she was three times more likely to be non-adherent (p50.02, OR 3.34, 95% CI 1.14–9.82). Those who had been hospitalised twice or more before starting HAART were more likely to have >95% adherence (p50.02, OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.20–0.92). Conclusion: The majority of children had good adherence levels when estimated by unannounced pill counts. Disclosing the child’s HIV serostatus only to the primary caregiver and having been hospitalised only once or not at all were associated with poor adherence.Item Analysis of Drug Resistance in Children Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy for Treatment of HIV-1 Infection in Uganda(AIDS research and human retroviruses, 2010) Towler, William I.; Barlow-Mosha, Linda; Church, Jessica D.; Bagenda, Danstan; Ajuna, Patrick; Mubiru, Micheal; Musoke, Philippa; Eshleman, Susan H.We analyzed drug resistance in HIV-infected Ugandan children who received antiretroviral therapy in a prospective, observational study (2004–2006); some children had prior single-dose nevirapine (sdNVP) exposure. Children received stavudine (d4T), lamivudine (3TC), and nevirapine (NVP); treatment was continued if they were clinically and immunologically stable. Samples with >1,000 copies=ml HIV RNA were analyzed by using the ViroSeq HIV Genotyping System (ViroSeq). Subtype A and D pretreatment samples also were analyzed with the LigAmp assay (for K103N, Y181C, and G190A). ViroSeq results were obtained for 74 pretreatment samples (35 from sdNVP-exposed children (median age, 19 months) and 39 from sdNVP-unexposed children (median age, 84 months). This included 39 subtype A, 22 subtype D, 1 subtype C, and 12 inter-subtype recombinant samples. One sample had nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) resistance, one had nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) resistance, and three had protease inhibitor (PI) resistance. Y181C was detected by using LigAmp in five pretreatment samples [four (14.8%) of 37 samples from sdNVP-exposed children, one (4.2%) of 24 samples from children without prior sdNVP exposure; p¼0.35]. Among children who were not virally suppressed at 48 weeks of treatment, all 12 tested had NNRTI resistance, as well as resistance to 3TC and emtricitibine (FTC); three had resistance to other NRTIs. Seven of those children had a ViroSeq result at 96 weeks of treatment; four of the seven acquired resistance to additional NRTIs by 96 weeks. In Uganda, clinically and immunologically stable children receiving nonsuppressive antiretroviral treatment regimens are at risk for development of drug resistance.Item Analysis of Drug Resistance in Children Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy for Treatment of HIV-1 Infection in Uganda(AIDS research and human retroviruses, 2010) Towler, William I.; Mosha, Linda Barlow; Church, Jessica D.; Bagenda, Danstan; Ajuna, Patrick; Mubiru, Micheal; Musoke, Philippa; Eshleman, Susan H.We analyzed drug resistance in HIV-infected Ugandan children who received antiretroviral therapy in a prospective, observational study (2004–2006); some children had prior single-dose nevirapine (sdNVP) exposure. Children received stavudine (d4T), lamivudine (3TC), and nevirapine (NVP); treatment was continued if they were clinically and immunologically stable. Samples with >1,000 copies/ml HIV RNA were analyzed by using the ViroSeq HIV Genotyping System (ViroSeq). Subtype A and D pretreatment samples also were analyzed with the LigAmp assay (for K103N, Y181C, and G190A). ViroSeq results were obtained for 74 pretreatment samples (35 from sdNVP-exposed children (median age, 19 months) and 39 from sdNVP-unexposed children (median age, 84 months). This included 39 subtype A, 22 subtype D, 1 subtype C, and 12 inter-subtype recombinant samples. One sample had nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) resistance, one had nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) resistance, and three had protease inhibitor (PI) resistance. Y181C was detected by using LigAmp in five pretreatment samples [four (14.8%) of 37 samples from sdNVP-exposed children, one (4.2%) of 24 samples from children without prior sdNVP exposure; p = 0.35]. Among children who were not virally suppressed at 48 weeks of treatment, all 12 tested had NNRTI resistance, as well as resistance to 3TC and emtricitibine (FTC); three had resistance to other NRTIs. Seven of those children had a ViroSeq result at 96 weeks of treatment; four of the seven acquired resistance to additional NRTIs by 96 weeks. In Uganda, clinically and immunologically stable children receiving nonsuppressive antiretroviral treatment regimens are at risk for development of drug resistance.Item Analysis of HIV Diversity Using a High-Resolution Melting Assay(AIDS research and human retroviruses, 2010) Towler, William I.; James, Maria M.; Ray, Stuart C.; Wang, Lei; Donnell, Deborah; Mwatha, Anthony; Guay, Laura; Nakabiito, Clemensia; Musoke, Philippa; Jackson, J. Brooks; Eshleman, SusanHIV viruses are usually genetically homogeneous shortly after infection, and become more heterogeneous over time. We developed a high-resolution melting (HRM) assay to analyze HIV diversity without sequencing. Plasma samples from the HIVNET 012 trial were obtained from nine Ugandan mother–infant pairs. DNA amplified from the HIV gag region was analyzed to determine the number of degrees over which the DNA melted (HRM score). HRM gag DNA was also cloned and sequenced (50 clones/mother; 20 clones/infant). The median HRM score for infants (4.3, range 4.2–5.3) was higher than that for control plasmids (3.4, range 3.2–3.8, p < 0.001) and lower than that for mothers (5.7, range 4.4–7.7, p = 0.005, exact Wilcoxon rank sum test). The intraclass correlation coefficient reflecting assay reproducibility was 94% (95% CI: 89–98%). HRM scores were also compared to sequenced-based measures of HIV diversity; higher HRM scores were associated with higher genetic diversity (p < 0.001), complexity (p = 0.009), and Shannon entropy (p = 0.022), but not with length variation (p = 0.111). The HRM assay provides a novel, rapid method for assessing HIV diversity without sequencing. This assay could be applied to any region of the HIV genome or to other genetic systems that exhibit DNA diversity.Item Analysis of HIV tropism in Ugandan infants(Current HIV research, 2010) Church, Jessica D.; Huang, Wei; Mwatha, Anthony; Musoke, Philippa; Jackson, J. Brooks; Bagenda, Danstan; Omer, Saad B.; Donnell, Deborah; Nakabiito, Clemensia; Eure, Chineta; Guay, Laura A.; Taylor, Allan; Bakaki, Paul M.; Matovu, Flavia; McConnell, Michelle; Fowler, Mary Glenn; Eshleman, Susan H.HIV-infected infants may have CXCR4-using (X4-tropic) HIV, CCR5-using (R5-tropic) HIV, or a mixture of R5-tropic and X4-tropic HIV (dual/mixed, DM HIV). The level of infectivity for R5 virus (R5-RLU) varies among HIV-infected infants. HIV tropism and R5-RLU were measured in samples from HIV-infected Ugandan infants using a commercial assay. DM HIV was detected in 7/72 (9.7%) infants at the time of HIV diagnosis (birth or 6–8 weeks of age, 4/15 (26.7%) with subtype D, 3/57 (5.3 %) with other subtypes, P=0.013). A transition from R5-tropic to DM HIV was observed in only two (6.7%) of 30 infants over 6–12 months. Six (85.7%) of seven infants with DM HIV died, compared to 21/67 (31.3%) infants with R5-tropic HIV (p=0.09). Higher R5- RLU at 6–8 weeks was not associated with decreased survival. Infants with in utero infection had a higher median R5-RLU than infants who were HIV-uninfected at birth (p=0.025).Item Analysis of Nevirapine (NVP) Resistance in Ugandan Infants Who Were HIV Infected Despite Receiving Single-Dose (SD) NVP versus SD NVP Plus Daily NVP Up to 6 Weeks of Age to Prevent HIV Vertical Transmission(The Journal of infectious disease, 2010) Church, Jessica D.; Omer, Saad B.; Guay, Laura A.; Huang, Wei; Lidstrom, Jessica; Musoke, Philippa; Mmiro, Francis; Jackson, J. Brooks; Eshleman, Susan H.Background. Single-dose nevirapine (SD NVP) at birth plus NVP prophylaxis for the infant up to 6 weeks of age is superior to SD NVPalone for prevention of vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through breastfeeding. We analyzed NVP resistance in HIV-infected Ugandan infants who received either SD NVP or extended NVP prophylaxis. Methods. We tested plasma HIV by using a genotyping assay (ViroSeq; Celera Diagnostics), a phenotypic resistance assay (PhenoSense; Monogram Biosciences), and sensitive point mutation assay (LigAmp, for K103N, Y181C, and G190A). Results. When infants were 6 weeks old, ViroSeq detected NVP resistance in a higher proportion of infants in the extended NVP arm than in the SD NVP arm (21 of 25 [84%] vs. 12 of 24 [50%]; P = .01). Similar results were obtained with LigAmp and PhenoSense. In both study arms, infants who were HIV infected at birth frequently had NVP resistance detected. In contrast, infants in the extended NVP arm who were HIV infected after birth were more likely to have resistance detected at 6 weeks, compared with infants in the SD NVP arm. The use of extended NVP prophylaxis was also associated with detection of NVP resistance by ViroSeq at 6 months (7 of 7 [100%] infants in the extended NVP arm had resistance detected, compared with 1 of 6 [16.7%] infants in the SD NVP arm; P = .005). Conclusions. The use of extended NVP prophylaxis was associated with increased selection for and persistence of NVP resistance in HIV-infected Ugandan infants.Item Antiretroviral Treatment for Children with Peripartum Nevirapine Exposure(New England Journal of Medicine, 2010) Palumbo, Paul; Lindsey, Jane C.; Hughes, Michael D.; Cotton, Mark F.; Bobat, Raziya; Meyers, Tammy; Dangarembizi, Mutsawashe Bwakura; Chi, Benjamin H.; Musoke, Philippa; Kamthunzi, Portia; Schimana, Werner; Purdue, Lynette; Eshleman, Susan H.; Abrams, Elaine J.; Millar, Linda; Petzold, Elizabeth; Mofenson, Lynne M.; Philippe, Patrick Jean; Violari, AvySingle-dose nevirapine is the cornerstone of the regimen for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in resource-limited settings, but nevirapine frequently selects for resistant virus in mothers and children who become infected despite prophylaxis. The optimal antiretroviral treatment strategy for children who have had prior exposure to single-dose nevirapine is unknown.We conducted a randomized trial of initial therapy with zidovudine and lamivudine plus either nevirapine or ritonavir-boosted lopinavir in HIV-infected children 6 to 36 months of age, in six African countries, who qualified for treatment according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Results are reported for the cohort that included children exposed to single-dose nevirapine prophylaxis. The primary end point was virologic failure or discontinuation of treatment by study week 24. Enrollment in this cohort was terminated early on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring board. A total of 164 children were enrolled. The median percentage of CD4+ lymphocytes was 19%; a total of 56% of the children had WHO stage 3 or 4 disease. More children in the nevirapine group than in the ritonavir-boosted lopinavir group reached a primary end point (39.6% vs. 21.7%; weighted difference, 18.6 percentage-points; 95% confidence interval, 3.7 to 33.6; nominal P=0.02). Baseline resistance to nevirapine was detected in 18 of 148 children (12%) and was predictive of treatment failure. No significant between-group differences were seen in the rate of adverse events.Among children with prior exposure to single-dose nevirapine for perinatal prevention of HIV transmission, antiretroviral treatment consisting of zidovudine and lamivudine plus ritonavir-boosted lopinavir resulted in better outcomes than did treatment with zidovudine and lamivudine plus nevirapine. Since nevirapine is used for both treatment and perinatal prevention of HIV infection in resource-limited settings, alternative strategies for the prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child, as well as for the treatment of HIV infection, are urgently required. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00307151. opens in new tab.)Item Association of cord blood Nevirapine concentration with reported timing of dose and HIV-1 transmission(Aids, 2006) Jackson, J. Brooks; Parsons, Teresa; Musoke, Philippa; Nakabiito, Clemensia; Donnell, Deborah; Fleming, Thomas; Mirochnick, Mark; Mofenson, Lynne; Fowler, Mary Glenn; Mmiro, Francis; Guay, LauraBackground: To correlate nevirapine presence and concentration in cord bloods of infants born to HIV-1 infected women with report of timing of dose and HIV-1 transmission at 6 weeks of age. Methods: All available cord blood samples from the infants of mothers enrolled in the HIVNET 012 trial who were randomly assigned to receive either nevirapine or zidovudine at the onset of labor were tested for a nevirapine concentration. Results: Nevirapine was detected in the cord blood of 244 of 259 (94%) infants whose mothers reported they took nevirapine in labor more than 1 h before delivery and in 12 of 13 (92%) infants whose mothers reported they took nevirapine less than 1 h before delivery. The median nevirapine cord blood concentration was 1238 ng/ml [interquartile range (IQR), 905–1474 ng/ml] and 122 ng/ml (IQR, 64–321 ng/ml) for women who reported taking nevirapine more or less than 1 h before delivery, respectively (P < 0.001). The median nevirapine cord blood concentration of infants who were HIV-1 negative at birth, but positive at 6–8 weeks of age (n ¼ 11), was 916 ng/ml (IQR, 737–1245 ng/ml) compared with 1192 ng/ml (IQR, 875–1471 ng/ml) for uninfected infants (n ¼ 236). Conclusions: Cord blood nevirapine concentration correlated well with report of nevirapine administration and timing of dose before delivery. The nevirapine cord blood concentration was modestly lower in infected infants, although the number of infants infected between birth and 6–8 weeks of age was small (n ¼ 11). The high adherence rate in the HIVNET 012 study supports the efficacy, simplicity and deliverability of this regimen.Item Association of HIV Diversity and Survival in HIV-Infected Ugandan Infants(PLoS One, 2011) James, Maria M.; Wang, Lei; Musoke, Philippa; Donnell, Deborah; Fogel, Jessica; Towler, William I.; Khaki, Leila; Nakabiito, Clemensia; Jackson, J. Brooks; Eshleman, Susan H.Background: The level of viral diversity in an HIV-infected individual can change during the course of HIV infection, reflecting mutagenesis during viral replication and selection of viral variants by immune and other selective pressures. Differences in the level of viral diversity in HIV-infected infants may reflect differences in viral dynamics, immune responses, or other factors that may also influence HIV disease progression. We used a novel high resolution melting (HRM) assay to measure HIV diversity in Ugandan infants and examined the relationship between diversity and survival through 5 years of age. Methods: Plasma samples were obtained from 31 HIV-infected infants (HIVNET 012 trial). The HRM assay was used to measure diversity in two regions in the gag gene (Gag1 and Gag2) and one region in the pol gene (Pol). Results: HRM scores in all three regions increased with age from 6–8 weeks to 12–18 months (for Gag1: P = 0.005; for Gag2: P = 0.006; for Pol: P = 0.016). Higher HRM scores at 6–8 weeks of age (scores above the 75th percentile) were associated with an increased risk of death by 5 years of age (for Pol: P = 0.005; for Gag1/Gag2 (mean of two scores): P = 0.003; for Gag1/ Gag2/Pol (mean of three scores): P = 0.002). We did not find an association between HRM scores and other clinical and laboratory variables. Conclusions: Genetic diversity in HIV gag and pol measured using the HRM assay was typically low near birth and increased over time. Higher HIV diversity in these regions at 6–8 weeks of age was associated with a significantly increased risk of death by 5 years of ageItem Association of HIV Diversity and Survival in HIV-Infected Ugandan Infants(PLoS One, 2011) James, Maria M.; Wang, Lei; Musoke, Philippa; Donnell, Deborah; Fogel, Jessica; Towler, William I.; Khaki, Leila; Nakabiito, Clemensia; Jackson, J. Brooks; Eshleman, Susan H.The level of viral diversity in an HIV-infected individual can change during the course of HIV infection, reflecting mutagenesis during viral replication and selection of viral variants by immune and other selective pressures. Differences in the level of viral diversity in HIV-infected infants may reflect differences in viral dynamics, immune responses, or other factors that may also influence HIV disease progression. We used a novel high resolution melting (HRM) assay to measure HIV diversity in Ugandan infants and examined the relationship between diversity and survival through 5 years of age.Plasma samples were obtained from 31 HIV-infected infants (HIVNET 012 trial). The HRM assay was used to measure diversity in two regions in the gag gene (Gag1 and Gag2) and one region in the pol gene (Pol).HRM scores in all three regions increased with age from 6–8 weeks to 12–18 months (for Gag1: P = 0.005; for Gag2: P = 0.006; for Pol: P = 0.016). Higher HRM scores at 6–8 weeks of age (scores above the 75th percentile) were associated with an increased risk of death by 5 years of age (for Pol: P = 0.005; for Gag1/Gag2 (mean of two scores): P = 0.003; for Gag1/Gag2/Pol (mean of three scores): P = 0.002). We did not find an association between HRM scores and other clinical and laboratory variables.Genetic diversity in HIV gag and pol measured using the HRM assay was typically low near birth and increased over time. Higher HIV diversity in these regions at 6–8 weeks of age was associated with a significantly increased risk of death by 5 years of age.Item Associations of Chemokine Receptor Polymorphisms With HIV-1 Mother-to-Child Transmission in Sub-Saharan Africa: Possible Modulation of Genetic Effects by Antiretrovirals(Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes, 1999) Singh, Kumud K.; Hughes, Michael D.; Chen, Jie; Phiri, Kelesitse; Rousseau, Christine; Kuhn, Louise; Coutsoudis, Anna; Jackson, J. Brooks; Guay, Laura A.; Musoke, Philippa; Mmiro, Francis; Semba, Richard D.; Spector, Stephen A.Background—HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) remains an important route of infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods—Genetic variants in CCR5 promoter, CCR2, CX3CR1, and Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) genes were determined in 980 infants from sub-Saharan Africa using real-time polymerase chain reaction to determine association with MTCT. Results—In antiretroviral-naive mother–infant pairs (n = 637), CCR5 promoter polymorphisms at positions 59029: A allele vs. G/G [odds ratio (OR): 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04 to 2.48; P = 0.032] and 59356: T allele vs. C/C (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.41 to 0.96; P = 0.033) and CCR2-180: G allele vs. A/A (OR: 3.32, 95% CI: 1.13 to 9.73; P = 0.029) were associated with risk of MTCT. Treatment of HIV-1–infected mothers and infants with single-dose nevirapine or perinatal zidovudine altered but did not eliminate the association of genetic variants with MTCT. Conclusions—CCR5 promoter, CCR2, and CX3CR1 polymorphisms were associated with risk of MTCT likely through their role as an HIV-1 coreceptor or by modulating the early immune response. genetics may continue to alter MTCT when short-course interventions that only partially suppress virus are used. These findings will need to be confirmed in validation cohorts with a large number of infected infants.Item Associations of Chemokine Receptor Polymorphisms With HIV-1 Mother-to-Child Transmission in Sub-Saharan Africa: Possible Modulation of Genetic Effects by Antiretrovirals(Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes, 2008) Singh, Kumud K.; Hughes, Michael D.; Chen, Jie; Phiri, Kelesitse; Rousseau, Christine; Kuhn, Louise; Coutsoudis, Anna; Jackson, J. Brooks; Guay, Laura A.; Musoke, Philippa; Mmiro, Francis; Semba, Richard D.; Spector, Stephen A.HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) remains an important route of infection in sub-Saharan Africa.Genetic variants in CCR5 promoter, CCR2, CX3CR1, and Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) genes were determined in 980 infants from sub-Saharan Africa using real-time polymerase chain reaction to determine association with MTCT.In antiretroviral-naive mother–infant pairs (n = 637), CCR5 promoter polymorphisms at positions 59029: A allele vs. G/G [odds ratio (OR): 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04 to 2.48; P = 0.032] and 59356: T allele vs. C/C (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.41 to 0.96; P = 0.033) and CCR2-180: G allele vs. A/A (OR: 3.32, 95% CI: 1.13 to 9.73; P = 0.029) were associated with risk of MTCT. Treatment of HIV-1–infected mothers and infants with single-dose nevirapine or perinatal zidovudine altered but did not eliminate the association of genetic variants with MTCT.CCR5 promoter, CCR2, and CX3CR1 polymorphisms were associated with risk of MTCT likely through their role as an HIV-1 coreceptor or by modulating the early immune response. Host genetics may continue to alter MTCT when short-course interventions that only partially suppress virus are used. These findings will need to be confirmed in validation cohorts with a large number of infected infants.Item Bacteraemia in severely malnourished children in an HIV-endemic setting(Annals of tropical paediatrics, 2006) Babirekere-Iriso, Esther; Musoke, Philippa; Kekitiinwa, AdeodataBackground: HIV infection predisposes children with malnutrition to recurrent bacterial infections and a high risk of bacteraemia. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study to determine the prevalence, causative organisms, antibiotic sensitivity and factors associated with bacteraemia in malnourished children was undertaken at Mulago Hospital, Kampala. The prevalence of HIV infection was also determined. A total of 134 children aged 6–59 months with severe malnutrition were recruited. Results: Sixty-one (45.5%) had oedematous malnutrition and 73 (54.5%) had severe wasting. Fifty-nine (44.0%) were HIV-infected. The prevalence of bacteraemia was 22%. The predominant organisms isolated were gramnegative enteric bacilli (77%) with Salmonella species and E. coli contributing 67% of the isolates. Hypoglycaemia was significantly associated with bacteraemia (p50.007). Most organisms were resistant to cotrimaxazole (93.3%), ampicillin (76.7%), gentamicin (66.7%) and chloramphenicol (60%). All isolates were sensitive to ceftriaxone. Sensitivity to ciprofloxacin was 97%. There was no strong association between HIV infection and bacteraemia. The relative risk of death in malnourished children with bacteraemia was ten times higher than in those without bacteraemia. Conclusions: Nearly a quarter (22%) of children admitted with severe malnutrition had bacteraemia and gram-negative organisms were the predominant cause. Forty-four per cent were HIV-infected.Most of the bacteria were sensitive to ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin and resistant to commonly used antibiotics. In the absence of culture and sensitivity, ciprofloxacin or ceftriaxone should be considered as first-line antibiotics for severely malnourished children.Item Bacteraemia In Severely Malnourished Children In An HIV-Endemic Setting(Annals of tropical paediatrics, 2006) Iriso, Esther Babirekere; Musoke, Philippa; Kekitiinwa, AdeodataHIV infection predisposes children with malnutrition to recurrent bacterial infections and a high risk of bacteraemia.A cross-sectional descriptive study to determine the prevalence, causative organisms, antibiotic sensitivity and factors associated with bacteraemia in malnourished children was undertaken at Mulago Hospital, Kampala. The prevalence of HIV infection was also determined. A total of 134 children aged 6–59 months with severe malnutrition were recruited.Sixty-one (45.5%) had oedematous malnutrition and 73 (54.5%) had severe wasting. Fifty-nine (44.0%) were HIV-infected. The prevalence of bacteraemia was 22%. The predominant organisms isolated were gram-negative enteric bacilli (77%) with Salmonella species and E. coli contributing 67% of the isolates. Hypoglycaemia was significantly associated with bacteraemia (p=0.007). Most organisms were resistant to cotrimaxazole (93.3%), ampicillin (76.7%), gentamicin (66.7%) and chloramphenicol (60%). All isolates were sensitive to ceftriaxone. Sensitivity to ciprofloxacin was 97%. There was no strong association between HIV infection and bacteraemia. The relative risk of death in malnourished children with bacteraemia was ten times higher than in those without bacteraemia.Nearly a quarter (22%) of children admitted with severe malnutrition had bacteraemia and gram-negative organisms were the predominant cause. Forty-four per cent were HIV-infected. Most of the bacteria were sensitive to ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin and resistant to commonly used antibiotics. In the absence of culture and sensitivity, ciprofloxacin or ceftriaxone should be considered as first-line antibiotics for severely malnourished children.Item Bacteremia, Causative Agents and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Among HIV-1–infected Children on Antiretroviral Therapy in Uganda and Zimbabwe(The Pediatric infectious disease journal, 2013) Musiime, Victor; Cook, Adrian; Bakeera-Kitaka, Sabrina; Vhembo, Tichaona; Lutakome, Joseph; Keishanyu, Rosette; Prendergast, Andrew J.; Lubwama, Sam; Robertson, Val; Hughes, Peter; Nathoo, Kusum; Munderi, Paula; Klein, Nigel; Musoke, Philippa; Gibb, Diana M.Bacteremia is common in HIV-infected children in Africa, including after start of antiretroviral therapy (ART), but there are limited data on causative pathogens and their antimicrobial sensitivity patterns in this population. Methods: We analyzed data on blood cultures taken from HIV-infected children developing acute febrile illness after enrollment to the Antiretroviral Research for Watoto (ARROW) clinical trial in Uganda and Zimbabwe. Patterns of bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined and bacteremia rates calculated over time from ART initiation. Results: A total of 848 blood cultures were obtained from 461 children, of which 123 (14.5%) from 105 children (median age 3.5 years, 51% girls) were culture positive, including 75 (8.8%) with clearly pathogenic organisms. The event rates for positive cultures with clearly pathogenic organisms after 0–1, 2–3, 4–11 and ≥12 months on ART were 13.3, 11.4, 2.1 and 0.3 per 1000 person-months of follow-up, respectively. The pathogens isolated (n; %) were Streptococcus pneumoniae (36; 28.3%), Staphylococcus aureus (11; 8.7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (6; 4.7%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6; 4.7%), Salmonella spp (6; 4.7%), Escherichia coli (5; 3.9%), Haemophilus influenzae (1; 0.8%) and fungal spp (4; 3.1%). Other bacteria of doubtful pathogenicity (n = 52; 42%) were also isolated. Most isolates tested were highly (80–100%) susceptible to ceftriaxone, cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin; very few (~5%) were susceptible to cotrimoxazole; S. pneumoniae had high susceptibility to amoxicillin/ampicillin (80%). Conclusions: Rates of proven bacteremia were >20-fold higher immediately after starting ART compared with 12 months later in African HIV-infected children. S. pneumoniae was most commonly isolated, suggesting need for pneumococcal vaccination and effective prophylactic antibiotics.