Sylvia M LaCourse, Daniel Leon, Nuttada Panpradist, Barbra A Richardson, Elizabeth Maleche-Obimbo, Jerphason Mecha, Daniel Matemo, Jaclyn N Escudero, John Kinuthia, Barry Lutz, Grace John-Stewart,
We assessed adherence in an infant tuberculosis prevention trial in Kenya with a urine isoniazid metabolite-detecting dipstick. Ninety-seven infants had 155 assays performed; 77 (49.7%) were found to be positive despite caregiver-reported adherence. Positive assays were associated with maternal secondary education, HIV suppression and no reported missed doses in past ... Read more >>
Pediatr Infect Dis J (The Pediatric infectious disease journal)
[2021, 40(1):e43-e45]
Cited: 0 times
Grace Montepiedra, Soyeon Kim, Adriana Weinberg, Gerhard Theron, Timothy R Sterling, Sylvia M LaCourse, Sarah Bradford, Nahida Chakhtoura, Patrick Jean-Philippe, Scott Evans, Amita Gupta,
<h4>Background</h4>Tuberculosis (TB) preventive therapy (TPT) among pregnant women reduces the risk of TB in mothers and infants, but the timing of initiation should consider potential adverse effects. We propose an analytical approach to evaluate the risk-benefit of interventions.<h4>Methods</h4>A novel outcome measure that prioritizes maternal and infant events was developed with ... Read more >>
Clin Infect Dis (Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America)
[2020, :]
Cited: 0 times
Sylvia M LaCourse, Alisa Kachikis, Michela Blain, LaVone E Simmons, James A Mays, Amber D Pattison, Carol C Salerno, Stephen A McCartney, Nicole M Kretzer, Rebecca Resnick, Rosemary L Shay, Leah M Savitsky, Anna C Curtin, Emily M Huebner, Kimberly K Ma, Shani Delaney, Carlos Delgado, Adrienne Schippers, Jeff Munson, Paul S Pottinger, Seth Cohen, Santiago Neme, Lori Bourassa, Andrew Bryan, Alex Greninger, Keith R Jerome, Alison C Roxby, Erica Lokken, Edith Cheng, Kristina M Adams Waldorf, Jane Hitti,
We found a low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 (2.7% [5/188]) among pregnant and postpartum patients after initiating universal testing. Prevalence among symptomatic patients (22.2% [4/18]) was similar to initial targeted screening approaches (19.1% [8/42]). Among 170 asymptomatic patients, two were positive or inconclusive, respectively; repeat testing at 24 hours was negative. ... Read more >>
Clin Infect Dis (Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America)
[2020, :]
Cited: 0 times
Anthony J Garcia-Prats, Nicole Salazar-Austin, James H Conway, Kendra Radtke, Sylvia M LaCourse, Elizabeth Maleche-Obimbo, Anneke C Hesseling, Rada M Savic, Sharon Nachman,
Clinical trials of pharmacologic treatments of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are being rapidly designed and implemented in adults. Children are often not considered during development of novel treatments for infectious diseases until very late. Although children appear to have a lower risk compared to adults of severe COVID-19 disease, a ... Read more >>
Clin Infect Dis (Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America)
[2020, :]
Cited: 0 times
Adriana Weinberg, Lisa Aaron, Grace Montepiedra, Timothy R Sterling, Renee Browning, Blandina Mmbaga, Tichaona Vhembo, Shilpa Naik, Enid Kabugho, Gaerolwe Masheto, Savita Pahwa, Jyoti S Mathad, Sylvia M LaCourse, Katie McCarthy, Sarah Bradford, Gerhard Theron, Diane Costello, Bonnie Zimmer, Marie F Pierre, Kamunkhwala Gausi, Paolo Denti, David W Haas, Amita Gupta, ,
<h4>Background</h4>Pregnancy is accompanied by immune suppression. We hypothesized that M. tuberculosis-specific inflammatory responses used to identify latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) lose positivity during pregnancy. We also hypothesized that isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) may revert LTBI diagnoses because of its sterilizing activity.<h4>Methods</h4>944 women with HIV participating in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled ... Read more >>
Clin Infect Dis (Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America)
[2020, :]
Cited: 0 times
Sylvia M LaCourse, Barbra A Richardson, John Kinuthia, A J Warr, Elizabeth Maleche-Obimbo, Daniel Matemo, Lisa M Cranmer, Jerphason Mecha, Jaclyn N Escudero, Thomas R Hawn, Grace John-Stewart,
<h4>Background</h4>HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants in endemic settings are at high risk of tuberculosis (TB). For infants, progression from primary M. tuberculosis infection to TB disease can be rapid. We assessed whether isoniazid (INH) prevents primary Mtb infection.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a randomized non-blinded controlled trial enrolling HEU infants 6 weeks of age ... Read more >>
Clin Infect Dis (Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America)
[2020, :]
Cited: 0 times
Erica M Lokken, Christie L Walker, Shani Delaney, Alisa Kachikis, Nicole M Kretzer, Anne Erickson, Rebecca Resnick, Jeroen Vanderhoeven, Joseph K Hwang, Nena Barnhart, Jasmine Rah, Stephen A McCartney, Kimberly K Ma, Emily M Huebner, Chad Thomas, Jessica S Sheng, Bettina W Paek, Kristin Retzlaff, Carolyn R Kline, Jeff Munson, Michela Blain, Sylvia M LaCourse, Gail Deutsch, Kristina M Adams Waldorf,
<h4>Background</h4>The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on pregnant women is incompletely understood, but early data from case series suggest a variable course of illness from asymptomatic or mild disease to maternal death. It is unclear whether pregnant women manifest enhanced disease similar to influenza viral infection or whether specific risk ... Read more >>
Am J Obstet Gynecol (American journal of obstetrics and gynecology)
[2020, 223(6):911.e1-911.e14]
Cited: 13 times
Jyoti S Mathad, Sylvia M LaCourse, Amita Gupta,
J Int AIDS Soc (Journal of the International AIDS Society)
[2020, 23(3):e25481]
Cited: 0 times
Sylvia M LaCourse, Barbra A Richardson, John Kinuthia, A J Warr, Elizabeth Maleche-Obimbo, Daniel Matemo, Lisa M Cranmer, Jaclyn N Escudero, Thomas R Hawn, Grace C John-Stewart,
INTRODUCTION:HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants in tuberculosis (TB) endemic settings are at high risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection and TB disease, even in the absence of known Mtb exposure. Because infancy is a time of rapid progression from primary infection to active TB disease, it is important to define when ... Read more >>
BMJ Open (BMJ open)
[2020, 10(1):e034308]
Cited: 0 times
Sylvia M LaCourse, Anjuli D Wagner, Lisa M Cranmer, Audrey Copeland, Elizabeth Maleche-Obimbo, Barbra A Richardson, Daniel Matemo, John Kinuthia, Grace John-Stewart,
<h4>Background</h4>The World Health Organization recommends isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) for people living with HIV (PLHIV) to prevent tuberculosis (TB), including pregnant women. Recent trial results suggest increased adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with IPT during pregnancy. Data are limited regarding programmatic IPT use in pregnant PLHIV.<h4>Methods</h4>We assessed previous programmatic IPT during ... Read more >>
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr (Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999))
[2019, 82(1):41-45]
Cited: 2 times
Irene N Njuguna, Lisa M Cranmer, Anjuli D Wagner, Sylvia M LaCourse, Cyrus Mugo, Sarah Benki-Nugent, Barbra A Richardson, Joshua Stern, Elizabeth Maleche-Obimbo, Dalton C Wamalwa, Grace John-Stewart,
<h4>Objectives</h4>Identifying factors associated with mortality among acutely ill HIV-infected children presenting with advanced HIV disease may help clinicians optimize care for those at highest risk of death.<h4>Design</h4>Using data from a randomized controlled trial (NCT02063880), we determined baseline sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory cofactors of mortality among HIV-infected children in Kenya.<h4>Methods</h4>We enrolled ... Read more >>
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr (Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999))
[2019, 81(2):138-144]
Cited: 0 times
Rewa K Choudhary, Kristin M Wall, Irene Njuguna, Patricia B Pavlinac, Sylvia M LaCourse, Vincent Otieno, John Gatimu, Joshua Stern, Elizabeth Maleche-Obimbo, Dalton Wamalwa, Grace John-Stewart, Lisa M Cranmer,
<h4>Background</h4>The blood monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) is associated with active tuberculosis (TB) in adults but has not been evaluated as a TB diagnostic biomarker in HIV-infected children in whom respiratory sampling is difficult.<h4>Setting</h4>In a cohort of HIV-infected hospitalized Kenyan children initiating antiretroviral therapy, absolute monocyte and lymphocyte counts were determined at ... Read more >>
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr (Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999))
[2019, 80(2):174-181]
Cited: 1 time
Sylvia M LaCourse, Lisa M Cranmer, Irene N Njuguna, John Gatimu, Joshua Stern, Elizabeth Maleche-Obimbo, Judd L Walson, Dalton Wamalwa, Grace C John-Stewart, Patricia B Pavlinac,
Clinical Trials Registration:NCT02063880. ... Read more >>
Clin Infect Dis (Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America)
[2018, 66(11):1798-1801]
Cited: 2 times
Sylvia M LaCourse, Lisa M Cranmer, Adrie Bekker, Karen R Steingart, Danae Black, David J Horne, Eyal Oren, Sherri Pals, Surbhi Modi, Jyoti Mathad,
This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Diagnostic test accuracy). The objectives are as follows: To assess the accuracy of the four-symptom screen (cough, fever, night sweats, or weight loss) for identifying active TB in pregnant PLHIV who are screened in an outpatient or community setting. To investigate potential ... Read more >>
Cochrane Database Syst Rev (The Cochrane database of systematic reviews)
[2018, 2018(1):]
Cited: 2 times
Sylvia M LaCourse, Patricia B Pavlinac, Lisa M Cranmer, Irene N Njuguna, Cyrus Mugo, John Gatimu, Joshua Stern, Judd L Walson, Elizabeth Maleche-Obimbo, Julius Oyugi, Dalton Wamalwa, Grace John-Stewart,
BACKGROUND:Tuberculosis (TB) causes substantial morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected children. Sample collection and the paucibacillary nature of TB in children makes diagnosis challenging. Rapid diagnostic tools using easily obtained specimens are urgently needed. METHODS:Hospitalized, HIV-infected children aged 12 years or less enrolled in a randomized controlled trial (NCT02063880) comparing urgent ... Read more >>
AIDS (AIDS (London, England))
[2018, 32(1):69-78]
Cited: 17 times
Sylvia M LaCourse, Ruth W Deya, Susan M Graham, Linnet N Masese, Walter Jaoko, Kischorchandra N Mandaliya, Julie Overbaugh, R Scott McClelland,
<h4>Background</h4>Kenyan female sex workers (FSWs) have a high HIV prevalence, increasing their tuberculosis (TB) risk. Despite recommendations that HIV-positive individuals be offered isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT), uptake has been limited.<h4>Methods</h4>In this longitudinal cohort of HIV-positive FSWs, we retrospectively characterized the IPT care cascade between March 2000 and January 2010, including ... Read more >>
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr (Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999))
[2017, 76(1):74-81]
Cited: 3 times
Sylvia M LaCourse, Lisa M Cranmer, Daniel Matemo, John Kinuthia, Barbra A Richardson, David J Horne, Grace John-Stewart,
<h4>Background</h4>Peripartum immunologic changes may affect latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) diagnostic performance among HIV-infected women.<h4>Methods</h4>HIV-infected women were serially tested with tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon gamma release assay [QuantiFERON TB Gold In-tube (QFT)] in pregnancy and 6 weeks postpartum in Kenya. Prevalence, sensitivity and agreement, and correlates of QFT/TST positivity ... Read more >>
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr (Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999))
[2017, 75(1):128-136]
Cited: 3 times
Sylvia M LaCourse, Lisa M Cranmer, Daniel Matemo, John Kinuthia, Barbra A Richardson, Grace John-Stewart, David J Horne,
BACKGROUND:Tuberculosis (TB) during pregnancy in HIV-infected women is associated with poor maternal and infant outcomes. There are limited data on TB prevalence, optimal TB screening, and performance of rapid diagnostics in pregnant HIV-infected women. METHODS:We conducted a cross-sectional study among HIV-infected pregnant women seeking antenatal care in western Kenya. After ... Read more >>
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr (Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999))
[2016, 71(2):219-227]
Cited: 21 times
Sylvia M LaCourse, Sharon A Greene, Elizabeth E Dawson-Hahn, Stephen E Hawes,
<h4>Background</h4>Maternal tuberculosis (TB) may be associated with increased risk of adverse infant outcomes.<h4>Study design</h4>We examined the risk of low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA), and preterm birth (<37 weeks) associated with maternal TB in a retrospective population-based Washington State cohort using linked infant birth certificate and maternal ... Read more >>
Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol (Infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology)
[2016, 2016:6413713]
Cited: 1 time
Sylvia M LaCourse, Frances M Chester, Mitch Matoga, Charles Munthali, Dominic Nsona, Bryce Haac, Irving F Hoffman, Mina C Hosseinipour,
The optimal approach of provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling (PITC) for inpatients in high-burden settings is unknown. We prospectively evaluated the implementation of task shifting from clinician-referral to counselor-initiated PITC on the medical wards of Kamuzu Central Hospital, Malawi. Most of patients (1905/3154, 60.4%) had an unknown admission HIV status. ... Read more >>
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr (Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999))
[2015, 69(1):e31-5]
Cited: 6 times
Sylvia M LaCourse, Raquel M Martinez, David H Spach, Ferric C Fang,
Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screwworm, was a serious livestock pest in the southern United States until the 1960s, when it was successfully eradicated by the release of sterile male flies. It remains endemic in parts of the Caribbean and South America, and there is concern that climate change may ... Read more >>
Am J Trop Med Hyg (The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene)
[2015, 92(3):599-600]
Cited: 2 times
Sylvia M LaCourse, Frances M Chester, Geoffrey Preidis, Leah M McCrary, Tonya Arscott-Mills, Madalitso Maliwichi, Grace James, Eric D McCollum, Mina C Hosseinipour,
<h4>Background </h4>Pulmonary tuberculosis contributes to increased morbidity and mortality in severely malnourished children in endemic settings. Despite high clinical suspicion, few tuberculosis prevalence estimates exist in malnourished African children. Diagnostics such as Xpert MTB/RIF may help to determine pulmonary tuberculosis prevalence, however its performance in severely malnourished children is largely ... Read more >>
Pediatr Infect Dis J (The Pediatric infectious disease journal)
[2014, 33(11):1200-1202]
Cited: 11 times
Sylvia M LaCourse, Frances M Chester, Geoffrey Preidis, Leah M McCrary, Madalitso Maliwichi, Eric D McCollum, Mina C Hosseinipour,
<h4>Objectives</h4>Strategies to effectively identify and refer children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) to Nutritional Rehabilitation units (NRU) can reduce morbidity and mortality.<h4>Methods</h4>From December 2011 to May 2012, we conducted a prospective study task-shifting inpatient malnutrition screening of Malawian children 6-60 months to lay-screeners and evaluated World Health Organization (WHO) criteria ... Read more >>
J Trop Pediatr (Journal of tropical pediatrics)
[2015, 61(1):44-53]
Cited: 2 times
Bryce E Haac, Anthony G Charles, Mitch Matoga, Sylvia M LaCourse, Dominic Nonsa, Mina Hosseinipour,
<h4>Background</h4>Despite the high prevalence of HIV in adults (11 %) in Malawi, testing among surgical patients is not routine. We examined the feasibility of universal opt-out HIV testing and counseling (HTC) on the surgical wards of Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi, and sought to further delineate the role of ... Read more >>
World J Surg (World journal of surgery)
[2013, 37(9):2122-2128]
Cited: 9 times