ABSTRACT
Cholera, a severe diarrhoeal disease caused by Vibrio cholerae is typically associated with inadequate potable water supply and poor sanitation. We report cholera disease presentation identified as a suspected case of acute diarrhoea (HIV/AIDS common condition) in a person living with HIV seen in a cholera non-endemic area. Contribution: We highlight the importance of recognizing cholera in cases of acute diarrhoea, especially among people with HIV, in resource-constraint areas that lack potable water supply.
ABSTRACT
A persistently high burden of tuberculosis (TB) and low cure rates in South Africa call for frequent assessment of the effectiveness of the TB programme. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate treatment outcomes and associated factors among new TB patients taking standard regimen 1 TB treatment during 2010 in Pretoria, using the World Health Organization's six treatment outcomes classification. The 85 participants (of whom 59% were female) had co-infection with HIV in 70%. A total of 52% completed treatment, but only 15% were officially cured; 13% died and only 35% had an end-of-treatment sputum test. The treatment success rate (cured and complete treatment) was 67%. Completion of TB treatment was associated with HIV status (P = 0.02) and TB diagnosis using only sputum smear test (P = 0.02). Our results suggest non-compliance with standard TB guidelines by healthcare workers. We therefore advise future interventions should target both patients and healthcare workers.
