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Found 67 matches for
Oxford Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health
Incorporating acute HIV infection screening, same-day diagnosis and antiretroviral treatment into routine services for key populations at sexual health clinics in Indonesia: a baseline analysis of the INTERACT prospective study
Posted 02/05/2025. In the INTERACT study, Raph Hamers and collaborators successfully implemented “test-and-immediately-treat” services for persons with acute HIV infection (AHI) at sexual health clinics in Jakarta and Bali. AHI screening at scale offers the potential for enhanced interventions to achieve the full population benefits of “treat-all” strategies and curb the escalated HIV epidemic among key populations in Indonesia.
Challenges associated with dapsone for leprosy treatment in Indonesia - urgent need for access to alternative antimicrobial drugs
Posted 05/03/2025. Marlous Grijsen and colleagues highlight the challenges associated with dapsone for leprosy treatment in Indonesia. Dapsone, a key drug in multi-drug therapy, can cause life-threatening adverse drug reactions, including dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome and hemolytic anemia. Routine screening could prevent these complications, but in many leprosy-endemic areas, testing and alternative regimens are inaccessible or unaffordable. We call for better diagnostics and alternative treatments to ensure safer care.
Rethinking neglected tropical diseases: A shift towards more inclusive and equitable terminology
Posted 05/02/2025. Neglected tropical diseases (NTD) affect >1 billion people, disproportionally affecting under-resourced communities. While the term ‘NTD’ has been instrumental in driving critical funding and policy initiatives, it may also carry unintended negative consequences. Marlous Grijsen and colleagues explore the term NTD to foster dialogue and advocate for more inclusive and equitable language.
Leprosy
Posted 03/12/2024. This comprehensive review, co-authored by Marlous Grijsen and a multidisciplinary team of global experts from leprosy endemic and non-endemic countries, describes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and management of leprosy and the impact it has on quality of life. The paper addresses knowledge gaps and research priorities and offers an up-to-date perspective on leprosy.
A nationwide mixed methods study of gaps and barriers to implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs in hospitals in Indonesia
Posted 23/10/2024. Robert Sinto, Raph Hamers and colleagues conducted a nationwide evaluation of antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASP) in Indonesian public and private hospitals. They found that to date most hospitals only reached an inadequate or basic level of ASP implementation, and they identified several globally-relevant and context-specific barriers. The paper formulates actions recommended for sustainable improvement.
Leprosy identified in Sumba Island, eastern Indonesia: elimination targets under threat
Posted 24/05/2024. Frontline healthcare workers detected 60 persons affected by leprosy in Sumba Island, Indonesia, through teledermatology, over a 3-year period. Marlous Grijsen and colleagues at the Sumba Foundation and Gadjah Mada University highlight the challenges of delivering leprosy care in remote areas, how these translate into population risks of ongoing transmission and disabilities, and how leprosy can re-emerge after reaching national elimination targets.
Characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with pre-delta, delta and omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection in Indonesia (2020–2023): a multicentre prospective cohort study
Posted 26/01/2024. A recent prospective study among Indonesian patients hospitalised with COVID-19, from 2020 to 2023, demonstrated that, despite lower disease severity than delta, the omicron variant still caused substantial patient burdens. Older and unvaccinated individuals remained at higher risk of adverse outcomes, warranting optimised treatment and vaccine booster strategies for this setting. By Raph Hamers
Teledermatology to Improve Access to and Quality of Skin Care in Eastern Indonesia
Posted 12/01/2024. Our recent study in Sumba, a remote island in eastern Indonesia, shows that teledermatology improves access to skin care. Using limited resources, this is a great way to empower frontline healthcare workers, build local capacity and support remote and medically underserved communities across the globe. The project is in collaboration with Sumba Foundation, Gadjah Mada University and OUCRU-Indonesia. From Marlous Grijsen
A Clinically Oriented antimicrobial Resistance surveillance Network (ACORN): pilot implementation in three countries in Southeast Asia, 2019-2020
Posted 01/11/2023. ACORN (A Clinically Oriented Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network) is a WHO GLASS compatible case-based surveillance method for antimicrobial resistance that produces more meaningful and locally actionable data. Rogier van Doorn and colleagues publish the results of a pilot in three countries, showing proof of principle and valuable lessons to be learned going forward. More at: acornamr.net
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis control in Indonesia: a nationwide longitudinal analysis of programme data
Posted 29/08/2023. A large-scale study in Indonesia found devastating consequences on TB control during the COVID-19 pandemic, estimating declines of TB case notification by 26% and treatment coverage by 11%. Districts with high COVID-19 incidence and limited healthcare resources were most affected. Henry Surendra, Raph Hamers and colleagues emphasise the need for resilient health systems.
HIV drug resistance in low-income and middle-income countries
Posted 02/10/2018. Rising prevalence of HIV drug resistance in low and middle-income countries poses a growing threat to the HIV response. To curb resistance, enhanced strategies are needed that improve quality of ART care and treatment. Raph Hamers reviews contemporary data and highlights the potential impact and resistance risks of novel ART strategies and knowledge gaps.
Plasma inflammatory biomarkers predict CD4+ T-cell recovery and viral rebound in HIV-1 infected Africans on suppressive antiretroviral therapy
Posted 22/01/2021. Raph Hamers and colleagues conducted a multi-country prospective study of Africans with HIV-1 on suppressive antiretroviral therapy. Plasma concentrations of sCD14 and CRP predicted subsequent poor CD4+ T-cell recovery, and CXCL10 and sCD163 predicted viral rebound. Further research is needed to increase our understanding of and to explore the potential for adjunctive therapeutic interventions targeting these pathways.
Picturing health: making malaria visible in Asia-Pacific
Posted 07/04/2017. Collaboration between photographer Pearl Gan and Professor Kevin Baird from our EOCRU unit in Jakarta, Indonesia, this photographic project aims to raise public awareness of malaria as a serious health problem for the region by telling the human story of Asia’s invisible malaria burden.
Perceptions, views and practices regarding antibiotic prescribing and stewardship among hospital physicians in Jakarta, Indonesia: a questionnaire-based survey
Posted 07/06/2022. This survey among over 1000 hospital physicians found that antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) implementation in Indonesian hospitals is challenged by institutional, contextual and diagnostic vulnerabilities. Appropriate recognition of the contextual determinants of antibiotic prescribing decision making will be critical to change physicians’ attitudes and develop context-specific AMS interventions. By Ralalicia Limato, Raph Hamers and colleagues.
Genotypes and phenotypes of G6PD deficiency among Indonesian females across diagnostic thresholds of G6PD activity guiding safe primaquine therapy of latent malaria
Posted 02/09/2021. A cross-sectional survey of G6PD deficiency genotypes and phenotypes of nearly two thousand girls and women living on malarious Sumba island in eastern Indonesia assessed risk of hemolytic crisis with primaquine therapy against latent malaria with G6PD screening technologies. These findings by Kevin Baird and colleagues will help guide the selection of G6PD screening methodology and practice.
Optimizing antibiotic use in Indonesia: A systematic review and evidence synthesis to inform opportunities for intervention
Posted 01/06/2022. This review represents a first attempt at systematically assessing human antibiotic use in Indonesia in the past 20 years. Ralalicia Limato, Raph Hamers and colleagues identified critical evidence gaps in the private health care sector, and what are the health system drivers of antibiotic use. Optimisation of antimicrobial use should be a priority of the national agenda for universal health coverage.
Global knowledge gaps on antimicrobial resistance in the human health sector: a scoping review
Posted 14/06/2023. This scoping review, led by Raph Hamers with WHO, aggregated knowledge gaps in antimicrobial resistance in bacteria, including TB, and fungi: 2340 knowledge gaps were consolidated into 177 thematic research questions across 14 AMR areas. The findings informed research priorities in the novel WHO AMR Global Research Agenda for human health.
Antibody Responses and Reactogenicity of a Heterologous, Full-Dose Messenger RNA-1273 Booster in Heavily SARS-CoV-2–Exposed CoronaVac-Vaccinated Health-Care Workers in Indonesia: A Real-World Observational Study
Posted 07/12/2022. In this real-world cohort study in Indonesia, Raph Hamers and colleagues found high antibody responses and good tolerability of a heterologous, full-dose mRNA-1273 (Moderna) booster after two doses of inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac) in healthcare workers in Indonesia, with and without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, including in those who had very low antibody levels.
A multicentre point prevalence survey of patterns and quality of antibiotic prescribing in Indonesian hospitals
Posted 04/05/2021. This survey in Jakarta, Indonesia, led by Licia Limato & Raph Hamers, evaluated patterns and quality indicators of antibiotic prescribing in six public and private hospitals. The study reported a high rate of empirical use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, coupled with poor documentation and guideline adherence, suggesting important areas for antimicrobial stewardship interventions.
Clinical characteristics and mortality associated with COVID-19 in Jakarta, Indonesia
Posted 12/03/2021. Henry Surendra, Raph Hamers and colleagues report a large retrospective study of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Jakarta, Indonesia. In-hospital mortality was lower than reported in high-income countries, likely explained by the younger population, fewer comorbidities and less severe disease. Nonetheless, this study affirmed the vulnerability of elderly and comorbid patients as well as children under 5 years in LMICs