Identifying common opportunistic infections among people with advanced HIV disease: policy brief
Loading...
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
World Health Organization
Abstract
Description
iv, 18 p.
This policy brief summarizes WHO guidance on identifying the major opportunistic infections affecting people with advanced HIV disease in settings with a high burden of HIV infection. Intended for health-care workers, national HIV programme managers and civil society representatives, it supports implementation of the WHO-recommended package of care by outlining key screening and diagnostic interventions for advanced HIV disease. The document emphasizes the importance of CD4 cell count testing to identify individuals at greatest risk of severe illness and death and describes current WHO recommendations for diagnosing tuberculosis, cryptococcal disease and histoplasmosis, together with the role of rapid and point-of-care diagnostic technologies. The brief highlights evidence-based approaches for systematic tuberculosis screening, molecular diagnostics, urine lipoarabinomannan (LF-LAM) testing, cryptococcal antigen screening and histoplasma antigen testing, and discusses their integration into HIV programmes to facilitate timely diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis. It also considers additional opportunistic infections relevant to advanced HIV disease and underscores the need for countries to adapt the package of care to local epidemiology while ensuring equitable access to essential diagnostics. The document concludes that expanding access to appropriate diagnostic tools is critical to reducing HIV-related morbidity and mortality and improving outcomes for people living with advanced HIV disease.
This policy brief summarizes WHO guidance on identifying the major opportunistic infections affecting people with advanced HIV disease in settings with a high burden of HIV infection. Intended for health-care workers, national HIV programme managers and civil society representatives, it supports implementation of the WHO-recommended package of care by outlining key screening and diagnostic interventions for advanced HIV disease. The document emphasizes the importance of CD4 cell count testing to identify individuals at greatest risk of severe illness and death and describes current WHO recommendations for diagnosing tuberculosis, cryptococcal disease and histoplasmosis, together with the role of rapid and point-of-care diagnostic technologies. The brief highlights evidence-based approaches for systematic tuberculosis screening, molecular diagnostics, urine lipoarabinomannan (LF-LAM) testing, cryptococcal antigen screening and histoplasma antigen testing, and discusses their integration into HIV programmes to facilitate timely diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis. It also considers additional opportunistic infections relevant to advanced HIV disease and underscores the need for countries to adapt the package of care to local epidemiology while ensuring equitable access to essential diagnostics. The document concludes that expanding access to appropriate diagnostic tools is critical to reducing HIV-related morbidity and mortality and improving outcomes for people living with advanced HIV disease.